The Hong Kong Society of Notaries has confirmed that the next Notaries Public Examination will be held on the afternoon of Saturday, 25 July 2026. For solicitors who have spent years building the experience required to sit this demanding assessment, the date marks the culmination of a long and deliberate professional journey. For clients who rely on notarised documents to transact, litigate, and plan across borders, it signals the eventual arrival of new practitioners qualified to serve their most complex international legal needs.
This article examines what the examination entails, why the profession is so carefully regulated, and why the quality of notarial services matters profoundly to individuals and businesses operating in and through Hong Kong.
The legal framework governing the appointment
The appointment and regulation of Notaries Public in Hong Kong is governed by Part IV of the Legal Practitioners Ordinance (Cap. 159) and the Notaries Public (Examinations) Rules (Cap. 159AH). These provisions establish a rigorous framework that reflects the degree of public trust and international reliance placed in the office of a Notary Public.
Under section 40A of the Ordinance, the Chief Judge of the High Court may appoint as a Notary Public only a person who satisfies the following cumulative requirements:
- Their name must have been on the roll of solicitors continuously for the entire seven-year period immediately preceding the date of their application for appointment;
- They must have actually practised as a solicitor for an aggregate period of not less than seven years; and
- They must have passed the prescribed examination within the one-year period ending on the date of their application for appointment.
These requirements are not merely procedural. They reflect a deliberate policy choice to restrict the notarial faculty to experienced legal practitioners who have demonstrated a sustained and active engagement with Hong Kong law. A Notary Public is not simply a witness to a signature; they are an officer of the law whose certification carries legal weight in courts, registries, and financial institutions across the world.
The examination itself
The 2026 Examination will test candidates on two prescribed subjects under Cap. 159AH: Notarial Practice and Bills of Exchange. These subjects are not chosen arbitrarily. They reflect the two most common and consequential areas in which notarial certification is required in cross-border and commercial contexts.
Notarial Practice encompasses the full scope of a notary’s duties — from the authentication of identity and the due execution of documents, to the preparation of notarial certificates, the handling of apostilles and legalisation, and an understanding of how Hong Kong notarial acts are received in civil law and common law jurisdictions alike. Bills of Exchange, governed in Hong Kong by the Bills of Exchange Ordinance (Cap. 19), remain a cornerstone of international trade finance, and a notary’s ability to formally protest a dishonoured bill is a specific and technically demanding function that carries direct commercial consequences.
To support candidates, the Hong Kong Society of Notaries offers an optional Training Course on Notarial Practice and Bills of Exchange, running from November 2025 through to June 2026. The course combines modular online instruction with a two-day face-to-face tuition and workshop session, delivered by representatives of the Worshipful Company of Scriveners — the London-based livery company with centuries of expertise in notarial practice.
The examination is held infrequently — typically every few years — and the pass rate has historically been demanding. This selectivity is a feature, not a flaw, of the system. It ensures that those who carry the notarial seal are genuinely equipped to discharge the responsibilities attached to it.
What a Notary Public actually does — and why it matters to clients
Understanding the significance of the examination requires an appreciation of what a Notary Public does in practice, and why clients — whether individuals, families, or businesses — cannot always simply rely on a solicitor or commissioner for oaths to fulfil the same function.
A Notary Public is one of three distinct branches of the legal profession in Hong Kong, alongside solicitors and barristers. Unlike a solicitor, whose primary duty runs to their client, a Notary Public’s central obligation is to the transaction and to the international parties who will rely upon the notarial certificate. Their certification provides an independent, internationally recognised assurance that a document has been properly executed, that the signatory is who they claim to be, and that the document is what it purports to be.
This distinction has very real consequences for clients. A document certified by a commissioner for oaths may be entirely sufficient for domestic purposes but will frequently be rejected by foreign courts, land registries, banks, and government authorities if notarisation is specifically required. Getting this wrong — or discovering the deficiency at a critical moment in a transaction — can be costly, both in terms of delay and financial exposure.
The following are among the most common situations in which clients require notarial services:
- Cross-border transactions and corporate documentation: When a Hong Kong company enters into contracts, executes powers of attorney, or provides board resolutions for use in foreign jurisdictions, the counterparty or receiving authority will typically require notarisation. This is particularly prevalent in dealings with Mainland China (handled separately by China Appointed Attesting Officers), continental Europe, and jurisdictions with civil law systems, where notarised documents carry heightened evidential weight.
- International estate planning and probate: Individuals with assets in multiple jurisdictions — a common profile among Hong Kong’s internationally mobile population — frequently need to execute wills, powers of attorney, or declarations of heirship that will be recognised abroad. A notarised document provides the foundation upon which foreign authorities can act with confidence.
- Litigation and court proceedings overseas: Affidavits, witness statements, and other documents executed in Hong Kong for use in foreign proceedings must ordinarily be notarised before they will be admitted. The notary’s certification establishes the authenticity of the document and the due execution of the signature for the benefit of the receiving court.
- Financial services and banking compliance: International banks and financial institutions routinely require notarised identification documents, corporate authorisations, and account-opening documentation as part of their know-your-customer and anti-money laundering obligations. The notary’s seal provides the institutional certainty that internal compliance teams require.
Apostille, Legalisation, and the international chain of Authentication
Notarisation is frequently, though not always, the first step in a longer authentication chain. Where the destination jurisdiction is a signatory to the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents 1961, the notarised document must additionally be apostilled by the High Court of Hong Kong. The apostille verifies the identity and authority of the notary, enabling the document to be used in any other Convention state without further authentication.
Where the receiving jurisdiction is not a party to the Hague Convention — as is the case with Mainland China and a number of other territories — a more involved legalisation process is required. This typically involves the relevant consulate or embassy in Hong Kong authenticating the notary’s signature and seal. The requirements vary by jurisdiction and can be complex, making early and careful planning essential.
Understanding this chain — and advising clients on precisely which steps are required for their specific document and destination — is a core competency that the examination is designed to assess.
The broader significance of the 2026 cohort
Hong Kong’s notarial profession is relatively small and deliberately so. The infrequency of examinations means that each cohort of newly appointed notaries represents a meaningful addition to the pool of practitioners available to serve the public. As the city deepens its integration with the Greater Bay Area, expands its role as a hub for international arbitration and dispute resolution, and continues to attract internationally mobile families and businesses, the demand for high-quality notarial services is only likely to grow.
For solicitors sitting the examination on 25 July 2026, the stakes are therefore considerable — not only for their own professional development, but for the clients who will, in due course, depend on the rigour and integrity of their work.
If you have questions about notarial services, the authentication of documents for use overseas, or details about notarisation, apostille, and legalisation, please do not hesitate to contact us.
This article is for information purposes only. Its contents do not constitute legal advice and readers should not regard this article as a substitute for detailed advice in individual instances.
