The Vanuatu Financial Services Commission wishes to announce the admission of Vanuatu as a Contracting State to the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legislation for Foreign Documents through a process of succession on 1 March 2009.

On 24 February 1965, the Convention had been extended to the New Hebrides by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. This extension however lapsed upon Vanuatu gaining independence on 30 July 1980. Hence, all apostilles issued after independence were illegal.

Vanuatu only decided to deposit its declaration of succession to the Convention with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands on 1 August 2008. The Contracting States were informed of the succession by depositary notification No. 8/2008 of 29 August 2008. None of these States raised an objection to the succession within the period of six months specified in the notification in analogy with the provisions of Article 12, second paragraph, of the Convention, which period expired on 1 March 2009. Therefore, the Convention has remained in force between Vanuatu and the Contracting States from 30 July 1980, the date of independence of Vanuatu.

In Vanuatu, the designated authorities that can issue apostilles will be:

1. Vanuatu Financial Services Commission for all public documents under its jurisdictions;

2. The Department of Foreign Affairs for other public documents.

2009:1st March

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