Statute of the Hague Conference on Private International Law

Party

Guatemala added

• Ratification: 04-03-2026 (R)
• Entry into force: 04-03-2026
• Reservations / Declarations: No
• Objections: No

Party

Rwanda added

• Ratification: 05-03-2025 (R)
• Entry into force: 05-03-2025
• Reservations / Declarations: No
• Objections: No

General information

• Entry into force: 15-07-1955

Kingdom part

Netherlands (in Europe)

• Entry into force: 15-07-1955

Netherlands (Bonaire)

• Entry into force: 10-10-2010

Netherlands (Sint Eustatius)

• Entry into force: 10-10-2010

Netherlands (Saba)

• Entry into force: 10-10-2010

Aruba

• Entry into force: 01-01-1986

Curaçao

• Entry into force: 10-10-2010

Sint Maarten

• Entry into force: 10-10-2010

Party

Albania

• Ratification: 04-06-2002 (R)
• Entry into force: 04-06-2002

Andorra

• Ratification: 11-06-2015 (R)
• Entry into force: 11-06-2015

Argentina

• Ratification: 28-04-1972 (R)
• Entry into force: 28-04-1972

Armenia

• Ratification: 28-04-2015 (R)
• Entry into force: 28-04-2015

Australia

• Ratification: 01-11-1973 (R)
• Entry into force: 01-11-1973

Austria

• Ratification: 16-09-1954 (R)
• Entry into force: 15-07-1955

Azerbaijan

• Ratification: 29-07-2014 (R)
• Entry into force: 29-07-2014

Belarus

• Ratification: 12-07-2001 (R)
• Entry into force: 12-07-2001

Belgium

• Ratification: 01-09-1953 (R)
• Entry into force: 15-07-1955

Bosnia and Herzegovina

• Ratification: 07-06-2001 (R)
• Entry into force: 07-06-2001

Brazil

• Ratification: 23-02-2001 (R)
• Entry into force: 23-02-2001

Bulgaria

• Ratification: 22-04-1999 (R)
• Entry into force: 22-04-1999

Burkina Faso

• Ratification: 16-10-2013 (R)
• Entry into force: 16-10-2013

Canada

• Ratification: 07-10-1968 (R)
• Entry into force: 07-10-1968

Chile

• Ratification: 25-04-1986 (R)
• Entry into force: 25-04-1986

Costa Rica

• Ratification: 27-01-2011 (R)
• Entry into force: 27-01-2011

Croatia

• Ratification: 12-06-1995 (R)
• Entry into force: 12-06-1995

Cyprus

• Ratification: 08-10-1984 (R)
• Entry into force: 08-10-1984

Czech Republic

• Ratification: 28-01-1993 (R)
• Entry into force: 28-01-1993

Czechoslovakia (<01-01-1993)

• Ratification: 29-05-1968 (R)
• Entry into force: 29-05-1968

Denmark

• Ratification: 26-02-1954 (R)
• Entry into force: 15-07-1955

Dominican Republic

• Ratification: 04-03-2020 (R)
• Entry into force: 04-03-2020

Ecuador

• Ratification: 02-11-2007 (R)
• Entry into force: 02-11-2007

Egypt

• Ratification: 24-04-1961 (R)
• Entry into force: 24-04-1961

El Salvador

• Ratification: 02-03-2022 (R)
• Entry into force: 02-03-2022

Estonia

• Ratification: 13-05-1998 (R)
• Entry into force: 13-05-1998

Finland

• Ratification: 02-12-1955 (R)
• Entry into force: 02-12-1955

France

• Ratification: 20-04-1964 (R)
• Entry into force: 20-04-1964

Georgia

• Ratification: 28-05-2001 (R)
• Entry into force: 28-05-2001

Germany

• Ratification: 14-12-1955 (R)
• Entry into force: 14-12-1955

Greece

• Ratification: 26-08-1955 (R)
• Entry into force: 26-08-1955

Honduras

• Ratification: 09-09-2021 (R)
• Entry into force: 09-09-2021

Hungary

• Ratification: 06-01-1987 (R)
• Entry into force: 06-01-1987

Iceland

• Ratification: 14-11-2003 (R)
• Entry into force: 14-11-2003

India

• Ratification: 13-03-2008 (R)
• Entry into force: 13-03-2008

Ireland

• Ratification: 26-08-1955 (R)
• Entry into force: 26-08-1955

Israel

• Ratification: 24-09-1964 (R)
• Entry into force: 24-09-1964

Italy

• Ratification: 26-06-1957 (R)
• Entry into force: 26-06-1957

Japan

• Ratification: 27-06-1957 (R)
• Entry into force: 27-06-1957

Jordan

• Ratification: 13-06-2001 (R)
• Entry into force: 13-06-2001

Kazakhstan

• Ratification: 14-06-2017 (R)
• Entry into force: 14-06-2017

Latvia

• Ratification: 11-08-1992 (R)
• Entry into force: 11-08-1992

Lithuania

• Ratification: 23-10-2001 (R)
• Entry into force: 23-10-2001

Luxembourg

• Ratification: 12-03-1956 (R)
• Entry into force: 12-03-1956

Malaysia

• Ratification: 02-10-2002 (R)
• Entry into force: 02-10-2002

Malta

• Ratification: 30-01-1995 (R)
• Entry into force: 30-01-1995

Mauritius

• Ratification: 19-01-2011 (R)
• Entry into force: 19-01-2011

Mexico

• Ratification: 18-03-1986 (R)
• Entry into force: 18-03-1986

Moldova

• Ratification: 16-03-2016 (R)
• Entry into force: 16-03-2016

Monaco

• Ratification: 08-08-1996 (R)
• Entry into force: 08-08-1996

Mongolia

• Ratification: 01-07-2021 (R)
• Entry into force: 01-07-2021

Morocco

• Ratification: 06-09-1993 (R)
• Entry into force: 06-09-1993

Namibia

• Ratification: 19-01-2021 (R)
• Entry into force: 19-01-2021

Nicaragua

• Ratification: 21-10-2020 (R)
• Entry into force: 21-10-2020

North Macedonia

• Ratification: 20-09-1993 (R)
• Entry into force: 20-09-1993

Norway

• Ratification: 15-07-1955 (R)
• Entry into force: 15-07-1955

Panama

• Ratification: 29-05-2002 (R)
• Entry into force: 29-05-2002

Paraguay

• Ratification: 28-06-2005 (R)
• Entry into force: 28-06-2005

Peru

• Ratification: 29-01-2001 (R)
• Entry into force: 29-01-2001

Philippines

• Ratification: 14-07-2010 (R)
• Entry into force: 14-07-2010

Poland

• Ratification: 29-05-1984 (R)
• Entry into force: 29-05-1984

Republic of Korea, the

• Ratification: 20-08-1997 (R)
• Entry into force: 20-08-1997

Romania

• Ratification: 10-04-1991 (R)
• Entry into force: 10-04-1991

Russian Federation

• Ratification: 06-12-2001 (R)
• Entry into force: 06-12-2001

Saudi Arabia

• Ratification: 19-10-2016 (R)
• Entry into force: 19-10-2016

Singapore

• Ratification: 09-04-2014 (R)
• Entry into force: 09-04-2014

Slovakia

• Ratification: 26-04-1993 (R)
• Entry into force: 26-04-1993

Slovenia

• Ratification: 18-06-1992 (R)
• Entry into force: 18-06-1992

South Africa

• Ratification: 14-02-2002 (R)
• Entry into force: 14-02-2002

Spain

• Ratification: 08-12-1953 (R)
• Entry into force: 15-07-1955

Sri Lanka

• Ratification: 27-09-2001 (R)
• Entry into force: 27-09-2001

Suriname

• Ratification: 07-10-1977 (R)
• Entry into force: 07-10-1977

Sweden

• Ratification: 09-12-1953 (R)
• Entry into force: 15-07-1955

Switzerland

• Ratification: 06-05-1957 (R)
• Entry into force: 06-05-1957

Thailand

• Ratification: 03-03-2021 (R)
• Entry into force: 03-03-2021

Tunisia

• Ratification: 04-11-2014 (R)
• Entry into force: 04-11-2014

Türkiye

• Ratification: 26-08-1955 (R)
• Entry into force: 26-08-1955

Ukraine

• Ratification: 03-12-2003 (R)
• Entry into force: 03-12-2003

United Kingdom

• Ratification: 03-01-1955 (R)
• Entry into force: 15-07-1955

United States of America

• Ratification: 15-10-1964 (R)
• Entry into force: 15-10-1964

Uruguay

• Ratification: 27-07-1983 (R)
• Entry into force: 27-07-1983

Uzbekistan

• Ratification: 04-03-2020 (R)
• Entry into force: 04-03-2020

Venezuela

• Ratification: 25-07-1979 (R)
• Entry into force: 25-07-1979

Vietnam

• Ratification: 10-04-2013 (R)
• Entry into force: 10-04-2013

Yugoslavia (< 25-06-1991)

• Ratification: 09-10-1958 (R)
• Entry into force: 09-10-1958

Zambia

• Ratification: 17-05-2013 (R)
• Entry into force: 17-05-2013

China

• Ratification: 03-07-1987 (R)
• Entry into force: 03-07-1987
• Reservations / Declarations: Yes
• Objections: No
• Macao SAR
  Entry into force: 20-12-1999

• reservation
  14-07-1999
  Statement of the Government of the People's Republic of China. In accordance with the Joint Declaration of the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Portugal on the Question of Macao signed in Beijing on 13 April 1987, the People's Republic of China shall resume the exercise of sovereignty over Macao as from 20 December 1999. As an inalienable part of the territory of the People's Republic of China, Macao shall become a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China as from that date. The People's Republic of China shall thereafter take charge of the foreign affairs related to the Macao Special Administrative Region. The People's Republic of China is a member of the Hague Conference on Private International Law and with effect from 20 December 1999, its membership shall include the Macao Special Administrative Region and the Constitution of the Hague Conference on Private International Law shall apply to the Macao Special Administrative Region. Hence, the Government of the People's Republic of China declares that, with effect from 20 December 1999, representatives of the Macao Special Administrative Region may participate in the Hague Conference on Private International Law as members of the delegation of the Government of the People's Republic of China and express their views on matters relating to the Macao Special Administrative Region, in the name of "Macao, China".

EU (European Union)

• Ratification: 03-04-2007 (R)
• Entry into force: 03-04-2007
• Reservations / Declarations: Yes
• Objections: No

• reservation
  03-04-2007
  The European Community endeavours to examine whether it is in its interest to join existing Hague Conventions in respect of which there is Community competence. Where this interest exists, the European Community, in cooperation with the HCCH, will make every effort to overcome the difficulties resulting from the absence of a clause providing for the accession of a Regional Economic Integration Organisation to those Conventions. The European Community further endeavours to make it possible for representatives of the Permanent Bureau of the HCCH to take part in meetings of experts organised by the Commission of the European Communities where matters of interest to the HCCH are being discussed.

  reservation
  01-12-2009
  The Treaty of Lisbon amending the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty establishing the European Community will enter into force on 1 December 2009. As a consequence, as from that date the European Union will replace and succeed the European Community (Article 1, third paragraph, of the Treaty on European Union as it results from the amendments introduced by the Treaty of Lisbon). Therefore, as from that date the European Union will exercise all rights and assume all obligations of the European Community, including its status in the Organisation, whilst continuing to exercise existing rights and assume obligations of the European Union. In particular, as from that date the European Union will succeed to all agreements concluded and all commitments made by the European Community with your Organisation and to all agreements or commitments adopted within your Organisation and binding on the European Community.

Montenegro

• Ratification: 01-03-2007 (R)
• Entry into force: 01-03-2007
• Reservations / Declarations: Yes
• Objections: No

• reservation
  01-03-2007
  [...] the Government of the Republic of Montenegro succeeds to the Statute of the Hague Conference on Private International Law, as revised in 2005, adopted at The Hague on 31 October 1951, and takes faithfully to perform and carry out the stipulations therein contained as from 3 June 2006, the date upon the Republic of Montenegro assumed responsibility for its international relations.

Netherlands, the Kingdom of the

• Ratification: 25-09-1954 (R)
• Entry into force: 15-07-1955
• Reservations / Declarations: Yes
• Objections: No

• reservation
  18-10-2010
  The Kingdom of the Netherlands consisted of three parts: the Netherlands, the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba. The Netherlands Antilles consisted of the islands of Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba. With effect from 10 October 2010, the Netherlands Antilles ceased to exist as a part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Since that date, the Kingdom consists of four parts: the Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten. Curaçao and Sint Maarten enjoy internal self-government within the Kingdom, as Aruba and, up to 10 October 2010, the Netherlands Antilles do. These changes constitute a modification of the internal constitutional relations within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Kingdom of the Netherlands will accordingly remain the subject of international law with which agreements are concluded. The modification of the structure of the Kingdom will therefore not affect the validity of the international agreements ratified by the Kingdom for the Netherlands Antilles. These agreements, including any reservations made, will continue to apply to Curaçao and Sint Maarten. The other islands that have formed part of the Netherlands Antilles - Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba - became part of the Netherlands, thus constituting 'the Caribbean part of the Netherlands'. The agreements that applied to the Netherlands Antilles will also continue to apply to these islands; however, the Government of the Netherlands will now be responsible for implementing these agreements.

New Zealand

• Ratification: 05-02-2002 (R)
• Entry into force: 05-02-2002
• Reservations / Declarations: Yes
• Objections: No

• reservation
  05-02-2002
  [...] that, consistent with the constitutional status of Tokelau and taking into account the commitment of the Government of New Zealand to the development of self-government for Tokelau through an act of self-determination under the Charter of the United Nations, this ratification shall not extend to Tokelau unless and until a Declaration to this effect is lodged by the Government of New Zealand with the Depositary on the basis of appropriate consultation with that territory.

Portugal

• Ratification: 08-12-1953 (R)
• Entry into force: 15-07-1955
• Reservations / Declarations: Yes
• Objections: No
• Macao (<20-12-1999)
  Termination: 20-12-1999

• reservation
  13-08-1999
  Declaration by the Representative of the Government of the Portuguese Republic. Whereas the Portuguese Republic is responsible for the external relations of Macau, I was instructed by my Government to declare that representatives of Macau, Territory where the Statute of the Hague Conference on Private International Law is in force, have been participating in the meetings of the Conference integrated in the Portuguese Delegation. I was further instructed to declare that, in conformity with the Joint Declaration of the Government of the Portuguese Republic and of the Government of the People's Republic of China on the question of Macau, signed in Beijing on the 13th of April 1987, the Portuguese Republic will remain, until 19 December 1999, responsible for the external relations of Macau. Until that date, Macau will continue to participate in the meetings of the Hague Conference on Private International Law integrated in the Portuguese Delegation. From 20 December 1999 on the People's Republic of China will resume the exercise of sovereignty over Macau.

Serbia

• Ratification: 26-04-2001 (R)
• Entry into force: 26-04-2001
• Reservations / Declarations: Yes
• Objections: No

• reservation
  05-02-2003
  [...] that, following the adoption and promulgation of the Constitutional Charter of Serbia and Montenegro by the Assembly of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on February 4, 2003, as previously adopted by the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia on 27 January 2003 and by the Assembly of the Republic of Montenegro on 29 January 2003, the name of the State of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia has been changed to "Serbia and Montenegro".

  reservation
  09-06-2006
  [...] following the declaration of the state independence of Montenegro, and under the Article 60 of the Constitutional Charter of the state union of Serbia and Montenegro, the Republic of Serbia is continuing international personality of the state union of Serbia and Montenegro, which was confirmed also by the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia at its session held on 5 June 2006.