Brainstorming related to the e-APP
On 14 May 2025, the Permanent Bureau (PB) of the HCCH hosted an online brainstorming session related to the electronic Apostille Programme (e-APP). The session was attended by 67 participants representing 25 HCCH Members, including 24 Contracting Parties and one non-Contracting Party to the Apostille Convention.
As mandated by the Council on General Affairs and Policy (CGAP) of the HCCH in March 2025 (see Conclusion and Decision No 66 of CGAP 2025), the online brainstorming session was convened to discuss the acceptance of electronic Apostilles (e-Apostilles) in circumstances where Contracting Parties, under their domestic law, cannot accept electronic public documents. This session provided an excellent opportunity for participants to discuss issues related to underlying electronic public documents in the context of the issuance of e-Apostilles and to consider a range of possible initiatives that could be pursued.
The PB will submit a report of the outcomes of the online brainstorming session to CGAP ahead of its 2026 meeting.
More information on the 1961 Apostille Convention is available on the Apostille Section of the HCCH website.