Membership in the Organization is confined to independent States of the Hemisphere that were Members of the United Nations as of December 10, 1985, and the non autonomous territories of the Americas, when they become independent.

All American States that ratify the OAS Charter are members of the Organization. Any other independent American State that desires to become a member of the Organization should so indicate by means of a note addressed to the Secretary General, in which it declares that it is willing to sign and ratify the Charter of the Organization and to accept all the obligations inherent in membership.

The General Assembly, upon the recommendation of the Permanent Council, shall determine whether it is appropriate that the Secretary General be authorized to permit the applicant country to sign the Charter and to accept the deposit of the corresponding instrument of ratification.

Both the recommendation of the Permanent Council and the decision of the General Assembly require the affirmative vote of two thirds of the Member States.