Status verified as of 14 September 2026. Political positions change; this explainer describes the documented position on that date.
The historical outcome
The independence process concluded on 20 May 2002, when East Timor became independent at the end of UN transitional administration; the General Assembly admitted the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to UN membership on 27 September 2002.[1][2]
Since independence
Timor-Leste became the eleventh member of ASEAN on 26 October 2025.[3]
Sources for this page
Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.
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1.
Claim: East Timor became an independent country on 20 May 2002, when UNTAET was succeeded by a UN support mission.
- United Nations Department of Public Information, United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (mission page) (United Nations) link, summary. Source record
- Constituent Assembly of East Timor, Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste (Government of Timor-Leste, 22 March 2002) link, preamble, PDF p. 9. Government perspective or primary official source Source record
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2.
Claim: On 27 September 2002 the General Assembly admitted the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to membership of the United Nations.
- United Nations General Assembly, General Assembly resolution 57/3: Admission of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to membership in the United Nations (United Nations, 27 September 2002) link, operative paragraph. Source record
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3.
Claim: Timor-Leste became the eleventh member of ASEAN on 26 October 2025, when a declaration of admission was signed at the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur.
- Strangio, Sebastian, ‘History Is Made’: Timor-Leste Becomes ASEAN’s 11th Member (The Diplomat, 27 October 2025) link, opening paragraphs. Source record
Printed from https://independenceatlas.com/movements/timor-leste/status · last substantive update 15 September 2026.