Apostille Convention

1961 foreign document certification treaty From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents, also known as the Apostille Convention, is an international treaty drafted by the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH). The Apostille Convention is intended to simplify the procedure through which a document, issued in one of the contracting states, can be certified for legal purposes in the other contracting states of the convention. A certification under the convention is called an apostille or Hague apostille (from French apostille, meaning a marginal or bottom note, derived from Latin post illa, meaning "after those [words of the text]").[2] An apostille is an international certification comparable to a notarisation, and may supplement a local notarisation of the document. If the convention applies between two states, an apostille issued by the state of origin is sufficient to certify the document, and removes the need for further certification by the destination state.

Signed5 October 1961 (1961-10-05)
LocationThe Hague, Netherlands
Effective24 January 1965
ConditionRatification by 3 signatories[1]
Quick facts Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents, Signed ...
Apostille Convention
Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents
  In force
  Acceded but not yet in force
Signed5 October 1961 (1961-10-05)
LocationThe Hague, Netherlands
Effective24 January 1965
ConditionRatification by 3 signatories[1]
Parties129
DepositaryMinistry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands
LanguagesFrench (prevailing in case of divergence) and English
Full text
Apostille Convention at Wikisource
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Background

Main article: Document legalization
Legalisation of a Canadian document for use in the Netherlands (before Canada acceded to the Apostille Convention). This document was certified by the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and subsequently by the Embassy of the Netherlands in Canada.
Apostille issued by the U.S. state of Alabama. This apostille is sufficient to certify the document for any state where the Apostille Convention is in force.

Many states require the verification of the authenticity of foreign documents, in a procedure called legalisation, for the document to be legally valid there. This legalisation is generally a chain of certifications, by one or more authorities of the state where the document was issued and of the destination state. The first authority certifies the issuer of the document, and each subsequent authority certifies the previous one, until the final certification is made by an authority of the destination state that can be recognised by the final user there.[3] For example, to be accepted in Thailand, a document from the U.S. state of Maryland not issued by a government official must be certified by a notary public, who must then be certified by the clerk of the circuit court in the notary's county, who must then be certified by the Maryland Secretary of State, who must then be certified by the U.S. Department of State, which must finally be certified by the Embassy of Thailand in the United States.[4][5]

In many cases, the legalisation procedure is simplified or exempted altogether. For example, some states have agreements eliminating the legalisation requirement for certain documents issued by each other, such as between Argentina and Italy,[6] between Brazil and France,[7] between parties of the Convention on the Issue of Multilingual Extracts from Civil Status Records,[8][9] and between parties of the Convention on Legal Assistance and Legal Relations of the Commonwealth of Independent States.[10][11][12] The European Union also has a regulation eliminating the legalisation requirement for certain documents of its member states to be accepted by each other.[13] Some states such as Canada, Japan, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States generally accept documents from any state without any certification.[14][15][16][17][18]

The Apostille Convention, drafted by the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH), is intended to simplify the legalisation procedure by replacing it with a certification called an apostille, issued by an authority designated by the state of origin. Ideally the apostille would be the only certification needed, but in some cases additional certifications in the state of origin may be required before the apostille is issued. In any case, after the apostille, no certification by the destination state is required.[3]

Contracting states

The convention permits certain states to sign and ratify the convention, becoming contracting states.[a] For each of these states, or for an extension to one of its territories, the convention enters into force 60 days after the deposit of its ratification or territorial extension. Other states are also permitted to become contracting states by acceding to the convention, but without signing it. For each of these states, during the period of six months after it deposits its accession, the other contracting states may object to it, and the convention enters into force 60 days after this period, between the acceding state and all other contracting states that did not object to it.[1] Later, if a contracting state withdraws its objection, the convention enters into force between these two states at that time. A successor state of a previous contracting state may declare to continue to be bound by the convention without a waiting period or accede later as a new state.

As of 2026, 129 states are contracting states of the Apostille Convention.[20][21]

More information State, Signed ...
StateSignedDepositedEntered into force
Albania[b]—3 September 20039 May 2004
Algeria—5 November 20259 July 2026
Andorra—15 April 199631 December 1996
Antigua and Barbuda[c]—1 May 19851 November 1981
Argentina[d]—8 May 198718 February 1988
Armenia—19 November 199314 August 1994
Australia[e]—11 July 199416 March 1995
Austria[f]5 October 196114 November 196713 January 1968
Azerbaijan[g]—13 May 20042 March 2005
Bahamas[c]—30 April 197610 July 1973
Bahrain—10 April 201331 December 2013
Bangladesh[h]—29 July 202430 March 2025
Barbados[c]—11 August 199530 November 1966
Belarus[i]—16 June 199231 May 1992
Belgium10 March 197011 December 19759 February 1976
Belize—17 July 199211 April 1993
Bolivia—6 September 20177 May 2018
Bosnia and Herzegovina[j]—23 August 19936 March 1992
Botswana[c]—16 September 196830 September 1966
Brazil—2 December 201514 August 2016
Brunei[k]—23 February 19873 December 1987
Bulgaria—1 August 200029 April 2001
Burundi[l]—10 June 201413 February 2015
Canada—12 May 202311 January 2024
Cape Verde[m]—7 May 200913 February 2010
Chile—16 December 201530 August 2016
China[n]—8 March 20237 November 2023
Colombia—27 April 200030 January 2001
Cook Islands—13 July 200430 April 2005
Costa Rica—6 April 201114 December 2011
Croatia[j]—23 April 19938 October 1991
Cyprus—26 July 197230 April 1973
Czech Republic—23 June 199816 March 1999
Denmark[o]20 October 200630 October 200629 December 2006
Dominica[c]—22 October 20023 November 1978
Dominican Republic[p]—12 December 200830 August 2009
Ecuador—2 July 20042 April 2005
El Salvador—14 September 199531 May 1996
Estonia[f]—11 December 200030 September 2001
Eswatini[c]—3 July 19786 September 1968
Fiji[c]—29 March 197110 October 1970
Finland[f]13 March 196227 June 198526 August 1985
France[q]9 October 196125 November 196424 January 1965
Georgia[r]—21 August 200614 May 2007
Germany[s][f]5 October 196115 December 196513 February 1966
Greece5 October 196119 March 198518 May 1985
Grenada[k]—17 July 20017 April 2002
Guatemala—19 January 201718 September 2017
Guyana[k]—30 July 201818 April 2019
Honduras—20 January 200430 September 2004
Hungary—18 April 197218 January 1973
Iceland7 September 200428 September 200427 November 2004
India[t]—26 October 200414 July 2005
Indonesia—5 October 20214 June 2022
Ireland29 October 19968 January 19999 March 1999
Israel—11 November 197714 August 1978
Italy15 December 196113 December 197711 February 1978
Jamaica—2 November 20203 July 2021
Japan12 March 197028 May 197027 July 1970
Kazakhstan—5 April 200030 January 2001
Kosovo[u]—6 November 201514 July 2016
Kyrgyzstan[v]—15 November 201031 July 2011
Latvia[f]—11 May 199530 January 1996
Lesotho[c]—24 April 19724 October 1966
Liberia[w]—24 May 19958 February 1996
Liechtenstein18 April 196219 July 197217 September 1972
Lithuania[f]—5 November 199619 July 1997
Luxembourg5 October 19614 April 19793 June 1979
Malawi—24 February 19672 December 1967
Malta—12 June 19673 March 1968
Marshall Islands—18 November 199114 August 1992
Mauritius[c]—20 December 196812 March 1968
Mexico—1 December 199414 August 1995
Moldova[x]—19 June 200616 March 2007
Monaco—24 April 200231 December 2002
Mongolia[y]—2 April 200931 December 2009
Montenegro[j]—30 January 20073 June 2006
Morocco[z]—27 November 201514 August 2016
Namibia—25 April 200030 January 2001
Netherlands[aa]30 November 19629 August 19658 October 1965
New Zealand[ab]—7 February 200122 November 2001
Nicaragua—7 September 201214 May 2013
Niue—10 June 19982 March 1999
North Macedonia[j]—20 September 199317 November 1991
Norway30 May 198330 May 198329 July 1983
Oman—12 May 201130 January 2012
Pakistan[ac]—8 July 20229 March 2023
Palau—17 October 201923 June 2020
Panama—30 October 19904 August 1991
Paraguay[ad]—10 December 201330 August 2014
Peru[ae]—13 January 201030 September 2010
Philippines[af]—12 September 201814 May 2019
Poland[f]—19 November 200414 August 2005
Portugal[m][f]20 August 19656 December 19684 February 1969
Romania[f]—7 June 200016 March 2001
Russia[ag]—4 September 199131 May 1992
Rwanda[ah]—6 October 20235 June 2024
Saint Kitts and Nevis[k]—26 February 199414 December 1994
Saint Lucia[k]—5 December 200131 July 2002
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines[c]—2 May 200227 October 1979
Samoa—18 January 199913 September 1999
San Marino—26 May 199413 February 1995
São Tomé and Príncipe[m]—19 December 200713 September 2008
Saudi Arabia—8 April 20227 December 2022
Senegal[ai]—13 July 202223 March 2023
Serbia[j]—26 April 200127 April 1992
Seychelles—9 June 197831 March 1979
Singapore—18 January 202116 September 2021
Slovakia—6 June 200118 February 2002
Slovenia[j]—8 June 199225 June 1991
South Africa—3 August 199430 April 1995
South Korea—25 October 200614 July 2007
Spain21 October 197627 July 197825 September 1978
Suriname[aj]—29 October 197625 November 1975
Sweden2 March 19992 March 19991 May 1999
 Switzerland5 October 196110 January 197311 March 1973
Tajikistan[ak]—20 February 201531 October 2015
Tonga[c]—28 October 19714 June 1970
Trinidad and Tobago—28 October 199914 July 2000
Tunisia[al]—10 July 201730 March 2018
Turkey8 May 196231 July 198529 September 1985
Ukraine[am][f]—2 April 200322 December 2003
United Kingdom[an]19 October 196121 August 196424 January 1965
United States[ao]—24 December 198015 October 1981
Uruguay—9 February 201214 October 2012
Uzbekistan[ap]—25 July 201115 April 2012
Vanuatu[aq]—1 August 200830 July 1980
Venezuela—1 July 199816 March 1999
Vietnam—31 December 202511 September 2026
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Potential accessions

The governments of Iran, Lebanon and Malaysia have expressed interest in acceding to the Apostille Convention.[81][82][83]

In May 2025, the government of Indonesia recommended that Malaysia and Egypt accede to the convention.[84][85]

In December 2025, the government of Thailand approved its accession to the convention.[86]

Procedure

Eligible documents

The convention mentions four types of documents eligible for apostilles:[1]

  • court documents
  • administrative documents (e.g. vital records)
  • notarial acts
  • official certificates which are placed on documents signed by persons in their private capacity, such as official certificates recording the registration of a document or the fact that it was in existence on a certain date and official and notarial authentications of signatures.

However, the Apostille Convention does not apply to documents issued by diplomatic or consular officers, or to administrative documents dealing directly with commercial or customs operations.[1] The reason for this exclusion is that these documents are usually already exempt from legalisation.[87]

Competent authorities

Each contracting state designates one or more authorities to issue apostilles. Examples of designated authorities are ministries, courts, subnational governments, notaries and registries. In some states, each authority is designated to issue apostilles only on certain types of documents. For example, in Hungary, apostilles are issued on court documents by the Ministry of Justice, on notarial documents by the Chamber of Civil Law Notaries, and on other documents by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;[88] in Mexico, apostilles on federal documents are issued by the federal Secretariat of Governance, and on state documents by the respective state government.[89]

In general, documents issued by a government official can be certified directly with an apostille, while other documents must be certified by a notary, who may then be certified with an apostille. In some cases, additional intermediate certifications may be required; for example, for notarised or municipal documents in some U.S. states, the notary or municipal official must be certified by the respective county or court, which may then be certified by the respective state with an apostille.[4][90][91]

Cost

The fee for issuing an apostille varies widely by state. In 2016, the HCCH compiled fees of 54 states and calculated an average of 15.43 EUR.[92] Some states, such as Italy and Japan, do not charge a fee,[93][94] while the Cayman Islands charge 150 KYD (180 USD), one of the highest.[95] In some states, the fee also varies by location, authority, quantity, purpose or type of document. For example, in the United States, Indiana does not charge a fee for an apostille of a birth certificate,[96] while Connecticut charges 40 USD for an apostille not related to adoption.[97]

More information State, Authority ...
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Format

An apostille issued by Norway

The apostille is a stamp or printed form, placed on the document itself or attached to the document as an allonge. At the top is the title Apostille, followed by (Convention de La Haye du 5 octobre 1961) (French for "Hague Convention of 5 October 1961"). The convention specifies that this text must be in French. After this text, the apostille contains ten numbered fields, which may be in English, French or the language of the competent authority, and may be repeated in one or more additional languages. The numbered fields contain the following information:[1][3]

  1. Country: [e.g. Hong Kong, China]
    This public document
  2. has been signed by [e.g. Henry CHO]
  3. acting in the capacity of [e.g. Notary Public]
  4. bears the seal/stamp of [e.g. High Court of Hong Kong]
    Certified
  5. at [location or authority issuing the apostille, e.g. High Court]
  6. the [e.g. 16 April 2014]
  7. by [e.g. Louis TANG, Registrar, High Court]
  8. No. [e.g. 2536218517]
  9. Seal/stamp: [of the authority issuing the apostille, e.g. Emblem of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region]
  10. Signature: [of the official issuing the apostille]

Verification

An electronic apostille issued by Belgium

Each competent authority must maintain a register of apostilles issued, for verification on request by anyone.[1]

In 2006, the electronic apostille program (also known as e-APP) was launched to support the electronic issuance and verification of apostilles around the world.[532] Since then, many contracting states have implemented electronic apostilles or electronic registers for their verification.[533]

Validity

Apostilles never expire. However, a document certified with an apostille may have an expiration date, or the destination state may require that the document be presented by a certain time.[3]

Additional requirements

The apostille replaces the legalisation requirement, but the destination state may have additional requirements for the document to be used there. For example, it may require that the document be translated into a certain language, although it must not require a translation of the apostille itself.[3]

Benefits and disadvantages

The Apostille Convention is beneficial in cases that would otherwise require certifications by both the origin and destination states, as the convention removes the latter requirement. However, the convention is neutral in cases that would otherwise require only a certification by the state of origin anyway, similar to an apostille, or no certification at all, and it can be disadvantageous in cases where a consular certification alone would otherwise be sufficient to legalise a document. The convention requires that contracting states direct their embassies and consulates to no longer perform legalisations of documents where the convention applies,[3] so in this case the apostille is the only method available to certify the document, not only an alternative to consular legalisation, even if the latter would be simpler or less expensive.

For example, before Brazil acceded to the Apostille Convention, to legalise an educational document from the United States for academic use in Brazil, it was sufficient for the document to be certified by a Brazilian embassy or consulate in the United States, for a fee of 5 USD.[534] After the convention entered into force in Brazil, its embassy and consulates in the United States no longer perform legalisations, so U.S. documents must have an apostille to be accepted in Brazil.[535] In some U.S. states, an apostille of an educational document requires more certifications or a higher fee than the Brazilian consular legalisation did.[4][90][91][97]

This result is an unintended consequence, as the convention still allows states to further simplify or eliminate the legalisation requirement. The Hague Conference also encourages contracting states to eliminate the need for additional certifications before issuing an apostille, and to ensure that any fees are reasonable.[3]

Limitations and abuse

The apostille only certifies that the signature, signer's capacity, and seal or stamp on the document are from the stated issuer. In other words, it only certifies the origin of the document, but it does not provide information about its content.[3] In 2008, the Hague Conference expressed serious concerns about diplomas and certificates issued by diploma mills, citing their possible use "to circumvent migration controls, possibly by potential terrorists."[536] The risk comes from the fact that the various government stamps give the document an air of authenticity without anyone having checked the underlying document. To address this concern, in 2009 the Hague Conference recommended that authorities add the following statement to apostilles: "This apostille only certifies the signature, the capacity of the signer, and the seal or stamp it bears. It does not certify the content of the document for which it was issued."[537]

Gallery of apostilles by state

See also

Notes

  1. [a]
    These states were those represented at the ninth session of the Hague Conference on Private International Law (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, West Germany, and Yugoslavia),[19] Iceland, Ireland, Liechtenstein, and Turkey.[1]
  2. [b]
    The convention entered into force between Albania and the following contracting states on different dates: Belgium on 21 December 2015, Germany on 9 December 2016, Greece on 26 February 2018, Italy on 26 May 2011, and Spain on 7 February 2017.[22]
  3. [c]
    The United Kingdom extended the convention to the predecessor of this state effective 25 April 1965. Following its independence, the state declared itself to continue to be bound by the convention.[23]
  4. [d]
    Argentina objected to the extension of the convention by the United Kingdom to the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, and the British Antarctic Territory.[24]
  5. [e]
    Australia extended the convention to all of its territories upon its accession.[25]
  6. [f]
    Austria, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Romania and Ukraine declared that they would not accept documents issued under the convention by the Russian authorities in Crimea and Sevastopol.[68][69][70][44][71][72][73][60][74][75] Poland and Ukraine also declared that they would not accept documents issued by the authorities of the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics.[73][75]
  7. [g]
    The convention is not in force between Azerbaijan and Germany. The convention entered into force between Azerbaijan and the following contracting states on different dates: Hungary on 10 March 2005, and the Netherlands on 10 August 2010.[26]
  8. [h]
    The convention is not in force between Bangladesh and the following states: Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Lithuania, and the Netherlands.[27]
  9. [i]
    Belarus declared itself bound by the convention as one of the successor states of the Soviet Union.[28]
  10. [j]
    Yugoslavia signed the convention on 5 October 1961, ratified it on 25 September 1962, and it entered into force for Yugoslavia on 24 January 1965.[20] Following its dissolution, the successor states of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, North Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, and Slovenia declared themselves bound by the convention.[29][30][31][32][33] Following the dissolution of Serbia and Montenegro, the continuator state of Serbia and the successor state of Montenegro declared themselves bound by the convention.[34]
  11. [k]
    The United Kingdom extended the convention to the predecessor of this state effective 25 April 1965. Following its independence, the state did not declare to continue to be bound by the convention, but acceded to the convention at a later date.[23]
  12. [l]
    The convention is not in force between Burundi and the following contracting states: Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, and Poland.[35]
  13. [m]
    Portugal extended the convention to all of its external territories on 21 December 1969.[60] These territories included the predecessors of Cape Verde and São Tomé and Príncipe, which did not declare to continue to be bound by the convention following their independence but acceded to the convention at a later date, and of Angola, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique and Timor-Leste, which have not declared to be bound to the convention following their independence or acceded to the convention.[20]
  14. [n]
    Dates are for mainland China. The United Kingdom extended the convention to Hong Kong on 25 April 1965, Portugal extended it to Macau on 21 December 1969, and the convention remained in force in both territories following their respective transfer to China.[20][36] The convention is not in force between mainland China and India.[37]
  15. [o]
    Denmark extended the convention to the Faroe Islands effective 13 December 2021.[38] It has not extended the convention to Greenland.[39]
  16. [p]
    The convention is not in force between the Dominican Republic and Germany. The convention entered into force between the Dominican Republic and the following contracting states on different dates: Austria on 30 January 2023, Belgium on 8 March 2019, and the Netherlands on 3 November 2017.[40]
  17. [q]
    France extended the convention to all of its territories upon its ratification.[41] These territories included the predecessors of Comoros and Djibouti, which have not declared to be bound to the convention following their independence or acceded to the convention.[20]
  18. [r]
    The convention entered into force between Georgia and the following contracting states on different dates: Germany on 3 February 2010, and Greece on 17 December 2015.[42] The convention does not apply to documents issued by Abkhazia and South Ossetia.[43]
  19. [s]
    Germany ratified the convention as West Germany. Following its reunification with East Germany on 3 October 1990, it declared that the convention applied to the entire territory of Germany.[44]
  20. [t]
    The convention is not in force between India and Germany. The convention entered into force between India and the following contracting states on different dates: Belgium on 9 January 2008, Finland on 5 October 2009, the Netherlands on 16 September 2008, and Spain on 12 February 2008.[45]
  21. [u]
    The convention is not in force between Kosovo and the following contracting states: Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Brazil, Chile, China, Cyprus, Ecuador, Georgia, Germany, Greece, India, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Namibia, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,[46] Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and Venezuela. The convention entered into force between Kosovo and the following contracting states on different dates: Israel on 20 November 2024, and Poland on 1 March 2024.[47]
  22. [v]
    The convention is not in force between Kyrgyzstan and the following contracting states: Austria and Greece. The convention entered into force between Kyrgyzstan and the following contracting states on different dates: Belgium on 11 June 2025, and Germany on 7 October 2024.[48]
  23. [w]
    The convention is not in force between Liberia and the following contracting states: Belgium and Germany. The convention entered into force between Liberia and the United States on 20 May 2015.[49]
  24. [x]
    The convention is not in force between Moldova and Germany.[50]
  25. [y]
    The convention is not in force between Mongolia and the following contracting states: Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, and Greece.[51]
  26. [z]
    The convention is not in force between Morocco and Germany.[52]
  27. [aa]
    Dates are for the European part. The convention was extended to the Netherlands Antilles (predecessor of Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, as well as Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba) from 30 April 1967.[20]
  28. [ab]
    New Zealand has not extended the convention to Tokelau.[53]
  29. [ac]
    The convention is not in force between Pakistan and the following contracting states: Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Netherlands, and Poland.[54] Pakistan declared that its participation in the convention would not apply to India or to parties that it does not recognise as states,[55] which would be Armenia until 31 August 2025[56] and Israel.
  30. [ad]
    The convention entered into force between Paraguay and Germany on 6 January 2022.[57]
  31. [ae]
    The convention entered into force between Peru and the following contracting states on different dates: Germany on 1 January 2014, and Greece on 26 July 2024.[58]
  32. [af]
    The convention is not in force between the Philippines and Germany. The convention entered into force between the Philippines and the following contracting states on different dates: Austria on 1 June 2023, Finland on 22 August 2025, and Greece on 25 June 2024.[59] The Philippines declared that its accession would not apply to contracting parties that it does not recognise as states,[46] which is the case of Kosovo.
  33. [ag]
    Russia declared itself bound by the convention as the continuator of the Soviet Union.[61]
  34. [ah]
    The convention is not in force between Rwanda and Germany.[62]
  35. [ai]
    The convention is not in force between Senegal and the following contracting states: Austria and Germany. The convention entered into force between Senegal and the Netherlands on 28 January 2026.[63]
  36. [aj]
    The Netherlands extended the convention to Suriname on 16 May 1967. Following its independence, Suriname declared itself to continue to be bound by the convention.[64]
  37. [ak]
    The convention is not in force between Tajikistan and the following contracting states: Austria, Belgium, and Germany.[65]
  38. [al]
    The convention is not in force between Tunisia and the following contracting states: Austria, Germany, and Greece. The convention entered into force between Tunisia and Belgium on 11 June 2025.[66]
  39. [am]
    The convention entered into force between Ukraine and the following contracting states on different dates: Belgium on 5 July 2004 and Germany on 22 July 2010.[67]
  40. [an]
    The United Kingdom extended the convention, effective 24 January 1965, to the Crown dependencies of Guernsey, Isle of Man and Jersey, and effective 25 April 1965, to the British Overseas Territories of Anguilla, Bermuda, British Antarctic Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands (including the South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, which later became a separate territory and continued to apply the convention[76]), Gibraltar, Montserrat, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, and Turks and Caicos Islands,[77] as well as to the predecessors of several states. These states declared themselves to continue to be bound to the convention following their independence or later acceded to the convention, except for Kiribati (gained independence on 12 July 1979), the Solomon Islands (7 July 1978), Tuvalu (1 October 1978), and Zimbabwe (18 April 1980).[23]
  41. [ao]
    The United States has not declared territorial extensions but it has designated competent authorities in all of its permanently inhabited territories.[78]
  42. [ap]
    The convention is not in force between Uzbekistan and the following contracting states: Austria, Germany, and Greece. The convention entered into force between Uzbekistan and Belgium on 11 June 2025.[79]
  43. [aq]
    France and the United Kingdom extended the convention to the New Hebrides effective 15 February 1966. Following its independence, Vanuatu declared itself to continue to be bound by the convention.[41][80]
  44. [ar]
    Notarial documents may be apostilled directly by the respective notarial college, or certified by the respective notarial college and then apostilled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or another notarial college. University documents must be certified by the national Ministry of Education, and other educational documents must be certified by the Ministry of Education of the respective province, before an apostille is requested from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or any notarial college. Other documents with physical signatures may be apostilled directly by the notarial college of the respective jurisdiction, or certified by the Ministry of the Interior and then apostilled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or another notarial college. Other documents with digital signatures may be apostilled directly by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or any notarial college.[103] The Ministry of the Interior does not charge a fee for certification.[104] The fees charged by notarial colleges include the fee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[105]
  45. [as]
    Documents from anywhere in Brazil may be apostilled by any notary or registry office authorised by the National Council of Justice.[158] The fee is composed of various amounts and surcharges set for the state or Federal District where the office is located,[159] and a tax between 2 and 5% may be added to the fee depending on the municipality or district.[160] Due to variations in how each office calculates the surcharges and tax and whether it forwards them to the user, the total fee listed in this table for each state may not be exactly the same in all offices there.
  46. [at]
    The Financial Police was also specified as an authority to apostille documents from this same agency.[290] In 2012, the Financial Police was replaced by the State Service for Combatting Economic Crimes,[291] and the latter was abolished in 2021.[292]

References

External links

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