Mohammad Safiul Azam
Every year, hundreds of thousands of Bangladeshis travel abroad for higher education, jobs, medical treatment, or family reasons. Whether applying for a visa, university admission, or work permit, everyone faces one essential requirement- legal validation of their documents.
In the past, this was a long, expensive, and complicated journey. People had to visit multiple offices (education boards, ministries, and finally the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA)) to verify papers like birth and marriage certificates, educational degrees, and police clearances. The process often took weeks. Even then, most still needed to visit embassies for final legalisation. If the destination country didn’t have an embassy in Bangladesh, applicants had to go to a neighbouring country, paying for travel, accommodation, and extra processing. This system opened the door for middlemen who charged high “speed fees,” and sometimes even issued fake papers. Many students and workers lost opportunities abroad because of this.
That is why the e-Apostille came as a game changer; a completely digital service that has opened a new chapter in Bangladesh’s citizen service delivery. Developed by Aspire to Innovate (a2i) under the ICT Division, this service allows citizens to get their required documents verified and internationally accepted online, directly through the MyGov platform.
Bangladesh officially joined the Hague Apostille Convention of 1961 in 2024, becoming part of a globally recognised system that simplifies document verification among 114 member countries. This means Bangladeshi public documents no longer need manual embassy legalisation in those countries. The MoFA launched the e-Apostille service on MyGov in October 2024, and within just one year, over 1.3 million e-Apostilles have already been issued.
Applicants submit their documents online. The issuing authority such as a university, education board, or registrar’s office verifies the document’s authenticity. The relevant ministry or division then gives approval, and finally, the MoFA issues the e-Apostille with a digital signature and QR code. Within three to five working days, the applicant can download the certificate from their MyGov dashboard. Any foreign institution can verify the authenticity instantly by scanning the QR code. No paperwork, no office visits, no waiting in lines.
Previously, the cost of legalisation ranged from BDT3,000 to 20,000 per document, depending on the embassy. Now, citizens can complete the process by paying a small government-approved fee, or even for free for documents under the Law Ministry. The MoFA estimates that the e-Apostille saves citizens BDT500–700 crore per year in direct costs. Beyond money, it saves time, travel expenses, and unnecessary stress. For migrant workers, it also ensures they can start jobs on time, keeping remittance flows steady and stable.
Transparency is one of e-Apostille’s biggest strengths. With QR-based verification, middlemen have become almost irrelevant. Citizens can now verify and download their attested documents directly from home. However, it’s important to remember that e-Apostille does not verify the content of the document- it only authenticates the seal and signature of the issuing authority. That’s why the accuracy and timeliness of information from institutions like education boards and universities remain crucial for the system’s overall reliability.
Of course, there are still a few challenges. Awareness is one. Many citizens still don’t know they can complete this process entirely online. Broader communication campaigns are needed to reach them. As more people apply, system capacity, verification teams, and helpdesk support must also grow stronger. For countries not under the Hague Convention, traditional legalisation still applies, so a clear set of guidelines and country-specific helpdesks are needed to prevent confusion and stop brokers from reappearing. And one more thing. There should be a simple, fair way to correct mistakes, such as wrong uploads or spelling errors. The true quality of any digital system is measured not by the absence of errors, but by how quickly and fairly it can fix them.
The e-Apostille is more than just a technological advancement. It represents a shift in mindset toward citizen-centered governance. Bangladesh is moving away from paper piles, seals, and slow bureaucracies toward a service system that values time, trust, and transparency. Public service now means more than filling forms- it means building confidence, efficiency, and accountability.
Through the MyGov platform, the e-Apostille has shown that when technology serves people, it creates not just digital progress, but a new culture of governance. The challenge now is to sustain this momentum; to ensure that innovation remains inclusive and accessible for all. This human-centered digital journey is what will lead Bangladesh toward the future we aspire to: a nation where innovation truly belongs to everyone, and government service is always within reach.
The writer is a communications professional
