You might hear the term ‘e-APP’ mentioned alongside e-Apostilles, and it’s key to understanding how the modern digital process works. The e-APP stands for the electronic Apostille Programme.
It was launched and is maintained by the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH), the same international organisation that oversees the original 1961 Hague Apostille Convention (which, as we explain in our FAQ on when the Convention was ratified, dates back over 60 years).
Why was the e-APP needed?
As discussed in our related FAQ, which explores how the Hague Convention relates to e-apostilles, the original 1961 treaty was designed for paper documents.
The e-APP was created to provide the framework and technical standards needed to effectively apply the Convention’s core principles—simplifying authentication between member states, as covered in our FAQ on the Convention’s main purpose—in our digital age.
How it relates to the 1961 Convention:
Crucially, the e-APP is not a new treaty. It’s an operational programme running under the existing Convention. It provides internationally agreed-upon guidelines and tools to help member countries:
- Issue electronic apostilles (e-apostilles): This sets standards for secure digital apostille certificates, usually embedded within PDF documents protected by qualified electronic signatures.
- Implement electronic registers: Promoting secure online databases where the authenticity of both e-Apostilles and traditional paper apostilles can be verified quickly using their reference number, a method discussed further in the FAQ regarding apostille verification methods.
Essentially, the e-APP provides the “how-to” guide for making the 1961 Convention work seamlessly with modern technology, ensuring e-Apostilles meet high standards and can be trusted internationally.
The e-APP is vital for us as a London-based agency. It provides the technological foundation enabling the speed and efficiency of the e-apostille process.
This framework allows us to offer a genuine 24-hour apostille or same-day apostille service in many cases for eligible documents, representing the fastest way to get an apostille through official channels.
