Convention on international access to justice

Authorities Albania

15-10-2007

Under Article 28 of this Convention, the Republic of Albania declares as follows:
Under Articles 3, 4 and 16, the Directorate in charge of international judicial cooperation at the Ministry of Justice is assigned as the major and transmitting authority.

Authorities Belarus

18-12-1997

According to the Article 3, 4 and 16 of the Convention the Central Authority of the Republic of Belarus is:
the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Belarus, Minsk.

Authorities Bosnia and Herzegovina

01-10-1993

Central Authority
Bosnia and Herzegovina designated referred to in Articles 3, 4 and 16:
the Ministry of Justice and Administration of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

16-04-2010

Central Authority (modification)
Ministry of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Sarajevo

Authorities Brazil

15-11-2011

[...] the Ministry of Justice of the Federative Republic of Brazil shall act as the Central Authority for the purposes of the Convention.

Authorities Bulgaria

23-11-1999

Declaration on Articles 3, 4 and 16:
The Republic of Bulgaria designates the Ministry of Justice and European Legal Integration as Central Authority to receive and transmit applications for legal aid/Article 29.

Authorities Costa Rica

07-12-2016

Central Authority:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship
Legal Directorate

Authorities Croatia

23-04-1993

The Central Authority to receive applications in conformity with Article 3 of the Convention and to forward applications to a foreign country in conformity with Article 4 of the Convention is the Ministry of Justice and Administration of the Republic of Croatia.

Authorities Cyprus

27-07-2000

1) The Republic of Cyprus declares that the competent authority designated in accordance with the provisions of the Convention is:
The Ministry of Justice and Public Order.
Nicosia
[...]

Authorities Czech Republic

03-04-2001

Central Authority
In accordance with Article 29 of the Convention on International Access to Justice, done at The Hague on 25 October 1980, the Czech Republic states that the Central Authority competent to receive and forward applications under Articles 3, 4 and 16 of the Convention is the Ministry of Justice of the Czech Republic, Prague.

Authorities Finland

14-06-1988

Central Authority
Finland designated as the authority referred to in Articles 3, 4 and 16: the Ministry of Justice.

Authorities France

22-12-1982

In accordance with the provisions of Article 29 and pursuant to Article 3 the Ministry of Justice, represented by the International Legal Aid Section of the Department of Civil Affairs and the Seal, is designated as the Central Authority to receive, and take action on, applications for legal aid.
In accordance with the provisions of Article 29 and pursuant to Article 4 the Ministry of Justice, represented by the International Legal Aid Section of the Department of Civil Affairs and the Seal, is designated as the transmitting authority for the purpose of forwarding applica-tions for legal aid.
In accordance with the provisions of Article 29 and pursuant to Article 16, paragraph 1, the Ministry of Justice, represented by the International Legal Aid Section of the Department of Civil Affairs and the Seal, is designated as the transmitting authority for the purpose of forwarding applications for rendering enforceable orders to which Article 15 applies.
In accordance with the provisions of Article 29 and pursuant to Article 16, paragraph 2, the Ministry of Justice, represented by the International Legal Aid Section of the Department of Civil Affairs and the Seal, is designated as the Central Authority to receive the applications to which Article 15 applies.

15-11-2005

Central Authority:
Ministry of Justice
Bureau of civil and commercial international mutual aid (D3)
The Civil Affairs and Seals Directorate
Paris

22-09-2009

Central Authority (modification)
Ministry of Justice
Direction des Affaires Civiles et du Sceau
Bureau de l'entraide civile et commerciale internationale (D3)
Paris

Authorities Kazakhstan

09-07-2015

Transmitting and Central Authorities:
Ministry of Justice and the Department for Provision of Court Activity under the Supreme Court of the Republic of Kazachstan (Administrative office of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Kazachstan).

02-03-2023

The central and transmitting authorities for the Republic of Kazakhstan responsible for implementing the Convention […] are the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Judicial Administration of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Authorities Latvia

20-12-1999

Central Authority
In accordance with Article 29 of the Convention on International Access to Justice of 1980, the Republic of Latvia declares that for the purpose of Articles 3, 4 and 16 of the Convention the transmitting authority and the central authority of the Republic of Latvia is:
The Ministry of Justice, Riga.

13-02-2008

Central Authority (modification):
Ministry of Justice
Riga

Authorities Lithuania

04-08-2000

[...] and whereas it is provided in Articles 3, 4, and 16 of the Convention, the Republic of Lithuania designates the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Lithuania as a Central Authority to receive and to take appropriate steps on applications for legal aid submitted under this Convention.

Authorities Luxembourg

06-02-2003

The Minister of Justice shall be charged with the duties of the Central Authority referred to in Article 3 of the Convention as well as the duties of the transmitting authorities referred to in Articles 4 and 16 of the Convention.
The Procurator General shall be charged with the duties of the Central Authority referred to in the second paragraph of Article 16 of the Convention.
Without prejudice to the Central Authority's powers to enlist the services of a lawyer, the public prosecutor in the place of domicile or residence of the defendant shall be competent to institute and pursue any proceedings with the object of enforcing an order for payment of costs and expenses as provided for in Article 15 of the Convention.
The Procurator General shall have the same powers in the event of proceedings before the Court of Appeal or the Court of Cassation.

Authorities Malta

24-02-2011

In accordance with the requirement of Article 3 of the said Convention and for the purposes of this Convention, the designated Central Authority for Malta is the Attorney General, Valletta.

Authorities Netherlands, the Kingdom of the

02-03-1992

The Government of the Netherlands has designated as Central Authority referred to in article 3 and article 16, paragraph 2, of the Convention, the legal aid bureau of the judicial area of the Court of Justice of The Hague (het bureau van consultatie in het arrondissement 's-Gravenhage),
The Government of the Netherlands has designated as authority, referred to in article 4 and article 16, paragraph 1, of the Convention, the legal aid bureau in the judicial area of each Court of Justice (de bureaus van consultatie in alle arrondissementen).

Authorities North Macedonia

27-03-1995

In accordance with article 3 of the Convention the government of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia designated the Ministry of Justice as the Central Authority.

Authorities Poland

15-04-1994

Poland designated the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Poland as the Central Authority for the purposes envisaged in articles 3 and 16 and the presidents of the provincial courts as the transmitting authorities in conformity with articles 4 and 16 of the Convention.

Authorities Romania

21-08-2003

1. In accordance with Article 3 of the Convention, the Ministry of Justice is the Romanian Central Authority competent to receive, and take action on, application for legal aid submitted under this Convention.
2. In accordance with Article 4 of the Convention, the Ministry of Justice is the Romanian transmitting authority for the purpose of forwarding applications for legal aid to the appropriate Central Authority in the requested State.
3. In accordance with Article 16 of the Convention, the Ministry of Justice is the Romanian transmitting authority for the purpose of forwarding to the appropriate Central Authority in the requested State applications for rendering enforceable orders to which Article 15 applies, as well as to receive such applications and to take the appropriate steps to ensure that a final decision on them is reached.

Authorities Serbia

03-04-2007

Central Authority (modification)
Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Serbia
Nemanjina 22-26
11000 Belgrade
Serbia
Telephone number: +381 11 3620 540 and + 381 11 3620 596
Telefax number: +381 11 3620 540

03-06-2009

Central Authority (modification)
Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Serbia
International Legal Assistance Department
Belgrade

Authorities Slovakia

11-03-2003

The Slovak Republic designates as a Central Authority under Article 3 of the Convention to receive applications for legal aid the Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic (Ministerstvo spravodlivosti Slovenskej republiky).
The Slovak Republic designates as the transmitting authority under Article 4 of the Convention for the purpose of forwarding applications for legal aid the Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic.
The Slovak Republic designates as transmitting authority under Article 16 of the Convention for the purpose of forwarding for rendering enforceable orders to which Article 15 of the Convention applies the following:
a) the judicial Treasury by the Regional Court in Bratislava (Justicná pokladnica pri Krajskom súde v Bratislave) for applications in cases where the State is entitled to benefit from the other,
b) in all other cases, the Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic.

22-01-2004

As of 1 March 2004, the Slovak Republic designates, in addition to the Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic, all District Courts ("Okresný súd") of the Slovak Republic as transmitting authorities under Article 4 of the Convention.

02-10-2012

According to the Article 3 of the Convention the new Central Authority of the Slovak Republic is:
Centre for Legal Aid (Centrum právnej pomoci).

Authorities Slovenia

08-06-1992

The Government of the Republic of Slovenia designates the Ministry of Justice and Administration of the Republic of Slovenia as the competent authority for the purposes envisaged in articles 3, 4 and 16 of the Convention.

Authorities Spain

08-02-1988

a) In connection with Articles 3, 4 and 16, Spain declares that the Central and transmitting Authority is
Secretaría General Técnica del Ministerio de Justicia, Madrid.

20-07-1994

Central Authority (modification):
la Dirección General de Codificación y Cooperación Jurídica Internacional,
Ministerio de Justicia e Interior

12-03-1999

Central Authority (modification):
Secretaría General Técnica del Ministerio de Justicia,
Madrid.

20-11-2006

Central Authority (modification):
Subdirección General de Cooperación Jurídica Internacional
Ministerio de Justicia
Madrid

Authorities Sweden

15-01-1987

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs is designated as Central Authority according to Article 3 and as transmitting authority according to Articles 4 and 16 (Article 29).

06-11-2000

Central Authority
[...] the authority in accordance with in Article 29, is no longer the Ministry for Foreign Affairs but as from 1 October 2000: the Ministry of Justice, Division for Criminal Cases and International Judicial Co-operation, Stockholm.

Authorities Switzerland

28-10-1994

1. In accordance with article 29, paragraph 1, Switzerland designates the cantonal authorities listed in the annex as Central Authorities within the meaning of articles 3 and 16 of the Convention. Applications from abroad for legal aid or for rendering enforceable an order for the payment of costs and expenses may also be addressed to the Federal Justice and Police Department in Bern, which will forward them to the appropriate Central Authority.
In so far as such legal aid or the rendering enforceable of an order for the payment of costs and expenses relates to proceedings, which by virtue of the rules governing internal compe-tence of the internal sequence of proceedings must be heard before the federal authorities, the federal Justice and Police Department will forward the applications concerned to the appropriate federal authorities. If such applications are submitted to the cantonal authorities, the latter will automatically forward them to the Federal Justice and Police Department.
2. In accordance with article 29, paragraph 1, Switzerland declares that the authorities designated by virtue of article 3 will also be responsible for performing the tasks of the transmitting authorities referred to in article 4, paragraph 1, and article 16, paragraph 1.

ANNEX
Cantonal Central Authorities (modification) (up to date as per 18-09-2001)
Langue(s) officielle(s): a= German, f= French, i=Italian

Aargau (AG) - a
Obergericht des Kantons Aargau, Obere Vorstadt 40, 5000 Aargau
++ 41628353850
++ 41628353949

Appenzell Ausserrhoden (AR) - a
Kantonsgericht Appenzell A.Rh., 9043 Trogen
++ 41713436399
++ 41713436401

Appenzell Innerrhoden (AI) - a
Kantonsgericht Appenzell I.Rh., 9050 Appenzell
++ 41717889551
++ 41717889554

Basel-Landschaft (BL) - a
Obergericht des Kantons Basel-Landschaft, 4410 Liestal
++ 41619255111
++ 41619256964

Basel-Stadt (BS) - a
Appellationsgericht Basel-Stadt, 4051 Basel
++ 41612678181
++ 41612676315

Bern (BE) - a/f
Justiz-, Gemeinde- und Kirchendirektion des Kantons Bern, Münstergasse 2, 3011 Bern
++ 41316337676
++ 41316337626

Fribourg (FR) - f/a
Tribunal cantonal, 1700 Fribourg
++ 41263053910
++ 41263053919

Genève (GE) - f
Parquet du Procureur général, 1211 Genève 3
++ 41223192797
++ 41227814365

Glarus (GL) - a
Obergericht des Kantons Glarus, 8750 Glarus
++ 41556452525
++ 41556452500

Graubünden (GR) - a
Justiz-, Polizei- und Sanitätsdepartement, Graubünden, 7001 Chur
++ 41812572121
++ 41812572166

Jura (JU) - f
Département de la Justice, Service juridique, 2800 Delémont
++ 41324215111
++ 41324215555

Luzern (LU) - a
Obergericht des Kantons Luzern, Hirschengraben 16, 6003 Luzern
++ 41412286262
++ 41412286264

Neuchâtel (NE) - f
Département de la justice, de la santé et de la sécurité; service de la justice, Château, 2001 Neuchâtel
++ 41328894110
++ 41328896064

Nidwalden (NW) - a
Kantonsgericht Nidwalden, 6370 Stans
++ 41416187950
++ 41416187963

Obwalden (OW) - a
Kantonsgericht Obwalden, Postfach 1260, 6061 Sarnen
++ 41416666222
++ 41416608286

Schaffhausen (SH) - a
Obergericht des Kantons Schaffhausen, Postfach 568, 8201 Schaffhausen
++ 41526327422
++ 41526367836

Schwyz (SZ) - a
Kantonsgericht Schwyz, 6430 Schwyz
++ 41418191124
--

Solothurn (SO) - a
Obergericht des Kantons Solothurn, 4500 Solothurn
++ 41326277311
++ 41326272298

St. Gallen (SG) - a
Kantonsgericht St. Gallen, Klosterhof 1, 9001 St. Gallen
++ 41712293898
++ 41712293787

Thurgau (TG) - a
Obergericht des Kantons Thurgau, 8500 Frauenfeld
++ 41527223121
++ 41527223125

Ticino (TI) - i
Tribunale di appello, 6901 Lugano
++ 41918155111
++ 41918155478

Uri (UR) - a
Landgericht Uri, Am Rathausplatz 2, 6460 Altdorf
++ 41418752244
++ 41418752277

Valais (VS) - f/a
Tribunal cantonal, 1950 Sion
++ 41273229393
++ 41273226351

Vaud (VD) - f
Tribunal cantonal, 1014 Lausanne
++ 41213161511
++ 41213161328

Zug (ZG) - a
Obergericht des Kantons Zug, Rechtshilfe, 6300 Zug
++ 41417283154
++ 41417283144

Zürich (ZH) - a
Obergericht des Kantons Zürich, Rechtshilfe, 8023 Zürich
++ 4112579191
++ 4112611292

03-06-2004

(Modification)
Central Cantonal Authorities (list up to date as per 3 June 2004)
A list of the Central Cantonal Authorities including their addresses and phone/fax numbers can be consulted online at the following address:
http://www.ofj.admin.ch/rhf/d/service/recht/Kantonale-Zentralbehoerden.pdf
To determine the Central Authority competent by reason of its location, the database of the Swiss localities and Courts can be consulted online at the following address:
http://www.elorge.admin.ch.

09-11-2006

Cantonal Central Authorities (modification) (list up to date as per 12 October 2012)
A list of the Central Cantonal Authorities including their address and phone/fax numbers can be consulted online at the following address: http://www.rhf.admin.ch/rhf/fr/home/zivil/behoerden/zentral.html

25-09-2020

Cantonal Central Authorities (modification) (list up to date as per 23 July 2020)
A list of the Central Cantonal Authorities including their address, email address and phone/fax numbers can be consulted online at the following address: https://www.rhf.admin.ch/rhf/fr/home/zivilrecht/behoerden/zentralbehoerden.html