What is Hague Apostille Convention?
Meghna | ProLingo Editors
The Hague Apostille Convention, also known as the Apostille Convention or the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents, is an international treaty established in 1961. Its purpose is to simplify the process of authenticating public documents for use in countries that are signatories to the convention.
The Apostille Convention provides a standardized certificate called an "apostille" that authenticates the origin and legitimacy of a public document issued in one member country and ensures its recognition in another member country. The apostille is attached to the document by a competent authority designated by the country where the document was issued.
The convention applies to various types of public documents, including birth certificates, marriage certificates, educational degrees, powers of attorney, notarial acts, and other official documents issued by public authorities. It does not cover private documents or documents issued by diplomatic or consular agents.
By affixing an apostille to a public document, the convention eliminates the need for further legalization or additional certification by diplomatic or consular authorities. This simplifies the process of using foreign public documents in member countries, as the apostille certifies the document's authenticity and validity.
The Hague Apostille Convention has gained significant global acceptance, with over 120 countries becoming signatories as of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021. Each member country designates one or more competent authorities responsible for issuing apostilles within its jurisdiction.
It is important to note that the requirements and procedures for obtaining an apostille may vary slightly between member countries. Individuals or entities seeking to authenticate public documents for use abroad should consult the competent authority in their respective countries or refer to the official guidelines provided by the Hague Conference on Private International Law, which oversees the convention.
The Hague Apostille Convention has greatly simplified the process of verifying the authenticity of public documents in member countries, promoting international cooperation and facilitating cross-border transactions that require official document recognition.
List of countries included in Hague Apostille Convention
1. Albania
2. Andorra
3. Antigua and Barbuda
4. Argentina
5. Armenia
6. Australia
7. Austria
8. Azerbaijan
9. Bahamas
10. Bahrain
11. Barbados
12. Belarus
13. Belgium
14. Belize
15. Bosnia and Herzegovina
16. Botswana
17. Brazil
18. Brunei Darussalam
19. Bulgaria
20. Burundi
21. Cabo Verde
22. Chile
23. China (Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions)
24. Colombia
25. Cook Islands
26. Costa Rica
27. Croatia
28. Cyprus
29. Czech Republic
30. Denmark
31. Dominica
32. Dominican Republic
33. Ecuador
34. El Salvador
35. Estonia
36. Eswatini
37. Fiji
38. Finland
39. France
40. Georgia
41. Germany
42. Greece
43. Grenada
44. Guatemala
45. Guyana
46. Honduras
47. Hungary
48. Iceland
49. India
50. Ireland
51. Israel
52. Italy
53. Japan
54. Kazakhstan
55. Korea (Republic of)
56. Kosovo
57. Kyrgyzstan
58. Latvia
59. Lesotho
60. Liberia
61. Liechtenstein
62. Lithuania
63. Luxembourg
64. Malawi
65. Malta
66. Marshall Islands
67. Mauritius
68. Mexico
69. Moldova
70. Monaco
71. Mongolia
72. Montenegro
73. Morocco
74. Namibia
75. Netherlands
76. New Zealand
77. Nicaragua
78. Niue
79. North Macedonia
80. Norway
81. Oman
82. Panama
83. Paraguay
84. Peru
85. Philippines
86. Poland
87. Portugal
88. Romania
89. Russian Federation
90. Saint Kitts and Nevis
91. Saint Lucia
92. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
93. Samoa
94. San Marino
95. Sao Tome and Principe
96. Serbia
97. Seychelles
98. Sierra Leone
99. Singapore
100. Slovakia
101. Slovenia
102. South Africa
103. Spain
104. Sri Lanka
105. Suriname
106. Sweden
107. Switzerland
108. Tajikistan
109. Thailand
110. Tonga
111. Trinidad and Tobago
112. Tunisia
113. Turkey
114. Turkmenistan
115. Ukraine
116. United Kingdom (including Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies)
117. United States of America
118. Uruguay
119. Uzbekistan
120. Vanuatu
121. Venezuela
122. Zambia
123. Zimbabwe
(Please note that this list may have been updates or changed in current date)
List of countries who are not in Hague Apostille Convention
1. Afghanistan
2. Algeria
3. Angola
4. Bhutan
5. Cambodia
6. Comoros
7. Cuba
8. Egypt
9. Ethiopia
10. Iran
11. Iraq
12. Jordan
13. Kuwait
14. Laos
15. Lebanon
16. Libya
17. Myanmar (Burma)
18. Nepal
19. North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea)
20. Palestine
21. Papua New Guinea
22. Qatar
23. Saudi Arabia
24. Somalia
25. South Sudan
26. Sudan
27. Syria
28. Taiwan (Republic of China)
29. Timor-Leste
30. United Arab Emirates
31. Yemen
(Please note that this list may have been updates or changed in current date)
Apostille requirements vary from country to country
Apostille requirements depends on the destination country and the purpose of the document. Generally, Apostille certification is required when you need to use a public document issued in one country in another country that is a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention. The Hague Apostille Convention simplifies the legalization process by providing a standardized certificate (apostille) that is recognized by member countries.
If both the issuing country and the destination country are members of the Hague Apostille Convention, then an apostille is typically required to authenticate the document. This includes countries such as:
- Australia
- Canada
- France
- Germany
- India
- Italy
- Japan
- Mexico
- Netherlands
- Russia
- South Africa
- Spain
- Switzerland
- United Kingdom
- United States
And many others (over 120 countries)
However, it's important to note that not all documents require an apostille. The specific types of documents that may require an apostille vary by country and purpose. Common examples include birth certificates, marriage certificates, educational degrees, power of attorney documents, notarized documents, and certain legal documents.
For countries that are not members of the Hague Apostille Convention, the authentication process may involve different procedures, such as consular legalization or additional authentication steps through diplomatic channels.
To determine if an apostille is required for a specific document and country, it is recommended to consult with the relevant authorities, such as the embassy or consulate of the destination country or the issuing authority of the document. They can provide the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding the specific requirements for document authentication.
