What are the benefits of the apostille and which countries recognise apostille certificates?

Benefits of the apostille

With the Hague Convention, the whole legalisation process has been deeply simplified by the delivery of a standard certificate entitled “apostille”. Authorities of the state where the document was issued must place the certificate on it. It will be dated, numbered and registered. This makes finalising the verification and registration through the authorities who forwarded the certificate much easier.

List of countries which recognise apostille certificates

The Hague Convention currently has over 60 countries as members. Furthermore, many others will also recognise an apostille certificate.

• Albania, Andorra, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan
• Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria
• Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic
• Dominica
• El Salvador
• Fiji, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France
• Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guyana
• Honduras, Hong Kong (SAR), Hungary
• Ireland, Israel, Italy
• Japan
• Kazakhstan, Kiribati
• Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg
• Macau (SAR), Malawi, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco
• Netherlands (including Aruba and Netherlands Antilles), New Zealand, Niue, Norway
• Panama, Portugal (including Madeira)
• Romania, Russian Federation
• Samoa, Serbia and Montenegro, San Marino, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain (including the Canary Islands), Sri Lanka, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Surinam, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland
• Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, Tuvalu
• Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America (including Puerto Rico)
• Vanuatu, Venezuela
• Yugoslavia

Other countries

The countries listed below have approved the apostille certificate as proof of legalisation. Although it is likely to be accepted most of the time, a consultation with the legal entity supposed to receive it is recommended.

• Afars and the Issas, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Aruba
• Bermuda, Brazil, British Antarctic Territory, British Virgin Islands
• Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, China, Comoros Islands
• Denmark, Djibouti
• Egypt, Estonia
• Falkland Islands, French Guiana, French Polynesia
• Georgia, Gibraltar, Guadeloupe, Guernsey (Bailiwick of), Guyana
• Iceland
• Jersey, Jordan
• Malaysia, Martinique, Montserrat , Morocco, Mozambique
• New Caledonia
• Sri Lanka, St Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, St Helena, St Pierre and Miquelon
• Turks and Caicos
• Virgin Islands
• Wallis and Futuna