Documents & legalization

Apostille in Vietnam 2026: what replaces consular legalization

Published 10 October 2026 · Reviewed 2026-10-10 · 7 min read

Since 11 September 2026, Vietnam is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention. For most countries, a single apostille now replaces the old multi-step consular legalization. This guide explains what changed, what still needs consular legalization, and how to get your documents accepted in Hanoi or abroad.

The short answer

Documents from another member country, for use in Vietnam: get an apostille from the competent authority in the country that issued the document. No Vietnamese embassy legalization is needed.
Vietnamese documents, for use in another member country: get an apostille from Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Still need consular legalization: documents to or from non-member countries, Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic, and documents outside the Convention.
Already legalized before 11 September 2026? Those documents stay valid.

Apostille vs consular legalization

	Consular legalization (old route)	Apostille (new route)
Steps	Several: local authority, foreign ministry, then the embassy of the destination country	One certificate from the competent authority of the country that issued the document
Who certifies	The embassy or consulate of the destination country	A designated authority in the issuing country
What it confirms	Signature, capacity of the signer, seal or stamp	Signature, capacity of the signer, seal or stamp (not the content)
Where it applies	Any country	Between Convention member countries only

Timeline: how Vietnam joined

31 December 2025: Vietnam deposits its instrument of accession.
23 July 2026: the Government issues Decree 293/2026/ND-CP on implementing the Convention.
11 September 2026: the Convention and the decree take effect in Vietnam.

What is not covered

Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic: these three countries objected to Vietnam's accession, so the Convention does not apply between Vietnam and them. Documents between Vietnam and these countries still need consular legalization.
Non-member countries: documents still go through consular legalization.
Documents outside the Convention: diplomatic or consular documents and administrative documents directly tied to commercial or customs activities.

Using a foreign document in Vietnam

Get the apostille at home. The issuing authority depends on the document and country, for example a Secretary of State office or the foreign ministry.
Translate it into Vietnamese. If the document is not in Vietnamese, the translation must be notarised or certified under Vietnamese law.
Submit it to the Vietnamese agency that asked for it, such as a labour department or an immigration office. The agency may still assess the document's content, the translation and whether it is accepted under Vietnamese law.

Typical documents expats need this for include criminal record certificates, degrees and transcripts, marriage and birth certificates, and powers of attorney. Always ask the receiving agency which documents it needs and whether it has a validity period for them.

Using a Vietnamese document abroad

Prepare the document. Civil-status or education documents may first need to be certified or notarised in Vietnam. If the receiving country needs English, have the translation notarised too.
Apply for the apostille. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues it through the Consular Department in Hanoi and the Department of Foreign Affairs in Ho Chi Minh City. Individuals and organisations can apply without a power of attorney, and apostilles can be issued on paper or electronically.
Send it abroad. If the destination country is not a Convention member, or is Germany, Austria or the Czech Republic, you will need consular legalization instead.

Check fees and processing times with the authority

We could not confirm an official fee or turnaround time for Vietnamese apostilles at the date of writing. Check the current schedule with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Consular Department before you plan around a deadline.

Which route do I need? A quick checklist

Is the other country a member of the Apostille Convention?
Is it Germany, Austria or the Czech Republic? If yes, use consular legalization.
Is the document a public document (court, administrative, notarial or an official certificate on a private document)?
Does the receiving agency in Vietnam or abroad accept apostilled documents and in what language?

Frequently asked questions

Is consular legalization still needed in Vietnam after 11 September 2026?

Not for public documents exchanged with countries that are party to the Apostille Convention and have not objected to Vietnam's accession. A single apostille replaces legalization. You still need consular legalization for documents to or from countries that are not party to the Convention, for Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic (which objected to Vietnam's accession), and for documents outside the Convention's scope, such as diplomatic documents and documents tied directly to commercial or customs activities.

Do documents I legalized before 11 September 2026 need an apostille?

No. Documents that completed consular legalization before 11 September 2026 remain valid, and receiving agencies should not demand a new apostille for them.

Does an apostille prove that my document is true?

No. An apostille certifies the origin of a public document: the authenticity of the signature, the capacity of the signer and the identity of any seal or stamp. It does not certify the content. The receiving agency in Vietnam can still assess the content and the translation.

Do I need a Vietnamese translation of my apostilled document?

If the document is not in Vietnamese, a Vietnamese translation is normally required, and it must be notarised or certified under Vietnamese law. Ask the agency that will receive the document, for example the labour or immigration office, what it requires.

How do I get an apostille for a Vietnamese document to use abroad?

Vietnamese documents are first notarised or certified where required, with a notarised translation if the receiving country needs one. The apostille is then issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through its Consular Department in Hanoi or the Department of Foreign Affairs in Ho Chi Minh City. Check the official apostille portal for the current way to submit an application, as online filing is being rolled out.

Need help with apostille or consular legalization in Hanoi?

Hanoi Visa Run is operated by MP Viet Visa, a Hanoi-based consultancy that helps foreigners with visas, residence cards and documents. See our apostille service (800,000 VND per stamp) and consular legalization service (1,000,000 VND per stamp). Tell us which document you have, which country it comes from and who needs to receive it, and we will confirm the right route. See also our guides on temporary residence registration in Hanoi and the list of embassies in Hanoi.

Not sure which route your document needs?

Send us your document type and the country it is for. We reply usually within 1 hour.

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