The full process
Document legalisation in Malaysia, start to finish
Every Malaysian document going overseas follows the same shape. What changes is how many steps apply to yours, and which agency owns the first one.
The chain, and why the order cannot change
Each endorsement verifies the signature and seal of the one before it. Wisma Putra holds specimen signatures for Malaysian notaries and government officers, which is how it can confirm that the endorsement in front of it is genuine. An embassy then confirms Wisma Putra's own seal.
This is why a document cannot skip ahead. If the ministry step is missing, Wisma Putra has nothing it recognises to verify, and if Wisma Putra is missing, the embassy has nothing to verify either.
- 01
Issuing authority or notary public
The document is verified at source, or certified as a true copy by a notary public.
- 02
The relevant ministry
Education certificates go through the education authorities. Other documents go through the ministry that governs them.
- 03
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The consular division at Wisma Putra in Putrajaya legalises the document for use abroad.
- 04
The destination embassy
The embassy or consulate of the destination country adds the final stamp. Most sit in Kuala Lumpur, a few in Putrajaya.
Which first step applies to your document
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs sets out the prerequisite for each category. These are its requirements, not ours.
| Document | Required before Wisma Putra |
|---|---|
| Original government-issued documents | Nothing further, if the original is presented |
| Photocopies of government documents | Certification by a Notary Public |
| Educational certificates | Endorsement by the Ministry of Education, with name, position and stamp |
| Power of attorney, statutory declarations, affidavits, contracts | Notary Public |
| Company forms 7, 9, 13, 20, 22, 24, 44 and 49 | Notary Public |
| Certificate of Origin | Certification by the Chamber of Commerce or Trade |
| Invoices and bills of lading | Chamber of Commerce or Trade, or a Notary Public |
| Health certificates | Certification by the Ministry of Health |
| Documents issued outside Malaysia | Authentication by that country's mission in Malaysia |
| Documents not in English | Translation into English |
Where the Wisma Putra step happens
At the Consular Division, Wisma Putra, Precinct 2, Putrajaya. It operates on a walk-in basis, Monday to Thursday from 8.30am to 4.00pm, and on Friday from 8.30am to 12.00pm and 2.45pm to 4.00pm. The Ministry states documents are usually collected the same day or the following working day.
We queue on your behalf, which is the part most people would rather not spend a working day on.
Where we physically submit
The chain is not one counter, it is several, and they are in different buildings.
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wisma Putra, Putrajaya
- Ministry of Education and Ministry of Higher Education
- Colleges and universities, for certificate verification
- Labour attaches and cultural mission attaches
- Government agencies
- The destination country embassy in Kuala Lumpur
What we need from you to quote
Clear scans of the document and the destination country. That is enough for us to tell you which of the four steps apply, what each costs and how long yours will take. We quote per document rather than publishing an average, because the number of steps and the embassy involved change the answer.
How we actually run a job
This is the service, step by step, from the moment you send scans.
- An initial consultation on what your document and destination require
- Receipt of your documents by courier, or by hand at the office
- Secure handling of the documents from start to finish
- Daily reporting on the progress of the processing
- Return of the completed attested or stamped document to you
Questions
How long does the whole chain take?
It depends on how many steps your document needs and which embassy is involved. We give you a timeline for your specific document before anything is submitted.
Do you need my original documents?
For most of the chain, yes. Send scans first so we can confirm what applies, then courier the originals.
My document is in Bahasa Malaysia. Is that a problem?
For Wisma Putra, no. Documents not in English must be translated into English, and we arrange that when the destination requires it.
Related
Get a quote
Tell us the document and the destination
Send the scans and the country. We come back with the steps your document needs, the cost and the timeline.