Translation Requirements for Wisma Putra Attestation

Jun 2

We provide Wisma Putra-compliant translations. Our team is certified by ITBM, DBP and MTA, and we take your translated documents through Wisma Putra attestation for you. Send your document on WhatsApp for a quote.

Fees and timelines: see our table of legalisation fees and processing times for Wisma Putra, MOHE and each embassy (updated October 2026).

1. Procedure

1.1 All documents not in English or Malay must be translated into English or Malay.

1.2 Wisma Putra (also known as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA)) accepts the following translation stamps:

(i) Institut Terjemahan & Buku Malaysia (ITBM);

(ii) Dewan Bahasa Dan Pustaka (DBP);

(iii) Malaysian Translators Association (MTA); or

(iv) Endorsement by the respective Embassy/ High Commission in Malaysia [1].

1.3 Some embassies/ High Commissions, e.g. the High Commission of India in Kuala Lumpur, only endorse translations stamped by a High Court Interpreter [2].

1.4 MYLegalTrans’ team is certified by:

(i) ITBM;

(ii) MTA;

(iii) DBP;

(iv) Kuala Lumpur High Court; and

(v) Sarawak High Court.

2. FAQs

2.1 What does Certified Translation mean? How is it different from non-certified translation?

In Malaysia, Certified Translation is provided by one of the following Malaysian statutory organisations:

(i) Institut Terjemahan & Buku Malaysia (ITBM)

(ii) Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP)

(iii) Malaysian Translators Association (MTA)

(iv) Malaysian High Court interpreters

For background on each body, and on which translators other authorities accept, see Who can certify a translation in Malaysia?

A translation is considered certified when it is registered with ITBM, DBP, MTA or the High Court. A certified translation is authoritative in a court of law, can be used by other government agencies, e.g. police (PDRM), immigration (JIM), drug control authority (NPRA), etc., and are accepted by most embassies or High Commissions in Malaysia.

2.2 Why does Certified Translation take so long even for documents with just a few words?

Each certified translation goes through five steps: text extraction and formatting, translation, a first review, layout that mirrors the original, and a final review before it is signed and stamped. Each step is done or checked by a qualified translator, so even a one-page document takes time. For urgent documents, see our same-day certified translation service in Kuala Lumpur.

2.3 Can I submit a softcopy or photocopy of the Certified Translation to MoFA?

No. MoFA only accepts Certified Translation with the original ITBM/DBP/MTA stamp.

Related guides

Resources:

[1] Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia. (n.d.). Attestation of documents. https://www.kln.gov.my/web/guest/attestation-of-documents.
[2] High Commission of India in Kuala Lumpur. OCI Checklist. https://hcikl.gov.in/Exlinks?id=155.
[3] OIC Today. (n.d.). An interview with Sakri Bin Abdullah: Chief Executive Officer of ITBM. https://www.oictoday.biz/interview-details.php?id=517/an-interview-with-sakri-bin-abdullah-sakri-bin-abdullah.
[4] Institut Terjemahan & Buku Malaysia. (n.d.). Organisational structure. https://www.itbm.com.my/en/organisasi.
[5] Section 4, the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Act 1959 (Revised in 1978). https://lamanweb.dbp.gov.my/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Akta-213-Akta-Dewan-Bahasa-dan-Pustaka-Disemak-1973.pdf.
[6] International Federation of Translators. (n.d.). Members directory: Malaysia. https://en.fit-ift.org/members-directory/?country=MY.
[7] UNESCO Archives. (n.d.). International Federation of Translators. https://atom.archives.unesco.org/international-federation-of-translators.
[8] Kuala Lumpur Court Complex. (n.d.). Practising certificates unit. https://kl.kehakiman.gov.my/en/practicing-certificates-unit.

Zhihan Chew