Notarial Service

What this covers

A Notary Public appointed under the Notaries Ordinance 1961 can verify and authenticate the execution of documents, certify true copies, administer oaths and take affidavits, and translate or verify translations of documents (section 8). Notarised papers are used for study, work and immigration abroad, bank and property matters for NRBs, marriage and custody documents, company or personal declarations, and consent letters for children travelling. We check your documents, prepare declarations, affidavits and consent letters, arrange translation into English, and advise on the chain of attestation for the destination country.

What can be notarised

Common requests include true copies of academic certificates, NID, passport, birth registration and nikahnama; affidavits for name, marital status, single status or income; declarations and undertakings; travel consent letters for minors; powers of attorney; and English translations of Bangla documents such as land deeds, khatians and court orders. The notary must see originals and the signatory in person with identification. A notary certifies signing or copying, not the truth of the content, and will refuse documents that appear altered.

Documents for use abroad: apostille or legalisation

Bangladesh acceded to the Hague Apostille Convention on 29 July 2024 and it entered into force for Bangladesh on 30 March 2025. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the competent authority and issues apostilles, including e-apostilles through its online system. For a Convention country, an apostille generally replaces embassy legalisation. Translated and notarised documents are commonly routed through the relevant verifying authority, often the Ministry of Law for notarised papers, before MoFA. For countries that are not parties, and for Convention states that objected to Bangladesh’s accession, embassy legalisation after MoFA attestation is still required.

Timing, fees and practical points

Notarisation itself is usually completed the same day if originals, identification and any translation are ready. Notarial fees are governed by the Notaries Rules and affidavits carry stamp duty under the current schedule. Ministry and embassy steps add time, commonly several working days or more depending on the office and the destination. Always ask the receiving institution what exactly it wants: notarised copy, apostille, embassy legalisation, or a translation certified in a particular way.

What helps

• Original documents and clear photocopies
• Passport or NID of the person signing
• The receiving institution’s instructions or checklist
• Names exactly as they appear in your passport, for translations
• For minors’ travel consent: both parents’ IDs and the child’s passport or birth registration

Where it is handled, and how long it takes

Notarisation is done before a Notary Public, usually the same day. Apostille is issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dhaka, after any prior verification step, commonly within several working days. Embassy legalisation for non-Convention countries is done at that country’s mission in Dhaka, on its own timetable.