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Introduction

Welcome to Orange County Apostille Resource Center — your comprehensive guide to understanding apostille certification and international document legalization. Whether you’re preparing documents for use abroad, verifying which countries accept apostilles, or simply trying to determine the right process for your situation, this page offers clear, accurate, and up-to-date information to help you navigate every step. We’re here to assist you with fast, reliable, and expert support.

Hague Apostille Convention Countries

The Hague Apostille Convention currently includes 127 countries from every continent, such as the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, India, China, Brazil, France, Germany, Japan, Australia, South Korea, Mexico, Argentina, South Africa, Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands, as well as many others like Albania, Armenia, Colombia, Indonesia, Morocco, Pakistan, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, and Ukraine. These member countries accept apostilles in place of traditional embassy legalizations for official documents.

Hague Convention Table

Country Accession Date Entry Into Force
Albania3-IX-20039-V-2004
Andorra15-IV-199631-XII-1996
Antigua and Barbuda1-V-19851-XI-1981
Argentina8-V-198718-II-1988
Armenia19-XI-199314-VIII-1994
Australia11-VII-199416-III-1995
Austria5-X-196113-I-1968
Azerbaijan13-V-20042-III-2005
Bahamas30-IV-197610-VII-1973
Bahrain10-IV-201331-XII-2013
Bangladesh29-VII-202430-III-2025
Barbados11-VIII-199530-XI-1966
Belarus16-VI-199231-V-1992
Belgium10-III-19709-II-1976
Belize17-VII-199211-IV-1993
Bolivia (Plurinational State of)6-IX-20177-V-2018
Bosnia and Herzegovina23-VIII-19936-III-1992
Botswana16-IX-196830-IX-1966
Brazil2-XII-201514-VIII-2016
Brunei Darussalam23-II-19873-XII-1987
Bulgaria1-VIII-200029-IV-2001
Burundi10-VI-201413-II-2015
Cabo Verde7-V-200913-II-2010
Canada12-V-202311-I-2024
Chile16-XII-201530-VIII-2016
China8-III-20237-XI-2023
Colombia27-IV-200030-I-2001
Cook Islands13-VII-200430-IV-2005
Costa Rica6-IV-201114-XII-2011
Croatia23-IV-19938-X-1991
Cyprus26-VII-197230-IV-1973
Czech Republic23-VI-199816-III-1999
Denmark20-X-200629-XII-2006
Dominica22-X-20023-XI-1978
Dominican Republic12-XII-200830-VIII-2009
Ecuador2-VII-20042-IV-2005
El Salvador14-IX-199531-V-1996
Estonia11-XII-200030-IX-2001
Eswatini3-VII-19786-IX-1968
Fiji29-III-197110-X-1970
Finland13-III-196226-VIII-1985
France9-X-196124-I-1965
Georgia21-VIII-200614-V-2007
Germany5-X-196113-II-1966
Greece5-X-196118-V-1985
Grenada17-VII-20017-IV-2002
Guatemala19-I-201718-IX-2017
Guyana30-VII-201818-IV-2019
Honduras20-I-200430-IX-2004
Hungary18-IV-197218-I-1973
Iceland7-IX-200427-XI-2004
India26-X-200414-VII-2005
Indonesia5-X-20214-VI-2022
Ireland29-X-19969-III-1999
Israel11-XI-197714-VIII-1978
Italy15-XII-196111-II-1978
Jamaica2-XI-20203-VII-2021
Japan12-III-197027-VII-1970
Kazakhstan5-IV-200030-I-2001
Kosovo6-XI-201514-VII-2016
Kyrgyzstan15-XI-201031-VII-2011
Latvia11-V-199530-I-1996
Lesotho24-IV-19724-X-1966
Liberia24-V-19958-II-1996
Liechtenstein18-IV-196217-IX-1972
Lithuania5-XI-199619-VII-1997
Luxembourg5-X-19613-VI-1979
Malawi24-II-19672-XII-1967
Malta12-VI-19673-III-1968
Marshall Islands18-XI-199114-VIII-1992
Mauritius20-XII-196812-III-1968
Mexico1-XII-199414-VIII-1995
Monaco24-IV-200231-XII-2002
Mongolia2-IV-200931-XII-2009
Montenegro30-I-20073-VI-2006
Morocco27-XI-201514-VIII-2016
Namibia25-IV-200030-I-2001
Netherlands30-XI-19628-X-1965
New Zealand7-II-200122-XI-2001
Nicaragua7-IX-201214-V-2013
Niue10-VI-19982-III-1999
North Macedonia20-IX-199317-XI-1991
Norway30-V-198329-VII-1983
Oman12-V-201130-I-2012
Pakistan8-VII-20229-III-2023
Palau17-X-201923-VI-2020
Panama30-X-19904-VIII-1991
Paraguay10-XII-201330-VIII-2014
Peru13-I-201030-IX-2010
Philippines12-IX-201814-V-2019
Poland19-XI-200414-VIII-2005
Portugal20-VIII-19654-II-1969
Republic of Korea25-X-200614-VII-2007
Republic of Moldova19-VI-200616-III-2007
Romania7-VI-200016-III-2001
Russian Federation4-IX-199131-V-1992
Rwanda6-X-20235-VI-2024
Saint Kitts and Nevis26-II-199414-XII-1994
Saint Lucia5-XII-200131-VII-2002
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines2-V-200227-X-1979
Samoa18-I-199913-IX-1999
San Marino26-V-199413-II-1995
Sao Tome and Principe19-XII-200713-IX-2008
Saudi Arabia8-IV-20227-XII-2022
Senegal13-VII-202223-III-2023
Serbia26-IV-200127-IV-1992
Seychelles9-VI-197831-III-1979
Singapore18-I-202116-IX-2021
Slovakia6-VI-200118-II-2002
Slovenia8-VI-199225-VI-1991
South Africa3-VIII-199430-IV-1995
Spain21-X-197625-IX-1978
Suriname29-X-197625-XI-1975
Sweden2-III-19991-V-1999
Switzerland5-X-196111-III-1973
Tajikistan20-II-201531-X-2015
Tonga28-X-19714-VI-1970
Trinidad and Tobago28-X-199914-VII-2000
Tunisia10-VII-201730-III-2018
Türkiye8-V-196229-IX-1985
Ukraine2-IV-200322-XII-2003
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland19-X-196124-I-1965
United States of America24-XII-198015-X-1981
Uruguay9-II-201214-X-2012
Uzbekistan25-VII-201115-IV-2012
Vanuatu1-VIII-200830-VII-1980
Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)1-VII-199816-III-1999

How Apostille Works

An apostille is a certificate that authenticates the origin of a public document for use in countries that are part of the Hague Apostille Convention. It verifies the signature, capacity of the signer, and the seal or stamp on the document, allowing it to be recognized internationally without further legalization. The standard apostille process typically involves notarization (if required), submission to the Secretary of State or the appropriate competent authority, and final issuance of the apostille certificate. In many states, this process can take 2 to 6 weeks, depending on government processing times and mail delivery. However, Orange County Apostille offers expedited services, often completing the entire process—including document preparation, submission, and return—in approximately 10 business days or less.

Hague Apostille vs non-hague Embassies

 

The difference between Hague Apostille and non-Hague legalization lies in the international agreements between countries and the number of steps required to authenticate a document for use abroad.

 

Countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention of 1961 have agreed to a single-step authentication process using an apostille certificate. This certificate is issued by a “competent authority” and is recognized by all other Hague countries without the need for further embassy or consulate legalization. This allows the process to be faster and more cost-effective, and removes the need to visit a consulate.

 

Countries not part of the Hague Convention must have documents go through a multi-step legalization process. It is a much slower process that largely depends on the country. More paperwork is involved for the legalization by the foreign country’s consulate or embassy in the U.S.

 

Document Type Guide

Vital Records

Issued by local or state authorities, these must be certified copies (not photocopies) from the issuing agency.

  • Birth Certificates

  • Marriage Certificates

  • Death Certificates

  • Divorce Records

Notarized Documents

Documents signed in front of a licensed U.S. notary public. These require proper notarization before apostille.

  • Power of Attorney

  • Affidavits

  • Consent to Travel (minors)

  • Business letters or declarations

  • Copy certifications (e.g. passport copy)

Educational Documents

Issued by schools, colleges, or universities. Some may require verification from the institution before apostille.

  • Diplomas and Degrees

  • Transcripts

  • Enrollment Verifications

  • Letters of Recommendation (if notarized)

Corporate and Business Documents

Used for international trade, business formation, or compliance. These may be state-issued or notarized.

  • Articles of Incorporation

  • Certificates of Good Standing

  • Operating Agreements

  • Board Resolutions

  • Business Contracts

  • IRS or EIN letters

Court and Legal Documents

Issued by U.S. courts or notarized by attorneys. These must be certified copies from the clerk or notary.

  • Court Orders and Judgments

  • Adoption Decrees

  • Bankruptcy filings

  • Divorce decrees

Federal Documents

Issued by U.S. federal agencies and require apostille from the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C.

  • FBI Background Checks

  • Naturalization Certificates (copy only, notarized)

  • FDA, USDA, USPTO Letters

  • IRS Records

  • Certificates issued by military notaries
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