SafeReturn AllianceThe lawful path homeI need help now
Home › Does Hague apply? › Australia
Country-pair applicability

Australia and the 1980 Hague Convention: country by country

Australia is a Contracting Party (in force 1987-01-01, Ratification). The 1980 Convention is in force between Australia and 81 other Contracting Parties, and not in force with 20 (no Article 38 acceptance on record). This is computed from the verified HCCH acceptance data, as of 2026-07-26. It tells you whether the treaty operates for a pair — always confirm your exact case with a qualified lawyer or the official HCCH acceptance table, and note the Convention does not cover a removal that happened before it entered into force for both States.

Verified 2026-07-05·102 other Contracting Parties·Use the interactive checker →

Convention is in force (81)

The 1980 Convention operates between these two States — a return application can be made under it (subject, as always, to the facts of your case).

Albaniaaccession Argentinaratification Armeniaaccession Austriaratification Bahamasaccession Belarusaccession Belgiumratification Belizeaccession Bosnia and Herzegovinaratification Brazilaccession Bulgariaaccession Burkina Fasoaccession Canadaratification Chileaccession Colombiaaccession Costa Ricaaccession Croatiaratification Cyprusaccession Czechiaratification Denmarkratification Dominican Republicaccession Ecuadoraccession El Salvadoraccession Estoniaaccession Fijiaccession Finlandratification Franceratification Georgiaaccession Germanyratification Greeceratification Guatemalaaccession Hondurasaccession Hungaryaccession Icelandaccession Irelandratification Israelratification Italyratification Japanratification Latviaaccession Lithuaniaaccession Luxembourgratification Maltaaccession Mauritiusaccession Mexicoaccession Monacoaccession Montenegroratification Netherlands (Kingdom of the)ratification New Zealandaccession Nicaraguaaccession North Macedoniaratification Norwayratification Panamaaccession Paraguayaccession Peruaccession Polandaccession Portugalratification Republic of Koreaaccession Republic of Moldovaaccession Romaniaaccession Saint Kitts and Nevisaccession San Marinoaccession Serbiaratification Singaporeaccession Slovakiaratification Sloveniaaccession South Africaaccession Spainratification Sri Lankaaccession Swedenratification Switzerlandratification Thailandaccession Trinidad and Tobagoaccession Türkiyeratification Turkmenistanaccession Ukraineaccession United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Irelandratification United States of Americaratification Uruguayaccession Uzbekistanaccession Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)ratification Zimbabweaccession

Convention is NOT in force between these States (20)

One side joined by accession and the other has not accepted that accession, so under Article 38 the 1980 Convention does not operate between them — a return application under it would be rejected, and a different legal route is needed.

Andorraaccession Barbadosaccession Bolivia (Plurinational State of)accession Botswanaaccession Cabo Verdeaccession Cubaaccession Gabonaccession Guineaaccession Guyanaaccession Iraqaccession Jamaicaaccession Kazakhstanaccession Lesothoaccession Moroccoaccession Pakistanaccession Philippinesaccession Russian Federationaccession Seychellesaccession Tunisiaaccession Zambiaaccession

Special case — China (1)

Applies only to Hong Kong SAR / Macao SAR, not mainland China. Where in China matters decisively.

China (People's Republic of)ratification
In-force status is computed from the official HCCH Article 38 acceptance table (as of 2026-07-26); acceptances can change, so re-check the HCCH source. This is general information, not legal advice — whether the Convention helps in your specific case also depends on facts a lawyer must assess (habitual residence, custody rights, and whether the removal happened after the Convention entered into force for both States). Not affiliated with the HCCH.