Apostille exemptions by country
Some countries have concluded conventions with France that exempt certain types of documents from apostille. This page helps you verify your situation before ordering.
Legal information, non-binding
This information is based on the official French conventional law table (updated 04/11/2025). It is provided for information only. The exemption may depend on the context of use of the document. If in doubt, check with the authorities of the destination country before placing an order. GO APOSTILLE cannot be held responsible for the interpretation made of these exemptions.
What is an apostille exemption?
The apostille (Hague Convention, 1961) is an official stamp that authenticates a French public document for recognition abroad. But some countries have signed bilateral or multilateral conventions with France that make the apostille unnecessary: documents are recognised directly, without additional formality.
This is called a legalisation exemption. It can be total (all documents) or partial (only certain types of documents).
Apostille via a notary
For notarial acts (powers of attorney, contracts, wills...), it is possible to obtain the apostille directly from a notary or the Chamber of Notaries in your department — without going through the Court of Appeal. This procedure can be faster for this specific type of document.
For all other documents (civil status documents, diplomas, criminal records, etc.), the apostille is still issued by the competent Court of Appeal — and GO APOSTILLE handles it for you.
Exemptions by country
Dispense complète — tous types de documents
Ces pays ont une convention bilatérale ou européenne qui dispense de l'apostille pour l'ensemble des documents du formulaire : état civil, judiciaire, notariés, administratifs et signatures.
Dispense partielle — état civil, judiciaire, administratifs et signatures
Dispense sur la majorité des documents, mais les actes notariés (procurations, contrats, testaments) nécessitent toujours une apostille.
Dispense partielle — état civil, judiciaire et notariés
Pas de dispense pour les documents administratifs (diplômes, casier judiciaire, attestations) ni les certifications de signature.
Dispense sur l'état civil uniquement
Seuls les actes d'état civil (naissance, mariage, décès, livret de famille) sont dispensés. Tous les autres documents nécessitent une apostille.
Which documents are affected?
| Legal category | Affected documents |
|---|---|
| État civil (I) | Acte de naissance, acte de mariage, acte de décès, livret de famille, certificat de célibat |
| Judiciaire (II) | Extrait Kbis, statuts de société, PV d'assemblée, certificat SIREN, jugement / décision judiciaire |
| Notariés (IV) | Acte notarié (contrat, procuration, testament), document avec visa pour date certaine |
| Administratifs (V) | Casier judiciaire, certificat de nationalité, diplôme, attestation administrative, attestation d'emploi |
| Signatures (IX) | Certification de signature, mention d'enregistrement |
My country is exempt but I still need an apostille? Some foreign administrations sometimes request an apostille despite the conventional exemption. In this case, you can place an order normally — we process your file regardless of the country.
My country is not on the list? If your country is part of the Hague Convention, the apostille is required. For non-convention countries, legalisation is needed (not offered here).
Unsure about your situation? Contact us before ordering.