If you need to use U.S. public documents abroad, especially in countries that are part of the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents, more commonly referred to as the Hague Apostille Convention, then you want clear, accurate, and up‑to‑date information — from how the process works in Boston & Massachusetts to exactly which countries recognize an Apostille certificate.

This guide is designed to be your one‑stop resource in 2026 for apostille services in Boston, including:

• What the Hague Apostille Convention is
• How the Apostille process works in Massachusetts
• A complete list of all member countries as of 2026
• SEO‑optimized content to help this blog rank highly and provide valuable answers
• A link to the official HCCH website so readers can double check the list anytime

Let’s begin!

The Hague Apostille Convention is an international agreement signed on October 5, 1961 that simplifies the transfer of public documents between member countries. Instead of going through a long, multi‑step embassy legalization process, a public document authenticated with an Apostille certificate is recognized as valid in every other member country.

Why the Apostille Matters

When a document requires legal validation for use abroad — such as:

• Birth, marriage, divorce, or death certificates
• Educational diplomas and transcripts
• Power of attorney
• Corporate documents
• Court records or judgments

…an Apostille certificate confirms the authenticity of signatures and seals so that the document can be accepted without further embassy/consulate legalization in a member country.

1. Document Notarization

Most documents must first be properly notarized by a qualified notary public. The notarization verifies the signature on your document.

2. Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth

If the document originates in Massachusetts (e.g., a Massachusetts birth certificate), it will typically go to the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth for the Apostille seal.

3. Federal Apostille (U.S. Department of State)

Certain federal documents — such as FBI background checks — require an Apostille from the U.S. Department of State after state authentication.

Once apostilled, your document is accepted in any Hague Convention member country without additional legalization.

Official List of Hague Apostille Convention Countries in 2026

Below is the complete list of countries that are Contracting Parties to the Hague Apostille Convention as of 2026. This means that if you apostille a document in the U.S., it will be recognized in these countries without additional embassy legalization (provided both the issuing country and destination country are parties to the Convention).

📌 Want to double‑check the latest list?
Visit the official HCCH status table at:
https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/status‑table/?cid=41

A — B

• Albania
• Andorra
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Argentina
• Armenia
• Australia
• Austria
• Azerbaijan
• Bahamas
• Bahrain
• Bangladesh
• Barbados
• Belarus
• Belgium
• Belize
• Bolivia (Plurinational State of)
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Botswana
• Brazil
• Brunei Darussalam
• Bulgaria
• Burundi

C — D

• Cabo Verde
• Canada
• Chile
• China (People’s Republic of China — Hong Kong & Macau SARs)
• Colombia
• Cook Islands
• Costa Rica
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Dominica
• Dominican Republic

E — G

• Ecuador
• El Salvador
• Estonia
• Eswatini (Swaziland)
• Fiji
• Finland
• France
• Georgia
• Germany
• Greece
• Grenada
• Guatemala
• Guyana

H — I

• Honduras
• Hungary
• Iceland
• India
• Indonesia
• Ireland
• Israel
• Italy

J — K

• Japan
• Kazakhstan
• Korea (Republic of)
• Kosovo
• Kyrgyzstan

L

• Latvia
• Lesotho
• Liberia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg

M

• Malawi
• Malta
• Marshall Islands
• Mauritius
• Mexico
• Moldova (Republic of)
• 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 — S

• Romania
• Russian Federation
• Rwanda
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Samoa
• San Marino
• Sao Tome and Principe
• Saudi Arabia
• Serbia
• Seychelles
• Singapore
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• South Africa
• Spain
• Suriname
• Sweden
• Switzerland

T — U

• Tajikistan
• Tonga
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Tunisia
• Türkiye
• Ukraine
• United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
• United States of America
• Uruguay
• Uzbekistan
• Vanuatu
• Venezuela

The number of contracting states has been rising over the years. For example:

• Canada only recently joined the Apostille Convention in 2024, meaning Canadian public documents can now receive an apostille without complex legalization procedures.
• Bangladesh entered the Convention in 2025.

Because new countries can accede to the treaty at any time, it’s important to check the HCCH official list regularly.

Q: What types of documents can be apostilled?

Common apostilled documents include:

• Birth, marriage, death certificates
• Diplomas & transcripts
• Court records
• Power of attorney
• Corporate documents
• FBI background checks
• Single Status Affidavit - Negative Statement 
• MA CORI 
• Certified Copies
• Many more

Q: Does an apostille ever expire?

No. An apostille does not expire — it confirms the authenticity of the document at the time of issuance. However, some receiving authorities may require that the underlying document be “recent” (e.g., civil status documents).

Q: Is an Apostille the same as legalization?

No. Apostille replaces the older legalization process for member states. If a destination country is not a party to the Hague Convention, then additional embassy/legalization steps may be required.

Q: Why would a country not need an apostille?

If a document is from or is being used in a non‑Hague country, you typically must go through authentication plus embassy or consulate legalization — which is more complex than an apostille alone.

Whether you live in Boston, Cambridge, Brookline, Newton, Quincy, Somerville, or anywhere in Massachusetts, dealing with apostille requirements can be confusing. One small mistake — a missing notarization, wrong seal, or incorrect submission — can delay your process for weeks.

That’s why choosing experienced Apostille service professionals in Boston ensures your document is:

• Notarized properly
• Directed to the right government office (state or federal)
• Attached with the correct Apostille
• Prepared for use in any Hague Convention country

Having someone who understands the nuances of Massachusetts apostille requirements, from county clerks to the Secretary of the Commonwealth and the U.S. Department of State, will save you time and stress.

The Hague Apostille Convention of 1961 is one of the most important international treaties for individuals and businesses dealing with foreign document use. With over 125 member countries worldwide, the Apostille makes legalized document use fast, reliable, and accepted everywhere you need it.

Always check the official HCCH Status Table at:
👉 https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/status‑table/?cid=41

That way, whether you’re applying for a visa, studying abroad, relocating, or managing international business agreements, you’ll know exactly where your apostilled documents are recognized.

For fast, accurate Hague Apostille services in Boston, Massachusetts — including document review, notarization, and filing — contact:

📧 info@bostonnotaryservice.us
📞 617‑230‑6676

Let the professionals handle your Apostille needs so your documents are accepted in any Hague Convention country without delay.