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Country-pair applicability

Botswana and the 1980 Hague Convention: country by country

Botswana is a Contracting Party (in force 2023-02-01, Accession). The 1980 Convention is in force between Botswana and 4 other Contracting Parties, and not in force with 97 (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 (4)

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).

Andorraaccession Mexicoaccession Serbiaratification Uruguayaccession

Convention is NOT in force between these States (97)

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.

Albaniaaccession Argentinaratification Armeniaaccession Australiaratification Austriaratification Bahamasaccession Barbadosaccession Belarusaccession Belgiumratification Belizeaccession Bolivia (Plurinational State of)accession Bosnia and Herzegovinaratification Brazilaccession Bulgariaaccession Burkina Fasoaccession Cabo Verdeaccession Canadaratification Chileaccession Colombiaaccession Costa Ricaaccession Croatiaratification Cubaaccession Cyprusaccession Czechiaratification Denmarkratification Dominican Republicaccession Ecuadoraccession El Salvadoraccession Estoniaaccession Fijiaccession Finlandratification Franceratification Gabonaccession Georgiaaccession Germanyratification Greeceratification Guatemalaaccession Guineaaccession Guyanaaccession Hondurasaccession Hungaryaccession Icelandaccession Iraqaccession Irelandratification Israelratification Italyratification Jamaicaaccession Japanratification Kazakhstanaccession Latviaaccession Lesothoaccession Lithuaniaaccession Luxembourgratification Maltaaccession Mauritiusaccession Monacoaccession Montenegroratification Moroccoaccession Netherlands (Kingdom of the)ratification New Zealandaccession Nicaraguaaccession North Macedoniaratification Norwayratification Pakistanaccession Panamaaccession Paraguayaccession Peruaccession Philippinesaccession Polandaccession Portugalratification Republic of Koreaaccession Republic of Moldovaaccession Romaniaaccession Russian Federationaccession Saint Kitts and Nevisaccession San Marinoaccession Seychellesaccession Singaporeaccession Slovakiaratification Sloveniaaccession South Africaaccession Spainratification Sri Lankaaccession Swedenratification Switzerlandratification Thailandaccession Trinidad and Tobagoaccession Tunisiaaccession Türkiyeratification Turkmenistanaccession Ukraineaccession United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Irelandratification United States of Americaratification Uzbekistanaccession Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)ratification Zambiaaccession Zimbabweaccession

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.