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 → you need consular legalization, not an apostille.
Q2: Is your document’s origin country a Hague member? If no → you need the full consular legalization chain.
Q3: Are both countries Hague members? If yes → you need an apostille de La Haya from the correct competent authority in the origin country.
The simple rule:
- Both countries are Hague → Apostille
- Either country is non-Hague → Consular legalization
Latin America — Apostille Requirements by Country
| Country | Hague Member | Year | Criminal Record Authority | Civil Doc Authority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico | Yes | 1995 | SEGOB | State Governments |
| Colombia | Yes | 1997 | Cancillería | Cancillería |
| Venezuela | Yes | 2010 | MPPRE | MPPRE |
| Argentina | Yes | 1987 | Cancillería / Notaries | Cancillería / Notaries |
| Peru | Yes | 2010 | MRE | MRE |
| Chile | Yes | 2016 | MINREL / Civil Registry | MINREL / Civil Registry |
| Brazil | Yes | 2016 | Cartórios (CNJ) | Cartórios (CNJ) |
| Ecuador | Yes | 2005 | MREMH | MREMH |
| Bolivia | Yes | 2016 | Ministry of Foreign Affairs | Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
| Dominican Rep. | Yes | 2010 | MIREX | MIREX |
| Honduras | Yes | 2003 | Sec. of Foreign Affairs | Sec. of Foreign Affairs |
| Guatemala | Yes | 2018 | MINEX | MINEX |
| Cuba | NO | N/A | MINREX (Legalization) | MINREX (Legalization) |
| Nicaragua | Yes | 2013 | Ministry of Foreign Affairs | Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
| Costa Rica | Yes | 1996 | Ministry of Foreign Relations | Ministry of Foreign Relations |
| Panama | Yes | 1991 | Ministry of Foreign Affairs | Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
| Uruguay | Yes | 2012 | Ministry of Foreign Affairs | Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
| Paraguay | Yes | 2014 | Ministry of Foreign Affairs | Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
| El Salvador | Yes | 1995 | Ministry of Foreign Affairs | Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
Mexico
- Hague member: Yes, since 1995.
- Criminal records: SEGOB handles federal documents like the CFAP via the TAD platform.
- Civil documents: State-level General Secretariats of Government handle birth and marriage certificates.
- Key quirk: The TAD platform experiences frequent maintenance windows. Never submit at the last minute.
Colombia
- Hague member: Yes, since 1997.
- 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 2010.
- Criminal records: MPPRE via Sistema SLAE.
- Civil documents: MPPRE.
- Key quirk: The SLAE system crashes frequently and runs on a limited daily quota. Start immediately — most unpredictable timeline in the region. Full guide →
Argentina
- Hague member: Yes, since 1987.
- 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: MINREL or Civil Registry (online via apostilla.gob.cl).
- Civil documents: MINREL or Civil Registry.
- Key quirk: Highly digitized and efficient — currently the fastest process in Latin America.
Brazil
- Hague member: Yes, since 2016.
- Criminal records: Local Cartórios authorized by CNJ.
- 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 2016.
- 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 2010.
- 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 2003.
- 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 2018.
- 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 1996.
- 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 guarantees rejection. Full FBI guide →
| State documents (examples) | Federal documents (examples) |
|---|---|
| Birth certificate | FBI Identity History Summary |
| Marriage license | Naturalization certificate |
| State court order | Social Security letter |
| State police clearance | USCIS documents |
Canada
Canada officially joined the Hague Convention on January 11, 2024. However, implementation remains transitional:
- Some Spanish consulates still request the old consular chain — always verify with your specific consulate.
- Provincial documents (Ontario, Alberta, BC, Saskatchewan): handled by respective provincial Ministry.
- Federal documents (RCMP checks): processed by Global Affairs Canada.
- RCMP background checks face the longest timeline: 8–15 weeks total.
Europe — Key Countries for Spain Applicants
If applying for a Spain visa or TIE card, you must provide an authenticated criminal record from any country where you resided in the last 5 years.
United Kingdom: Hague member. FCDO handles all requests. Despite Brexit, UK remains in the convention. Standard: 10–15 days. Premium: 1–2 days via registered business services.
Germany: Hague member. Oberlandesgericht (regional courts) or local district authorities. Standard: 2–4 weeks.
France: Hague member. Cour d’appel for court documents, Préfecture for civil records. Standard: 2–4 weeks.
Italy: Hague member. Procura della Repubblica or Prefettura depending on document type.
Netherlands: Hague member — and the founding home of the Convention. 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: NOT a Hague member. Full consular legalization required for all documents destined for mainland China. Three-step chain: notarization → MOFA → Chinese Embassy.
Important correction: Some AI tools and websites incorrectly claim China joined the Hague Convention in 2023. This is false as of April 2026. China has NOT joined. Full consular legalization is always required.
Japan: Hague member since 1970. Fast and highly digital. Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
South Korea: Hague member since 2007. Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
India: NOT a Hague member. Full consular chain required. High Commissions and Embassies handle final legalization.
Philippines: Hague member since 2019. Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
Vietnam: NOT a Hague member. Consular chain required.
Indonesia: NOT a Hague member. Consular chain required.
UAE: Joined Hague in January 2021. Apostille now technically valid but implementation can be uneven — always verify with the specific local authority.
Saudi Arabia: NOT a Hague member. Full consular chain required, often with additional Chamber of Commerce stamp.
Qatar: NOT a Hague member. Full consular chain required.
Africa and Middle East
| Country | Hague Member | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Israel | Yes | 1978 |
| South Africa | Yes | 1995 |
| Turkey | Yes | 1984 |
| Morocco | NO | Non-member |
| Egypt | NO | Non-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: China, India, Vietnam, Indonesia, Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iran, Iraq, Cuba, Morocco, Algeria, Libya.
The full consular legalization chain:
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. Only then is the document valid.
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.
Spain’s 90-day rule: Under Royal Decree 1155/2024, a criminal record certificate must be issued within 90 days of your Spain visa application. The apostille stamp itself does not expire — but the underlying document does. 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, all authenticated foreign-language documents must also be translated by a traductor jurado registered with the Spanish MAEC.
Quick Reference Table — 40+ Countries
| Country | Hague Member | Year Joined | Notes for Spain Applicants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico | Yes | 1995 | CFAP via SEGOB TAD; select “fines migratorios” |
| Colombia | Yes | 1997 | Cancillería digital; select “fines migratorios” |
| Venezuela | Yes | 2010 | MPPRE SLAE; start 4+ months early |
| Argentina | Yes | 1987 | Cancillería TAD; digital link expires fast |
| Peru | Yes | 2010 | MRE; need Poder Judicial cert first |
| Chile | Yes | 2016 | MINREL online; fastest in LatAm |
| Brazil | Yes | 2016 | CNJ/Cartório; varies by state |
| Ecuador | Yes | 2005 | MREMH; strict PDF requirements |
| Bolivia | Yes | 2016 | Physical bank deposit required |
| Dominican Rep. | Yes | 2010 | MIREX; seasonal delays |
| Honduras | Yes | 2003 | Pre-auth by domestic agency required |
| Guatemala | Yes | 2018 | Recent member; verify process |
| Cuba | NO | Non-member | Full consular chain required |
| Nicaragua | Yes | 2013 | Mostly paper-based process |
| Costa Rica | Yes | 1996 | Efficient; document freshness strict |
| Panama | Yes | 1991 | Walk-in for expedited |
| Uruguay | Yes | 2012 | Centralized in Montevideo |
| Paraguay | Yes | 2014 | Physical drop-off often needed |
| El Salvador | Yes | 1995 | Civil/criminal still need apostille |
| USA (state) | Yes | 1981 | Secretary of State per state |
| USA (federal) | Yes | 1981 | US Dept of State only for FBI |
| Canada | Yes | 2024 | Transitional; verify with consulate |
| UK | Yes | 1965 | FCDO; post-Brexit still Hague |
| Germany | Yes | 1965 | Oberlandesgericht |
| France | Yes | 1965 | Cour d’appel / Préfecture |
| Italy | Yes | 1978 | Procura della Repubblica |
| Netherlands | Yes | 1965 | Fastest in Europe |
| Portugal | Yes | 1968 | IRN handles most requests |
| Romania | Yes | 2001 | Ministry of Justice |
| Ukraine | Yes | 2003 | Allow 3–6 months due to war |
| Spain | Yes | 1978 | MAEC; 90-day validity rule for criminal records |
| Japan | Yes | 1970 | Fast and digital |
| South Korea | Yes | 2007 | Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
| Philippines | Yes | 2019 | DFA |
| UAE | Yes | 2021 | Verify local implementation |
| Israel | Yes | 1978 | Standard process |
| South Africa | Yes | 1995 | Standard process |
| Turkey | Yes | 1984 | Standard process |
| China | NO | Non-member | Full consular chain; NOT Hague |
| India | NO | Non-member | Full consular chain |
| Vietnam | NO | Non-member | Full consular chain |
| Indonesia | NO | Non-member | Full consular chain |
| Saudi Arabia | NO | Non-member | Full consular chain + Chamber stamp |
| Qatar | NO | Non-member | Full consular chain |
| Morocco | NO | Non-member | Full consular chain |
| Egypt | NO | Non-member | Full consular chain |
FAQ
My country is a Hague member but the apostille was rejected in Spain — why? Most likely the 90-day validity rule. The apostille stamp is valid indefinitely, but the underlying criminal record expires 90 days from issuance. Check the date on your certificate, not the apostille.
I need documents from a non-Hague country for Spain — what do I do? You need the full consular legalization chain: notarization → state authentication → national MOFA → Spanish embassy legalization. This takes 4–16 weeks and $200–$500+.
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.
China just announced they are joining the Hague — is this true? No. As of April 2026, China has NOT joined the Hague Apostille Convention. Any source claiming China joined in 2023 is incorrect. Full consular legalization is still required for all documents destined for mainland China.
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. For Spain, Canada’s 2024 accession is still being processed — verify with your specific consulate.
I have dual nationality — which country’s documents do I use? You must provide a criminal record from every country where you have resided for more than 6 months in the last 5 years — regardless of your nationality. If you lived in 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.