myGov Milestone: e-Apostille Empowers Expats
Bangladesh’s unified government service portal, myGov, has been transforming document verification with its Electronic Apostille (e-Apostille) service, helping citizens avoid long queues, middlemen, and excessive costs before pursuing studies or employment abroad. Over the past ten months, more than 1 million documents have been apostilled, with the majority being certificates for students preparing to study overseas.
The platform allows citizens to authenticate 43 types of documents from home. On 17 August, the service surpassed the 1 million verification milestone, receiving an average of over 3,500 applications daily, with web applications outnumbering app submissions.
According to sources, on 1 October last year, 11 education boards were integrated into the e-Apostille system. By 10 December, all universities and medical institutes joined, followed by district police offices and relevant services under the Ministry of Law. As a result, documents including transcripts, mark sheets, birth certificates, marriage certificates, and police clearances can now be apostilled online from home.
Md. Rashidul Mannaf Kabir, Project Director and Joint Secretary of the a2i program, said, “Through this digital service, citizens can authenticate their documents from home in the shortest time, via a transparent process, and at lower costs. Whereas manual processes previously cost between BDT 3,000 to 20,000 per document, now the same service can be availed online with a government-prescribed BDT 200 fee. Services for documents issued by the Ministry of Law are provided completely free of charge.”
He added, “Students, expatriates, and professionals working abroad all benefit equally. Meeting deadlines for higher education or visa-related submissions has become easier. Family-related documents like birth and marriage certificates or police clearances can now be verified online quickly, transparently, and without hassle. Overall, e-Apostille is a shining example of Bangladesh’s digital transformation, saving citizens time and money, enhancing service quality and transparency, and instilling confidence to present documents internationally with a single click.”
The Apostille process is internationally recognized, facilitating the acceptance of official documents abroad. Bangladesh joined the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention on 29 July 2024, which is recognized by 114 member countries. Gradual online services were launched from October 2024, and the formal inauguration of e-Apostille on the myGov portal on 29 January 2025 expanded the service nationally under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to myGov, the service operates through transparent, fully digital steps: submission and upload on myGov, verification by issuing authorities, online authentication by regulatory offices and ministries, and issuance of e-Apostille with a digital signature and QR code from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Each document’s QR code can be scanned by foreign organizations or universities for direct online verification, reducing fraud and increasing trust. Tasks that previously required multiple visits to offices or embassies can now typically be completed in three to five working days, with tracking, submission, and support all available through a single platform, including myGov support forms and the 333 helpline.
