<P> A state that has not signed the Convention must specify how foreign legal documents can be certified for its use . Two countries may have a special convention on the recognition of each other's public documents, but in practice this is infrequent . Otherwise, the document must be certified by the foreign ministry of the country in which the document originated, and then by the foreign ministry of the government of the state in which the document will be used; one of the certifications will often be performed at an embassy or consulate . In practice this means the document must be certified twice before it can have legal effect in the receiving country . For example, as Canada is not a signatory, Canadian documents for use abroad must be certified by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in Ottawa or by a Canadian consular official abroad, and subsequently by the relevant government office or consulate of the receiving state . </P> <P> The convention has 115 parties and is in force for all members of the European Union and all but ten members of the Hague Conference on Private International Law . As of 2017 The convention had not entered into force in Bolivia and Tunisia; it entered into force in Guatemala on 18 September 2017 . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> State </Th> <Th> Entry into Force </Th> <Th> Apostille not recognised in </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Albania </Td> <Td> 9 May 2004 </Td> <Td> Belgium (until 2015), Germany, Greece, Italy (until 2011) and Spain (until 2017). </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Andorra </Td> <Td> 31 Dec 1996 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Antigua and Barbuda </Td> <Td> 1 Nov 1981 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Argentina </Td> <Td> 18 Feb 1988 </Td> <Td> Kosovo </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Armenia </Td> <Td> 14 Oct 1994 </Td> <Td> Kosovo </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Australia </Td> <Td> 16 Mar 1995 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Austria </Td> <Td> 13 Jan 1968 </Td> <Td> Burundi, Dominican Republic, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Azerbaijan </Td> <Td> 2 Mar 2005 </Td> <Td> Germany, Hungary (until 2005), Kosovo, Netherlands (until 2010) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Bahamas </Td> <Td> 10 Jul 1973 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Bahrain </Td> <Td> 31 Dec 2013 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Barbados </Td> <Td> 30 Nov 1966 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Belarus </Td> <Td> 31 May 1992 </Td> <Td> Kosovo </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Belgium </Td> <Td> 9 Feb 1973 </Td> <Td> Albania (until 2015), Dominican Republic, India (until 2008), Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Ukraine (until 2004), Uzbekistan </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Belize </Td> <Td> 11 Apr 1993 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Bolivia </Td> <Td> 7 May 2018 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Bosnia and Herzegovina </Td> <Td> 6 Mar 1992 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Botswana </Td> <Td> 30 Sep 1966 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Brazil </Td> <Td> 14 Aug 2016 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Brunei </Td> <Td> 3 Dec 1987 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Bulgaria </Td> <Td> 29 Apr 2001 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Burundi </Td> <Td> 13 Feb 2015 </Td> <Td> Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Poland </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Cape Verde </Td> <Td> 13 Feb 2010 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Chile </Td> <Td> 30 Aug 2016 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Colombia </Td> <Td> 30 Jan 2001 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Cook Islands </Td> <Td> 30 Apr 2005 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Costa Rica </Td> <Td> 14 Dec 2011 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Croatia </Td> <Td> 8 Dec 1991 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Cyprus </Td> <Td> 30 Apr 1973 </Td> <Td> Kosovo </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Czech Republic </Td> <Td> 16 Mar 1999 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Kingdom of Denmark </Td> <Td> 26 Dec 2006 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Does not apply for Greenland and the Faroe Islands </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Dominica </Td> <Td> 3 Nov 1978 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Dominican Republic </Td> <Td> 30 Aug 2009 </Td> <Td> Austria, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Ecuador </Td> <Td> 2 Apr 2005 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> El Salvador </Td> <Td> 31 May 1996 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Estonia </Td> <Td> 30 Sep 2001 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Fiji </Td> <Td> 10 Oct 1970 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Finland </Td> <Td> 26 Aug 1986 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> France </Td> <Td> 24 Jan 1965 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Georgia </Td> <Td> 14 May 2007 </Td> <Td> Germany (until 2010), Kosovo and Greece (until 2015) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Germany </Td> <Td> 13 Feb 1966 </Td> <Td> Albania, Azerbaijan, Burundi, Dominican Republic, Georgia (until 2010), India, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Paraguay, Peru (until 2014), Tajikistan, Ukraine (until 2010) and Uzbekistan </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Greece </Td> <Td> 18 May 1985 </Td> <Td> Albania, Georgia (until 2015), Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Peru, Uzbekistan </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Grenada </Td> <Td> 7 Apr 2002 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Guatemala </Td> <Td> 18 Sep 2017 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Honduras </Td> <Td> 30 Dec 2004 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Hong Kong </Td> <Td> 25 Apr 1965 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> The convention is still applicable to Hong Kong despite the transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong on 1 Jul 1997 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Hungary </Td> <Td> 18 Jan 1973 </Td> <Td> Azerbaijan (until 2005), </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Iceland </Td> <Td> 27 Nov 2004 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> India </Td> <Td> 14 Jul 2005 </Td> <Td> Belgium (until 2008), Finland (until 2009), Germany, Netherlands (until 2008) and Spain (until 2008), Kosovo </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Ireland </Td> <Td> 9 Mar 1999 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Israel </Td> <Td> 14 Aug 1978 </Td> <Td> Kosovo </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Italy </Td> <Td> 11 Feb 1978 </Td> <Td> Albania (until 2011), </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Japan </Td> <Td> 27 Jul 1970 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Kazakhstan </Td> <Td> 30 Jan 2001 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Kosovo </Td> <Td> 14 Jul 2016 </Td> <Td> Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, China (for Hong Kong and Macao), Cyprus, Germany, Georgia, Greece, India, Israel, Mauritius, Nicaragua, Mexico, Moldova, Namibia, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Russia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Venezuela </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Kyrgyzstan </Td> <Td> 31 Jul 2011 </Td> <Td> Austria, Belgium, Germany, and Greece </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Latvia </Td> <Td> 30 Jan 1996 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Lesotho </Td> <Td> 4 Dec 1966 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Liberia </Td> <Td> 8 Feb 1996 </Td> <Td> Belgium, Germany, and the United States (until 2015) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Liechtenstein </Td> <Td> 17 Sep 1972 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Lithuania </Td> <Td> 19 Jul 1997 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Luxembourg </Td> <Td> 3 Jun 1979 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Macau </Td> <Td> 4 Feb 1969 </Td> <Td> Kosovo </Td> <Td> The convention is still applicable to Macau despite the transfer of sovereignty over Macau on 20 Dec 1999 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Macedonia </Td> <Td> 17 Nov 1991 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Malawi </Td> <Td> 2 Dec 1967 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Malta </Td> <Td> 3 Mar 1968 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Marshall Islands </Td> <Td> 14 Aug 1992 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Mauritius </Td> <Td> 12 Mar 1968 </Td> <Td> Kosovo </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Mexico </Td> <Td> 14 Aug 1995 </Td> <Td> Kosovo </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Moldova </Td> <Td> 16 Mar 2007 </Td> <Td> Germany and Kosovo </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Monaco </Td> <Td> 31 Dec 2002 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Mongolia </Td> <Td> 31 Dec 2009 </Td> <Td> Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany and Greece </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Montenegro </Td> <Td> 3 Jun 2006 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Morocco </Td> <Td> 14 Aug 2016 </Td> <Td> Germany </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Namibia </Td> <Td> 30 Jan 2001 </Td> <Td> Kosovo </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Kingdom of the Netherlands </Td> <Td> 8 Oct 1965 </Td> <Td> Azerbaijan (until 2010), Dominican Republic, India (until 2008), </Td> <Td> Aruba, Curaçao, Netherlands, and Sint Maarten </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> New Zealand </Td> <Td> 22 Nov 2001 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Nicaragua </Td> <Td> 14 May 2013 </Td> <Td> Kosovo </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Niue </Td> <Td> 2 Mar 1999 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Norway </Td> <Td> 29 Jul 1983 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Oman </Td> <Td> 30 Jan 2012 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Panama </Td> <Td> 4 Aug 1991 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Paraguay </Td> <Td> 30 Aug 2014 </Td> <Td> Germany, Kosovo </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Peru </Td> <Td> 30 Sep 2010 </Td> <Td> Germany (until 2014), Greece, Kosovo </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Poland </Td> <Td> 14 Aug 2005 </Td> <Td> Kosovo </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Portugal </Td> <Td> 4 Feb 1969 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Romania </Td> <Td> 13 Mar 2001 </Td> <Td> Kosovo </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Russia </Td> <Td> 31 May 1992 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Saint Kitts and Nevis </Td> <Td> 14 Dec 1994 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Saint Lucia </Td> <Td> 31 Jul 2002 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Saint Vincent and the Grenadines </Td> <Td> 27 Oct 1979 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Samoa </Td> <Td> 13 Sep 1999 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> San Marino </Td> <Td> 13 Feb 1995 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> São Tomé and Príncipe </Td> <Td> 13 Sep 2008 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Serbia </Td> <Td> 27 Apr 1992 </Td> <Td> Kosovo </Td> <Td> Ratified as the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Seychelles </Td> <Td> 31 Mar 1979 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Slovakia </Td> <Td> 18 Feb 2002 </Td> <Td> Kosovo </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Slovenia </Td> <Td> 25 Jun 1991 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> South Africa </Td> <Td> 30 Apr 1995 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> South Korea </Td> <Td> 14 Jul 2007 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Spain </Td> <Td> 25 Sep 1978 </Td> <Td> Albania, India (until 2008) and Kosovo </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Suriname </Td> <Td> 25 Nov 1975 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Swaziland </Td> <Td> 6 Sep 1968 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Sweden </Td> <Td> 1 May 1999 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Switzerland </Td> <Td> 11 Mar 1973 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Tajikistan </Td> <Td> 31 Oct 2015 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Tonga </Td> <Td> 4 Jun 1970 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Trinidad and Tobago </Td> <Td> 14 Jul 2000 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Tunisia </Td> <Td> 30 Mar 2018 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Turkey </Td> <Td> 29 Sep 1985 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Ukraine </Td> <Td> 22 Dec 2003 </Td> <Td> Belgium (until 2004), Greece (until 2010) and Kosovo </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> United Kingdom </Td> <Td> 24 Jan 1965 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Includes Crown Dependencies and British Overseas Territories </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 15 Oct 1981 </Td> <Td> Liberia (until 2015) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Uruguay </Td> <Td> 14 Oct 2012 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Uzbekistan </Td> <Td> 15 Apr 2012 </Td> <Td> Austria, Belgium, Germany, Greece, Kosovo </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Vanuatu </Td> <Td> 30 Jul 1980 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Venezuela </Td> <Td> 16 Mar 1999 </Td> <Td> Kosovo </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> State </Th> <Th> Entry into Force </Th> <Th> Apostille not recognised in </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr>

Hague convention abolishing the requirement for legalization of foreign