Bangladesh Civil Documents · Updated August 2026
The Civil Documents You Need From Bangladesh for a U.S. Marriage Green Card
A practical guide to the birth, police, and marriage records Bangladeshi applicants need for a U.S. marriage green card, and how to get each one right the first time.
Quick answer
For a U.S. marriage green card, the Bangladeshi spouse generally needs the Birth Certificate, Police Certificate, and Marriage Certificate. An apostille is generally not required by USCIS for a filing inside the U.S. Non-English documents need a certified English translation, which you can self-certify.
- 3 core documents
- Birth Certificate
- Police Certificate
- Marriage Certificate
- No apostille needed
For a filing inside the U.S., USCIS accepts a certified copy plus an English translation.
- Translate it yourself
Any bilingual person can certify the English translation. No licensed translator required.
The documents you actually need
Start with these core records in order. Each one lists who issues it, what it costs, how long it takes, and exactly what USCIS wants.
Birth Certificate
What USCIS needs: USCIS wants the digital, online-verifiable Birth Registration Certificate issued through BDRIS, not an old handwritten certificate. Request it in the English version so it can be read directly, and confirm the record verifies on the BDRIS site.
How to get it: Apply online through the BDRIS portal (bdris.gov.bd) or in person at your local Union Parishad, Pourashava, or City Corporation registrar office. Bangladesh missions abroad can also help register or reprint a birth record for citizens living overseas.
- Issued by
- Office of the Registrar General, Birth & Death Registration
- Cost
- Approx. free if registered within 45 days of birth; approx. BDT 25 for late registration (46 days to 5 years) and approx. BDT 50 after 5 years
- Timing
- Approx. 3 to 7 working days once the application and documents are accepted; longer for late registrations that need extra verification
Police Certificate
What USCIS needs: For consular processing, a Police Clearance Certificate is required for the interview at the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka. For adjustment of status inside the United States, USCIS does not require a Bangladeshi police certificate, though a consular officer can still ask for one later.
How to get it: Apply online at the Bangladesh Police PCC portal, pay the fee, and complete verification. Applicants living abroad usually apply through their nearest Bangladesh embassy or consulate, which coordinates with Police Headquarters in Dhaka.
- Issued by
- Bangladesh Police
- Cost
- Approx. BDT 500 government fee, paid online
- Timing
- Approx. 7 to 15 working days, sometimes longer when local police verification is required
Marriage Certificate
What USCIS needs: Submit both the Nikah Nama (Form 1601, usually the blue government form) and the marriage registration certificate. The Nikah Nama is accepted in Bengali or English, but a Bengali original needs a certified English translation.
How to get it: Contact the Kazi (licensed Nikah Registrar) who solemnized and registered the marriage to obtain a certified copy of the Nikah Nama and the marriage registration certificate. Muslim marriages are registered under the Muslim Marriages and Divorces (Registration) Act, 1974; other communities register under the marriage law that applies to them.
- Issued by
- Kazi / Nikah Registrar
- Cost
- Approx. BDT 200 minimum, scaling with the dower amount; urban City Corporation areas often run higher, around BDT 1,250 or more
- Timing
- Available promptly from the Kazi office once the marriage is registered; certified copies are typically issued the same day or within a few days
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At a glance
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Apostille status | Bangladesh acceded to the Hague Apostille Convention on July 29, 2024, and it entered into force on March 30, 2025, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as the competent authority for apostilles. In practice, USCIS generally does not require an apostille or legalization on foreign civil documents filed with a petition, though the U.S. Embassy or NVC may still ask for Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation during consular processing. |
| How records are kept | Birth and death records are centralized in the BDRIS digital system under the Office of the Registrar General. Marriages are recorded in the register of a local Kazi (Nikah Registrar) rather than a single national database, and late or informal registration is common, so records can be missing or need to be created retroactively. |
| Typical time to gather | Plan for roughly one to three weeks per document once applications are complete, and add time for translation and any Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation. |
| Translation | Bengali documents need a certified English translation. The digital birth certificate can be issued directly in English, which avoids a separate translation. USCIS accepts a translation certified by any competent bilingual person, who may certify their own accuracy, so a licensed agency is not required. |
Source: U.S. State Dept Reciprocity Schedule: Bangladesh. Verified August 2026. Need to translate a document? See our certified translation guide.
What officers watch for
Full document reference
Every civil record from Bangladesh that can come up in a marriage green card case, with the issuing authority, cost, and how to obtain it.
| Document | Issuing authority | Cost | How to obtain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birth Certificate | Office of the Registrar General, Birth & Death Registration (BDRIS) | Approx. free within 45 days; approx. BDT 25 to BDT 50 for late registration | Apply online at bdris.gov.bd or at your local Union Parishad, Pourashava, or City Corporation office; request the English digital certificate |
| Marriage Certificate | Kazi / Nikah Registrar | Approx. BDT 200 minimum, scaling with dower; higher in urban areas | Obtain a certified Nikah Nama (Form 1601) and registration certificate from the registering Kazi office |
| Divorce Certificate | Kazi / Nikah Registrar | Approx. BDT 200 and up, set by registration rules | Obtain the Talaknama (Form 1605) and divorce registration certificate from the Kazi office that recorded the divorce |
| Death Certificate | Office of the Registrar General, Birth & Death Registration (BDRIS) | Approx. free within 45 days; nominal late fee after | Apply online at bdris.gov.bd or at the local registrar office where the death occurred |
| Police Certificate | Bangladesh Police (Police Headquarters, Dhaka) | Approx. BDT 500 | Apply online at pcc.police.gov.bd or through a Bangladesh mission abroad, pay the fee, and complete verification |
What applicants report
“Applicants consistently report that pulling the English-language digital birth certificate from BDRIS up front saves the most trouble, since a mismatched name or an old handwritten certificate is the most common reason for a request for evidence. Many also note that Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation, while not always demanded by USCIS, is worth getting before a Dhaka consular interview so nothing stalls at the last minute.”
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- U.S. State Dept Reciprocity Schedule: Bangladesh
- HCCH: 1961 Apostille Convention enters into force for Bangladesh
- Office of the Registrar General, Birth & Death Registration (BDRIS)
- Bangladesh Police: Police Clearance Certificate portal
- U.S. Embassy Dhaka: Instructions for Marriage Certificates
Verified August 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an apostille on my Bangladeshi documents for a marriage green card?
Usually not for USCIS. Bangladesh joined the Hague Apostille Convention effective March 30, 2025, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issuing apostilles, but USCIS generally accepts foreign civil documents with a certified English translation and does not require an apostille or legalization. During consular processing, the U.S. Embassy or NVC may ask for Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation, so follow the specific instructions you receive.
Which birth certificate does USCIS want from Bangladesh?
The digital Birth Registration Certificate issued through the BDRIS system, ideally in English so it can be read directly and verified online. Old handwritten or non-digitized certificates are frequently questioned, so register digitally through bdris.gov.bd before you file.
Do I need a Bangladesh police certificate if I am adjusting status inside the United States?
No. USCIS does not require a Bangladeshi police certificate for adjustment of status. A police certificate is required for consular processing at the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka. Because it is time-sensitive, request it close to your interview rather than far in advance.
What marriage document proves our marriage is valid?
The Nikah Nama, usually issued on the blue government Form 1601, together with the marriage registration certificate from the Kazi (Nikah Registrar) who registered the marriage. If the documents are in Bengali, include a certified English translation. This is general information, not legal advice.
Our marriage was never registered. What do we do?
Late registration is common in Bangladesh. Contact a licensed Kazi to register the marriage and issue the Nikah Nama and registration certificate. Because officers watch for backdated or improperly registered marriages, use the registrar with proper jurisdiction and keep supporting evidence of the actual wedding.
Key takeaways
- ✓
The core documents most Bangladeshi applicants need are the Birth Certificate, Police Certificate, Marriage Certificate.
- ✓
Bangladesh is a Hague Apostille Convention member, but USCIS generally does not require an apostille for a marriage green card filed inside the U.S.
- ✓
You do not need a licensed translator: any competent bilingual person can translate a document and self-certify it for USCIS.
- ✓
A home-country police certificate is generally needed only for consular processing abroad, not for adjustment of status inside the U.S.
- ✓
Order fresh certified copies directly from the official issuer and keep the originals; documents from Bangladesh draw closer scrutiny.
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