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Country-pair applicability

Canada and the 1980 Hague Convention: country by country

Canada is a Contracting Party (in force 1983-12-01, Ratification). The 1980 Convention is in force between Canada and 80 other Contracting Parties, and not in force with 21 (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 (80)

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 Andorraaccession Argentinaratification Australiaratification Austriaratification Bahamasaccession Belarusaccession Belgiumratification Belizeaccession Bosnia and Herzegovinaratification Brazilaccession Bulgariaaccession Burkina Fasoaccession Chileaccession Colombiaaccession Costa Ricaaccession Croatiaratification Cyprusaccession Czechiaratification Denmarkratification Dominican Republicaccession Ecuadoraccession El Salvadoraccession Estoniaaccession Fijiaccession Finlandratification Franceratification Georgiaaccession Germanyratification Greeceratification Hondurasaccession Hungaryaccession Icelandaccession Irelandratification Israelratification Italyratification Jamaicaaccession Japanratification Latviaaccession Lithuaniaaccession Luxembourgratification Maltaaccession Mauritiusaccession Mexicoaccession Monacoaccession Montenegroratification Moroccoaccession Netherlands (Kingdom of the)ratification New Zealandaccession 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 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 (21)

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.

Armeniaaccession Barbadosaccession Bolivia (Plurinational State of)accession Botswanaaccession Cabo Verdeaccession Cubaaccession Gabonaccession Guatemalaaccession Guineaaccession Guyanaaccession Iraqaccession Kazakhstanaccession Lesothoaccession Nicaraguaaccession Pakistanaccession Philippinesaccession Russian Federationaccession Seychellesaccession Thailandaccession 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.