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Country-pair applicability

Singapore and the 1980 Hague Convention: country by country

Singapore is a Contracting Party (in force 2011-03-01, Accession). The 1980 Convention is in force between Singapore and 53 other Contracting Parties, and not in force with 48 (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 (53)

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).

Argentinaratification Australiaratification Austriaratification Bahamasaccession Belarusaccession Belgiumratification Brazilaccession Bulgariaaccession Canadaratification Chileaccession Colombiaaccession Croatiaratification Cyprusaccession Czechiaratification Denmarkratification El Salvadoraccession Estoniaaccession Finlandratification Franceratification Georgiaaccession Germanyratification Greeceratification Irelandratification Israelratification Italyratification Japanratification Latviaaccession Lithuaniaaccession Luxembourgratification Maltaaccession Mexicoaccession Monacoaccession Netherlands (Kingdom of the)ratification New Zealandaccession Norwayratification Peruaccession Polandaccession Portugalratification Republic of Moldovaaccession Romaniaaccession Serbiaratification Seychellesaccession Slovakiaratification Sloveniaaccession South Africaaccession Spainratification Swedenratification Switzerlandratification Ukraineaccession United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Irelandratification United States of Americaratification Uruguayaccession Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)ratification

Convention is NOT in force between these States (48)

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 Andorraaccession Armeniaaccession Barbadosaccession Belizeaccession Bolivia (Plurinational State of)accession Bosnia and Herzegovinaratification Botswanaaccession Burkina Fasoaccession Cabo Verdeaccession Costa Ricaaccession Cubaaccession Dominican Republicaccession Ecuadoraccession Fijiaccession Gabonaccession Guatemalaaccession Guineaaccession Guyanaaccession Hondurasaccession Hungaryaccession Icelandaccession Iraqaccession Jamaicaaccession Kazakhstanaccession Lesothoaccession Mauritiusaccession Montenegroratification Moroccoaccession Nicaraguaaccession North Macedoniaratification Pakistanaccession Panamaaccession Paraguayaccession Philippinesaccession Republic of Koreaaccession Russian Federationaccession Saint Kitts and Nevisaccession San Marinoaccession Sri Lankaaccession Thailandaccession Trinidad and Tobagoaccession Tunisiaaccession Türkiyeratification Turkmenistanaccession Uzbekistanaccession 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.