Apostille and attestation: Bangladesh documents for use abroad, foreign documents for use here
A university, immigration office, employer, court or buyer abroad wants your Bangladeshi certificate, deed or power of attorney "apostilled" or "attested". Or a document you signed abroad must be accepted by a sub-registry or court in Dhaka. We identify the exact chain your destination requires and complete every step in Dhaka while you stay where you are.
Is this you?
- You need your degree, transcript, birth or marriage certificate attested for study, work or immigration abroad
- A buyer, bank or court abroad wants a Bangladeshi deed, NID or court order legalised
- You signed a power of attorney abroad and it must be authenticated, stamped and registered in Bangladesh
- Your destination country objected to Bangladesh's apostille accession and still wants embassy legalisation
- A foreign marriage, divorce or death certificate has to be used in a Bangladesh court or office
What we do for you
Working out the chain before anything is stamped
Apostille or legalisation; translation certified how; which prior verification (education board, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Law for notarised papers, Ministry of Health) before the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Redoing a chain is the most common cause of delay, so we get the receiving institution’s requirement in writing first.
Apostille from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Bangladesh acceded to the Hague Apostille Convention on 29 July 2024 and it has been in force since 30 March 2025. MoFA is the competent authority and issues apostilles, including e-apostilles through its online system. For a Convention country an apostille generally replaces embassy legalisation. We prepare the file, book the submission and collect.
Embassy legalisation where apostille is not accepted
Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Finland and Germany objected to Bangladesh’s accession, so an apostille is not valid between Bangladesh and those countries, and non-Convention countries never accept one. For them the route is MoFA attestation followed by legalisation at that country’s mission in Dhaka. We handle both steps.
Notarisation and translation
True copies, affidavits, declarations and certified English translations before a Notary Public under the Notaries Ordinance 1961, in the form the destination expects, with originals seen in person or through your attorney.
Foreign documents coming into Bangladesh
A power of attorney, affidavit or certificate signed abroad is apostilled (or legalised by the Bangladesh mission) there, then in Bangladesh it must be authenticated, stamped within about three months of arrival and, for land, registered within four months. The 2025 Rules allow execution abroad with NID, birth certificate or a foreign passport with NVR, and require the authenticated power to reach Bangladesh within six months. We receive the original and take it through each office.
Fees, time and documents
What we need from you
- The original documents (certificates, deeds, orders) or, for incoming documents, the apostilled or legalised original by courier
- Your passport or NID copy; for a representative in Dhaka, a simple authorisation letter or power of attorney
- The receiving institution's written instructions on what it will accept
- Names and dates exactly as they appear in your passport, for translations
- For a power of attorney: the attorney's NID, photographs of both parties and the property or case details
- The country and city you are in, so we can check the mission's rules
Mistakes we see every week
- Getting an apostille for Germany or Austria and finding it refused; those countries objected and still need legalisation.
- Translating before notarising, or notarising a copy the destination wanted apostilled as an original.
- Letting an authenticated power of attorney sit abroad for months; it must reach Bangladesh within six months and be stamped and registered on time.
- Sending originals by ordinary post. Use a tracked courier and keep scans of every page.
- Assuming one attestation serves every country. Each destination has its own chain.
Read the requirement
We confirm with the receiving institution whether it needs notarisation, apostille, legalisation or translation, and in what order.
Prepare
Translations, affidavits and true copies are made and notarised; prior ministry verifications are obtained.
MoFA and embassy
We submit for apostille or attestation and, where needed, embassy legalisation, and track each step.
Deliver or register
Scans are sent for your check; originals go by tracked courier, or an incoming power is stamped and registered here.
Common questions
Does Bangladesh issue apostilles now?
Yes. The Hague Apostille Convention has been in force for Bangladesh since 30 March 2025. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the competent authority and issues apostilles, including e-apostilles.
Which countries do not accept a Bangladesh apostille?
Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Finland and Germany objected to Bangladesh’s accession, so an apostille is not valid between Bangladesh and them; embassy legalisation is still required. Countries that are not party to the Convention also require legalisation.
What is the difference between attestation, apostille and legalisation?
Attestation is MoFA’s stamp confirming a Bangladeshi signature or seal. An apostille is the standard certificate under the Hague Convention that Convention countries accept without further steps. Legalisation is the foreign embassy’s stamp after MoFA attestation, used where an apostille is not accepted.
How long does apostille take in Dhaka?
Commonly several working days at MoFA after any prior ministry verification, plus translation and notarisation time. Embassy legalisation adds one to three weeks depending on the mission.
Can you do this while I am abroad?
Yes. You courier the originals or authorise someone to hand them over, we complete the chain in Dhaka, and send scans for checking and the originals back by tracked courier.
I signed a power of attorney abroad. What happens in Bangladesh?
It must be authenticated, stamped (generally within three months of arrival) and, for land, registered at the Sub-Registry within four months. Since 2025 it must also reach Bangladesh within six months of authentication. We receive it and take it through each office.
Do I need the Ministry of Law step?
Notarised documents are commonly routed through the Ministry of Law’s verification before MoFA; educational documents go through the education board or ministry first. We tell you which applies.
Can a foreign marriage or divorce certificate be used in Bangladesh?
Yes, once apostilled or legalised in the country of issue and, where needed, translated and notarised here. Courts and offices may ask for further proof, which we prepare.
Fees are confirmed in writing before any work begins. Government fees and court fees are separate and receipted.
Tell us the country and the institution
Send a scan of the document and the institution's instructions. We will list the exact steps, fees and time within one working day. A written assessment costs nothing.