Apostille can be cancelled once issued?
No, once an apostille has been issued, it cannot be revoked. The Hague Apostille Convention, which governs the issuance and recognition of apostilles, does not include provisions for cancellation. An apostille remains valid indefinitely once attached to a document.
Why Apostilles Cannot Be Cancelled:
Purpose of an Apostille:
Its main role is to streamline the authentication of documents for use in countries that are part of the Hague Apostille Convention.
Final Verification:
The apostille confirms the legitimacy of the document’s signature, seal, and issuing authority, serving as definitive proof of authenticity.
International Recognition:
Apostilles are accepted in all member countries, allowing the document to be used abroad without additional legalization.
Cases Where an Apostille May Not Be Needed or Recognized:
Existing Agreements:
Some countries have treaties that waive apostille requirements for specific documents.
Legal Exemptions:
Certain documents may not require any form of legalization, including apostilles, depending on the destination country’s laws.
Document Issues:
If the underlying document is invalid, altered, damaged, or does not meet legalization standards, the apostille may be rejected or withheld.
Notarization Rules:
Some documents must first be notarized before receiving an apostille, particularly if they are not official legal records.