The agreement we usually call the Hague Apostille Convention has a key date: it was concluded (meaning agreed upon and signed by the initial countries) on 5 October 1961 in The Hague, Netherlands.
This date is part of its official, rather long title: the Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents.
However, signing a treaty doesn’t mean it takes effect immediately. The Convention entered into force on 24 January 1965, a few years later.
The good news for those dealing with UK documents is that the United Kingdom was one of the original signatories and ratified it promptly.
The Convention entered into force for the UK on the same date: 24 January 1965.
Understanding these dates helps appreciate how long this simplified ‘apostille’ system has been established internationally, replacing older, much more complex methods.
Even with this long-standing system, navigating the official channels efficiently to get documents processed quickly can be challenging.
That’s why clients often rely on us for services like next-day legalisation to ensure the fastest way to get an apostille when time is critical.
