The Irish authorities have updated the name of the body responsible for issuing apostilles, as well as the procedure for document legalization. These changes are reflected on the official website of the Hague Conference on Private International Law.
In Texas, USA, the procedure for getting documents apostilled will change starting August 5, 2025. This update comes from the official website of the Texas Secretary of State.
The authorities of Arizona (USA) have updated the guidelines for apostilling documents. The relevant changes are posted on the official website of the Arizona Secretary of State.
In India, the Consular, Passport and Visa (CPV) Division of the Ministry of External Affairs has been designated as the apostille authority. The relevant information is recorded on the official portal of the Hague Conference on Private International Law.
The Ministry of Justice of Ukraine has issued official clarifications regarding which documents do not require legalization by apostille. This was reported by the Judicial and Legal Gazette.
Against the backdrop of the expanding use of electronic apostilles, the Ministry of Digital Governance of Greece has been officially designated as an authority independently authorized to certify documents. The corresponding changes have been recorded on the portal of the Hague Conference on Private International Law.
The German Federal Foreign Office has announced an adjustment to the fees for apostille certification of documents. The official statement was published on the ministry’s website.
In light of the escalating geopolitical tensions, Israel has temporarily closed its diplomatic missions and suspended all consular services, including the legalization of documents. The announcement was made by Israeli diplomatic missions operating abroad.
In the People’s Republic of China, the introduction of electronic apostille is set to begin in June 2025. This has been reported by foreign diplomatic missions citing a statement from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
France publishes clarifications on new apostille procedures with exceptions on the official portal of the Hague Conference on Private International Law
In Finland, the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (Digi- ja väestötietovirasto) has been officially designated as the competent authority for issuing apostilles. This information has been published on the official portal of the Hague Conference on Private International Law.
The Permanent Bureau of the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) held an online brainstorming session on the electronic Apostille Programme (e-APP), according to the official HCCH website.
The Director of Legalization and Apostille has been designated as the primary contact person at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic for matters related to the authentication of documents for use abroad. The corresponding update has been published on the official portal of the Hague Conference on Private International Law.
In Croatia, in 2025, the functions of two organs authorized to issue apostilles have been clarified: municipal courts and the Ministry of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation (in exceptional cases). The relevant information is available on the official portal of the Hague Conference on Private International Law.
The Colombian government has given the authority to certify documents within the Office for the Coordination of Apostille and Legalization to the Ambassador in Charge and Head of Operations. The relevant changes are posted on the official portal of the Hague Conference on Private International Law.
Indonesia’s Minister of Justice, Supatman Andi Agtas, has called on Malaysia to consider acceding to the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 abolishing the requirement of legalisation for foreign public documents, also known as the Apostille Convention. This was reported by Indonesia’s news agency Antara
The Andorran authorities have given the right to apostille documents to the General Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Director of International Legal Affairs and Human Resources. The corresponding changes are posted on the official portal of the Hague Conference on Private International Law.
On March 30, 2025, the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (commonly known as the Apostille Convention) entered into force for Bangladesh. This was reported by the Hague Conference on Private International Law.
On the British Virgin Islands, the office of the Deputy Governor has become the central authority authorized to apostille documents. This is reported by the portal of the Hague Conference on Private International Law.
French municipalities have appointed special representatives who will interact with the High Council of Notaries regarding apostille matters. This is reported by MAIRE INFO.
The State Chancellery of the canton of Zurich has published current clarifications on the procedure for the legalization of documents for their use abroad on its official portal.
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.
The U.S. state of Iowa has transitioned to a new "unified" document legalization form for use abroad starting in 2025. This was announced by the official website of the state's Secretary of State.
The Republic of Malta has replaced the official body authorized to carry out the procedure of certifying documents with an apostille. This was reported by the portal of the Hague Conference on Private International Law.
On January 13, 2025, Belgium and Finland formally objected to the accession of the People's Republic of Bangladesh to the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents (Apostille Convention), the portal of the Hague Conference on Private International Law reported.
France implemented significant reforms to its apostille procedures, effective January 1, 2025. These changes aim to streamline the process of authenticating French public documents for international use, enhancing efficiency and accessibility.
As we usher in a new year, it’s the perfect moment to reflect on the significant progress made in 2024 within the realm of international document authentication and to set our sights on the exciting plans for 2025.
The Kyrgyz Republic has been an official contracting state of the Hague Convention of October 5, 1961 (also known as the Apostille Convention) since June 1, 2011. This international agreement simplifies the recognition of public documents abroad by replacing the lengthy consular legalization process with a streamlined apostille procedure.
In November 2024, Uruguay'sMinistry of Foreign Affairs introduced significant updates to its apostille processes, reflecting the country’s ongoing efforts to modernize and improve access to essential services.
In 2024, the Cayman Islands government introduced a new procedure for legalizing extracts from the General Register, simplifying the process for obtaining apostilled documents. The service is now fully available through the government's online portal.
The State Council of the People's Republic of China (also known as the Central People's Government of the PRC) has posted a section on its official portal dedicated to apostille and consular legalization of documents.
A digital apostille service for several types of documents is now available on the Israeli government portal. These apostilles can be used in countries that have ratified the 1961 Hague Convention, accept electronic apostilles, and maintain diplomatic relations with Israel.
More than 1.2 million documents have undergone consular legalization in Cuba in 2024. This is an important historical milestone, says the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, writes the CubaHeadlines publication.
The Pakistani Foreign Ministry website and the Associated Press of Pakistan have announced the launch of an online apostille service in the Islamic Republic. The service is said to be available from September 11, 2024.
A conference entitled “Addressing International Private Law through the Lens of the Apostille Convention” was held in Thailand as part of the 62nd annual session of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization (AALCO). This was reported on the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand.
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry held a ceremony to mark the Islamic Republic's accession to the 1961 Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents (Apostille Convention), Radio Pakistan reported.
The authorities of the People's Republic of Bangladesh officially deposited their instruments of accession to the Convention of 5 October 1961 for the Abolition of the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents, also known as the Apostille Convention, with the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) on July 29, 2024. The official website of the Hague Conference reports this.
On 6 October 2023, the Republic of Rwanda deposited its instrument of accession to the Convention of 5 October 1961, also known as the Apostille Convention.
On March 23, 2023, the Convention of October 5, 1961, abolishing the requirement for legalization of foreign official documents, entered into force for the Republic of Senegal. The corresponding statement is posted on the website of the Hague Conference on Private International Law.
Pakistani President Arif Alvi approved Islamabad's accession to the 1961 Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents.
The Apostille Convention will officially enter into force in Indonesia on June 4, 2022. From this date, the parties to the Convention are obliged to waive the requirement of legalization of public documents issued by the Indonesian authorities and accept Apostilles issued by the authorized competent authority of Indonesia.
On January 5, 2021, Presidential Decree No. 2 on the ratification of the Hague Convention came into force in Indonesia. It means that the legalization of foreign public documents is no longer necessary.
