Consular legalisation (also spelt legalization) does not have to be applied for in person. Under Decree 111/2011/NĐ-CP, the application can be sent by post or submitted online. This article explains how to get consular legalisation by post, when you need a power of attorney, what the power of attorney should contain and how long legalised documents remain valid.
Consular legalisation by post
- Step 1: prepare the consular authentication and legalisation application form (the form issued with Circular 11/2025/TT-BNG), the document to be legalised (already certified by the issuing country), and a copy of the applicant’s identity document.
- Step 2: enclose proof of fee payment and a prepaid return envelope clearly showing the recipient’s address for returning the result.
- Step 3: send the file to the Consular Department (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hanoi) or the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Foreign Affairs.
- Step 4: receive the result by post at the address provided.
You can also apply online on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs public service portal and receive the result by post. Detailed guides: consular legalisation documents and procedure · how to fill in the application form.
Do you need a power of attorney for consular legalisation?
Normally the person submitting the file does not have to be the document holder and no power of attorney is required; they only need to show their own identity document. However, in some cases (collecting the result on someone’s behalf, or when the receiving office asks for it) it is advisable to have a power of attorney to avoid having to supplement the file.
What a power of attorney should contain
- Details of the principal: full name, date of birth, passport/citizen ID number, address.
- Details of the authorised person: full name, date of birth, citizen ID/passport number, address.
- Scope of authority: to submit the application, pay the fees and collect the consular legalisation result on the principal’s behalf for the documents concerned (list them specifically).
- Duration of the authorisation, date of signing and both parties’ signatures (notarisation or signature certification is recommended).
Contact Info Travel via Zalo to receive a power of attorney template pre-filled for your file.
How long are legalised documents valid?
- The consular legalisation stamp has no expiry date of its own; its validity depends on the original document.
- The receiving authority may require recently issued documents; for example, criminal record certificates and certificates of marital status are usually only accepted within 6 months.
- Legalised degrees and birth certificates can usually be used indefinitely.
- From 11/9/2026, for countries applying the Apostille Convention with Vietnam, an Apostille certificate can be used instead of legalisation. See which documents do not need consular legalisation.
Frequently asked questions
How long does consular legalisation by post take?
Processing at the Consular Department usually takes 1 working day (up to 5 days for large batches of documents), plus postal delivery time in both directions.
What is consular legalisation called in English?
Consular legalisation (British English) or consular legalization (American English). Consular certification is called consular authentication/certification.
Info Travel provides full-service consular legalisation and certified translation, with document collection and delivery nationwide: consular legalisation service.
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