Documents issued abroad are not automatically valid in Vietnam. Before a Vietnamese authority will accept a foreign degree, criminal record certificate or marriage certificate, it usually has to be consularly legalised and then translated and notarised into Vietnamese.
What is consular legalisation?
Consular legalisation is the step in which a competent Vietnamese authority (the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, an authorised office in Vietnam, or a Vietnamese embassy or consulate abroad) confirms the seal, signature and title on a foreign-issued document so that it can be accepted in Vietnam. It does not certify the content of the document, only that the seal and signature are genuine.
The reverse procedure, for Vietnamese-issued documents to be used abroad, is called consular certification (chứng nhận lãnh sự). Both often appear in the same paper chain, for example degrees and a criminal record certificate used for a work permit.
Apostille update: Vietnam acceded to the Hague Apostille Convention on 31 December 2025, and the Convention has applied to Vietnam since 11 September 2026. Public documents from other member states that carry an apostille should, in principle, no longer need consular legalisation. Legalisation still applies to documents from non-member countries, from states that objected to Vietnam’s accession, and to documents outside the Convention’s scope, so check with the receiving authority before you start.
Can consular legalisation be done online?
Partly. You can complete the legalisation/certification declaration online on the Consular Department’s portal, then print and sign it and submit it with the original documents at the Consular Department or an authorised office (such as the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Foreign Affairs), in person or by post under the current rules. Because the stamp is placed on the paper document, the whole procedure cannot be completed from scans alone. After legalisation, foreign-language documents usually still need a notarised Vietnamese translation.
Two directions
- Foreign document used in Vietnam: certified by the issuing country authority, then legalised by the Vietnamese embassy or consulate there, or by the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Vietnam.
- Vietnamese document used abroad: certified by the Consular Department or a provincial Department of Foreign Affairs, then legalised by the destination country mission in Vietnam.
Documents we legalise most often
- University degrees and professional certificates — for work permit files
- Criminal record certificates
- Marriage and birth certificates — for TT visas and residence cards
- Corporate documents of foreign parent companies
Does an apostille work?
Yes, in most cases since 11 September 2026: Vietnam acceded to the Hague Apostille Convention on 31 December 2025 and the Convention now applies to Vietnam, so a public document from another member state that carries an apostille no longer needs consular legalisation. The apostille route does not apply with the few member states that objected to Vietnam’s accession (check the current HCCH status table), and you still need a notarised Vietnamese translation. Confirm with the receiving office before you start.
Timing
Legalisation typically takes 5–7 working days once the document reaches the right authority, plus courier time from abroad. Notarised translation adds 1–3 working days. Plan four to six weeks in total if the document has to travel internationally.
Fee on request, depending on the document type and the country of issue. Xem bản tiếng Việt
Info Travel provides end-to-end immigration services for foreigners in Vietnam: approval letters, e-visas, visa extensions, residence cards and work permits. Same-day quote on Zalo/WhatsApp: +84327828822.
