The Permanent Bureau of the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) has published a report on the activities of the organization in 2024. The report places significant emphasis on the development of document legalization through apostille.
Why is an electronic apostille needed?
The work of the Department of Transnational Litigation and Apostille is described as "significant" in the report. Special emphasis is placed on the XIII International Forum on the Electronic Apostille Program, co-organized by the Ministry of Justice of Kazakhstan and the Maksut Narikbaev University.
The forum once again provided a valuable platform for discussing key global events related to e-APP... The forum was the first held in Central Asia... Over 300 participants took part, both in person and online,
the document emphasizes.
According to the event participants, digital solutions not only optimize the process of issuing and verifying apostilles but also make access to document legalization easier for users worldwide. The transition to e-APP enhances efficiency, reduces costs, and minimizes the risk of document fraud.
In 2024, it became known that a number of Conference participants have started implementing the electronic apostille (or at least one of its components: e-Apostilles or e-Registers). Ecuador, Morocco, Panama, the Philippines, the Russian Federation, and three U.S. states (Kentucky, Minnesota, and Washington) announced the implementation of both components. Uruguay began issuing electronic apostilles, while Pakistan started using the electronic register. Thus, 56 out of 127 participants of the Apostille Convention have implemented at least one component of the e-APP.
Which countries have recently joined the Apostille Convention?
According to the report, Bangladesh joined the Apostille Convention in 2024. Additionally, the Convention entered into force for Canada in January 2024, and for Rwanda in June 2024. In recent years, several new major countries have started applying the apostille practice. These include China, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia. Countries that exclusively use the procedure of consular legalization remain in the minority globally, mostly consisting of African countries.
One of the latest countries in the Western Hemisphere that has not yet joined the Apostille Convention, Cuba, recently announced its intention to become a member in the near future.
What is an apostille?
What is an apostille? Why do I need an apostille? How do I get an apostille? - Our video will explain everything you need to know about the apostille. If you have a document that needs to be certified with an apostille for use abroad, Schmidt and Schmidt will assist you! We provide apostille services in more than 100 countries worldwide.
