No. As of October 2026, Nepal is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention. It does not appear on the official status table kept by the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH). That means an apostille alone will not get a U.S. document accepted in Nepal.
Instead, documents for Nepal go through the older process called authentication and legalization. It has more steps, takes longer, and every step has to happen in the right order.
The route for a New York document going to Nepal
- Notarization, if it is a document you sign, like a power of attorney, affidavit or consent letter. Public records like birth certificates skip this step.
- County Clerk authentication of the notary’s signature in the county where the notary is commissioned. In New York this is usually $3.
- New York Department of State certificate of authentication, not an apostille, because the destination is a non-Hague country. $10 per document.
- U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications in Washington, D.C., which authenticates the state certificate. Currently $20 per document.
- Legalization by the Embassy of Nepal in Washington, D.C., which confirms the U.S. Department of State seal. The embassy sets its own requirements and fees, so check with them before you send anything.
Federal documents, like an FBI background check, skip the county and state steps and start at the U.S. Department of State.
We notarize your document and start the authentication chain in New York for you. Call or book online and tell us the destination country. See the apostille and authentication service →
What goes wrong most often
Asking for an apostille instead of a certificate of authentication. The state will issue whatever you request, and an apostille is useless for Nepal. Always write “Nepal” as the destination country on the state request form so the right certificate is attached.
The second mistake is time. Each office has its own queue, and the embassy step comes last. If the document has a recency requirement in Nepal, start the clock carefully.
Could this change?
Countries join the Convention every few years. If Nepal joins, the convention takes effect there on a set date after accession, and from then on a single apostille would be enough. Until it appears on the HCCH status table, plan for legalization.
Frequently asked questions
Is Nepal a member of the Hague Apostille Convention?
No. As of October 2026 Nepal is not listed as a contracting party on the HCCH status table for the Apostille Convention.
Does Nepal accept apostilles?
Not as a substitute for legalization. U.S. documents for Nepal need a state certificate of authentication, U.S. Department of State authentication, and legalization by the Embassy of Nepal.
How do I legalize a U.S. document for Nepal?
For a New York notarized document: notarize, County Clerk authentication, New York Department of State certificate of authentication, U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications, then the Embassy of Nepal in Washington, D.C.
How do I authenticate an FBI background check for Nepal?
Send it to the U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications first, then to the Embassy of Nepal for legalization. No state step is involved.
Related reading
- Apostille services in New York
- What is an apostille?
- Apostille vs certificate of authentication
- Why apostille requests get rejected
This article is general information, not legal advice. Government fees and processing times change, so confirm with the issuing office before you submit. NotarEaseNYC is a notary and document service, not a law firm.