Hague Convention countries are the states that have joined the 1961 Apostille Convention, and one name that many healthcare professionals expect to see on the list is not there: the United Arab Emirates. The same goes for Qatar and Kuwait. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman are on it.
That gap matters if your degree, license, or experience certificate has to travel between countries. This guide gives you the full official list, explains what an apostille does, and shows what the UAE’s absence means in practice. Every fact about membership comes from the Hague Conference’s own status table.
Which Hague Convention Do You Mean?
The Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) has produced many treaties, including ones on serving documents abroad, taking evidence, and child abduction. Each has its own list of member countries.
When people search for “Hague Convention countries” in the context of documents, they almost always mean the Apostille Convention of 5 October 1961. Its full title is the Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents. This article covers that one.
How Many Hague Convention Countries Are There?
According to the official HCCH status table, last updated on 30 June 2026, the Apostille Convention has 130 Contracting Parties.
You will see other totals on third-party websites, such as 120 or 124. The difference usually comes from the date a page was written. New countries join regularly, so always check the date next to any number you read.
One more detail matters. HCCH uses “Contracting Party” for countries where the Convention is already in force and for countries that have joined but whose entry into force is still ahead. Thailand is an example, and we cover it below.
Hague Convention Countries: The Official List
This alphabetical list follows the HCCH status table as updated on 30 June 2026.
A: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan
B: Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burundi
C: Cabo Verde, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia
D: Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic
E: Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Eswatini
F: Fiji, Finland, France
G: Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana
H: Honduras, Hungary
I: Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy
J: Jamaica, Japan
K: Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan
L: Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg
M: Malawi, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco
N: Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niue, North Macedonia, Norway
O: Oman
P: Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal
R: Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda
S: Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland
T: Tajikistan, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Türkiye
U: Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan
V: Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam
Membership can change after the table’s update date, so confirm any country you depend on at the source before you start paperwork.
The Newest Hague Convention Countries
Three recent entries show why the date of a list matters.
| Country | Joined (accession) | Entry into force |
|---|---|---|
| Algeria | 5 November 2025 | 9 July 2026 |
| Viet Nam | 31 December 2025 | 11 September 2026 |
| Thailand | 30 June 2026 | 28 February 2027 |
As of today, Algeria and Viet Nam have entered into force, while Thailand’s date is still ahead. That means an apostille for use in Thailand should not be relied on before 28 February 2027.
The status table also marks some accessions with an objection. Under the Convention, when an existing party objects to a new member, the treaty does not apply between those two states. If your document is moving between two specific countries, open the notification for the new member on the HCCH page and check whether the other country objected.
Hague Convention Countries in the Gulf
For healthcare professionals, the Gulf is where the list gets interesting.
| Country | On the HCCH table? | Entry into force |
|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | Yes | 7 December 2022 |
| Bahrain | Yes | 31 December 2013 |
| Oman | Yes | 30 January 2012 |
| United Arab Emirates | No | Not listed |
| Qatar | No | Not listed |
| Kuwait | No | Not listed |
If you are completing a Saudi licensing file, for example, the Saudi side is already part of the system. For the UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait, you cannot assume an apostille will do the job.
Why the UAE Is Missing, and What It Means
The HCCH table shows no entry for the UAE, with no signature, accession, or entry-into-force date recorded. The practical consequence is that an apostille on a document is not a substitute for the UAE’s own document process.
Several third-party websites describe that process as a chain of legalisation steps ending with attestation by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We have not relied on those descriptions here. Requirements, fees, and steps change, so check the current rules directly with the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and with the licensing authority that asked for your documents.
You may also see agency pages claiming that the UAE now issues apostilles. The official table does not support that claim. Check it against HCCH before you pay for any service built on it.
How This Connects to Healthcare Licensing
Document attestation and Primary Source Verification are two different things. An apostille or attestation confirms that a signature, seal, or official capacity on a public document is genuine. DataFlow’s verification contacts the issuing institution directly to confirm your degree, license, and experience.
Each licensing authority sets its own document requirements. DHA, DOH, and MOHAP may ask for different things, so read the checklist for your authority. Our guides to the DHA exam and the DOH exam explain those processes, and our DataFlow process guide shows where verification fits. If you need help with attestation, you can see what we offer on our services page.
What an Apostille Covers, and What It Does Not
The Apostille Convention applies to public documents executed in one Contracting State and produced in another. Under the Convention text, these include court documents, administrative documents, notarial acts, and official certificates placed on documents signed in a private capacity. Documents from diplomatic or consular agents, and some administrative documents dealing directly with commercial or customs operations, are outside its scope.
An apostille is a single certificate that replaces the longer legalisation chain. It confirms the authenticity of the signature, the capacity of the signer, and the seal or stamp on the document. It does not confirm that the content of the document is true.
It is issued by an authority that each country designates, not by the HCCH itself. You can find the designated authority for each country on the HCCH authorities page. The Convention text is also available on the HCCH website.
Hague Convention Countries Where Healthcare Professionals Often Apply
Here are the entry-into-force dates from the HCCH table for countries many of our applicants target.
| Country | On the table? | Entry into force |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | 24 January 1965 |
| Ireland | Yes | 9 March 1999 |
| Germany | Yes | 13 February 1966 |
| France | Yes | 24 January 1965 |
| Italy | Yes | 11 February 1978 |
| Spain | Yes | 25 September 1978 |
| Norway | Yes | 29 July 1983 |
| Sweden | Yes | 1 May 1999 |
| Canada | Yes | 11 January 2024 |
| Australia | Yes | 16 March 1995 |
| New Zealand | Yes | 22 November 2001 |
| United States | Yes | 15 October 1981 |
Apostille or Legalisation: Which One Applies?
The answer depends on both countries in the journey, not just one. The Convention only applies between states that are parties to it.
| Where the document was issued | Where it will be used | Usual route |
|---|---|---|
| A Hague Convention country | Another Hague Convention country | Apostille from the issuing country’s designated authority |
| A Hague Convention country | A country not on the table | Legalisation, as the receiving country requires |
| A country not on the table | Any country | Legalisation, as the receiving country requires |
Remember the objection rule from earlier. Two countries can both be on the table and still have no treaty relationship if one objected to the other’s accession.
The Apostille Process in Three Steps
The details differ from country to country, but the general path is the same.
First, get the original public document from the body that issued it, such as a university, a registrar, or a court. Some documents need a notary or another official certification before they can be apostilled, depending on the country.
Second, take the document to the authority your country has designated to issue apostilles. The HCCH lists these authorities for each Contracting Party. The authority checks the signature and seal, then attaches the apostille certificate to the document or to a separate sheet.
Third, present the apostilled document in the other country. Under the Convention, no further embassy or consular legalisation should be asked for between two parties, because the apostille has the same legal effect.
Common Mistakes With Hague Convention Documents
The most common mistake is assuming “Hague” membership works in both directions for every country. It does not, as the UAE shows. A document can come from a Hague Convention country and still need extra steps in a country that is not on the table.
Another is relying on a list without checking its date. New members and entry-into-force dates change the answer, and Thailand’s date in 2027 is a good example.
A third is mixing up apostille and verification. An apostille makes a document usable abroad. It does not replace the checks a licensing authority runs on your credentials, so plan for both.
Finally, do not pay for an apostille or attestation before you confirm what the receiving authority actually asks for. Ask for the exact requirement in writing, and keep the reply with your file.
How to Check the Status Yourself
Open the HCCH Apostille Convention status table and look for both countries involved in your document’s journey: where it was issued and where it will be used. Note the “last update” date at the top of the page and the entry-into-force column. The HCCH also keeps a dedicated Apostille Section with guidance for users.
If either country is missing from the table, or the Convention is not yet in force for it, do not assume an apostille will be accepted. Ask the receiving authority what it requires.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Hague Convention countries are there? The HCCH status table, last updated 30 June 2026, lists 130 Contracting Parties to the Apostille Convention.
Is the UAE a Hague Convention country? No. The United Arab Emirates does not appear on the HCCH status table for the Apostille Convention.
Which Gulf countries are Hague Convention countries? Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman appear on the table. The UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait do not.
What is an apostille? It is a certificate issued by a designated authority that confirms the authenticity of the signature, signer’s capacity, and seal on a public document, so the document can be used in another Contracting Party.
Does an apostille prove my degree is genuine? No. It certifies the signature, capacity, and seal, not the truth of the content. Licensing authorities verify credentials separately, for example through DataFlow.
Where can I find the official list? On the HCCH website, in the status table for the 1961 Apostille Convention.
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