The short answer: an apostille now replaces legalisation between Bangladesh and Poland
Bangladesh joined the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention, and the status table of the Hague Conference (HCCH) shows it entering into force for Bangladesh on 30 March 2025. Poland is a party to the Convention and is not among the states that objected to Bangladesh's accession. As a result, the Convention applies between the two countries.
In practice, a Bangladeshi public document intended for use in Poland, such as a birth or marriage certificate or an academic document, is authenticated with an apostille from Bangladesh rather than through the older chain of legalisation steps. The Polish office receiving it decides what else it needs, such as a translation, so always check its own list as well.
Why the objections matter for other European countries
Under Article 12 of the Convention, an accession takes effect only between the acceding state and the existing parties that do not object within six months. The HCCH table lists twelve objections to Bangladesh's accession: Argentina, Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Lithuania and the Netherlands.
For those countries the apostille does not replace legalisation for Bangladeshi documents, so their own legalisation rules still apply. This matters if you plan to move on from Poland later, or if one file must be used in two countries. Check the current HCCH table for the specific country, because the list can change.
Who issues the apostille in Bangladesh
In HCCH notification No. 3 of 2025, dated 10 June 2025, the Hague Conference states that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh is the competent authority and that it has issued electronic apostilles (e-Apostilles) since 23 April 2025. An e-Apostille may be issued for all public documents executed by authorities in Bangladesh.
The same notification says that every apostille issued by the Ministry is available for checking on an electronic register at mofa-servicedirectory.apostille.mygov.bd. A Polish office or university can therefore verify a Bangladeshi apostille online. Keep the electronic file and any reference number together with the paper document you submit.
What an apostille confirms and what it does not
The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs explains that an apostille confirms the signature on a public document, the capacity in which the signer acted and the identity of the seal or stamp. It is issued in a uniform format and, in countries that recognise it, the document needs no further certification to prove its official character.
An apostille does not confirm that the content of the document is correct, and it does not translate it. If your name is spelled differently on your passport and your certificate, the apostille will not fix that. Correct such errors at the issuing authority in Bangladesh before you request the apostille, because a corrected document needs a new one.
Translations into Polish
Polish authorities work in Polish, and many procedures ask for a Polish translation of a foreign document. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs points to the Ministry of Justice list of sworn translators (tłumacze przysięgli) and notes that an apostille cannot be placed on a photocopy of a sworn translation. Check whether your receiving office wants a sworn translation and of which pages.
A practical order is to obtain the apostille first and then have the document translated together with the apostille, so that the translation covers everything the office will read. Ask the translator to keep names exactly as they appear in your passport transliteration, since mismatched spellings cause more delays than missing stamps.
Polish documents going the other way
If you need a Polish document for use in Bangladesh, the apostille is issued in Poland. The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs charges PLN 60 per document. It requires an appointment booked in the e-Konsulat system for a visit, and it also accepts applications by post, including from abroad.
Some documents need an earlier step. Notarial documents must first be certified by the competent regional court (sąd okręgowy), and court documents by the president of that court. Apostilles for university documents are issued by NAWA, not by the Ministry. The Ministry also states that it cannot apostille a photocopy or a printout from the ePUAP platform.
Mistakes to avoid
Do not pay for consular legalisation that is no longer needed for Poland, and do not assume that a document apostilled for Poland will work in Germany or France without checking their status. Do not request an apostille on a document that still contains spelling errors, and do not translate a document before it has its apostille if the office expects both to be translated.
Be cautious with intermediaries. The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that it does not cooperate with commercial intermediaries offering apostille or legalisation services and that its procedure is fully available to individuals acting on their own. Use the official Bangladeshi channel for the apostille and keep receipts and reference numbers for every step.
Next steps
List every Bangladeshi document your Polish procedure needs, check each one for spelling and date errors, and apply for apostilles through the Bangladeshi Ministry of Foreign Affairs channel. Then arrange sworn Polish translations if the receiving office asks for them, and keep the e-Register reference so the office can check the apostille.
If you are preparing a residence or family file and want help building the document list, see the Immigration & Residence Toolkit, including the marriage certificate and apostille checker, or contact us. Auranik is not a law firm and does not issue or certify documents.
Frequently asked questions
Does Poland accept apostilles from Bangladesh?
Yes. Bangladesh joined the Apostille Convention with effect from 30 March 2025, and Poland is not among the states that objected to the accession, so the Convention applies between the two countries. The receiving Polish office may still require a translation.
HCCH Apostille Convention status table →Who issues apostilles in Bangladesh?
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh is the competent authority named in HCCH notification No. 3 of 2025. It issues electronic apostilles and publishes them on an e-Register that receiving authorities can use to check them.
Does a Bangladeshi apostille work in Germany or France?
Not for now. Germany, France and ten other states objected to Bangladesh's accession, so the Convention does not apply between them and Bangladesh. Check that country's own legalisation rules and the current HCCH table before you apply.
Do I still need a sworn Polish translation?
Often, yes. An apostille confirms the signature and seal but does not translate the document. Polish offices generally work in Polish, so ask the receiving office whether it needs a sworn translation and of which pages.
How much does a Polish apostille cost?
The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs charges PLN 60 for each document it apostilles. Some documents, such as notarial or court documents, need a regional court certification first, and university documents are apostilled by NAWA.
Community content reflects individual experiences and should not be treated as legal, immigration, financial or government advice.
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