Apostille in Malaysia: Why You Can't Get One and What to Do Instead
Short answer: you cannot get an apostille in Malaysia. Malaysia is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so no Malaysian office issues apostilles, including Wisma Putra. A Malaysian document for use abroad is legalised instead: a certified copy or notarisation, then attestation at Wisma Putra (the Ministry of Foreign Affairs), then legalisation at the destination country's embassy in Kuala Lumpur. Countries that use apostilles accept this legalisation chain for Malaysian documents.
We handle the whole chain. We translate, notarise, attest at Wisma Putra and legalise at the embassy, in one order. Send your document on WhatsApp for a quote.
Last reviewed: October 2026.
Is Malaysia a member of the Apostille Convention?
No. The Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) lists 130 Contracting Parties to the Apostille Convention, and Malaysia is not one of them (HCCH status table, last updated 30 June 2026). Malaysia has been a member of the HCCH itself since 2 October 2002, but it is not a party to any of the HCCH conventions.
Some websites say that Malaysia signed the Convention in 2022 or that Wisma Putra issues apostilles. Neither is correct. Wisma Putra attests documents: its stated purpose is "to validate the stamp and signatures on the documents".
What to do when you are asked for an apostille
If a university, employer or government abroad asks for an apostilled Malaysian document, they need the legalisation chain instead:
Get the right original. For example, a JPN birth or marriage extract, or a certified true copy of a degree. See our birth certificate, marriage and divorce and degree and transcript guides.
Translate it if needed, using a translator Wisma Putra accepts. See who can certify a translation in Malaysia.
Notarise it if required, for example a power of attorney, a company resolution or a copy of a private document. See our notarisation service.
Attest it at Wisma Putra. Walk-in only; collection is the same day or the next working day. See our Wisma Putra attestation service.
Legalise it at the destination country's embassy in Kuala Lumpur. Fees and processing times are set by each embassy. See our list of embassies and consulates.
Some countries add a final step after the documents arrive. Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for example, legalises Malaysian documents again once they reach Thailand. Our country guides list these extra steps.
Foreign documents for use in Malaysia
An apostille from another country is not enough on its own in Malaysia, because Malaysia does not recognise apostilles. Wisma Putra states that "all documents originating from abroad requires authentication from the Foreign Missions in Malaysia". Some countries tell their citizens to apostille a document and then have it legalised at the Malaysian embassy in that country; Denmark is one example. Check what the Malaysian agency receiving your document asks for before you start.
Did Thailand joining change anything?
No. Thailand joins the Convention on 28 February 2027, but an apostille only works between two member countries. Documents between Malaysia and Thailand still need full legalisation. See Thailand and the Apostille Convention.
Common questions
Does Wisma Putra issue apostilles?
No. Wisma Putra attests documents by verifying the stamp and signature on them. That attestation is one step in the legalisation chain that replaces an apostille for Malaysian documents.
Can a notary public in Malaysia issue an apostille?
No. A Malaysian notary public can notarise a document, which is often the first step of legalisation, but only a competent authority of a member country can issue an apostille, and Malaysia has none.
What does "UM" on an apostille mean?
It usually refers to Denmark's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Udenrigsministeriet), which issues Danish apostilles. A Danish apostille still needs legalisation by the Malaysian embassy before the document is used in Malaysia.
How long does legalisation take in Malaysia?
Wisma Putra returns attested documents the same day or the next working day. Embassy legalisation adds anything from one day to a week or more, depending on the embassy. Translation and notarisation, if needed, come first.
Related guides
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