Hague Convention Countries List 2026 — Where is an Apostille Required? | GlobalDocs

The Hague Convention of 1961 now unites 129 countries that recognize the apostille — a simplified document legalization procedure. In 2024–2026, the list expanded significantly: Canada, China, Bangladesh, and other states joined. In this article, you will find the current list of member states, new members of the convention, and countries where consular legalization is still required.

🔥 Key Changes 2024–2026

• Canada — joined on January 11, 2024 (125th member of the convention)

• China — joined on November 7, 2023 (including Hong Kong and Macau)

• Bangladesh — joined on March 30, 2026

• Algeria — will join on July 9, 2026

What is the Hague Apostille Convention?

The Hague Convention abolishing the requirement of legalization for foreign public documents was signed on October 5, 1961, in The Hague (Netherlands). The main objective of the convention is to simplify the procedure for recognizing official documents issued in one member state for use in another member state.

Before the convention, documents required a complex consular legalization procedure: they had to be certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then by the consulate of the destination country. This took weeks and was expensive. The apostille replaced this procedure with a single stamp applied by a competent authority in the country of document issuance.

The apostille certifies the authenticity of the signature, the capacity in which the person signing the document acted, and the authenticity of the seal or stamp with which the document is secured. However, the apostille does not confirm the content of the document itself — only its legal force as an official document.

New Members of the Convention 2023–2026

🇨🇦 Canada — Historic Accession (January 11, 2024)

Canada became the 125th member of the Hague Convention on January 11, 2024. This was a historic event, as Canada was one of the last major developed nations not participating in the convention. Previously, Canadian documents required consular legalization for use abroad, which created significant inconvenience for immigrants, students, and businesses.

After Canada joined, the procedure was significantly simplified: Canadian documents (birth certificates, marriage certificates, diplomas, criminal record certificates) can now be used in any of the other 128 member states with a simple apostille. Each Canadian province has designated its own competent authorities for apostille, while federal documents are certified through Global Affairs Canada.

🇨🇳 China — The World’s Second-Largest Economy in the Convention (November 7, 2023)

China joined the Hague Convention on November 7, 2023. This decision has enormous significance for international business and document exchange, given that China is the world’s second-largest economy. Importantly, the convention applies to all of China, including Hong Kong (SAR) and Macau (SAR).

Before China joined, documents for use in this country required consular legalization at the Chinese embassy — a lengthy and expensive procedure. Now Russian documents with apostille are accepted directly in China, which is particularly important for business partners, students, and workers planning activities in China.

🇧🇩 Bangladesh (March 30, 2026)

Bangladesh joined the convention on March 30, 2026, depositing the instrument of accession on July 29, 2024. The country has implemented an electronic apostille system (e-Apostille), which accelerates document processing. The competent authority is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh.

🇩🇿 Algeria — Accession in 2026

Algeria signed accession documents on November 5, 2026, and the convention will enter into force for this country on July 9, 2026. This will open the North African market for simplified document exchange.

Complete List of Hague Convention Member States (129 Countries)

Below is the current complete list of countries belonging to the Hague Apostille Convention as of 2026. For all these countries, an apostille is sufficient — consular legalization is not required.

🇪🇺 European Countries

Albania (2004) Andorra (1996) Armenia (2004) Austria (1968) Azerbaijan (2005) Belarus (1992) Belgium (1976) Bosnia and Herzegovina (2016) Bulgaria (1979) Croatia (2004) Cyprus (1973) Czech Republic (1999) Denmark (2006) Estonia (2001) Finland (1985) France (1965) Georgia (2007) Germany (1966) Greece (1985) Hungary (1974) Iceland (2005) Ireland (1999) Italy (1978) Kosovo (2024) Latvia (1996) Liechtenstein (1972) Lithuania (1997) Luxembourg (1974) Malta (1968) Moldova (2007) Monaco (2004) Montenegro (2007) Netherlands (1965) North Macedonia (2004) Norway (1985) Poland (2005) Portugal (1969) Romania (2001) Russia (1992) San Marino (1994) Serbia (2007) Slovakia (2002) Slovenia (2003) Spain (1978) Sweden (2000) Switzerland (1973) Ukraine (2003) United Kingdom (1965)

🌎 North and South American Countries

Antigua and Barbuda (1967) Argentina (1968) Bahamas (1973) Barbados (1966) Belize (1993) Bolivia (2018) Brazil (2016) Canada (2024) 🆕 Chile (2016) Colombia (2001) Costa Rica (2012) Dominica (1978) Dominican Republic (2009) Ecuador (2022) El Salvador (1997) Grenada (2002) Guatemala (2017) Honduras (2004) Mexico (1995) Nicaragua (2013) Panama (1991) Paraguay (2014) Peru (2010) St. Kitts and Nevis (1994) St. Lucia (1979) St. Vincent and the Grenadines (1979) Suriname (1976) Trinidad and Tobago (1966) USA (1981) Uruguay (2012) Venezuela (2024)

🌏 Asian Countries

Bahrain (2023) Bangladesh (2026) 🆕 Brunei (2024) China (2023) 🆕 India (2005) Indonesia (2022) Israel (1978) Japan (1970) Kazakhstan (2001) Kyrgyzstan (2012) Oman (2014) Pakistan (2023) Philippines (2019) South Korea (2007) Tajikistan (2015) Thailand (2019) Turkey (1985) Turkmenistan (2024) Uzbekistan (2024) Vietnam (2024)

🌍 African Countries

Botswana (2018) Burundi (2015) Cabo Verde (2024) Eswatini (2015) Ethiopia (2026) Liberia (2022) Lesotho (1973) Morocco (2016) Mauritius (1970) Namibia (2002) Rwanda (2024) São Tomé and Príncipe (2024) Senegal (2023) Seychelles (1979) South Africa (1972) Saudi Arabia (2022) Tunisia (2007) Zambia (2024) Zimbabwe (2024)

🏝️ Oceanian Countries

Australia (1995) Cook Islands (2005) Fiji (1971) Marshall Islands (2012) Niue (2024) New Zealand (1970) Palau (2019) Samoa (1994) Tonga (1970) Vanuatu (2024)

Countries WITHOUT Apostille: Where is Consular Legalization Required?

If the destination country is NOT a member of the Hague Convention, documents require consular legalization. This is a more complex and time-consuming procedure that includes certification by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the consulate of the destination country.

⚠️ Important!

For countries not part of the Hague Convention, the apostille has NO legal force. Documents will be rejected, and full consular legalization will be required.

🔥 Main Countries WITHOUT Apostille (Popular Destinations)

🇦🇪 UAE (United Arab Emirates) 🇪🇬 Egypt 🇶🇦 Qatar 🇰🇼 Kuwait 🇯🇴 Jordan 🇮🇷 Iran 🇮🇶 Iraq 🇸🇾 Syria 🇱🇾 Libya 🇾🇪 Yemen

🌍 Other Countries WITHOUT Apostille

Afghanistan Angola Benin Burkina Faso Cameroon Central African Republic Chad Comoros Congo (Brazzaville) DR Congo (Kinshasa) Djibouti Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Gabon Gambia Ghana Guinea Guinea-Bissau Kenya Kiribati Cuba* Madagascar Malawi Mali Mauritania Myanmar (Burma) Mozambique Nauru Niger Nigeria North Korea Sierra Leone Solomon Islands Somalia South Sudan Sudan Tanzania Timor-Leste Togo Tuvalu Uganda

*Cuba has a special status and bilateral agreements with some countries that may simplify document recognition.

Special Cases and Nuances

🇨🇳 China: Mainland, Hong Kong, and Macau

After China joined the convention, it is important to understand the differences between regions. Hong Kong and Macau were already members of the convention through the United Kingdom and Portugal respectively. Now mainland China also accepts apostilles. However, documents between mainland China and Hong Kong/Macau now require an apostille, which was not previously the case.

🇧🇾 Russia’s Bilateral Agreements

Russia has bilateral agreements with some CIS countries that may abolish the apostille requirement for certain types of documents. For example, the agreement with Belarus (Minsk Agreement) simplifies the recognition of certain documents between these countries. However, for third countries, the apostille is still required.

🇪🇺 European Union

Although all EU countries are members of the Hague Convention, additional agreements operate within the European Union (e.g., the Brussels Convention) that may simplify or abolish the apostille requirement for certain documents between EU member states. However, for documents from Russia to EU countries, the apostille remains mandatory.

📋 Competent Authorities in Russia

In Russia, the apostille is applied by different authorities depending on the document type:

• Ministry of Justice — documents issued by civil registry offices, notaries, courts

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs — documents from federal authorities

• Civil Registry Offices — birth, marriage, and death certificates

• Archive Authorities — archive certificates and copies

How to Check if an Apostille is Required?

1

Determine the Destination Country

Where will your document be presented? Find the country in the list above or use the official website of the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH).

2

Check the Document Type

Not all documents require an apostille. For example, commercial and customs documents usually require consular legalization even for convention member states.

3

Clarify the Recipient’s Requirements

The organization receiving the document may have additional requirements: apostille translation, notarized document translation, specific apostille validity period.

4

Contact Specialists

If you are unsure whether an apostille or consular legalization is required, contact us for a consultation. We will help you determine the exact requirements for your situation.

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Article updated: April 24, 2026. Data is based on information from the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH).