Apostille in force: one certificate now replaces embassy legalisation of documents

What an apostille is

An apostille is a certificate attached by the issuing country’s designated authority confirming the signature, seal and capacity on a public document. Between Convention countries it replaces consular legalisation. It does not certify that the document’s contents are true — only that the signature and seal are genuine.

How it works in Bangladesh

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues apostilles through its online system. The document must first carry a signature or seal the Ministry recognises — a notary, the issuing board or registry. Abroad, each country has its own authority: the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office in the UK, the Secretary of State in US states, and so on.

Who gains most

NRBs executing powers of attorney abroad for use in Bangladesh, families using Bangladeshi certificates abroad, and foreign investors whose corporate documents previously queued at embassies. For a power of attorney, check the destination country’s position: twelve states objected to Bangladesh’s accession under Article 12 — Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria, Belgium, Finland, the Netherlands, Estonia, Greece, France, Argentina, Denmark and Lithuania (HCCH status table, read 28 October 2026) — and with those the old legalisation chain still applies.

What it means for you

Before sending any document for embassy attestation, check whether both countries are Convention partners for Bangladesh — our treaty and apostille country-check tool covers this. If they are, the apostille route is faster and cheaper.

Sources

• HCCH: Apostille Convention status table
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh