Apostille Countries – What countries have signed the Hague Apostille Convention?

As of January 2024, Canada became an active member of the Hague Apostille Convention. Canada is one of 127 countries who have currently signed on to the apostille convention, making the globalization of Canadian documents more accessible.

Knowing what countries have signed the Hague Apostille Convention can assist you to understand the steps required of your documents for use abroad. Throughout this article, we will endeavor to explain the role of apostilles on Canadian documents, as well as provide you with the full list of the 127 signatory countries.

What is an apostille?

Most people have never heard the term “apostille”. It is not a common term or process, especially if you have not worked or lived abroad. An apostille is a type of document certification that confirms the authenticity of a document, so that the document will be officially recognized in other apostille signatory countries. Any country that has signed the Hague Apostille Convention, including Canada, will issue apostille certificates and in turn, recognize apostille certificates issued by other countries.

If the country where you are headed is not a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention, your documents will require an additional step of document legalization. This last step of document legalization is completed at the embassy or consulate of the destination country. You may find more about document legalization from our website and helpful resources here: Canadian document legalization.

Who can apostille Canadian documents?

There are several offices in Canada who can apostille a Canadian document. Global Affairs Canada is responsible for issuing apostilles for Canadian documents originating from the Government of Canada and the provinces of Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, the Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Prince Edward Island, and Yukon.

The government offices in the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Quebec, are responsible for issuing apostilles for documents that originate from (or are notarized in) their jurisdiction. 

What countries have signed the Hague Apostille Convention?

There are currently 127 countries that have signed on to the Hague Apostille Convention. Each of these countries have been listed in the table below. New members may be added in the future, as they become signatories.

How can we help with your Canadian document apostilles?

Whether you are looking for more information, or you would like assistance with the document apostille process, we can help. Our knowledgeable experts would welcome the opportunity to discuss your documents and provide you with a free consultation.

Call us toll free at 1-888-433-1011 or send us your questions through our quick Contact form. Our friendly staff will get back to you right away!