Apostille Requirements by Country — Complete Master List 2026

There is a fundamental confusion that derails countless international relocation plans every year: a Mexican citizen asking “Do I need an apostille?” will receive a completely different answer than a Chinese national asking the exact same question. The answer depends entirely on a two-way street of international law. Both the country where the public document was originally issued AND the destination country where you intend to submit it must be active members of the Hague Convention 1961. If they are not, you cannot use this simplified system and are thrust into the much more complicated world of consular legalization. This article is your definitive master reference for 2026, detailing the exact requirements, competent authorities, and critical processing quirks for every major country.

How to Use This Guide

Before diving into the country-by-country breakdown, determine which legal framework applies to your paperwork. Use this quick decision tree:

Q1: Is the destination country a Hague member? If no → the receiving State’s procedure applies — consular legalization, not an apostille.

Q2: Is your document’s origin country a Hague member? If no → the receiving State’s consular procedure applies (the chain varies by origin country).

Q3: Are both countries Hague members? If yes → an apostille de La Haya is the simplified authentication route if authentication is required, provided the Convention is actually in force for your pair — recent accessions take effect on specific dates and some States have lodged objections (China 7 Nov 2023, Canada 11 Jan 2024, Saudi Arabia 7 Dec 2022, Pakistan 9 Mar 2023, Bangladesh 30 Mar 2025, Viet Nam 11 Sep 2026). First check any applicable exemptions, including Regulation 2016/1191 for covered public documents between EU Member States, and other relevant treaties.

The simple rule:

  • Convention in force between both countries AND your document is a covered public document AND no exemption or bilateral objection applies → Apostille, when the procedure requires authentication
  • Convention not in force between the two States (or the document is out of scope) → follow the receiving State’s own procedure — consular legalization where the receiving authority requires it; some procedures need less than a full chain, and some covered documents need no legalization at all

One caveat: the consular route is set by the receiving State, so it is not one universal four-step chain — some destinations need only state authentication plus the embassy stamp, others add the federal step or MOFA attestation. Check the HCCH status table and the receiving authority’s current instructions for your specific pair.

Latin America — Apostille Requirements by Country

CountryHague MemberYearCriminal Record AuthorityCivil Doc Authority
MexicoYes1995SEGOBState Governments
ColombiaYes2001CancilleríaCancillería
VenezuelaYes1999MPPREMPPRE
ArgentinaYes1988Cancillería / NotariesCancillería / Notaries
PeruYes2010MREMRE
ChileYes2016Civil Registry / Competent Authority by documentCivil Registry / Competent Authority by document
BrazilYes2016Cartórios (CNJ)Cartórios (CNJ)
EcuadorYes2005MREMHMREMH
BoliviaYes2018Ministry of Foreign AffairsMinistry of Foreign Affairs
Dominican Rep.Yes2009MIREXMIREX
HondurasYes2004Sec. of Foreign AffairsSec. of Foreign Affairs
GuatemalaYes2017MINEXMINEX
CubaNON/AMINREX (Legalization)MINREX (Legalization)
NicaraguaYes2013Ministry of Foreign AffairsMinistry of Foreign Affairs
Costa RicaYes2011Ministry of Foreign RelationsMinistry of Foreign Relations
PanamaYes1991Ministry of Foreign AffairsMinistry of Foreign Affairs
UruguayYes2012Ministry of Foreign AffairsMinistry of Foreign Affairs
ParaguayYes2014Ministry of Foreign AffairsMinistry of Foreign Affairs
El SalvadorYes1996Ministry of Foreign AffairsMinistry of Foreign Affairs

Mexico

  • Hague member: Yes, since 1995.
  • Criminal records: SEGOB handles federal documents like the federal criminal record certificate via SEGOB online apostille.
  • Civil documents: State-level General Secretariats of Government handle birth and marriage certificates.
  • Key quirk: SEGOB’s online apostille portal can have maintenance windows. Never submit at the last minute.

Colombia

  • Hague member: Yes, since 2001.
  • Criminal records: Cancillería (Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
  • Civil documents: Cancillería.
  • Key quirk: You must select “fines migratorios” on the Cancillería portal for police records. Wrong selection = automatic rejection.

Venezuela

  • Hague member: Yes, since 1999.
  • Criminal records: Certificate requested online from the MPPRIJP; apostille via Sistema SLAE of the MPPRE.
  • Civil documents: MPPRE.
  • Key quirk: Two separate steps — the MPPRIJP certificate (online) and the MPPRE apostille (SLAE). Timing depends on MPPRIJP and SLAE system availability; no fixed timeline can be guaranteed. Start as early as possible. Full guide →

Argentina

  • Hague member: Yes, applies since 1988.
  • Criminal records: Cancillería or College of Notaries (Colegio de Escribanos).
  • Civil documents: Cancillería or College of Notaries.
  • Key quirk: The digital link from the Registro Nacional de Reincidencia expires quickly. Submit for authentication immediately.

Peru

  • Hague member: Yes, since 2010.
  • Criminal records: MRE (Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores).
  • Civil documents: MRE.
  • Key quirk: Documents often require multi-step domestic certification (from the Poder Judicial) before MRE applies the final stamp.

Chile

  • Hague member: Yes, since 2016.
  • Criminal records: Civil Registry (online via registrocivil.cl — the competent authority for these documents; the official apostille is free where available).
  • Civil documents: Civil Registry / the competent authority for the document (apostille free where available).
  • Key quirk: Highly digitized and efficient — the official apostille is free where available, with timing depending on the office and channel.

Brazil

  • Hague member: Yes, since 2016.
  • Criminal records: Authorised cartórios (CNJ supervision). CNJ supervises; the fee depends on the applicable state notarial tariff.
  • Civil documents: Local Cartórios.
  • Key quirk: Decentralized system means processing speeds vary significantly by state and municipality.

Ecuador

  • Hague member: Yes, since 2005.
  • Criminal records: MREMH (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility).
  • Civil documents: MREMH.
  • Key quirk: Strict PDF formatting and file size requirements.

Bolivia

  • Hague member: Yes, since 2018.
  • Criminal records: Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
  • Civil documents: Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
  • Key quirk: Payment system often requires physical deposits at designated local banks before application moves forward.

Dominican Republic

  • Hague member: Yes, since 2009.
  • Criminal records: MIREX (Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
  • Civil documents: MIREX.
  • Key quirk: High international request volume causes seasonal administrative delays.

Honduras

  • Hague member: Yes, since 2004.
  • Criminal records: Secretary of Foreign Affairs.
  • Civil documents: Secretary of Foreign Affairs.
  • Key quirk: Documents must be pre-authenticated by the issuing agency (e.g., Supreme Court for judicial records) before Foreign Affairs processes them.

Guatemala

  • Hague member: Yes, since 2017.
  • Criminal records: MINEX (Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
  • Civil documents: MINEX.
  • Key quirk: As a recent member, some local officials still mistakenly advise the old consular chain.

Cuba

  • Hague member: NO — non-Hague country.
  • All documents: MINREX, followed by the destination country’s embassy.
  • Key quirk: Full consular legalization required for all paperwork. Applicants frequently face queues numbering in the thousands.

Nicaragua

  • Hague member: Yes, since 2013.
  • Criminal records: Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
  • Key quirk: Process is still largely paper-based, requiring physical stamps and in-person logistics.

Costa Rica

  • Hague member: Yes, since 2011.
  • Criminal records: Ministry of Foreign Relations and Worship.
  • Key quirk: Officials strictly reject documents if the underlying civil registry signature is deemed too old.

Panama

  • Hague member: Yes, since 1991.
  • Criminal records: Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
  • Key quirk: Well-established process, but expedited processing usually requires physical walk-ins.

Uruguay

  • Hague member: Yes, since 2012.
  • Criminal records: Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
  • Key quirk: Processing is centralized in Montevideo — residents in other departments face domestic shipping delays.

Paraguay

  • Hague member: Yes, since 2014.
  • Criminal records: Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
  • Key quirk: Many complex documents still require physical drop-off at the Authentications Department in Asunción.

El Salvador

  • Hague member: Yes, since 1995.
  • Criminal records: Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
  • Key quirk: Recent commercial document exemptions do not apply to civil or criminal records — these still require the official stamp.

North America

United States

The USA is a Hague member but operates on a strict two-tier system that routinely confuses applicants.

State documents (birth, marriage, death certificates, local court orders) → go to the specific state’s Secretary of State.

Federal documents (FBI Identity History Summary, USCIS docs, Social Security letters) → must be authenticated exclusively by the US Department of State in Washington D.C.

The most common error globally: sending an FBI background check to a state office. This leads to rejection — state offices have no authority over federal records. Full FBI guide →

State documents (examples)Federal documents (examples)
Birth certificateFBI Identity History Summary
Marriage licenseNaturalization certificate
State court orderSocial Security letter
State police clearanceUSCIS documents

Canada

Canada officially joined the Hague Convention on January 11, 2024. Since that date, Canadian documents for Spain take an apostille — not the consular chain:

  • Provincial documents (Ontario, Alberta, BC, Saskatchewan): apostilled by the provincial competent authority.
  • Federal documents (RCMP checks): apostilled by Global Affairs Canada.
  • RCMP background checks: approximately three business days with no match, up to 120 with manual review, plus mailing; the apostille step is separate, so no guaranteed combined SLA.

Full Canada guide →

Europe — Key Countries for Spain Applicants

If applying for a Spain visa or TIE card, check which countries your specific checklist requires documentation from — the residence-history threshold varies by procedure (e.g., the Ottawa self-employed work visa requires another country’s record for stays of more than 180 days within the previous five years).

United Kingdom: Hague member. FCDO handles all requests. Despite Brexit, UK remains in the convention. Paper apostille usually up to 25 working days plus delivery; eligible documents can be e-Apostilled in up to two days; urgent routes are only for registered businesses.

Germany: Hague member. Federal documents go to the BfAA (Bundesamt für Auswärtige Angelegenheiten); state documents go to the designated authority of the issuing Bundesland — regional court presidents, state ministries or others depending on the document. Times: per the competent authority’s currently published schedule.

France: Hague member. Since 1 May 2025 apostilles for metropolitan France are issued by the Notaires de France apostille centres (regional/interdepartmental notarial councils). Timing per the competent centre.

Italy: Hague member. Procura della Repubblica or Prefettura depending on document type.

Netherlands: Hague member — the Convention was concluded in The Hague. Highly digital, remarkably fast.

Portugal: Hague member. Instituto dos Registos e Notariado (IRN) handles most requests.

Romania: Hague member. Large Romanian community in Spain. Ministry of Justice and local Tribunals handle criminal records.

Ukraine: Hague member. Ministry of Justice handles processing. Important: War conditions make obtaining domestic documents extremely difficult — allow 3–6 months minimum.

Asia — Critical Non-Hague Countries

China: Hague member since 7 November 2023 (mainland China). Apostilles are accepted for most documents destined for mainland China; some Chinese entities may still ask for extra checks, so confirm with the receiving authority. Hong Kong and Macao applied the Convention earlier.

Note: The Convention entered into force for mainland China on 7 November 2023. Documents from member countries therefore need an apostille instead of the former three-step consular chain (notarization → MOFA → Chinese Embassy), although some entities may still request the old format.

Japan: Hague member since 1970. Fast and highly digital. Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

South Korea: Hague member since 2007. Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

India: Hague party (in force 14 July 2005). The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issues apostilles; destination countries that are not parties still need consular legalization.

Philippines: Hague member since 2019. Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

Viet Nam: Hague member — Convention in force since 11 September 2026. Apostille applies where the Convention is in force between the issuing and destination countries (some states have lodged objections).

Indonesia: Hague party (in force 4 June 2022). Apostille issued by the Ministry of Law; check the Convention applies with the destination country.

UAE: NOT a Hague member. Full consular legalization required (home country authentication → UAE Embassy → UAE MOFA).

Saudi Arabia: Hague member since 7 December 2022. Apostille is accepted for documents from member countries; some Saudi entities may still ask for extra checks, and documents from non-member countries still need the consular chain.

Qatar: NOT a Hague member. Full consular chain required.

Africa and Middle East

CountryHague MemberYear
IsraelYes1978
South AfricaYes1995
TurkeyYes1985
MoroccoYes2016
EgyptNONon-member

The Non-Hague Countries — Full Process Explained

For non-Hague destinations, the streamlined single-stamp process does not apply. You must navigate the traditional consular legalization chain.

Non-Hague countries relevant to our audience: Egypt, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Iran, Iraq, Cuba, Libya. (Morocco, Pakistan, Algeria and Viet Nam are now Contracting Parties; Thailand’s Convention enters into force 28 February 2027.)

The typical consular legalization chain (for US-origin documents; the exact sequence is set by each receiving State):

Step 1 — Notarization: A local notary public verifies the signature on the document.

Step 2 — State/regional authentication: A state-level or provincial government authenticates the notary’s signature.

Step 3 — Federal/national authentication: The national Ministry of Foreign Affairs authenticates the regional official’s signature.

Step 4 — Foreign embassy legalization: The embassy or consulate of the destination country legalizes the federal seal; with that, the document completes the authentication procedure the destination State requires.

Cost comparison:

  • Apostille: $20–$100 in government fees
  • Full consular chain: $200–$500+ due to compounding diplomatic fees and courier costs

Timeline comparison:

  • Apostille: 1–8 weeks depending on country
  • Full consular chain: 4–16 weeks — multiple distinct government agencies must cooperate

Special Cases and Updates

Canada 2024 implementation: Split jurisdictional system. Provincial documents (Ontario, Alberta, BC, Saskatchewan) → respective provincial Ministry. Federal documents (RCMP) → Global Affairs Canada.

Certificate age limit in Spain: There is no universal three-to-six-month window: verified Spanish consular checklists include limits of three, five and six months, generally counted from the issuance date of the certificate. Check the current official checklist of the consular post processing your application. The apostille stamp itself does not expire — but the underlying document may stop being accepted. Full Spain guide →

ETIAS 2026: The European Travel Information and Authorisation System becomes mandatory for visa-exempt travelers in late 2026. Those transitioning to residency will still need fully authenticated physical dossiers.

Sworn translations: Apostille does not translate a document. For Spain, foreign-language documents that must be translated are translated per the official-translation requirements the receiving office accepts (RD 724/2020 art. 17); Spanish-language records do not need translation.

Quick Reference Table — 40+ Countries

CountryHague MemberYear JoinedNotes for Spain Applicants
MexicoYes1995Federal certificate via SEGOB online apostille; select “fines migratorios”
ColombiaYes2001Cancillería digital; select “fines migratorios”
VenezuelaYes1999MPPRE SLAE (separate step); start as early as possible
ArgentinaYes1988Cancillería TAD; digital link expires fast
PeruYes2010MRE; need Poder Judicial cert first
ChileYes2016Civil Registry / competent authority (apostille free where available)
BrazilYes2016Authorised cartórios (CNJ supervision); varies by state
EcuadorYes2005MREMH; strict PDF requirements
BoliviaYes2018Physical bank deposit required
Dominican Rep.Yes2009MIREX; seasonal delays
HondurasYes2004Pre-auth by domestic agency required
GuatemalaYes2017Recent member; verify process
CubaNONon-memberFull consular chain required
NicaraguaYes2013Mostly paper-based process
Costa RicaYes2011Efficient; document freshness strict
PanamaYes1991Walk-in for expedited
UruguayYes2012Centralized in Montevideo
ParaguayYes2014Physical drop-off often needed
El SalvadorYes1996Civil/criminal still need apostille
USA (state)Yes1981Secretary of State per state
USA (federal)Yes1981US Dept of State only for FBI
CanadaYes2024In force 11 Jan 2024; apostille via Global Affairs Canada or the provincial competent authority
UKYes1965FCDO; post-Brexit still Hague
GermanyYes1966BfAA (federal docs) / designated Land authority (state docs)
FranceYes1965Notaires de France apostille centres (since 1 May 2025)
ItalyYes1978Procura della Repubblica
NetherlandsYes1965Fastest in Europe
PortugalYes1969IRN handles most requests
RomaniaYes2001Ministry of Justice
UkraineYes2003Allow 3–6 months due to war
SpainYes1978Apostille: competent Justice Ministry offices, TSJ Government Secretariats and Notarial Colleges depending on document type; MAEC handles diplomatic legalisation, not apostilles
JapanYes1970Fast and digital
South KoreaYes2007Ministry of Foreign Affairs
PhilippinesYes2019DFA
UAENONon-memberFull consular chain
IsraelYes1978Standard process
South AfricaYes1995Standard process
TurkeyYes1985Standard process
ChinaYes2023In force 7 Nov 2023; apostille accepted for most documents
IndiaYES2005Apostille (MEA)
VietnamYes2026Apostille where the Convention applies between both countries
IndonesiaYES2022Apostille
Saudi ArabiaYes2022In force 7 Dec 2022; confirm with receiving entity
QatarNONon-memberFull consular chain
MoroccoYes2016Apostille where the Convention applies between both countries
EgyptNONon-memberFull consular chain

FAQ

My country is a Hague member but the apostille was rejected in Spain — why? Most likely the certificate age limit. The apostille stamp is valid indefinitely, but it does not set the underlying record’s age limit: your procedure’s checklist publishes the freshness rule (verified Spanish checklists vary between three, five and six months from issuance). Check the date on your certificate, not the apostille, and the checklist for your procedure.

I need documents from a non-Hague country for Spain — what do I do? The receiving procedure sets the chain for documents from that country — typically authentication in the issuing country followed by legalization at the Spanish embassy or consulate there (for many issuing countries: notarization → state authentication → national MOFA → embassy). Typical ranges run 4–16 weeks and $200–$500+ depending on the countries involved; we confirm the current route and timing for your case.

Can I use an apostille issued in 1995 for a current application? The apostille stamp itself does not expire. However, for Spain visa purposes, the underlying document (especially criminal records) must be recently issued. A 1995 apostille on a 1995 birth certificate is fine. A 1995 apostille on a criminal record is not valid.

Did China join the Hague Apostille Convention? Yes. The Convention entered into force for mainland China on 7 November 2023. Apostilles from member countries are accepted for most documents, although some Chinese entities may still ask for additional steps.

My document is from a country that recently joined — does it work immediately? Usually yes for standard apostilles. However, the receiving country may need time to update their verification databases. Canada’s accession has been in force since 11 January 2024: Canadian documents for Spain take an apostille from Global Affairs Canada (federal documents) or the provincial competent authority — the consular chain no longer applies between Canada and Spain.

I have dual nationality — which country’s documents do I use? You must provide criminal records for the countries of residence required by the current rules of your procedure — checklists vary by consular post and visa category. For example, Canada’s Ottawa post counts residence of more than 180 days in a third country within the previous five years for its self-employed work visa. If your checklist covers both the US and Colombia, you need both.

What if I cannot get documents from my home country (conflict zone)? In extreme cases (active armed conflict, systemic institutional collapse) Spain may accept a sworn declaration (Declaración Jurada). This is rarely granted and requires documented proof that the certificate is genuinely unobtainable.

The destination country changed their rules — how do I know? Check the HCCH (Hague Conference on Private International Law) official treaty list at hcch.net. For Spain-specific requirements, always verify with your specific consulate or immigration office.