View source for Apostille Convention

{{Distinguish2|[[Apostle (disambiguation)|Apostle]] (messenger, esp. Christian); or an apostil, meaning a [[marginal note]] or [[Gloss (annotation)|gloss]]}}
{{Infobox Treaty
|name                = Apostille Convention
|long_name           = Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents
|image               = MembersandnNonMembersOfTheApostilleOfTheHague.svg
|image_width         = 300px
|caption             = {{legend|#4973C5|State parties to the convention (members of the [[Hague Conference on Private International Law|HCCH]])}}
                       {{legend|#14D9E1|State parties to the convention (non-members of the HCCH)}}
                       {{legend|#992200|State parties for which the convention has not entered into force}}
|type                =
|date_drafted        =
|date_signed         = 5 October 1961
|location_signed     = The Netherlands
|date_sealed         =
|date_effective      = 14 January 1965
|condition_effective = ratification by 3 states<ref name=convention>{{cite web|url=http://hcch.e-vision.nl/index_en.php?act=conventions.text&cid=41|title=12: Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents|publisher=[[Hague Conference on Private International Law]]|accessdate=16 January 2011}}</ref>
|date_expiration     =
|signatories         =
|parties             = 112
|depositor           = [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Netherlands)]]
|language            =
|languages           = [[s:fr:Convention supprimant l'exigence de la légalisation des actes publics étrangers|French]] <small>(prevailing in case of divergence)</small><br> and English
|wikisource          =Apostille Convention
}}

The '''Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents''', the '''Apostille Convention''', or the '''Apostille Treaty''' is an international treaty drafted by the [[Hague Conference on Private International Law]].  It specifies the modalities through which a document issued in one of the signatory countries can be certified for legal purposes in all the other signatory states.  Such a certification is called an '''apostille''' (from [[Latin]] ''post illa'' and then {{lang-fr|a marginal note}}). It is an international certification comparable to a [[Notary public|notarisation]] in domestic law, and normally supplements a local notarisation of the document.

== Procedure ==
Apostilles are affixed by ''Competent Authorities'' designated by the government of a state which is party to the convention.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hcch.e-vision.nl/upload/abc12e.pdf|title=ABCs of Apostilles p.&nbsp;13|publisher=[[Hague Conference on Private International Law]]}}</ref> A list of these authorities is maintained by the Hague Conference on Private International Law. Examples of designated authorities are embassies, ministries, courts or (local) governments. For example, in the United States, the Secretary of State of each state and his or her deputies are usually competent authorities. In the [[United Kingdom]], all apostilles are issued by the [[Foreign and Commonwealth Office]] in [[Milton Keynes]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hcch.net/index_en.php?act=authorities.details&aid=352|publisher=[[Hague Conference on Private International Law]]|accessdate=9 March 2011|title=United Kingdom, Competent Authorities}}</ref>

To be eligible for an apostille, a document must first be issued or certified by an officer recognised by the authority that will issue the apostille. For example, in the US state of [[Vermont]], the Secretary of State maintains specimen signatures of all notaries public, so documents that have been notarised are eligible for apostilles.<ref>[http://vermont-archives.org/notary/guide/Notary5.htm Authentication] 2009</ref> Likewise, courts in the Netherlands are eligible of placing an apostille on all municipal [[civil status]] documents directly. In some cases, intermediate certifications may be required in the country in which the document originates before it will be eligible for an apostille. For example, in [[New York City]], the Office of Vital Records (which issues, among other things, [[birth certificate]]s) is not directly recognised by the [[New York Secretary of State]].<ref>[http://home2.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/vr/birth1.pdf Birth certificate application] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100604161123/http://home2.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/vr/birth1.pdf |date=4 June 2010 }} 2010</ref> As a consequence, the signature of the City Clerk must be certified by the [[County Clerk]] of [[New York County]] to make the birth certificate eligible for an apostille.<ref>[http://www.thomascrampton.com/2007/05/17/getting-a-ny-birth-certificate-with-apostille/ Crampton] 2007</ref><ref>[http://www.dos.state.ny.us/corps/apostille.html ''Apostiles''] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100724143701/http://www.dos.state.ny.us/corps/apostille.html |date=24 July 2010 }} n.d.</ref> In [[Japan]] all the official documents are issued in [[Japanese language]], [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Japan)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs]] (MOFA, JAPAN) then provides an apostille for these documents.<ref>[http://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/toko/todoke/shomei/index.html#1-1-2 Apostille, MOFA Japan] (''website in Japanese'')</ref> In [[India]] the apostille certification can be obtained from the [[Ministry of External Affairs (India)|Ministry of External Affairs]]<ref>[http://www.mea.gov.in/mystart.php?id=8801 MEA, India] Legalisation of Documents.</ref>

==Information==
[[File:Apostille Norway.png|thumb|An apostille issued by Norwegian authorities.]]

The apostille itself is a stamp or printed form consisting of 10 numbered standard fields. On the top is the text ''APOSTILLE'', under which the text ''Convention de La Haye du 5 octobre 1961'' (French  for Hague Convention of 5 October 1961) is placed. This title must be written in French for the Apostille to be valid (article 4 of the Convention). In the numbered fields the following information is added (may be in official language of the authority which issues it or in a second language):

# Country ... [e.g. Hong Kong, China] <br />This public document
# has been signed by [e.g. Henry Cho]
# acting in the capacity of [e.g. Notary Public]
# bears the seal/stamp of [e.g. High Court of Hong Kong]<br />Certified
# at [e.g. Hong Kong] 
# the ... [e.g. 16 April 2014]
# by ... [e.g. the governor of the special administrative district of Hong Kong, China]
# No ... [e.g. 2536218517]
# Seal/stamp ... {of the authority giving the apostille} 
# Signature
The information can be placed on the (back of the) document itself, or attached to the document as an [[allonge]].

==Eligible documents==
Four types of documents are mentioned in the convention:<ref name=convention/>
*court documents
*administrative documents (e.g. civil status documents)
*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.

== Legalization ==
{{main|legalization (international law)}}
A State that has not signed the Convention must specify how foreign legal documents can be certified for its use. Two countries may have a special convention on the recognition of each other's public documents, but in practice this is infrequent. Otherwise, the document must be certified by the foreign ministry of the country in which the document originated, and then by the foreign ministry of the government of the state in which the document will be used; one of the certifications will often be performed at an embassy or consulate. In practice this means the document must be certified twice before it can have legal effect in the receiving country. For example, as a non-signatory, [[Canadians|Canadian]] documents for use abroad must be certified by the Deputy Minister of [http://www.international.gc.ca/department-ministere/authentication-authentification_documents.aspx?lang=eng&view=d Foreign Affairs] in [[Ottawa]] or by a Canadian consular official abroad and subsequently by the relevant government office or consulate of the receiving state.
<center>{{Gallery
|title= Apostille vs. Legalization
|lines=4
|width=200
|height=150
|Image:AlabamianApostilleOfTheHague.jpg|An Apostille of the Hague issued by the [[Alabama|State of Alabama]]
|File:Legalization.jpg|As Canada is a non-signatory, Canadian documents for use abroad must be certified twice: at the [[Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade|Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs]] and subsequently by the consulate of the receiving state (in this case, the [[Netherlands]])
}}</center>

==States that are party to the convention==
The convention has 112 parties and is in force for all members of the [[European Union]] and all but 10 members of the Hague Conference on Private International Law. The most recent state to accede to the convention is [[Chile]] (entry into force 30 August 2016).

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! State
! Entry into Force
! Apostille not recognised in
! Comment
|-
| {{flagicon|Albania}} [[Albania]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2004|May|9}}
| Belgium (until 2015), Germany, Greece, Italy (until 2011) and Spain
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Andorra}} [[Andorra]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1996|Dec|31}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Antigua_and_Barbuda}} [[Antigua and Barbuda]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1981|Nov|1}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Argentina}} [[Argentina]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1988|Feb|18}}
| Kosovo
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Armenia}} [[Armenia]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1994|Oct|14}}
| Kosovo
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Australia}} [[Australia]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1995|Mar|16}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Austria}} [[Austria]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1968|Jan|13}}
| Burundi, Dominican Republic, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Azerbaijan}} [[Azerbaijan]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2005|Mar|2}}
| Germany, Hungary (until 2005), Kosovo, Netherlands (until 2010)
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Bahamas}} [[Bahamas]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1973|Jul|10}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Bahrain}} [[Bahrain]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2013|Dec|31}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Barbados}} [[Barbados]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1966|Nov|30}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Belarus}} [[Belarus]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1992|May|31}}
| Kosovo
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Belgium}} [[Belgium]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1973|Feb|9}}
| Albania (until 2015), Dominican Republic, India (until 2008), Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Ukraine (until 2004), Uzbekistan
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Belize}} [[Belize]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1993|Apr|11}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Bosnia_and_Herzegovina}} [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1992|Mar|6}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Botswana}} [[Botswana]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1966|Sep|30}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Brazil}} [[Brazil]]
| ''{{dts|format=dmy|2016|Aug|14}}''
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Brunei}} [[Brunei]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1987|Dec|3}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Bulgaria}} [[Bulgaria]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2001|Apr|29}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Burundi}} [[Burundi]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2015|Feb|13}}
| Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Poland
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Cape_Verde}} [[Cape Verde]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2010|Feb|13}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Chile}} [[Chile]]
| ''{{dts|format=dmy|2016|Aug|30}}''
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Colombia}} [[Colombia]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2001|Jan|30}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Cook_Islands}} [[Cook Islands]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2005|Apr|30}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Costa_Rica}} [[Costa Rica]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2011|Dec|14}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Croatia}} [[Croatia]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1991|Dec|8}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Cyprus}} [[Cyprus]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1973|Apr|30}}
| Kosovo
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Czech_Republic}} [[Czech Republic]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1999|Mar|16}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Denmark}} [[Kingdom of Denmark]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2006|Dec|26}}
|
| does not apply for [[Greenland]] and the [[Faroe Islands]]
|-
| {{flagicon|Dominica}} [[Dominica]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1978|Nov|3}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Dominican_Republic}} [[Dominican Republic]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2009|Aug|30}}
| Austria, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Ecuador}} [[Ecuador]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2005|Apr|2}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|El_Salvador}} [[El Salvador]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1996|May|31}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Estonia}} [[Estonia]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2001|Sep|30}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Fiji}} [[Fiji]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1970|Oct|10}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Finland]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1986|Aug|26}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|France}} [[France]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1965|Jan|24}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Georgia}} [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2007|May|14}}
| Germany (until 2010), Kosovo and Greece (until 2015)
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Germany]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1966|Feb|13}}
| Albania, Azerbaijan, Burundi, Dominican Republic, Georgia (until 2010), India, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Paraguay, Peru (until 2014), Tajikistan, Ukraine (until 2010) and Uzbekistan
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Greece}} [[Greece]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1985|May|18}}
| Albania, Georgia (until 2015), Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Peru, Uzbekistan
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Grenada}} [[Grenada]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2002|Apr|7}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Cyprus}} [[Cyprus]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1973|Apr|30}}
| Kosovo
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Honduras}} [[Honduras]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2004|Dec|30}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Guatemala}} [[Guatemala]]
| ''{{dts|format=dmy|2017|Sep|18}}''
| 
| 
|-
| {{flagicon|Hungary}} [[Hungary]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1973|Jan|18}}
| Azerbaijan (until 2005), 
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Iceland}} [[Iceland]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2004|Nov|27}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|India}} [[India]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2005|Jul|14}}
| Belgium (until 2008), Finland (until 2009), Germany,<ref name="hague_table">{{cite web|url=http://www.hcch.net/index_en.php?act=conventions.status&cid=41|publisher=[[Hague Conference on Private International Law]]|accessdate=21 May 2014|title=Status Table - 12: Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents}}</ref> Netherlands (until 2008) and Spain (until 2008), Kosovo
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Ireland]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1999|Mar|9}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Israel}} [[Israel]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1978|Aug|14}}
|Kosovo
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Italy]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1978|Feb|11}}
| Albania (until 2011), 
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Japan]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1970|Jul|27}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Kazakhstan}} [[Kazakhstan]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2001|Jan|30}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Kosovo}} [[Kosovo]]
| ''{{dts|format=dmy|2016|Jul|14}}''
| Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, China (for Hong Kong and Macao), Cyprus, Germany, Georgia, Greece, India, Israel, Mauritius, Nicaragua, Mexico, Moldova, Namibia, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Russia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Venezuela
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Kyrgyzstan}} [[Kyrgyzstan]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2011|Jul|31}}
|Austria, Belgium, Germany, and Greece
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Latvia}} [[Latvia]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1996|Jan|30}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Lesotho}} [[Lesotho]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1966|Dec|4}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Liberia}} [[Liberia]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1996|Feb|8}}
| Belgium, Germany, and the United States (until 2015)
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Liechtenstein}} [[Liechtenstein]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1972|Sep|17}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Lithuania}} [[Lithuania]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1997|Jul|19}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Luxembourg}} [[Luxembourg]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1979|Jun|3}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Macau}} [[Macau]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1969|Feb|4}}
| Kosovo
|The convention is still applicable to Macau despite the [[transfer of sovereignty over Macau]] on {{dts|format=dmy|1999|Dec|20}}.<ref name=HongKong&Macau>[https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/status-table/notifications/?csid=914&disp=resdn Information on the application of the convention to Hong Kong and Macau]</ref>
|-
| {{flagicon|Macedonia}} [[Republic of Macedonia|Macedonia]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1991|Nov|17}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Malawi}} [[Malawi]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1967|Dec|2}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Malta}} [[Malta]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1968|Mar|3}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Marshall_Islands}} [[Marshall Islands]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1992|Aug|14}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Mauritius}} [[Mauritius]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1968|Mar|12}}
| Kosovo
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Mexico}} [[Mexico]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1995|Aug|14}}
| Kosovo
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Moldova}} [[Moldova]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2007|Mar|16}}
| Germany and Kosovo
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Monaco}} [[Monaco]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2002|Dec|31}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Mongolia}} [[Mongolia]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2009|Dec|31}}
| Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany and Greece
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Montenegro}} [[Montenegro]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2006|Jun|3}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Morocco}} [[Morocco]]
| ''{{dts|format=dmy|2016|Aug|14}}''
| Germany
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Namibia}} [[Namibia]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2001|Jan|30}}
| Kosovo
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Kingdom_of_the_Netherlands}} [[Kingdom of the Netherlands]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1965|Oct|8}}
| Azerbaijan (until 2010), Dominican Republic, India (until 2008), 
| [[Aruba]], [[Curaçao]], [[Netherlands]], and [[Sint Maarten]]
|-
| {{flagicon|New_Zealand}} [[New Zealand]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2001|Nov|22}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Nicaragua}} [[Nicaragua]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2013|May|14}}
| Kosovo
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Niue}} [[Niue]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1999|Mar|2}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Norway}} [[Norway]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1983|Jul|29}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Oman}} [[Oman]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2012|Jan|30}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Panama}} [[Panama]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1991|Aug|4}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Paraguay}} [[Paraguay]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2014|Aug|30}}<ref>http://mersanlaw.com/2014/08/13/entrada-en-vigencia-del-convenio-de-apostilla-en-paraguay/?lang=en</ref>
| Germany, Kosovo
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Peru}} [[Peru]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2010|Sep|30}}
| Germany, Greece, Kosovo
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Poland}} [[Poland]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2005|Aug|14}}
|Kosovo
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Portugal}} [[Portugal]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1969|Feb|4}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Romania}} [[Romania]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2001|Mar|13}}
| Kosovo
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Russia}} [[Russia]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1992|May|31}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Saint_Kitts_and_Nevis}} [[Saint Kitts and Nevis]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1994|Dec|14}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Saint_Lucia}} [[Saint Lucia]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2002|Jul|31}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Saint_Vincent_and_the_Grenadines}} [[Saint Vincent and the Grenadines]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1979|Oct|27}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Samoa}} [[Samoa]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1999|Sep|13}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|San_Marino}} [[San Marino]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1995|Feb|13}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|São_Tomé_and_Príncipe}} [[São Tomé and Príncipe]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2008|Sep|13}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Serbia}} [[Serbia]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1992|Apr|27}}
| Kosovo
| ratified as the {{flag|Federal Republic of Yugoslavia}}
|-
| {{flagicon|Seychelles}} [[Seychelles]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1979|Mar|31}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Slovakia}} [[Slovakia]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2002|Feb|18}}
| Kosovo
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Slovenia}} [[Slovenia]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1991|Jun|25}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|South_Africa}} [[South Africa]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1995|Apr|30}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|South_Korea}} [[South Korea]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2007|Jul|14}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Spain}} [[Spain]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1978|Sep|25}}
| Albania, India (until 2008) and Kosovo
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Suriname}} [[Suriname]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1975|Nov|25}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Swaziland}} [[Swaziland]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1968|Sep|6}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Sweden}} [[Sweden]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1999|May|1}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Switzerland}} [[Switzerland]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1973|Mar|11}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Tonga}} [[Tonga]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1970|Jun|4}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Trinidad_and_Tobago}} [[Trinidad and Tobago]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2000|Jul|14}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Turkey}} [[Turkey]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1985|Sep|29}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Ukraine}} [[Ukraine]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2003|Dec|22}}
| Belgium (until 2004), Greece (until 2010) and Kosovo
|
|-
| {{flagicon|UK}} [[United Kingdom]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1965|Jan|24}}
|
| including [[Crown Dependencies]] and [[British Overseas Territories]]
|-
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[United States]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1981|Oct|15}}
| Liberia (until 2015)
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Uruguay]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2012|Oct|14}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Uzbekistan}} [[Uzbekistan]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2012|Apr|15}}
| Austria, Belgium, Germany, Greece, Kosovo
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Vanuatu}} [[Vanuatu]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1980|Jul|30}}
|
|
|-
| {{flagicon|Venezuela}} [[Venezuela]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1999|Mar|16}}
|Kosovo
|
|}

==Abuse==
The Apostille does not give information regarding the quality of the content in the underlying document, but certifies the signature (and the capacity of who placed it) and correctness of the seal/stamp on the document which must be certified. In 2005 The Hague Conference surveyed its members and produced a report in December 2008 which expressed serious concerns about Diplomas and Degree certificates issued by [[diploma mill]]s. The possible abuse of the system was highlighted "Particularly troubling is the possible use of diploma mill qualifications to circumvent migration controls, possibly by potential terrorists." (page 5) 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. "An official looking certificate may be issued to a copy of a diploma mill qualification, and then subsequently issued with an Apostille, without anyone having ever verified the signature on, let alone the contents of, the diploma." (page 7) Further member states indicated "they would be obliged to issue an Apostille for certification of a certified copy of a diploma issued by a diploma mill". (page 15)
The evaluation commission of the Hague Conference expressed concern as to whether this issue could affect the entire convention.
"...the Apostille does not 'look through the certification' and does not relate to the diploma itself .... There is a clear risk that such practices may eventually undermine the effectiveness and therefore the successful operation of the Apostille Convention". (page 5)<ref>{{cite web | url = http://hcch.e-vision.nl/upload/wop/2008pd05e.pdf | title = The application of the Apostille Convention to diplomas including those issued by diploma mills | date = December 2008 | publisher = Hague Conference on Private International Law | author = Permanent Bureau}}</ref>

In February 2009 the Hague Conference recommended to amend the wording on the Apostille to make it clear that only the seal and the signature were authenticated. The wording to be added is:
"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."<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.hcch.net/upload/wop/jac_concl_e.pdf | page=13 | title =  Conclusions and Recommendations of the Special Commission on the Practical Operation of the Hague Apostille, Service, Taking of Evidence, and Access to Justice Conventions | date = February 2009 | publisher = Hague Conference on Private International Law | author = Permanent Bureau}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Legalization (international law)]]
*[[Hague Conference on Private International Law]]
*[[Convention on the issue of multilingual extracts from civil status records]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://hcch.e-vision.nl/index_en.php?act=conventions.text&cid=41 treaty text (HCCH)]
*[http://hcch.e-vision.nl/index_en.php?act=conventions.status&cid=41 status (HCCH)]

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2011}}

[[Category:Hague Conference on Private International Law conventions]]
[[Category:Legal documents]]
[[Category:Notary]]
[[Category:Treaties of Albania]]
[[Category:Treaties of Andorra]]
[[Category:Treaties of Antigua and Barbuda]]
[[Category:Treaties of Argentina]]
[[Category:Treaties of Armenia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Australia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Austria]]
[[Category:Treaties of Azerbaijan]]
[[Category:Treaties of the Bahamas]]
[[Category:Treaties of Bahrain]]
[[Category:Treaties of Barbados]]
[[Category:Treaties of Belarus]]
[[Category:Treaties of Belgium]]
[[Category:Treaties of Belize]]
[[Category:Treaties of Bosnia and Herzegovina]]
[[Category:Treaties of Botswana]]
[[Category:Treaties of Brunei]]
[[Category:Treaties of Bulgaria]]
[[Category:Treaties of Burundi]]
[[Category:Treaties of Cape Verde]]
[[Category:Treaties of Chile]]
[[Category:Treaties of Colombia]]
[[Category:Treaties of the Cook Islands]]
[[Category:Treaties of Costa Rica]]
[[Category:Treaties of Croatia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Cyprus]]
[[Category:Treaties of the Czech Republic]]
[[Category:Treaties of Denmark]]
[[Category:Treaties of Dominica]]
[[Category:Treaties of the Dominican Republic]]
[[Category:Treaties of Ecuador]]
[[Category:Treaties of El Salvador]]
[[Category:Treaties of Estonia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Fiji]]
[[Category:Treaties of Finland]]
[[Category:Treaties of France]]
[[Category:Treaties of Georgia (country)]]
[[Category:Treaties of West Germany]]
[[Category:Treaties of Greece]]
[[Category:Treaties of Grenada]]
[[Category:Treaties of Honduras]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to British Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Treaties of the Hungarian People's Republic]]
[[Category:Treaties of Iceland]]
[[Category:Treaties of India]]
[[Category:Treaties of Ireland]]
[[Category:Treaties of Israel]]
[[Category:Treaties of Italy]]
[[Category:Treaties of Japan]]
[[Category:Treaties of Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:Treaties of Kosovo]]
[[Category:Treaties of Kyrgyzstan]]
[[Category:Treaties of Latvia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Lesotho]]
[[Category:Treaties of Liberia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Liechtenstein]]
[[Category:Treaties of Lithuania]]
[[Category:Treaties of Luxembourg]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to Portuguese Macau]]
[[Category:Treaties of the Republic of Macedonia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Malawi]]
[[Category:Treaties of Malta]]
[[Category:Treaties of the Marshall Islands]]
[[Category:Treaties of Mauritius]]
[[Category:Treaties of Mexico]]
[[Category:Treaties of Moldova]]
[[Category:Treaties of Morocco]]
[[Category:Treaties of Monaco]]
[[Category:Treaties of Mongolia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Montenegro]]
[[Category:Treaties of Namibia]]
[[Category:Treaties of the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Treaties of New Zealand]]
[[Category:Treaties of Nicaragua]]
[[Category:Treaties of Niue]]
[[Category:Treaties of Norway]]
[[Category:Treaties of Oman]]
[[Category:Treaties of Panama]]
[[Category:Treaties of Paraguay]]
[[Category:Treaties of Peru]]
[[Category:Treaties of Poland]]
[[Category:Treaties of the Estado Novo (Portugal)]]
[[Category:Treaties of Romania]]
[[Category:Treaties of Russia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Saint Kitts and Nevis]]
[[Category:Treaties of Saint Lucia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines]]
[[Category:Treaties of Samoa]]
[[Category:Treaties of San Marino]]
[[Category:Treaties of São Tomé and Príncipe]]
[[Category:Treaties of Serbia and Montenegro]]
[[Category:Treaties of Seychelles]]
[[Category:Treaties of Slovakia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Slovenia]]
[[Category:Treaties of South Africa]]
[[Category:Treaties of South Korea]]
[[Category:Treaties of Spain]]
[[Category:Treaties of Suriname]]
[[Category:Treaties of Swaziland]]
[[Category:Treaties of Sweden]]
[[Category:Treaties of Switzerland]]
[[Category:Treaties of Tajikistan]]
[[Category:Treaties of Tonga]]
[[Category:Treaties of Trinidad and Tobago]]
[[Category:Treaties of Turkey]]
[[Category:Treaties of Ukraine]]
[[Category:Treaties of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Treaties of the United States]]
[[Category:Treaties of Uruguay]]
[[Category:Treaties of Uzbekistan]]
[[Category:Treaties of Vanuatu]]
[[Category:Treaties of Venezuela]]
[[Category:Treaties of Yugoslavia]]
[[Category:Treaties concluded in 1961]]
[[Category:Treaties entered into force in 1965]]
[[Category:1961 in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to Ashmore and Cartier Islands]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to the Australian Antarctic Territory]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to Christmas Island]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to the Cocos (Keeling) Islands]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to Heard Island and McDonald Islands]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to Norfolk Island]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to the Netherlands Antilles]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to the Coral Sea Islands]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to British Antigua and Barbuda]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to the Colony of the Bahamas]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to the Colony of Barbados]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to Basutoland]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to the Bechuanaland Protectorate]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to British Guiana]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to the British Solomon Islands]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to Brunei (protectorate)]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to British Dominica]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to the Colony of Fiji]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to the Gilbert and Ellice Islands]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to British Grenada]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to British Mauritius]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to the New Hebrides]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to British Saint Lucia]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to British Saint Vincent and the Grenadines]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to the Crown Colony of Seychelles]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to Southern Rhodesia]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to Swaziland (protectorate)]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to the Kingdom of Tonga (1900–70)]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to Aruba]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to Surinam (Dutch colony)]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to Portuguese Angola]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to Portuguese Cape Verde]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to Portuguese Timor]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to Portuguese Guinea]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to Portuguese Mozambique]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to Clipperton Island]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to French Comoros]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to French Somaliland]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to French Guiana]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to French Polynesia]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to the French Southern and Antarctic Lands]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to Guadeloupe]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to Martinique]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to Mayotte]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to New Caledonia]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to Saint Pierre and Miquelon]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to Wallis and Futuna]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to Bermuda]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to the British Antarctic Territory]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to the British Virgin Islands]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to the Cayman Islands]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to the Falkland Islands]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to Gibraltar]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to Guernsey]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to Jersey]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to the Isle of Man]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to Montserrat]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to the Turks and Caicos Islands]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to West Berlin]]
[[Category:20th century in The Hague]]