Consular Certification vs. Consular Legalisation: What Is the Difference?

Consular certification and consular legalisation both involve a competent Vietnamese authority confirming the seal, signature and title on a document, but they work in opposite directions. Understanding the difference helps you choose the right procedure and avoid submitting the wrong file.

Contents

What is the difference between consular certification and consular legalisation?

	Consular certification	Consular legalisation
Documents	Issued by Vietnamese authorities or organisations	Issued by foreign authorities or organisations
Where used	Abroad	In Vietnam
Competent authority	Consular Department (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Ho Chi Minh City Department of Foreign Affairs, authorised bodies	Vietnamese Embassies and Consulates abroad; Consular Department, Ho Chi Minh City Department of Foreign Affairs
Requirement	The seal and signature on the document have been registered with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs	The document has first been certified by the competent authority of the issuing country
Example	A Vietnamese university degree used to study or work abroad	A foreign university degree used to apply for a work permit in Vietnam

Both procedures only confirm the seal, signature and title; they do not certify the content of the document.

General procedure

Step 1: fill in the consular certification and legalisation application form (the form issued with Circular 11/2025/TT-BNG); you can complete it online, then print and sign it.
Step 2: submit the form, the original documents and a copy of the applicant’s identity document (plus translations if the authority requests them).
Step 3: pay the fee and receive the result, usually within 1 working day; large batches of documents may take longer (up to 5 working days).

Detailed guides: how to fill in the consular legalisation application form · consular legalisation documents and procedure.

What do you need to do for Vietnamese documents used abroad?

Obtain consular certification at the Consular Department or the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Foreign Affairs.
Have the document legalised at the Embassy or Consulate in Vietnam of the country where it will be used (if that country requires it).
If the destination country is a party to the Apostille Convention: from 11/9/2026 you can apply for a Vietnamese Apostille certificate instead of the two steps above.

Frequently asked questions

Do foreign documents need consular certification?

No. Foreign documents used in Vietnam need consular legalisation (or an Apostille, or an exemption). Consular certification is only for Vietnamese documents used abroad.