As of 2026, the Hague Convention has approximately 130 contracting states. An apostille from any Canadian competent authority is accepted in all of them without embassy involvement.

The US joined the Convention in 1981. A Canadian apostille is sufficient for US use - no Canadian embassy step, no US consulate step. Before January 2024, US recording authorities that required authentication had to deal with a separate Canadian consular process. That step is now eliminated.

UK authorities accept Canadian apostilles directly. The UK's own apostille authority - the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) - only issues apostilles for UK documents going abroad, not for Canadian documents.

Common uses: Skilled Worker visas, professional registration with UK regulatory bodies (nursing, medicine, engineering), and property matters.

Italy accepts Canadian apostilles. The consulates in Canada stopped legalizing Canadian documents after January 11, 2024.

• For translations: the Italian consulates in Canada accept translations by ATIO-certified translators listed with the consulate, or notarized-and-apostilled translations. The apostille certificate is not translated.
• For Italian citizenship by descent (jure sanguinis): Every civil-status document in the lineage chain requires an apostille and an Italian translation. Documents submitted to Italian consulates are kept - they are not returned. Plan to order multiple originals.
• Italy's 2025–2026 jure sanguinis change: Italy tightened eligibility rules in early 2025 and introduced per-consulate annual caps on adult citizenship applications. Before spending on document preparation for an Italian citizenship file, verify current eligibility and appointment availability with the relevant Italian consulate. The apostille process has not changed - but the rules governing who can benefit from it have changed significantly.

Spain's consulates confirmed that Canadian documents must carry Canadian apostilles, and that the consulate no longer handles legalization of Canadian documents.

Spain's requirement is explicit: only original apostilled documents are admissible. An apostilled photocopy is not a substitute for an apostilled original.

All Convention members. Canadian apostilles accepted directly. A certified translation into the destination language may still be required by the specific institution.

Convention member. Canadian apostilles accepted for immigration applications, skilled migration, partner visas, professional registration, and study abroad. DFAT issues apostilles for Australian documents - relevant only for Australian documents going elsewhere.

China joined the Convention on November 7, 2023 - roughly two months before Canada. Canadian apostilles are now accepted in China without embassy legalization. Many older guides and some US apostille service websites have not updated this information. If a website says documents for China require embassy legalization, that guidance is outdated for Hague-eligible documents.

Convention member. Korean immigration requires the RCMP fingerprint-based check plus apostilled academic credentials. Korea's E-2 visa requires the RCMP check issued within 6 months of application.

Both Convention members. Receiving institutions may have specific format or translation requirements beyond the apostille - confirm with the institution directly.

All Convention members. Canadian apostilles are sufficient for the authentication layer. Translation and format requirements vary by country and institution.