List of the countries participants of the Convention de la Haye du 5 octobre 1961 (by October 1, 2001 ) # Countries members Date of signing : Ratification or joining Taking effect : 1 Australia joining 11 July 1994 15 January 1995 16 March 1995 2 Austria 5 October 1961 14 November 1967 13 January 1968 3 Andorra joining 15 April, 1996 1 November 1996 31 December 1996 4 Antigua and Barbuda joining   1 November 1981 Day of Independence 5 Argentina joining 8 May, 1987 20 December 1987 18 February 1988 6 Armenia joining 19 November, 1993 15 June 1994 14 August 1994 7 Bahaman Islands joining   10 July 1973 Day of Independence 8 Barbados joining   30 November 1966 Day of Independence 9 Belorus joining   31 May 1992 10 Belize joining 17 July, 1992 10 February 1993 11 April 1993 11 Belgium 10 March, 1970 11 December 1975 9 February 1976 12 Bulgaria joining 1 August 2000 28 February 2001 29 April 2001 13 Bosnia and Herzegovina     24 January 1965 14 Botswana joining   30 September 1996 Day of Independence 15 Brunei-Darussalam joining 23 February, 1987 4 October 1987 3 December 1987 16 Former Republic of Yugoslavia Macedonia   24 January 1965 17 Hungary joining 18 April, 1972 19 November 1972 18 January 1973 18 Venezuela joining 15 January 1999 16 March 1999 19 Germany (Federative Republic of Germany ) 5 October 1961 15 December 1965 13 February 1966 20 Grenada joining   7 February 1974 Day of Independence 21 Greece 5 October 1961 19 March 1985 18 May 1985 22 Israel joining 11 November 1977 15 June 1978 14 August 1978 23 Ireland 29 October 1996 8 January 1999 9 March 1999 24 Spain 21 October 1976 27 July 1978 25 September 1978 25 Italy 15 December 1961 13 December 1977 11 February 1978 26 Kazakhstan joining 5 April 2000 1 December 2000 30 January 2001 27 Cyprus joining 26 July 1972 1 March 1973 30 April 1973 28 China only Hong -Kong     25 April 1 965 29 China only Makao     4 February 1969 30 Columbia joining 27 April 2000 1 December 2000 30 January 2001 31 Latvia joining 11 May 1995 1995 30 January 1996 32 Lesotho joining   4 October 1966 Day of Independence 33 Liberia joining 24 May 1995 10 December 1995 8 February 1996 34 Lithuania joining 5 November 1996 20 May 1997 19 July 1997 35 Lichtenstein 18 April 1962 19 July 1972 17 September 1972 36 Luxemburg 5 October 1961 4 April 1979 3 June 1979 37 Mauritius joining   12 March 1968 Day of Independence 38 Malawi joining 24 February 1967 3 October 1967 2 December 1967 39 Malta joining 12 June 1967 3 January 1968 3 March 1968 40 Marshal Islands joining 18 November 1991 15 June 1992 14 August 1992 41 Mexico joining 1 December 1994 15 June 1995 14 August 1995 42 Namibia joining 25 April 2000 1 December 2000 30 January 2001 43 Netherlands (for the Kingdom in Europe ) 30 November 1962 9 August 1965 8 October 1965 44 Niue joining 10 June 1998 1 January 1999 2 March 1999 45 New Zealand joining 7 February 2001 23 September 2001 22 November 2001 46 Norway 30 May 1983   29 July 1983 47 Panama joining 30 October 1980 30 May 1983 4 August 1991 48 Portugal 20 August 1965 5 June 1991 4 February 1969 49 Russia joining 4 September 1991 6 December 1968 31 May 1992 50 Romania joining 7 June 2000 1 April 1992 16 March 2001 51 Salvador joining 14 September 1995 15 January 2001 31 May 1996 52 Samoa joining 18 January 1999 1 April 1996 13 September 1999 53 San-Marino joining 26 May 1994 15 July 1999 13 February 1995 54 Swaziland joining 15 December 1994 6 September 1968 Day of Independence 55 Seychelles joining 9 June 1978 30 January 1979 31 March 1979 56 Saint - Kits and Nevis joining 26 February 1994 15 October 1994 14 December 1994 57 Slovakia joining 20 December 2001 17 February 2002 58 Slovenia 6 June 2001   24 January 1965 59 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 19 October 1961 21 August 1964 24 January 1965 60 United States of America joining 24 December 1980 16 August 1981 15 October 1981 61 Surinam joining   25 November 1975 Day of Independence 62 Tonga joining   4 June 1970 Day of Independence 63 Trinidad and Tobago joining 28 October 1999 15 May 2000 14 July 2000 64 Turkey 8 May 1962 31 July 1985 29 September 1985 65 Fiji joining   10 October 1970 Day of Independence 66 Finland 13 March 1962 27 June 1985 26 August 1985 67 France 9 October 1961 25 November 1964 24 January 1965 68 Croatia     24 January 1965 69 Czech Republic joining 23 June 1998 15 January 1999 16 March 1999 70 Switzerland 5 October 1961 10 January 1973 11 March 1973 71 Sweden 2 March 1999 2 March 1999 1 May 1999 72 Estonia joining 11 December 2000 1 August 2001 30 September 2001 73 Yugoslavia ( Serbia and Montenegro , 2003) 1 July 1998   24 January 1965 74 Republic of South Africa joining 3 August 1994 1 March 1995 30 April 1995 75 Japan 12 March 1970 28 May 1970 27 July 1970 76 Saint Lucia joining 5 December 2001 1 June 2002 31 July 2002 77 Saint Vincent and Grenadines joining 2 May 2002 19 January 2003 27 October 1979 Day of Independence 78 Monaco joining 24 April 2002 1 November 2002 31 December 2002 79 Dominica joining 22 October 2002 3 November 1978 Day of Independence 80 Ukraine joining 23 October 2003 22 December 2003 [authentication of documents] [ about us | services | resources | contact us map ]