On March 30, 2025, the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (commonly known as the Apostille Convention) entered into force for Bangladesh. This was reported by the Hague Conference on Private International Law.
How Bangladesh Joined the Apostille Convention
As Schmidt & Schmidt previously reported, on July 29, 2024, the authorities of the People's Republic of Bangladesh officially deposited the instrument of accession to the Convention with the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH).
The official deposit ceremony took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, which acts as the depositary of the Convention. The event was attended by the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, Dr. Hasan Mahmud, the Bangladeshi Ambassador to the Netherlands, Riaz Hamidullah, and other representatives of the country’s foreign ministry. The documents were received by Jules van Eindhoven, Head of the Treaty Division at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Belgium, Finland, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Germany opposed Bangladesh’s accession to the Convention. As a result, the aforementioned countries will not recognize apostilles issued by Bangladesh. Individuals presenting documents from Bangladesh to these countries may have to undergo consular legalisation instead — a longer, more complex, and costlier process. In turn, Bangladeshi authorities may also refuse to recognize apostilles from countries that objected to its accession to the Convention.
How the Apostille Process Will Work in Bangladesh
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh has been designated as the competent authority for issuing apostilles, with the Director General for Consular and Welfare Affairs named as the responsible official. Bangladeshi authorities have announced that documents will be apostilled through an online authentication system via a dedicated digital platform.
According to media reports, joining the Convention and implementing electronic legalisation practices could save the Bangladeshi economy an estimated 7 billion Bangladeshi taka (approximately 58 million USD).
Further details on the specific procedures for apostilling documents in Bangladesh are expected to be announced soon. As of now, a total of 127 countries have fully acceded to the Apostille Convention.
What is an apostille?
What is an apostille? Why do I need an apostille? How do I get an apostille? - Our video will explain everything you need to know about the apostille. If you have a document that needs to be certified with an apostille for use abroad, Schmidt and Schmidt will assist you! We provide apostille services in more than 100 countries worldwide.
