Key points on the Apostille Convention now in force in Vietnam
By Le Ly Quang Thinh, Attorney-at-Law
Legal update — Apostille Convention in force for Vietnam from 11 September 2026
From 11 September 2026, the Apostille Convention applies in Vietnam. Public documents used between Vietnam and other member countries now need only a single Apostille certificate, instead of the time-consuming and costly consular legalization process.
1. What is an Apostille?
An Apostille is a certificate issued by a competent authority of Vietnam or of another Contracting State to the Apostille Convention to certify the origin of a public document, namely the authenticity of the signature, the capacity in which the signatory acted and, where applicable, the identity of the seal or stamp affixed to the document.
Key points to note:
- A public document bearing a valid Apostille may be used in countries with which the Convention applies, without consular legalization.
- An Apostille does not certify the content or form of the document, and does not replace notarization or certification.
- An Apostille may be stamped or affixed on the document itself, or issued as an attached sheet that must not be detached (detachment invalidates the Apostille).
- The receiving authority may require the underlying document to remain within its period of validity.
- Any person presenting a public document may apply for an Apostille; the applicant need not be the owner of the document.
2. Countries with which the Convention applies to Vietnam
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Number of countries with which the Convention applies | 125 countries (as published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) |
| Effective date | From 11 September 2026 |
| Country applying at a later date | Thailand (from 28 February 2027) |
| Objecting countries (consular legalization still required) | Germany, Austria, Czech Republic |
Full list of Contracting States with which the Convention applies to Vietnam (as of 11 September 2026): see here.
3. Using documents in both directions
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Vietnamese public documents for use abroad (in a country with which the Convention applies) | Apply for an Apostille at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Consular Department) or the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Foreign Affairs |
| Foreign public documents for use in Vietnam (from a country with which the Convention applies) | Obtain an Apostille from the competent authority of the issuing country |
| Countries with which the Convention does not apply (non-Contracting States or objecting States) | Consular certification and legalization still apply |
| Documents legalized before 11 September 2026 | Remain valid; no Apostille is required |
4. Which Vietnamese public documents are eligible for an Apostille?
| Category | Documents |
|---|---|
| Court and enforcement documents | Judgments, decisions and procedural documents of courts, procuracies and investigation authorities; documents of civil judgment enforcement agencies; records (vi bằng) prepared by bailiffs |
| Administrative documents | Civil status, nationality and adoption documents; criminal record certificates; diplomas, certificates, academic transcripts and research certifications; health certificates and medical documents; and other administrative documents issued by state agencies or authorized organizations |
| Notarial documents | Notarized contracts, transactions, translations and copies |
| Certified documents | Certified copies from originals, certified signatures (including translators’ signatures), certified contracts and transactions |
| Other public documents | Documents prepared, issued or certified by competent Vietnamese agencies, organizations or persons in the performance of their functions, except those outside the scope of, or ineligible for, an Apostille |
Note: Certain documents fall outside the scope of the Apostille, such as documents executed or issued by Vietnamese diplomatic or consular officers, and certain administrative documents dealing directly with commercial or customs operations (as listed in guidance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs). Consular certification and legalization continue to apply to these documents.
5. Process for obtaining an Apostille for Vietnamese public documents
6. What should businesses and individuals prepare?
- Review documents that are, or will be, used abroad and determine whether they are Vietnamese public documents eligible for an Apostille.
- Check whether the receiving country is a Contracting State and whether it has any additional requirements.
- Prepare the application in accordance with the regulations before filing with the competent authority.
Le Ly Quang Thinh, Attorney-at-Law
Senior Associate, An Law · IP Agent · VnDPO data protection expert
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