Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (Hague Apostille Convention):
List of Contracting States and Dates of Entry into Force
18 December 2025, Bangkok – Background of the Convention, the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents of 1961 (Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents), commonly known as the Apostille Convention, entered into force for the first time on 24 January 1965. As of June 2025, the Convention has 127 Contracting States. Its primary objective is to simplify the authentication of public documents for international use by eliminating the traditional chain of consular legalisation.
List of Contracting States to the Apostille Convention and Dates of Entry into Force Note: The dates below indicate the date on which the Convention entered into force in each respective country.
Europe
Albania joined the Apostille Convention on 9 May 2004.
Andorra joined the Apostille Convention on 31 December 1996.
Armenia joined the Apostille Convention on 14 August 1994.
Austria joined the Apostille Convention on 13 January 1968.
Azerbaijan joined the Apostille Convention on 2 March 2005.
Belarus joined the Apostille Convention on 31 May 1992.
Belgium joined the Apostille Convention on 9 February 1976.
Bosnia and Herzegovina joined the Apostille Convention on 6 March 1992.
Bulgaria joined the Apostille Convention on 29 April 2001.
Croatia joined the Apostille Convention on 8 October 1991.
Cyprus (Republic of Cyprus) joined the Apostille Convention on 30 April 1973.
Czech Republic joined the Apostille Convention on 16 March 1999.
Denmark joined the Apostille Convention on 29 December 2006.
Estonia joined the Apostille Convention on 30 September 2001.
Finland joined the Apostille Convention on 26 August 1985.
France joined the Apostille Convention on 24 January 1965.
Georgia joined the Apostille Convention on 14 May 2007.
Germany joined the Apostille Convention on 13 February 1966.
Greece joined the Apostille Convention on 18 May 1985.
Hungary joined the Apostille Convention on 18 January 1973.
Iceland joined the Apostille Convention on 27 November 2004.
Ireland joined the Apostille Convention on 9 March 1999.
Italy joined the Apostille Convention on 11 February 1978.
Latvia joined the Apostille Convention on 30 January 1996.
Liechtenstein joined the Apostille Convention on 17 September 1972.
Lithuania joined the Apostille Convention on 19 July 1997.
Luxembourg joined the Apostille Convention on 3 June 1979.
Malta joined the Apostille Convention on 3 March 1968.
Moldova joined the Apostille Convention on 16 March 2007.
Monaco joined the Apostille Convention on 31 December 2002.
Montenegro joined the Apostille Convention on 3 June 2006.
Netherlands joined the Apostille Convention on 8 October 1965.
North Macedonia joined the Apostille Convention on 17 November 1991.
Norway joined the Apostille Convention on 29 July 1983.
Poland joined the Apostille Convention on 14 August 2005.
Portugal joined the Apostille Convention on 4 February 1969.
Romania joined the Apostille Convention on 16 March 2001.
Russian Federation joined the Apostille Convention on 31 May 1992.
San Marino joined the Apostille Convention on 13 February 1995.
Serbia joined the Apostille Convention on 27 April 1992.
Slovakia joined the Apostille Convention on 18 February 2002.
Slovenia joined the Apostille Convention on 25 June 1991.
Spain joined the Apostille Convention on 25 September 1978.
Sweden joined the Apostille Convention on 1 May 1999.
Switzerland joined the Apostille Convention on 11 March 1973.
Ukraine joined the Apostille Convention on 22 December 2003.
Asia
Bahrain joined the Apostille Convention on 31 December 2013.
Bangladesh joined the Apostille Convention on 30 March 2025.
Brunei Darussalam joined the Apostille Convention on 3 December 1987.
People’s Republic of China joined the Apostille Convention on 7 November 2023.
India joined the Apostille Convention on 14 July 2005.
Indonesia joined the Apostille Convention on 4 June 2022.
Israel joined the Apostille Convention on 14 August 1978.
Japan joined the Apostille Convention on 27 July 1970.
Kazakhstan joined the Apostille Convention on 30 January 2001.
Republic of Korea (South Korea) joined the Apostille Convention on 14 July 2007.
Kyrgyzstan joined the Apostille Convention on 31 July 2011.
Mongolia joined the Apostille Convention on 31 December 2009.
Oman joined the Apostille Convention on 30 January 2012.
Pakistan joined the Apostille Convention on 9 March 2023.
Philippines joined the Apostille Convention on 14 May 2019.
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia joined the Apostille Convention on 7 December 2022.
Singapore joined the Apostille Convention on 16 September 2021.
Tajikistan joined the Apostille Convention on 31 October 2015.
Turkey joined the Apostille Convention on 29 September 1985.
Uzbekistan joined the Apostille Convention on 15 April 2012.
Africa
Botswana joined the Apostille Convention on 30 September 1966.
Burundi joined the Apostille Convention on 13 February 2015.
Cape Verde joined the Apostille Convention on 13 February 2010.
Eswatini joined the Apostille Convention on 6 September 1968.
Lesotho joined the Apostille Convention on 4 October 1966.
Liberia joined the Apostille Convention on 8 February 1996.
Malawi joined the Apostille Convention on 2 December 1967.
Mauritius joined the Apostille Convention on 12 March 1968.
Morocco joined the Apostille Convention on 14 August 2016.
Namibia joined the Apostille Convention on 30 January 2001.
Rwanda joined the Apostille Convention on 5 June 2024.
Senegal joined the Apostille Convention on 23 March 2023.
Seychelles joined the Apostille Convention on 31 March 1979.
Republic of South Africa joined the Apostille Convention on 30 April 1995.
Tunisia joined the Apostille Convention on 30 March 2018.
Argentina joined the Apostille Convention on 18 February 1988.
Bahamas joined the Apostille Convention on 10 July 1973.
Barbados joined the Apostille Convention on 30 November 1966.
Belize joined the Apostille Convention on 11 April 1993.
Bolivia joined the Apostille Convention on 7 May 2018.
Brazil joined the Apostille Convention on 14 August 2016.
Canada joined the Apostille Convention on 11 January 2024.
Chile joined the Apostille Convention on 30 August 2016.
Colombia joined the Apostille Convention on 30 January 2001.
Costa Rica joined the Apostille Convention on 14 December 2011.
Dominica joined the Apostille Convention on 3 November 1978.
Dominican Republic joined the Apostille Convention on 30 August 2009.
Ecuador joined the Apostille Convention on 2 April 2005.
El Salvador joined the Apostille Convention on 31 May 1996.
Grenada joined the Apostille Convention on 7 April 2002.
Guatemala joined the Apostille Convention on 18 September 2017.
Guyana joined the Apostille Convention on 18 April 2019.
Honduras joined the Apostille Convention on 30 September 2004.
Jamaica joined the Apostille Convention on 3 July 2021.
Mexico joined the Apostille Convention on 14 August 1995.
Nicaragua joined the Apostille Convention on 14 May 2013.
Panama joined the Apostille Convention on 4 August 1991.
Paraguay joined the Apostille Convention on 30 August 2014.
Peru joined the Apostille Convention on 30 September 2010.
Saint Kitts and Nevis joined the Apostille Convention on 14 December 1994.
Saint Lucia joined the Apostille Convention on 31 July 2002.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines joined the Apostille Convention on 27 October 1979.
Suriname joined the Apostille Convention on 25 November 1975.
Trinidad and Tobago joined the Apostille Convention on 14 July 2000.
United States of America joined the Apostille Convention on 15 October 1981.
Uruguay joined the Apostille Convention on 14 October 2012.
Venezuela joined the Apostille Convention on 16 March 1999.
Oceania
Australia joined the Apostille Convention on 16 March 1995.
Cook Islands joined the Apostille Convention on 30 April 2005.
Fiji joined the Apostille Convention on 10 October 1970.
Marshall Islands joined the Apostille Convention on 14 August 1992.
New Zealand joined the Apostille Convention on 22 November 2001.
Niue joined the Apostille Convention on 2 March 1999.
Palau joined the Apostille Convention on 23 June 2020.
Samoa joined the Apostille Convention on 13 September 1999.
Tonga joined the Apostille Convention on 4 June 1970.
Vanuatu joined the Apostille Convention on 30 July 1980.
HCCH Member States Not Party to the Apostille Convention
Egypt has not acceded to the Apostille Convention.
Jordan has not acceded to the Apostille Convention.
Thailand has not acceded to the Apostille Convention.
Vietnam has not acceded to the Apostille Convention.
Malaysia has not acceded to the Apostille Convention.
Lebanon has not acceded to the Apostille Convention.
Iran has not acceded to the Apostille Convention.
Legal Note Public documents intended for use in the above-mentioned non-party countries must continue to undergo consular legalisation in accordance with the regulations of each respective state, as these countries do not recognise Apostilles. Traditional consular legalisation procedures therefore remain applicable.
References
Hague Conference on Private International Law. (1961). Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents.
Hague Conference on Private International Law. (2024). Status table – Convention No. 12.
Hague Conference on Private International Law. (2025). Apostille Section – Contracting Parties.
About Certified Translators, Translation Certifiers, and Certified Interpreters of SEAProTI The Southeast Asian Association of Professional Translators and Interpreters (SEAProTI) has formally announced the qualifications and requirements for registration of Certified Translators, Translation Certification Providers, and Certified Interpreters in Sections 9 and 10 of the Royal Gazette, published by the Secretariat of the Cabinet, Office of the Prime Minister of Thailand, on 25 July 2024 (Vol. 141, Part 66 Ng, p. 100). Certified Translators, Translation Certification Providers, and Certified Interpreters The Council of State has proposed the enactment of a Royal Decree, granting registered translators and recognized translation certifiers from professional associations or accredited language institutions the authority to provide legally valid translation certification (Letter to SEAProTI dated April 28, 2025) SEAProTI is the first professional association in Thailand and Southeast Asia to implement a comprehensive certification system for translators, certifiers, and interpreters. Head Office: Baan Ratchakru Building, No. 33, Room 402, Soi Phahonyothin 5, Phahonyothin Road, Phaya Thai District, Bangkok 10400, Thailand Email: hello@seaproti.com | Tel.: (+66) 2-114-3128 (Office hours: Mon–Fri, 09:00–17:00)
Hague Conference on Private International Law. (1961). Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents.
Hague Conference on Private International Law. (2024). Status table – Convention No. 12.
Hague Conference on Private International Law. (2025). Apostille Section – Contracting Parties.
