Hague conference pil convention abolishing the requirement of legalisation for foreign public documents concluded october 5, 1961 author lmsisuscribe. It provides a process through which a parent can seek to have their child returned to their home country. Members of the conference, known as the hague convention, adopted a document referred to as an apostille that would be recognized by all member nations. Montgomery county circuit court law library 50 maryland avenue, rockville, md 20850, room n3420 phone. Students commonly need an apostille to authenticate their academic transcripts or diploma for use in a foreign country. The usa and the hague apostille convention of 1961 the usa has been a party to the convention of 5 october 1961 abolishing the requirement of legalisation for foreign public documents, hereinafter the hague apostille convention, as a member since 1980 but it started issuing apostilles for public documents onafter october 15, 1981. Malaysia document legalization malaysia is not a member of the hague apostille convention and any official document destined for this country will receive a certificate from the secretary of state.
The hague convention of 1961 the purpose of the hague convention of 1961 is that it abolishes the requirement of diplomatic and consular legalization for public documents originating in one convention country and intended for use. Apostille the hague convention abolishing the requirement for legalization for foreign public documents hague convention is an international treaty, the source of apostille, drafted by the hague conference on private international law on october 5, 1961. An apostille is simply the name for a specialized certificate, issued by the secretary of state or the u. Apostille convention hague convention or treaty of 1961. Convention of 5 october 1961 abolishing the requirement of legalisation for foreign public documents, hcch. The main discussion of this study is why indonesia and some asean member countries so far have not participated as contracting state to the hague convention 1961 apostille convention. The hague convention abolishing the requirement of legalisation for foreign public. A list of countries that participate in the apostille convention hague treaty convention 12. As per the hague convention of 1961, there is a list of countries which require a document to go through the apostille process prior to being presented. The apostille is attached to your original document to verify it is legitimate and authentic so it will be accepted in one of the countries who are members of the hague apostille convention. The hague convention of 1961 the apostille convention. The hague convention on the civil aspects of international child abduction is the main international agreement that covers international parental child abduction. An apostille is a form of authentication issued for documents that will be used in countries that participate in the hague convention of 1961. Apostille services houston mobile notary and apostille services.
An updated version of this list can be found at the le hague website. It was drafted by the hague conference on private international law hcch and has been signed by. Thankfully, the name is shortened to the apostille convention. Apostille certificates are restricted in their use to those countries which are signatories to the hague convention. This treaty is called the hague convention abolishing the requirements of legalization for foreign. Below is an alphabetical list of over 90 countries that signed or have since signed and become party to the hague convention.
The following 117 countries are members of the hague apostille convention. United states pursuant to the hague convention abolishing the requirement for legalization. The apostille was introduced as an alternative to legalization, through the hague. Hague conference pil convention abolishing the requirement of legalisation for foreign public documents concluded october 5, 1961.
If the destination country is not listed above, contact the georgia. Convention of 5 october 1961 abolishing the requirement of legalisation for foreign public documents. The hague apostille convention is a multilateral treaty that was drafted by the. It is a procedure that simplifies the legalization of documents in order to verify the authenticity of the same and so that the documents could be valid internationally. Hague convention abolishing the requirement of legalisation for foreign public documents apostille convention, signed october 1961 hague service convention, signed november 1965 hague evidence convention, signed march 1970. National apostille inc us apostille, department of state. Apostille is a form of authentication issued for documents that will be used in countries that participate in the hague convention of 1961. The apostille convention provides for the simplified certification of public including notarized documents to be used in countries that have. The hague convention, as it is known in short, replaced the requirement of legalisation for foreign public documents, which was a tedious way of having to confirm documents between countries both countries had to sign two different confirmations in the past.
Concluded 5 october 1961 the states signatory to the present. Hague, iv convention signed at the hague october 18, 1907, with annex of regulations senate advice andconsent to ratification march 10,1908 ratified by the president of the united states february 23, 1909 procesverbaloffirst deposit ofratifications including that ofthe united states at the hague dated november 27, 1909 enteredinto force. Apostille of the hague agreement of the hague, october 5th. Contracting states to the apostille convention to issue apostilles, a simple. Service, taking of evidence, and access to justice conventions pdf. Listed below are the countries that are participants of the apostille convention hague treaty convention 12 and the convention is in force with the united states of america. The apostille certifies the signature and the position of the official who has issued or certified a copy of a document. Please be aware that some of the countries listed below may need additional legislation by a consulate or embassy office.
To begin, click on the country that is requesting your documents. The convention in 1961 is formally named the hague convention of 1961 abolishing the requirement of legislation for foreign public documents. On october 15, 1981, the hague convention abolishing the requirement of legalization for foreign public documents entered into force for the united states. It was first introduced during the hague apostille convention 1961 abolishing the legalization requirements of foreign public documents ad replaced it with the apostille. Australia is a member of the hague convention, having ratified it on 9th august, 1994. Betterknown as the apostille convention, this international instrument entered into force on january 24, 1965, and currently has 1 contracting states. Hague conventions of 1899 and 1907, among the first formal statements of the laws of war and war crimes in international law, signed july 1899 and october 1907. Hague convention apostille list of countries apostille. The hague convention abolishing the requirement of legalization for foreign public documents is one of a series of conventions of the hague conference on private international law.
Convention of 5 october 1961 abolishing the requirement of legalisation for foreign public documents, hcch website last visited feb. Hague convention on the civil aspects of international child. The following 117 countries are members of the hague apostille convention and will require an apostille from the secretary of the state or the us department of. It was drafted by the hague conference on private international law hcch and has been signed by about 100 countries including australia. We provide fast document authentication services through all 50 u.
Apostilles are only used to authenticate documents that will be used in another country. What is the apostille section of the hague convention. The apostille is a specific form of authentication for countries that participate in the hague convention of 1961. Convention, see hague conference on private international law, actes et. This title must be written in french for the apostille to be valid article 4 of the convention. The hague apostille convention is officially known as the hague convention of 5 october 1961, abolishing the requirement of legalisation for foreign public documents. Malaysia document legalization international apostille. Apostille or hague stamp neasc international education. Hague convention on the civil aspects of international. When the convention was drafted in 1961, the parties to the. A list of countries that accept apostilles is provided by. Non hague convention member countries countries that are not currently members of the hague convention of 1961 require a certification for any document requested by these countries. The usa has been a party to the convention of 5 october 1961 abolishing the requirement of legalisation for foreign public documents, hereinafter the hague apostille convention, as a member since 1980 but it started issuing apostilles for public documents onafter october 15, 1981 in accordance with the convention, documents destined for use in participating countries should be.
It was signed by the original signatories on october 5, 1961. If your country is not listed it is because it didnt adhere to the 1961 hague convention treaty. Jul 20, 2019 the following 117 countries are members of the hague apostille convention and will require an apostille from the secretary of the state or the us department of state in washington, dc. The convention simplifies the procedures which one has to follow in order to have a document originating in any country which is a party to the convention legalized for use in any other. International opium convention, the first international drug control treaty, sometimes referred to as the hague convention of 1912, signed january 1912. The hague convention of 1961 the apostille convention one. An apostille may take the form of a stamp upon a document. The apostille is attached to your original document to verify it is legitimate and authentic so it will be accepted in one of the countries who. If your document falls under the apostille process, we will obtain the secretary of state apostille certification or the us department of state apostille in washington dc, depending on the type. Documents destined for these countries only require an apostille from the secretary of state. Appendix a countries party to the hague convention of 1961. Fifty years after its adoption, the hague convention of 5 october 1961 abolishing the requirement. The apostille procedure consists in applying an apostille or certification to a public document, or an extension of the same, which certifies the authenticity of the signature on public documents that have been issued in a country which has signed the xii hague convention, of 5 october, 1961, abolishing the requirement of legalisation for foreign public documents, which shall be accepted as. The certificate shall be issued at the request of the.
An apostille is a form of authentication issued to documents for use in countries that participate in the hague convention of 1961. It is regarded as one of the most successful international treaties in the area of international legal and administrative cooperation. The hague convention also deals with issues of international child access. A list of countries that accept apostilles is provided by the us state department. The following 117 countries are members of the hague apostille convention and will require an apostille from the secretary of the state or the us department of state in washington, dc.
In 1961, the process for legalising documents for use abroad was abolished and replaced by a certificate of authenticity, called an apostille under the hague convention. Mar 01, 2019 the convention in 1961 is formally named the hague convention of 1961 abolishing the requirement of legislation for foreign public documents. The usa and the hague apostille convention of 1961. Apostille services houston mobile notary and apostille. The following is a list of countries accepting apostille certification. Countries party to the hague convention of 1961 apostille process 1. The fundamental objective of the apostille convention of 1961 is to facilitate. The apostille convention is the most widely ratified and acceded to of all the socalled hague conventions. A handbook on the practical operation of the apostille convention. Hague apostille member countries international apostille services. Since october 15, 1981, the united states has been part of the 1961 hague convention abolishing the requirement of legalization for foreign public documents commonly known as the apostille convention. The official list can be found at the hague conference on private international laws website. The apostille itself is a stamp or printed form consisting of ten numbered standard fields. About the hague conference on the apostille convention 7convention how will the apostille convention be implemented from a legislative point of view.
The apostille handbook is a comprehensive reference tool that is designed to assist competent authorities in performing their functions under the apostille convention, as well as address issues that arise in the contemporary operation of the convention. Apostilles are only valid in countries that joined the. Universal legalisation or the hague apostille personal. Legalizing documents for malaysia may require additional steps before the documents can be presented to the malaysia embassy or consulate office.
To order hard copies of these publications, please use the order form doc or. Verification of foreign public documents ministerstvo vnitra ceske. However, there are some countries that didnt sign the apostille treaty and still require embassy legalization to. Stateissued documents for use in countries that are members of 1961 hague convention must be authenticated by the competent authority in the state where the document was executed a stateissued document with an apostille does not require additional certification by the u.