24.12.2025
Which Countries Are Parties to the Apostille Convention in 2025
Discover which countries are part of the Hague Apostille Convention and recognize official documents for use abroad under international law.
When using Canadian documents, such as a birth certificate, marriage certificate, or academic record, in another country, you need to determine if that country is a member of the Apostille Convention. The Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents (1961) makes it easier for member countries to confirm the validity of public documents. Documents issued in a member country may be accepted in another without undergoing the complicated embassy or consular legalization procedure, with only one certificate, known as an apostille.
The convention has 128 member countries as of 2025, indicating that an increasing number of countries are joining. Canada joined on January 11, 2024, and China joined on November 7, 2023. This expansion has made cross-border document authentication more efficient for individuals, businesses, and institutions worldwide.
This article provides an updated overview of the countries currently party to the Apostille Convention (2025). It also explains how to confirm a country’s membership status and outlines the steps to take if your destination country is not a party to the convention. Understanding these details helps ensure that your documents are properly authenticated and accepted for official use abroad.
Obtain your Canadian documents, such as a birth certificate, marriage certificate, or diploma, and have them authenticated or apostilled for international use. Contact me for a quote.
The convention has 128 member countries as of 2025, indicating that an increasing number of countries are joining. Canada joined on January 11, 2024, and China joined on November 7, 2023. This expansion has made cross-border document authentication more efficient for individuals, businesses, and institutions worldwide.
This article provides an updated overview of the countries currently party to the Apostille Convention (2025). It also explains how to confirm a country’s membership status and outlines the steps to take if your destination country is not a party to the convention. Understanding these details helps ensure that your documents are properly authenticated and accepted for official use abroad.
Obtain your Canadian documents, such as a birth certificate, marriage certificate, or diploma, and have them authenticated or apostilled for international use. Contact me for a quote.
Overview of the Hague Apostille Convention
The Hague Apostille Convention is an international treaty, formally known as the Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents, created by the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH). The treaty was intended to ease the utilization of public records in other states by substituting the long procedure of authentication and legalization with a uniform certification called an apostille. This approach simplifies and reduces the cost of administrative procedures for individuals, businesses, and governments that require the use of official documents across borders.
An apostille certificate issued under this treaty certifies three key elements of a document: the authenticity of the signature, the official capacity of the signer, and the seal or stamp of the issuing authority. Documents with an apostille are legally recognized in all countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention, eliminating the need for further embassy or consular legalization. It is important to note that this treaty only applies to member countries; documents intended for non-member countries must still undergo the traditional authentication and legalization process.
An apostille certificate issued under this treaty certifies three key elements of a document: the authenticity of the signature, the official capacity of the signer, and the seal or stamp of the issuing authority. Documents with an apostille are legally recognized in all countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention, eliminating the need for further embassy or consular legalization. It is important to note that this treaty only applies to member countries; documents intended for non-member countries must still undergo the traditional authentication and legalization process.
List of Apostille Countries and Convention Members (2025)
As of 2025, the Hague Apostille Convention includes 128 member countries and territories. This full list of countries reflects those that have signed the treaty to simplify the recognition of public documents abroad. Member states no longer need to follow the traditional process of embassy legalization, making it easier and faster to use documents such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, and diplomas in other member countries. This international network ensures that public records are accepted securely and efficiently across borders.
Europe
- Albania
- Andorra
- Austria
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Kosovo
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Republic of Moldova
- Romania
- Russian Federation
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Türkiye
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Asia and the Middle East
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Brunei Darussalam
- China
- Georgia
- India
- Indonesia
- Israel
- Japan
- Kazakhstan
- Kyrgyzstan
- Mongolia
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Philippines
- Saudi Arabia
- Singapore
- Tajikistan
- Uzbekistan
Africa
- Algeria
- Botswana
- Burundi
- Cabo Verde
- Eswatini
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Malawi
- Morocco
- Namibia
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Senegal
- Seychelles
- South Africa
- Tunisia
Americas
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Bolivia (Plurinational State of)
- Brazil
- Canada
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Guyana
- Honduras
- Jamaica
- Mexico
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Suriname
- Trinidad and Tobago
- United States of America
- Uruguay
- Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)
Oceania
- Australia
- Cook Islands
- Fiji
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritius
- New Zealand
- Niue
- Palau
- Samoa
- Tonga
Non-Hague Member Countries That Still Require Authentication and Legalization
The Authentication, Legalization, and Attestation Processes Explained
Some countries are not signatories to the Hague Apostille Convention, which means public documents issued in Canada must go through the traditional two-step document authentication and legalization process.
Step 1: Authentication
First, your document must be authenticated by Global Affairs Canada or the relevant provincial authorities. In provinces such as Alberta and British Columbia, provincial competent authorities are responsible for authenticating documents that were issued or notarized by a Canadian Notary Public within their jurisdiction. The authentication process confirms the signature and seal on the document as genuine and ensures it was applied by an authorized official.
Documents from provinces without a provincial authentication office, such as Saskatchewan, are authenticated by Global Affairs Canada in Ottawa. If Global Affairs Canada cannot authenticate a document (for example, certain private or non-public records), it may issue a Statement in Lieu of Authentication Certificate confirming the reason the document cannot be authenticated.
Step 2: Legalization or Attestation
After authentication, the document must then be legalized by the embassy or consulate of the destination country. This final step certifies that the authentication is valid and that the document may be recognized abroad.
Countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Cuba, and Jordan may require this attestation process. This ensures that public documents—including birth certificates, marriage certificates, and diplomas—are officially recognized and accepted for legal or administrative purposes abroad.
Do you need a certified translation, document authentication, or apostille service? I make sure your Canadian documents meet all federal and provincial requirements, ensuring they are legally valid and recognized in other countries. Contact me for a quote.
Step 1: Authentication
First, your document must be authenticated by Global Affairs Canada or the relevant provincial authorities. In provinces such as Alberta and British Columbia, provincial competent authorities are responsible for authenticating documents that were issued or notarized by a Canadian Notary Public within their jurisdiction. The authentication process confirms the signature and seal on the document as genuine and ensures it was applied by an authorized official.
Documents from provinces without a provincial authentication office, such as Saskatchewan, are authenticated by Global Affairs Canada in Ottawa. If Global Affairs Canada cannot authenticate a document (for example, certain private or non-public records), it may issue a Statement in Lieu of Authentication Certificate confirming the reason the document cannot be authenticated.
Step 2: Legalization or Attestation
After authentication, the document must then be legalized by the embassy or consulate of the destination country. This final step certifies that the authentication is valid and that the document may be recognized abroad.
Countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Cuba, and Jordan may require this attestation process. This ensures that public documents—including birth certificates, marriage certificates, and diplomas—are officially recognized and accepted for legal or administrative purposes abroad.
Do you need a certified translation, document authentication, or apostille service? I make sure your Canadian documents meet all federal and provincial requirements, ensuring they are legally valid and recognized in other countries. Contact me for a quote.
Why Some Countries Are Not Members
Not all countries have joined the Apostille Convention due to differences in their political systems, laws, or administrative structures. These countries are not members, but they provide an official entry point via their embassies or consulates to verify and accept documents. Strict adherence to the procedure of attestation and legalization is the only way to ensure that you are accepted in the country you are visiting without having to wait or be refused during visa processing, admission to a college/university, or registration of your new business.
How the Apostille Process Differs From Consular Legalization
The apostille process, also called apostillization, is a simplified, one-step method for verifying the authenticity of public documents for international use among countries that are part of the Hague Apostille Convention. It serves as one of the main alternatives to authentication for cross-border document recognition. Once an apostille is issued by the competent authority—such as Global Affairs Canada or a designated provincial office—the document is automatically recognized by all member countries without any further legalization of documents or consular verification. For example, if a Canadian document needs to be used in France, an apostille alone confirms its authenticity under international law.
In contrast, consular legalization applies to countries that are not members of the convention. This traditional authentication of documents process involves several steps: authentication by Global Affairs Canada, possible additional verification by provincial authorities in Alberta, British Columbia, or Saskatchewan, and final legalization of documents by the foreign country’s embassy or consulate. For instance, if a Canadian public document is to be used in the United Arab Emirates, it would undergo this full legalization process (also called attestation for the UAE). While more complex, consular legalization remains necessary to ensure that documents are valid and accepted in jurisdictions that have not adopted apostillization under the Hague Apostille Convention.
In contrast, consular legalization applies to countries that are not members of the convention. This traditional authentication of documents process involves several steps: authentication by Global Affairs Canada, possible additional verification by provincial authorities in Alberta, British Columbia, or Saskatchewan, and final legalization of documents by the foreign country’s embassy or consulate. For instance, if a Canadian public document is to be used in the United Arab Emirates, it would undergo this full legalization process (also called attestation for the UAE). While more complex, consular legalization remains necessary to ensure that documents are valid and accepted in jurisdictions that have not adopted apostillization under the Hague Apostille Convention.
How to Verify Apostille Validity and Avoid Rejection Abroad
Before taking a Canadian document to another country, you must verify if that country accepts an apostille or if additional steps are needed to make it legal. Some countries may have their own rules and procedures because of their national laws or jurisdiction. Checking this information directly with the appropriate authority, embassy, or receiving institution helps ensure that your document will be accepted and not rejected when it reaches its destination. To confirm the authenticity of an apostille, individuals and organizations can use the official Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) e-Register. This online database enables users to verify apostille details issued by participating authorities, helping to detect fraudulent or invalid certificates.
However, not all Hague member countries currently use the e-Register system; therefore, if the issuing or destination country is not listed, verification should be conducted directly through the competent authority in the issuing country instead. Some common mistakes include sending documents to the wrong office, using outdated information about apostille member countries, or assuming a country accepts apostilles without verifying its current status. The best way to avoid problems when travelling is to check the requirements of both the issuing authority and the country you are visiting.
However, not all Hague member countries currently use the e-Register system; therefore, if the issuing or destination country is not listed, verification should be conducted directly through the competent authority in the issuing country instead. Some common mistakes include sending documents to the wrong office, using outdated information about apostille member countries, or assuming a country accepts apostilles without verifying its current status. The best way to avoid problems when travelling is to check the requirements of both the issuing authority and the country you are visiting.
What the Apostille Means for Individuals and Businesses in 2025
The apostille system is expected to keep growing in 2025, making it easier and faster to recognize documents from other countries. The growing number of member countries makes it easier for people to move around, trade, and obtain an education, eliminating the need for lengthy embassy legalization. This means that people will have an easier and faster time bringing documents like birth certificates, marriage certificates, or diplomas to other countries. It helps businesses make cross-border agreements and trade activities go more smoothly. This progress is especially significant for Canadians, allowing public documents issued in one country to be accepted directly in the other.
Another major advancement will be the introduction of digital apostilles, or e-apostille. These secure electronic versions will allow competent authorities to issue and verify apostilles online, reducing delays and minimizing the risk of fraud. For Canadians seeking documents for immigration, study, or work abroad, this digital process will provide a faster and more reliable way to meet foreign documentation requirements within the jurisdictions of other apostille member countries, when it’s fully implemented.
Another major advancement will be the introduction of digital apostilles, or e-apostille. These secure electronic versions will allow competent authorities to issue and verify apostilles online, reducing delays and minimizing the risk of fraud. For Canadians seeking documents for immigration, study, or work abroad, this digital process will provide a faster and more reliable way to meet foreign documentation requirements within the jurisdictions of other apostille member countries, when it’s fully implemented.
Get Your Canadian Documents Apostilled or Legalized Without the Stress
Do your Canadian documents need an apostille, authentication, or consular legalization for use abroad? I make the process stress-free and straightforward. From confirming the correct procedure and jurisdiction requirements to guiding you through notarization, translations, or digital apostille issuance, I ensure everything is done correctly the first time.
Avoid delays and rejected applications, and let me handle the details for you. Contact me today to get a quote and secure your apostilled or legalized documents with confidence.
Avoid delays and rejected applications, and let me handle the details for you. Contact me today to get a quote and secure your apostilled or legalized documents with confidence.
Submit the request now and get your translations tomorrow
I'll confirm the price quote today