Apostille is a procedure that gives documents legal validity in countries that are signatories to the Hague Convention of October 5, 1961. This process involves adding a special international stamp to original documents or notarized copies. The list of such countries changes from time to time, so you should check with the latest changes before you start preparing your documents.
Full list of countries that accept apostille in 2026
Albania - Burundi
- Albania
- AlgeriaStarting July 9, 2026, apostilles will be accepted, and consular legalization will no longer be required.
- American Samoa
- Andorra
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Aruba
- Australia
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Bahamas
- Bahrain
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Belize
- Bermuda
- Bolivia
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Brazil
- British Antarctic Territory
- British Virgin Islands
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Burundi
Cape Verde - Guyana
- Cape Verde
- Cayman Islands
- Chile
- ChinaPreviously, the apostille was accepted only in the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau, but literally since November 2023, the apostille has been working in the entire territory of the People's Republic of China. Consular legalization is no longer required.
- Colombia
- Cook Islands
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Estonia
- Eswatini
- Falkland Islands
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- French Polynesia
- Georgia
- Germany
- Gibraltar
- Greece
- Grenada
- Guadeloupe
- Guam
- Guatemala
- Guernsey
- The Guianas
- Guyana
Honduras - Puerto Rico
- Honduras
- Hungary
- Iceland
- India
- Ireland
- Isle of Man
- Israel
- Italy
- JamaicaApostille became effective on July 3, 2021, so it is better to clarify the need for apostille at the embassy.
- Japan
- Jersey
- Kazakhstan
- Kosovo
- Korea (Republic of)
- Kyrgyzstan
- LatviaFrom April 2019, Russian documents have to be apostilled
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malawi
- Malta
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritius
- Mayotte
- Mexico
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Montserrat
- Morocco
- Namibia
- Netherlands
- Netherlands Antilles
- New Caledonia
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- Niue
- North Macedonia
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Norway
- Oman
- PakistanA party to the Hague Convention since July 2022 and accepting apostille since March 9, 2023. However, it is recommended to clarify the method of legalization of documents with the receiving party.
- Palau
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- Puerto Rico
Reunion - Wallis and Futuna
- Reunion
- Romania
- Russia
- Saint Helena
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Pierre and Miquelon
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Samoa
- San Marino
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Saudi ArabiaSince the end of 2022.
- SenegalApostille is accepted since March 23, 2023, previously full consular legalization was required.
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- South Africa
- Spain
- Suriname
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Tajikistan
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- TunisiaAcceded to the Convention on March 30, 2018, but it is worth checking with the embassy for current information.
- Turkey
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
- Uruguay
- USA
- Uzbekistan
- Vanuatu
- Venezuela
- Virgin Islands of the United States
- Wallis and Futuna
Which countries do not need an apostille
Russia has signed agreements with some countries on mutual recognition of documents, which cancels or simplifies the legalization procedure. For example, the Minsk Convention of January 22, 1993. Such states include almost all CIS countries, as well as some other countries. However, it's always best to consult with the receiving party.
Countries participating in the Minsk Agreement
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Belarus
- Georgia
- Kazakhstan
- Kyrgyzstan
- Moldova
- Tajikistan
- Turkmenistan
- UkraineDue to the worsened political situation, we recommend that you check with your receiving party for more information
- Uzbekistan
Other countries
- Albania
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cuba
- Czech Republic
- Estonia
- Lithuania
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- North Macedonia
- Poland
- Romania
- Serbia
- Vietnamthe country has not acceded to the Convention, but consular legalization is not necessary, as Russia and Vietnam have signed an agreement on simplification of document exchange. Instead of consular legalization, a Vietnamese translation must be prepared and certified by the embassy.
