New e-Registers of Apostilles for Paraguay and Hong Kong

On 30 August 2014, the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (Apostille Convention) entered into force for Paraguay. As of this date, the new Category 2 e-Register of Apostilles issued by Paraguay also became operational. For practical information regarding the operation of the Apostille Convention for Paraguay (including access to the e-Register) please click here.

Just two days later, on 1 September, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China (Hong Kong SAR) also began operating a Category 2 e-Register of Apostilles, and began using bilingual Apostille certificates (in both English and traditional Chinese). For other practical information regarding the operation of the Apostille Convention for the Hong Kong SAR (including access to the e-Register) please click here.

These are very timely developments, with the upcoming 9th International Forum on the e-APP to be held in Hong Kong SAR from 9 to 10 October 2014 (with registration closing on 19 September 2014).

The Permanent Bureau congratulates both Paraguay and the Hong Kong SAR on the successful implementation of their respective e-Registers, which are a vital part of the  electronic Apostille Program (e-APP). There are now more than 150 Competent Authorities in 21 States operating one or both of components of the e-APP, demonstrating the ever-increasing support for the program.

For more information, see the Categories of e-Registers, the List of Operational  e-Registers, and the Implementation Chart of the e-APP.