Short answer: A Malaysian birth certificate is legalised for use abroad in three steps: start with the original Sijil Kelahiran or a fresh JPN extract (Cabutan Daftar Kelahiran), have Wisma Putra (Malaysia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs) attest it, then have the destination country's embassy in Kuala Lumpur legalise it where that country requires. Wisma Putra charges RM 20 for a certified birth certificate and RM 10 for a certified translation. Malaysia is not a party to the Apostille Convention, so no apostille is issued; this chain takes its place. Most destinations also want a certified translation, attested together with the certificate.
We handle the whole chain for you: the JPN extract when the original is lost or laminated, the certified translation, Wisma Putra attestation and embassy legalisation, with a timeline before you start. If an authority rejects a certified translation we prepared within 30 days of delivery, we re-do it free (our guarantees). Send your birth certificate on WhatsApp for a quote.
Last reviewed: October 2026. For the translation itself, see Malaysian birth certificate translation.
Step by step
Use the right document. Wisma Putra attests the original birth certificate or a JPN extract, not a plain photocopy. JPN does not issue certified photocopies of the original. An extract costs RM 5 online through JPN, processed in about one working day, or RM 10 for the search plus RM 5 for the extract at a JPN counter in Peninsular Malaysia (form JPN.LM12). In Sarawak, extracts are issued only at the JPN state office and JPN Putrajaya, for RM 5.
Get a certified translation if the destination needs the document in English or another language. Wisma Putra attests translations by a Malaysian court translator, DBP, the Malaysian Translators Association, ITBM or an embassy-appointed translator; see who can certify a translation in Malaysia. The printed headings are bilingual, but the entries, notes and stamps are often in Malay, so the whole document is translated.
Attest the certificate and the translation at Wisma Putra. RM 20 for the certified birth certificate and RM 10 for the certified translation. Walk-in documents are ready the same or next working day; documents lodged through an agent within three working days. See Wisma Putra attestation.
Legalise both at the destination country's embassy in Kuala Lumpur, where that country requires it. Embassy fees differ widely: RM 18 per document at the Korean Embassy, RM 60 at the Royal Thai Embassy, MYR 68 at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, RM 130 at the Philippine Embassy and EUR 36 at the German Embassy. Every figure is in the fees and processing times table; see also embassy authentication.
Translate into the destination language last when the receiving office wants the stamps translated too. Some countries, Slovakia among them, want the official translation made after the embassy step so it covers the Wisma Putra and embassy stamps.
Which birth document to legalise
Original birth certificate (Sijil Kelahiran). Legalised as it is, provided it is not laminated and the entries are legible.
Extract of birth registration (Cabutan Daftar Kelahiran). The standard substitute when the original is lost, damaged or laminated, and the safer choice when the original is old or faded.
New-design certificates. JPN has issued birth certificates with new security features in stages since January 2023. They follow the same chain.
Is the original needed?
Whether the original is needed depends on the destination country and the authority that receives the document. Wisma Putra attests the original or a JPN extract; a photocopy on its own is not attested. Some authorities accept a certified true copy made by a notary public instead (see notarisation); confirm with the receiving authority before you send anything.
What gets birth certificates refused
A laminated original: the attestation stamp cannot be applied to it. Use a fresh JPN extract.
A plain photocopy without certification.
A translation by a translator Wisma Putra does not accept, including translations prepared outside Malaysia.
Going to the embassy before Wisma Putra: embassies in Kuala Lumpur legalise the Wisma Putra stamp, so it must come first.
Attesting the certificate but not the translation, when the destination needs both.
What each destination usually asks for
United States, United Kingdom and Australia: a certified English translation in the format each sets out; some applications also ask for legalisation. See birth certificate translation.
Singapore: a notarised translation or one by the embassy.
China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand and the Gulf: a translation into the local language or English, plus Wisma Putra and embassy legalisation. For China, see legalising Malaysian documents for China.
Requirements differ between visas, university admissions, citizenship and marriage registration, so the receiving authority's own list decides.
Maklumat dalam Bahasa Melayu
Sijil kelahiran Malaysia disahkan untuk kegunaan luar negara melalui tiga langkah: gunakan sijil asal atau cabutan JPN, dapatkan pengesahan Wisma Putra (RM 20 bagi sijil kelahiran yang diperakui, RM 10 bagi terjemahan yang diperakui), kemudian pengesahan kedutaan negara destinasi di Kuala Lumpur jika diperlukan. Malaysia bukan anggota Konvensyen Apostille. Kami uruskan terjemahan, pengesahan Wisma Putra dan kedutaan untuk anda.
中文说明
马来西亚出生证明用于海外，需要三个步骤：使用原件或国民登记局（JPN）摘录，送外交部（Wisma Putra）认证（经认证的出生证明每份 RM 20，认证翻译每份 RM 10），再按目的国要求由其驻吉隆坡大使馆认证。马来西亚不是海牙认证（Apostille）公约成员。翻译、外交部认证和大使馆认证都可以由我们处理。
Common questions
Can a Malaysian birth certificate be apostilled?
No. Malaysia is not a party to the Apostille Convention, so Malaysian documents are attested at Wisma Putra and then legalised by the destination country's embassy instead. See apostille in Malaysia.
How long does the whole process take?
A JPN extract takes about one working day online and the translation usually one working day. Wisma Putra returns walk-in documents the same or next working day (within three working days through an agent), and embassy legalisation adds time that depends on the embassy.
How much does Wisma Putra charge for a birth certificate?
RM 20 for a certified birth certificate and RM 10 for a certified translation, per document. Embassy fees are separate; see the fees table.
Do I need to go to Wisma Putra or the embassy myself?
No. We lodge and collect the documents at Wisma Putra and the embassy for you, and book embassy appointments where the embassy requires one.
My birth certificate is laminated. Can it be legalised?
Laminated documents are refused because the attestation stamp cannot be applied to them. A fresh JPN extract avoids the problem.
Related guides
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