On July 29, 2024, the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh formally deposited its instrument of accession to the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (commonly known as the Apostille Convention) with the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH). This marks Bangladesh as the newest member state of the Convention. According to the Convention’s provisions, it will enter into force for Bangladesh on March 30, 2025.
The Apostille Convention is an international treaty designed to streamline the process of legalising public documents for use abroad. Once the Convention takes effect in Bangladesh, its public documents—such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, academic diplomas, and more—will be recognized in other member countries without the need for time-consuming and costly consular legalisation. Instead, a single Apostille certificate will suffice, greatly enhancing the efficiency of international document circulation.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh has been designated as the competent authority responsible for issuing Apostilles under the Convention. This development will significantly facilitate legal, educational, and commercial exchanges between Bangladesh and other member states, while also marking a key step in the country’s broader international engagement.
With Bangladesh’s accession, the number of Hague Apostille Convention member countries continues to grow—strengthening global legal cooperation and contributing to the development of international rule of law.