The launch of the Integrated Online Attestation Management (Apostille service) has significantly eased the burden on students and professionals either residing abroad or preparing to travel overseas. They can now authenticate various certificates online with ease.

The formal inauguration of the integrated online attestation management system was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in January this year. However, the Apostille service has been operational since November 2024. Since its introduction, overseas-bound individuals have been receiving expedited services. The online authentication is being carried out under the guidelines of the Apostille Convention of 1961.

1.5 lakh documents authenticated each month

Officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have reported that with the launch of the Apostille service, approximately 150,000 documents are now being authenticated online every month. In May and June alone, 293,000 documents were authenticated under the Apostille system. Additionally, between 10 December last year and May of this year, a total of 77,149 applications were received for board certificate authentication through the Apostille system, of which 71,822 were processed. There were 25,078 applications for university certificates, with 20,813 processed. For medical universities, 274 applications were submitted, with 179 resolved. Medical institutes received 205 applications, of which 100 were completed.

What is Apostille service

An Apostille is an international certification that authenticates public documents (such as birth certificates, academic certificates, marriage certificates) for use in foreign countries. In accordance with the Apostille Convention of 1961, it serves as a certificate of authenticity for a public document. Through Apostille certificate management and technology, the authenticity of an Apostilled document can be verified from anywhere in the world. The current number of countries party to the convention stands at 127.

For various needs, Bangladeshi citizens travelling abroad or living overseas often require academic and other documents to be authenticated. Under the previous system, these documents needed certification by multiple authorities, including the issuing body, concerned ministries, and finally the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. After this, the documents had to be further authenticated by foreign embassies located in Dhaka. Upon arrival in the destination country, additional verification was often required by that country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other institutions. In cases where a foreign embassy is not present in Dhaka, Bangladeshi applicants had to travel to embassies in neighbouring countries assigned concurrently to Bangladesh.

Completing these procedures involved considerable time, effort, and cost. To eliminate such difficulties, Bangladesh became a party to the Apostille Convention of 1961. As a member of the convention, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs now issues Apostille certificates as official attestations of public documents. Using an Apostille certificate, applicants no longer need to get their documents authenticated at foreign embassies in Dhaka or from authorities in the destination country. Furthermore, scanning the QR code on the Apostille certificate allows anyone to verify the authenticity of the document’s origin from anywhere in the world.

Annual savings of nearly Tk 700 crore

Foreign ministry officials state that foreign embassies used to charge between Tk 3,000 and Tk 20,000 per page for document attestation. With the implementation of the Apostille programme, Bangladeshi citizens are no longer required to pay these embassy fees, resulting in an estimated annual savings of Tk 500 crore to 700 crore.

Decline in middlemen influence 

In the past, individuals seeking document attestation at various government offices had to endure long queues for manual verification of hard copies. To avoid this hassle, many often turned to brokers or middlemen.

According to officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the implementation of the apostille programme has significantly curbed the influence of brokers and intermediaries. It has also reduced the incidence of forged seals and signatures used in document verification.

How apostille process works

Students and professionals travelling abroad can apply online for apostille certificates by visiting the www.mygov.bd portal. Once an application is submitted, the issuing authority verifies the document and forwards it to the controlling ministry. The ministry then authenticates it and sends it electronically to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which carries out the final verification according to the rules of the Apostille Convention. An e-Apostille certificate is then issued online as proof of authentication. Once the Ministry of Foreign Affairs completes the process, the applicant receives a notification on their registered mobile number. The applicant can then log in to their personal dashboard on the MyGov portal and download the e-Apostille certificate by clicking the ‘Download’ button.

Services covered by apostille

Currently, various documents such as birth certificates, academic credentials, and marriage certificates—required for higher education, job applications, immigration, or marriage abroad—must undergo multiple layers of authentication. These documents are now verified through the apostille system.

Before the service was launched, individuals needed certifications from different ministries, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, followed by verification at foreign embassies in Dhaka, and later by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or other competent authorities in the destination country. The entire process was time-consuming, labour-intensive, and costly. The introduction of the apostille service has significantly reduced these difficulties.

How Bangladesh join Apostille Convention

Bangladesh had been in discussions to join the Apostille Convention for several years. Finally, on 29 July 2024, the country became a party to the “Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents,” also known as the Apostille Convention of 1961. The service officially launched in November 2024.

What is Hague Convention?

The Hague Convention of 1961 is an international treaty that requires signatory governments to adopt a simplified process for legalising public documents. Its core purpose is to make official documents issued in one country legally acceptable in another without requiring repeated legalisation through diplomatic or consular offices.

How to apply

Students and professionals intending to travel abroad can apply for an apostille certificate via the www.mygov.bd portal. The issuing authority verifies the document and forwards it to the relevant ministry for authentication. The controlling ministry then sends the document to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which finalises the attestation under the Apostille Convention guidelines. An e-Apostille certificate is then issued online. Once the Ministry completes the verification, a notification is sent to the applicant’s registered mobile number, and the certificate can be downloaded from the MyGov portal dashboard. The e-Apostille certificate is accepted in 127 countries.

Foreign Affairs Adviser M Touhid Hossain said that with the launch of the apostille service, Bangladeshi citizens will now enjoy easier access to more services. “This is an excellent initiative,” he said, adding, “Our young professionals have made it a reality—Thanks to them.”