New Hague Apostille Convention members in 2026: Algeria, Vietnam and Thailand
Three countries changed their apostille status in 2026. Algeria and Vietnam now accept apostilles on U.S. documents, and Thailand has joined the Convention with an effective date of February 28, 2027. Here is what each change means for your FBI background check, vital records, diplomas and business documents.
The short answer
Algeria: apostille accepted since July 9, 2026. No embassy legalization needed.
Vietnam: apostille accepted since September 11, 2026. No embassy legalization needed.
Thailand: joined on June 30, 2026, but the Convention does not take effect until February 28, 2027. Until then, U.S. documents still need Department of State authentication plus Royal Thai Embassy legalization.
The 2026 timeline
A country becomes a contracting party when it deposits its instrument of accession, but the Convention only starts working for it on a later entry into force date. Apostilles are accepted from the second date, not the first. The Convention now has 130 contracting parties, according to the HCCH status table.
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Jun 302026Thailand deposits its accessionThailand becomes a contracting party. Other members have six months to object.
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Jul 92026In force for AlgeriaEight months after Algeria deposited its accession on November 5, 2025.
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Sep 112026In force for VietnamFollowing Vietnam's accession on December 31, 2025.
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Feb 282027In force for ThailandThe first day a U.S. apostille will be accepted in Thailand.
Algeria
Apostille accepted since July 9, 2026Algeria deposited its instrument of accession on November 5, 2025, and the Convention entered into force on July 9, 2026. Before that date, U.S. documents bound for Algeria went through the full chain: state certification or notarization, U.S. Department of State authentication, then legalization at the Embassy of Algeria in Washington.
That chain is now gone. A single apostille is the final step for:
- Federal documents such as FBI Identity History Summaries, Certificates of Naturalization and SSA letters, apostilled by the U.S. Department of State.
- State documents such as birth, marriage and divorce records, notarized affidavits and corporate filings, apostilled by the Secretary of State of the issuing state.
Objections to note: Germany, Austria and Greece objected to Algeria's accession, so the Convention does not apply between Algeria and those three countries. The United States did not object, so U.S.-to-Algeria documents use the apostille route. Algerian authorities often ask for an Arabic or French translation, which can be prepared before or after the apostille depending on the receiving office.
Vietnam
Apostille accepted since September 11, 2026Vietnam deposited its accession on December 31, 2025, and the Convention entered into force on September 11, 2026. For U.S. documents, the Embassy of Vietnam legalization step has been removed. Documents filed in Vietnam before that date still needed consular legalization, so anything legalized under the old process remains valid.
Objections to note: Germany, Austria and Czechia objected to Vietnam's accession. None of these objections affects documents moving between the United States and Vietnam.
We cover the Vietnam change in depth, including document types, work permit use and translation, in Vietnam is now a party to the Hague Apostille Convention.
Thailand
Joined June 30, 2026, in force February 28, 2027Thailand deposited its instrument of accession on June 30, 2026. The Convention enters into force for Thailand on February 28, 2027. This is the change most likely to cause a rejected packet: Thailand is now a contracting party, but an apostille will not be accepted there until February 28, 2027.
Until then, a U.S. document for Thailand still needs:
- State certification (for state documents) or notarization (for private documents).
- U.S. Department of State authentication, which for non-Hague destinations is an authentication certificate, not an apostille.
- Legalization by the Royal Thai Embassy or a Royal Thai Consulate.
If your Thai visa, work permit or marriage registration is due before the end of February 2027, do not wait for the switch. Start the legalization chain now. See our FBI background check for Thailand guide, or, for California documents, the Thai Embassy and Consulate legalization walkthrough from Orange County Apostille.
Quick reference
| Country | Accession deposited | Apostille accepted from | What a U.S. document needs today |
|---|---|---|---|
| Algeria | Nov 5, 2025 | Jul 9, 2026 | Apostille only |
| Vietnam | Dec 31, 2025 | Sep 11, 2026 | Apostille only |
| Thailand | Jun 30, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | Authentication + Royal Thai Embassy legalization until Feb 28, 2027 |
What an objection actually means
When a country accedes rather than ratifies, existing members have six months to object under Article 12. An objection only switches off the Convention between the objecting country and the new member. It has no effect on anyone else. Algeria's and Vietnam's objections came from European states, so they matter if, for example, a German document is headed to Hanoi. They do not change anything for documents issued in the United States.
How to get a U.S. document apostilled for Algeria or Vietnam
The route depends on who issued the document.
Federal documents
FBI background checks, naturalization certificates, CRBAs, SSA and VA letters and other documents signed by a federal official are apostilled by the U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications. Our DC team hand-carries federal submissions for a $120 flat rate, ready in 7 business days (excluding Fridays and federal holidays). If your FBI report came through an approved channeler, see our FBI channeler directory.
State documents
Birth, marriage and death certificates, court records, notarized documents and business filings are apostilled by the Secretary of State of the state that issued them. We process state apostilles for all 50 states.
Translation
Algerian and Vietnamese authorities frequently require a translation into their official language. Our ATA-certified translators prepare certified translations for $75 per document.
Frequently asked questions
Which countries joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 2026?
Thailand is the only country that deposited a new accession in 2026, on June 30. The Convention also entered into force in 2026 for two countries that acceded in late 2025: Algeria on July 9 and Vietnam on September 11. As of September 2026 there are 130 contracting parties.
Can I use an apostille for Thailand now?
No. Thailand is a contracting party, but the Convention does not enter into force there until February 28, 2027. Until that date, U.S. documents need Department of State authentication followed by Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate legalization.
Is my old Vietnam or Algeria embassy legalization still valid?
Legalizations completed before the Convention took effect were valid under the rules in force at the time. Whether a receiving office still accepts an older document usually depends on its own age limit for the document, not on the change in procedure. Check with the office receiving it.
I already have a U.S. apostille. Do I still need the Algerian or Vietnamese embassy?
Not for documents presented on or after the entry into force date (July 9, 2026 for Algeria, September 11, 2026 for Vietnam). The apostille is the final certification.
What is the difference between accession and entry into force?
Accession is the date a country formally joins by depositing its instrument with the Netherlands, the Convention's depositary. Entry into force is the later date on which apostilles actually start to be accepted. The gap is usually about eight months: six months for objections plus 60 days.
Does the United States accept apostilles from Algeria and Vietnam?
Yes. The United States did not object to either accession, so apostilles issued by Algerian or Vietnamese competent authorities are valid for use in the U.S. from the entry into force dates.
How do I apostille an FBI background check for Vietnam?
Request your Identity History Summary from the FBI or an approved channeler, then send the original, signed report to the U.S. Department of State for an apostille. Send the original; do not notarize or photocopy it first. We handle the Department of State step for $120, ready in 7 business days.
Where can I check whether a country is a Hague member?
The official source is the HCCH status table. Check that the country is listed and that its entry into force date has passed.
Sending documents to Algeria, Vietnam or Thailand?
Tell us the document and the destination and we will confirm the exact route, apostille or embassy legalization, before you ship anything.
Call (760) 469-2997 Email submissions@federalapostille.org