Document legalisation services
Document legalisation services in Malaysia
Need a Malaysian document accepted in another country? We legalise degrees, transcripts, marriage certificates, company documents and more. That means certification, Wisma Putra authentication and embassy legalisation in the right order, handled by our team in Kuala Lumpur.
KL-based team
No need to fly back
Updates on WhatsApp
Courier worldwide
What it means
What is document legalisation?
Legalisation is the chain of stamps that proves a Malaysian document is genuine, so that a foreign government, employer or university will accept it. A document issued in Malaysia is valid here, but other countries cannot check it on their own. They rely on two confirmations: one from Malaysia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Wisma Putra), and one from their own embassy or high commission in Kuala Lumpur. In the Gulf and South Asia this process is often called attestation. It is the same thing.
What we legalise
Documents we legalise for use overseas
Not sure if your document qualifies? Send us a photo on WhatsApp and we will confirm before you pay anything.
Education documents
Degrees, diplomas, transcripts and SPM/STPM certificates, for work visas, licensing and further study.
Personal documents
Birth and marriage certificates, certificates of good conduct (COGC), and passport or MyKad copies.
Commercial and corporate documents
SSM certificates, memorandum and articles, board resolutions and certificates of origin, for overseas business and tenders.
Legal documents
Powers of attorney, statutory declarations, affidavits and other legal documents.
Employment documents
Experience letters, employment contracts and professional certificates for jobs and licensing overseas.
Financial documents
Bank statements and other financial records for visas, residency and business abroad.
How it works
How document legalisation works in Malaysia
The exact route depends on the document type and the destination country, but most documents follow these five steps.
Free check
We check your document, the destination country and its purpose, then confirm the route and fee.
Verification
Education documents are verified by the Ministry of Education or Higher Education. Most other documents are certified by a notary public.
Wisma Putra
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Malaysia authenticates the document and signatures.
Embassy legalisation
The embassy or high commission of your destination country in KL adds its stamp.
Back to you
We courier the legalised document to you, in Malaysia or overseas.
The process can vary depending on the embassy. Some embassies, such as the German Embassy, only stamp the original document, so any translation is done after legalisation. Some countries also add a step after arrival, such as a stamp from their own foreign ministry (MOFA). We confirm the exact order for your embassy before we start.
Route by document type
Which steps your document goes through
The first step depends on the type of document. After that, every document goes to Wisma Putra (MOFA) and then to the embassy.
| Document type | Route |
|---|---|
| Education documents | MOE / MOHE → MOFA → Embassy |
| Personal documents | Notary public → MOFA → Embassy |
| Commercial / corporate documents | Notary public → MOFA → Embassy |
| Legal documents | Notary public → MOFA → Embassy |
| Employment documents | Notary public → MOFA → Embassy |
| Financial documents (bank statements) | Certified true copy by the bank → Notary public → MOFA → Embassy |
Some embassies have their own rules. For example, for the Brazil Embassy, birth and marriage certificates cannot be sent to a notary public. They must first be certified true copies (CTC) from the issuing authority, such as JPN, before MOFA attestation. We check your embassy’s rules before we start.
Legalisation, attestation or apostille?
Which one do you need?
Three words, often mixed up. As of 2026, Malaysia is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so Malaysian documents cannot be apostilled. They go through legalisation instead.
Apostille
One certificate, Hague Convention countries
A single stamp used between member countries of the Hague Apostille Convention. Malaysia is not a member. If a foreign office asks you for an “apostille”, send us their request and we will confirm what they will accept.
Legalisation = attestation · the route we handle
Wisma Putra, then the embassy
The chain used for Malaysian documents. “Attestation” is simply the name used in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, India and Pakistan for the same process.
Already living abroad? You don’t need to fly back
Many of our clients studied or worked in Malaysia and now live in the Gulf, Singapore, the UK or Australia. You send us the document and a signed authorisation letter, and our Kuala Lumpur team handles every counter visit and follow-up for you. Whether we need the original or a scan depends on the embassy: if the embassy does not stamp the original, a scanned copy is usually enough.
YOUSend a scan, or courier the original if your embassy needs it
WEHandle certification, Wisma Putra and the embassy
YOUReceive it back, ready to use
Checklist
What we need from you
✓
Your document: scan or original
A clear scan is usually enough. We only need the original if your embassy stamps it.
✓
MyKad or passport copy
Of the document holder, or a company director for company documents.
✓
Destination and purpose
The country, and what the document is for: work visa, study, family visa, business and so on.
✓
Signed authorisation letter
We prepare it for you, so we can submit and collect on your behalf.
Timeline & fees
How long it takes and what it costs
Start at least 4 weeks before your visa or appointment date. Embassy queues and public holidays can add days. Read more on how long document attestation takes in Malaysia.
| Document type | Typical timeline | Fee from |
|---|---|---|
| Degree certificate | 10 working days | RM 630 |
| Marriage certificate | 10 working days | RM 600 |
| Company documents | 14 working days | RM 700 |
| Power of attorney | 14 working days | RM 600 |
Fees depend on the destination embassy. Translation and courier costs are quoted separately.
Why Settle My Docs
The right sequence, first time
Based in Kuala Lumpur
Our team visits Wisma Putra and the embassies in person.
Checked before we start
We confirm each country’s current requirements to avoid rejections.
Updates on WhatsApp
At every stage, plus order tracking on our website.
Clients worldwide
We courier the finished document wherever you are.
Settle My Docs is a private agency. We are not a government body and are not affiliated with Wisma Putra or any embassy. You can also apply directly yourself.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is document legalisation the same as attestation?
Yes. Legalisation and attestation describe the same process: authentication by Wisma Putra and then by the destination country’s embassy. Gulf countries, India and Pakistan usually call it attestation.
How do I legalise documents in Malaysia if I live overseas?
You courier the document to our KL office with a signed authorisation letter. We handle certification, Wisma Putra and the embassy, then courier it back to you. You do not need to travel. If your embassy does not stamp the original, a scan is usually enough to start.
Does my document need to be certified before MOFA?
It depends on the document. Education documents are verified by the Ministry of Education or Higher Education, while most personal, corporate, legal and employment documents are certified by a notary public first. Bank statements are first certified by the bank. Some embassies have their own rules, which we check before we start.
Which embassies can you legalise with?
We regularly work with the embassies of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and many others in Kuala Lumpur. Check the country attestation guide for your destination.
Do I need a translation?
It depends on the destination. Many countries ask for a certified English translation, and Gulf countries often ask for Arabic. We can arrange certified translations as part of the service.
Can you legalise company documents for overseas business?
Yes. We legalise SSM documents, board resolutions, powers of attorney and certificates of origin for companies opening branches, registering agents or bidding for tenders overseas.
Need a document legalised?
Tell us the document, the destination country and what it is for, and we will send you the exact steps, timeline and fee. You can also see all our services or read where to get documents attested in Malaysia.