A Japanese document submitted abroad can be used with an apostille from Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) alone if the destination country is a party to the Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (the Hague Apostille Convention). If the destination country is not a party, the document receives MOFA's certification of official seal and then consular legalization at that country's embassy or consulate in Japan.
As of September 2026 there are 129 contracting states, and MOFA's list shows 131 countries and regions, including Hong Kong and Macao. In 2026, Algeria (in force July 9) and Viet Nam (in force September 11) joined. Thailand completed its accession on June 30, 2026, and the Convention is scheduled to enter into force for Thailand on February 28, 2027 (consular legalization is required until then). This page lists the contracting states in alphabetical order, recent accessions and their dates, and the procedure for non-member countries we are often asked about.
This page is based on MOFA's list of contracting states (regions) to the Hague Apostille Convention (updated September 11, 2026; in Japanese) and the HCCH status table (updated June 30, 2026). Membership changes, so please check the latest MOFA list before applying.
How to apply for an apostille, required documents and processing time are explained in What Is an Apostille?, and the procedure for non-member countries in Apostille vs. Certification of Official Seal and Consular Legalization.
The procedure depends on whether the country is a Convention party
To use a Japanese public document abroad, you must show the destination country that the document is genuine. The Hague Apostille Convention reduces this to a single certificate from MOFA: the apostille.
| Destination country | Certificate from MOFA | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Hague Apostille Convention party | Apostille | None. The document can be used as is |
| Non-party | Certification of official seal | Consular legalization at the destination country's embassy or consulate in Japan |
You can check whether a country is a party in the list below. Even for a Convention country, the receiving authority may ask for consular legalization (see below). Confirming first whether they require an "apostille" or "legalization" avoids having to redo the process.
There are other conventions called "Hague Conventions" (such as the convention on international child abduction). This page covers the 1961 convention on the certification of documents.
List of contracting states and regions (alphabetical)
Based on MOFA's list (updated September 11, 2026): 131 countries and regions in total.
A (9) Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan
B (14) Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burundi
C (10) Cabo Verde, Canada, Chile, China (mainland), Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia
D (3) Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic
E (4) Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland)
F (3) Fiji, Finland, France
G (6) Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana
H (3) Honduras, Hong Kong SAR, Hungary
I (6) Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy
J (2) Jamaica, Japan
K (4) Kazakhstan, Korea (Republic of), Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan
L (6) Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg
M (11) Macao SAR, Malawi, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco
N (7) Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niue, North Macedonia, Norway
O (1) Oman
P (8) Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal
R (3) Romania, Russia, Rwanda
S (18) 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 (5) Tajikistan, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Türkiye
U (5) Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan
V (3) Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam
Hong Kong and Macao are special administrative regions of China but are listed separately by MOFA. Documents for mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao can all be submitted with an apostille.
Overseas territories of contracting states
According to MOFA, apostilles can also be used in the following overseas territories (departments) of contracting states.
| State | Territories |
|---|---|
| France | Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Réunion, New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, French Polynesia |
| Portugal | All overseas territories |
| Netherlands | Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten |
| United Kingdom | Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Cayman Islands, Bermuda, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, St Helena, Anguilla, Turks and Caicos Islands, British Virgin Islands |
Recent accessions and entry into force (since 2022)
A country you remember as requiring consular legalization may now accept an apostille. The Convention entered into force for the following countries from 2022 onwards (dates from the HCCH status table).
| Country | Entry into force | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Indonesia | June 4, 2022 | |
| Saudi Arabia | December 7, 2022 | |
| Pakistan | March 9, 2023 | |
| Senegal | March 23, 2023 | |
| China (mainland) | November 7, 2023 | Hong Kong and Macao were already covered |
| Canada | January 11, 2024 | |
| Rwanda | June 5, 2024 | |
| Bangladesh | March 30, 2025 | |
| Algeria | July 9, 2026 | |
| Viet Nam | September 11, 2026 | Included in MOFA's list (updated September 11, 2026) |
Documents that reach the receiving authority before the entry-into-force date may still require consular legalization. If you are applying around that date, check with the receiving authority which method they accept.
Acceded but not yet in force: Thailand
Thailand deposited its instrument of accession with the HCCH on June 30, 2026, and the Convention is scheduled to enter into force for Thailand on February 28, 2027 (HCCH status table). Until then Thailand is not a contracting state, so documents for Thailand still require MOFA's certification of official seal followed by consular legalization at the Royal Thai Embassy in Japan. As of September 11, 2026, Thailand is not on MOFA's list.
From the entry-into-force date, documents are expected to be accepted with an apostille. Practice at receiving authorities may not be settled immediately after the switch, so if you are submitting documents around February 2027, check the receiving authority's guidance or ask us.
Non-member countries we are often asked about: consular legalization required
The following countries and regions are not parties to the Convention. As a rule, documents receive MOFA's certification of official seal (private documents first go through a notary office) and then consular legalization at the embassy or consulate in Japan. Procedures, required documents, fees and processing times differ by embassy, and in some cases, such as Taiwan, MOFA's certification is not used.
| Country/region | Procedure | Our guide |
|---|---|---|
| Thailand | Certification of official seal → consular legalization at the Royal Thai Embassy (switching to apostille on February 28, 2027) | Documents for Thailand (in Japanese) |
| Malaysia | Certification of official seal → consular legalization at the Embassy of Malaysia | Documents for Malaysia (in Japanese) |
| Myanmar | Certification of official seal → consular legalization at the Embassy of Myanmar | Documents for Myanmar (in Japanese) |
| Cambodia | Certification of official seal → consular legalization at the Royal Embassy of Cambodia | — |
| United Arab Emirates (UAE, Dubai) | Certification of official seal → consular legalization at the UAE Embassy | Documents for the UAE (in Japanese) |
| Qatar | Certification of official seal → consular legalization at the Embassy of Qatar | Documents for Qatar (in Japanese) |
| Egypt | Certification of official seal → consular legalization at the Embassy of Egypt | — |
| Cuba | Certification of official seal → consular legalization at the Embassy of Cuba | Documents for Cuba (in Japanese) |
| Taiwan | Public documents as issued, or private documents after notarization, are authenticated at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan (MOFA's certification of official seal is not needed) | — |
Because Taiwan is not a party to the Convention, documents are authenticated at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan, which serves as its embassy. Unlike other non-member countries, MOFA's certification of official seal is not needed: public documents bearing the issuing authority's official seal are submitted as issued, and private documents or documents without an official seal are first notarized and then submitted to the Representative Office (Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan, "Authentication of documents in an individual's name"). For each country, see our guides by country (in Japanese).
Cases that need care even for Convention countries
When the receiving authority requires consular legalization
Even in a Convention country, a receiving authority's internal rules may require consular legalization by its embassy in Japan. MOFA states that a certification of official seal can be issued in that case. Follow the receiving authority's instructions.
Documents that cannot receive an apostille directly
Graduation certificates from private universities and incorporated national or public universities can receive only a certification of official seal from MOFA, even for Convention countries. For these, have the certificate notarized and the notary's seal certified by the Director of the Legal Affairs Bureau, then obtain the apostille (one-stop notary offices do this in one visit). See Apostille for graduation certificates by type of school.
Around the entry-into-force date
For newly joined countries, the procedure switches from consular legalization before the entry-into-force date to an apostille after it. If you are submitting documents during the transition, check which the receiving authority accepts.
Frequently asked questions
Can documents for Viet Nam now be submitted with an apostille?
Yes. The Convention entered into force for Viet Nam on September 11, 2026, and Viet Nam is on MOFA's list (updated September 11, 2026). Consular legalization at the Embassy of Viet Nam in Japan, which was previously required, is generally no longer needed. However, if the receiving authority itself requires consular legalization, follow its instructions. Graduation certificates from private universities or incorporated national or public universities must go through a notary office, and criminal record certificates must be submitted unopened. Check with the receiving authority whether a Vietnamese translation is required. See Apostille for documents for Viet Nam (in Japanese).
What should I do for documents for Thailand?
As of September 2026, Thailand is not yet a contracting state. Obtain MOFA's certification of official seal and then consular legalization at the Royal Thai Embassy in Japan. The Convention is scheduled to enter into force on February 28, 2027, after which documents are expected to be accepted with an apostille. Check the receiving authority's practice right after the switch. Reservations, fees and English translation requirements at the Royal Thai Embassy are explained in Documents for Thailand (in Japanese).
Do documents for China still need consular legalization?
The Convention entered into force for mainland China on November 7, 2023, so documents can be submitted with an apostille. Hong Kong and Macao were covered earlier. Some receiving authorities in China may require a Chinese translation or certification of the translation. See Apostille and translation for documents for China (in Japanese).
Even in a Convention country, a receiving authority's internal rules may require consular legalization. In that case, obtain MOFA's certification of official seal instead of an apostille, followed by consular legalization at the embassy in Japan. MOFA also states that a certification of official seal can be issued when the receiving authority requires consular legalization.
How many contracting states are there?
According to the HCCH status table, there were 130 as of June 30, 2026. Of these, the Convention has not yet entered into force for Thailand, so 129 are contracting states in force. MOFA's list shows 131 countries and regions, including Hong Kong and Macao.
Summary and how to order
- If the destination country is a Convention party, an apostille alone is enough. If not, a certification of official seal and consular legalization at the embassy in Japan are required
- Algeria (July 9) and Viet Nam (September 11) joined in 2026. The Convention is scheduled to enter into force for Thailand on February 28, 2027
- Malaysia, Myanmar, Cambodia, the UAE, Qatar, Egypt and Cuba are not parties and require a certification of official seal and consular legalization. Taiwan uses authentication at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (no MOFA certification)
- Even Convention countries may require consular legalization, so check the receiving authority's instructions first
Our apostille and legalization service
Royal Partners Administrative Scrivener Office handles the following procedures, depending on the destination country:
- MOFA certification of official seal and apostille
- Consular legalization at embassies and consulates in Japan (for non-member countries)
- Notarization at a notary office (private documents and documents that cannot receive an apostille directly)
- Translation and international shipping
Tell us the destination country and the type of document, and we will determine the procedure needed and send you a quote.
- Free quote and inquiry form: https://royal-ptns.com/certification/en/contact/
- Phone: +81-3-6303-1664 (weekdays 9:00–20:00 Japan time; weekends and holidays by appointment)
- Email: info@royal-ptns.com
- Fees: Fees
References (primary sources)
- MOFA, "Application Guide [Reference]: Contracting States (Regions) to the Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents" (updated September 11, 2026; in Japanese) https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/toko/page22_000610.html
- MOFA, "Frequently Asked Questions" (updated September 18, 2026; in Japanese) https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/toko/page22_000552.html
- HCCH, "Apostille Convention: Status table" (updated June 30, 2026) https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/status-table/?cid=41
- Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan, "Authentication of documents in an individual's name" (in Japanese) https://www.roc-taiwan.org/jp_ja/post/63831.html
- HCCH, "Thailand accedes to the 1961 Apostille Convention" (June 30, 2026) https://www.hcch.net/en/news-archive/details/?varevent=1158
Information on this page is current as of September 24, 2026.