Which Countries Accept an Apostille? The 2026 Guide

Before you go through the process of getting an apostille, the most important question is: does your destination country even accept one?

The answer depends on whether that country is a member of the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (the Apostille Convention). As of 2026, over 120 countries are members — but some major destinations are not.

Here are some of the most common destination countries for our clients, all of which are Hague Convention members:

Europe:

• France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal
• United Kingdom, Ireland, Netherlands, Belgium
• Greece, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary
• Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan

Americas:

• Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile
• Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Panama
• Most Caribbean nations

Asia & Pacific:

• Japan, South Korea, India, Israel
• Australia, New Zealand
• Philippines, Indonesia (recently joined)

Africa & Middle East:

• South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia
• Bahrain, Oman (recently joined)

These major countries are not members of the Hague Convention and require a different process called document legalization:

• China (mainland) — requires legalization through the Chinese Embassy
• Canada — requires authentication through Global Affairs Canada
• UAE (United Arab Emirates) — requires legalization
• Saudi Arabia — requires legalization
• Egypt — requires legalization
• Vietnam — requires legalization
• Pakistan — requires legalization
• Bangladesh — requires legalization

If your destination country is not a Hague member, you'll need document legalization instead of an apostille. This is a more involved process, but we can help with that too.

For non-Hague countries, document legalization typically involves:

1. Notarization of the document (if not already a public document)
2. State authentication by the Secretary of State
3. Federal authentication by the U.S. Department of State
4. Embassy or consulate legalization by the destination country's diplomatic mission in the U.S.

This process takes longer and costs more than an apostille, but it's the required path for non-member countries.

The Hague Conference on Private International Law maintains an official list of member countries at hcch.net. You can also call us — we'll quickly tell you what your specific document needs for your destination country.

Taiwan is not a UN member and therefore cannot join the Hague Convention officially. However, many countries have bilateral agreements that effectively recognize apostilles for Taiwanese documents. Check with the specific institution requiring your document.

These Special Administrative Regions of China have their own apostille systems separate from mainland China. Documents from Hong Kong or Macau can receive apostilles for use in Hague member countries.

Each constituent country of the United Kingdom issues its own apostilles through its own competent authority. Make sure you're getting the apostille from the correct UK authority for your document.

If you're unsure whether your destination country accepts apostilles, or what process your specific document requires, don't guess. A rejected document can cost you time and money.

Our team at Apostille & Translations LLC handles documents for destinations worldwide. We'll review your situation, confirm what's needed, and handle the entire process for you.

Contact us today for a free consultation: Book an appointment or call 646-838-3035.