Apostille or Legalization for Export Documents: Which Countries Accept an Apostille (2026)

Apostille or consular legalization

Legalization is the chain of certifications that proves a foreign document's signature or seal is genuine: typically a certification by a ministry in the issuing country and then by the destination country's embassy or consulate. Under the 1961 Apostille Convention, when both countries are contracting parties, one apostille from the competent authority of the issuing country replaces that chain, and the destination country may not ask for more.

The Convention applies to public documents: documents from courts and public authorities, administrative documents, notarial acts and official certificates placed on private documents, such as an official certification of a signature. A private document like a commercial invoice or a company letter is therefore usually notarised or officially certified first, and the apostille is attached to that certification.

Commercial and customs documents

Article 1(3)(b) excludes "administrative documents dealing directly with commercial or customs operations". The drafters had in mind documents such as certificates of origin and import and export licences. Since 2009 the HCCH's Special Commissions have said this exclusion should be interpreted narrowly, and later extremely narrowly, and in 2021 they encouraged receiving States to accept apostilles even for excluded documents. Many contracting parties now issue apostilles for such documents, but practice varies, so ask the issuing authority and the importer or authority that will receive the document what they accept. Some countries' guidance on joining the Convention, such as commentary on Viet Nam's accession, still lists trade and customs documents as outside its scope.

Who is a member: check before you send documents

• China (since 7 November 2023), Canada (11 January 2024), Bangladesh (30 March 2025), Algeria (9 July 2026) and Viet Nam (11 September 2026) are among the recent members, together with long-standing members such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India, Türkiye, Brazil, Mexico and Russia.
• Saudi Arabia (7 December 2022), Indonesia (4 June 2022), Pakistan (9 March 2023), the Philippines (14 May 2019) and Singapore (16 September 2021) also joined in recent years.
• Thailand deposited its accession on 30 June 2026; the Convention enters into force for it on 28 February 2027, so until then Thai legalization rules apply.
• The United Arab Emirates, Malaysia and Egypt were not contracting parties in October 2026, so documents for them still go through legalization or attestation.
• When an existing member objects to a new member's accession, the Convention does not apply between those two countries. Austria, Czechia and Germany, for example, objected to Viet Nam's accession, so documents between them and Viet Nam still need legalization. The HCCH status table marks such accessions; always check it for both countries.

Typical export documents that need an apostille or legalization

• Certificates of free sale and GMP certificates for product registration, for example cosmetics or food in some Asian and Middle Eastern markets.
• Powers of attorney and letters of authorisation appointing an importer or local agent.
• Company registration extracts and certificates of good standing for tenders or distributor contracts.
• Certificates of origin and commercial invoices, when the buyer's country or a letter of credit requires them to be legalized by its consulate.
• Halal, health or analysis certificates, when the receiving authority asks for them.