The electronic Apostille Pilot Program FAQs (frequently-asked questions)

The Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (Apostille Convention) is one of the most successful Conventions adopted under the auspices of the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH). It facilitates the circulation of public documents executed in one State party to the Convention and to be produced in another State party to the Convention. At present, there are more than 90 Contracting States to the Convention. Of all the Hague Conventions, the Apostille Convention has attracted the highest number of States Parties.

For more information on the Apostille Convention in general, see the "Apostille Section" of the Hague Conference's Web site (www.hcch.net).

The Apostille Convention facilitates the circulation of public documents by replacing the cumbersome and often costly formalities otherwise required pursuant to an authentication process known as "legalisation" or "chain legalisation". Under the Apostille Convention, a public document is authenticated by the mere issuance of an Apostille (also called Apostille Certificate or Certificate). Apostilles may only be issued by a Competent Authority designated by the State from which the public document emanates. The Permanent Bureau (Secretariat) of the Hague Conference on Private International Law neither issues nor keeps copies of Apostilles. The Apostille is placed by the Competent Authority on the public document itself or on an allonge. The Apostille must comply with the model annexed to the Convention. In addition, each Competent Authority is required to keep a Register in which it records the Apostilles it has issued.

For more information on the Apostille Convention in general, see the "Apostille Section" of the Hague Conference's Web site (www.hcch.net).

At present the Convention is in force in more than 90 States.

For more information on the Apostille Convention in general, including a comprehensive and updated list of Contracting States, see the "Apostille Section" of the Hague Conference's Web site (www.hcch.net).

Apostilles may only be issued by a Competent Authority designated by the State from which the public document emanates. The Apostille Certificate is placed by the Competent Authority on the public document itself or on an allonge. The Apostille must comply with the model annexed to the Convention. There are a variety of means for affixing Apostilles to the public document. These means may include rubber stamp, glue, (multi-coloured) ribbons, wax seals, impressed seals, self-adhesive stickers, etc.; as to an allonge, these means may include glue, grommets, staples, etc.

For more information on the Apostille Convention in general, including the list of Competent Authorities, see the "Apostille Section" of the Hague Conference's Web site (www.hcch.net).

The Convention applies only to public documents (see Art. 1 of the Convention). These include:

• documents emanating from an authority or official connected with a court or tribunal of the State (including documents issued by an administrative, constitutional or ecclesiastical court or tribunal, a public prosecutor, a clerk or a process-server);


• administrative documents;


• notarial acts; and


• 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.

• birth, marriage and death certificates;


• extracts from commercial registers and other registers;


• patents;


• court rulings;


• notarial acts and notarial attestations of signatures; and


• academic diplomas issued by public institutions.

Each Competent Authority is required to keep a Register in which it records the number and date of every Apostille it has issued, as well as the name of the person who signed the public document and the capacity in which he or she acted, or in the case of unsigned public documents, the name of the authority which has affixed the seal or stamp. The Registers, which may be accessed by any interested person, are an essential tool to combat fraud and assess and/or verify the origin of an Apostille in case of doubt.

The Apostille Convention is used thousands of times a day.

For more information on the Apostille Convention in general, see the "Apostille Section" of the Hague Conference's Web site (www.hcch.net).