Consular Legalization of Foreign Documents for Use in Vietnam

To legally use documents such as your university degree, police check, marriage certificate, birth certificate, and more in Vietnam, they must first be authenticated by your home country’s diplomatic missions in Vietnam, followed by consular legalization in Vietnam. The first step is known as document authentication, while the second is consular legalization. In this post, we’ll focus on consular legalization, as document authentication processes may vary depending on the foreign diplomatic missions in Vietnam.

What is Consular Legalization in Vietnam?

According to Government Decree No. 111/2011/ND-CP, dated December 5, 2011, on consular certification and legalization, consular legalization in Vietnam refers to the certification by authorized Vietnamese agencies of the stamps, signatures, and titles on documents issued by foreign authorities so that they can be recognized and used in Vietnam.

It’s important to note that consular legalization only verifies the authenticity of the stamps, signatures, and titles, without certifying the content or format of the documents.

Documents Exempt from Consular Legalization in Vietnam

As outlined in Article 9 of Decree No. 111/2011/ND-CP, the following four types of documents are exempt from consular legalization in Vietnam:

Documents exempted under treaties to which both Vietnam and the relevant foreign country are signatories, or based on the principle of reciprocity. You can view the list of applicable treaties here.
Documents are exchanged directly or through diplomatic channels between competent Vietnamese and foreign agencies.
Documents exempted from consular legalization under Vietnamese law.
Documents not requiring consular legalization as specified by the relevant Vietnamese or foreign agencies under their respective laws.

Requirements for Documents to Be Consular Legalized in Vietnam

To have documents consular legalized by competent Vietnamese agencies, foreign-issued papers and documents must meet the following criteria:

They must not contain any modifications or erasures without proper legal corrections.
They must not contain contradictory information.
They must not be forged, improperly issued, or certified unlawfully.
They must not bear non-original signatures or stamps.
They must not contain content that infringes on the interests of the Vietnamese state.

Additionally, before proceeding with the consular legalization, you must ensure that:

Documents with two or more pages must have a seal affixed across adjoining pages.
Your documents must first be certified by overseas diplomatic missions, consulates, or other authorized agencies of your home country in Vietnam.
Documents must be translated into Vietnamese or English if they are not originally in those languages.

Where to Carry Out Consular Legalization in Vietnam?

You can submit your application for consular legalization to the following authorized agencies:

In Vietnam:

In Hanoi: Consular Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, located at 40 Tran Phu Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi.
In Ho Chi Minh City: Ho Chi Minh City Department of External Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, located at 184 Bis Pasteur, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.

In foreign countries:

At any Vietnamese embassy or consulate general authorized to provide consular legalization services.

Applications can be submitted, and results can be received on weekdays, excluding public holidays.

How to Consular Legalize Documents for Vietnam

To consular legalize your documents for use in Vietnam, you have two options:

Option 1: Authentication by MOFA of issuing country ► Consular Legalization by Vietnam Embassy in issuing country

To prepare your document for use in Vietnam, follow these two steps:

Step 1: Document Authentication for Use in Vietnam Submit your documents to the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in the issuing country for authentication.

► Important Note: Ensure you meet the specific requirements set by the MOFA for authentication. For example:

Some MOFAs require documents to be certified by a Notary Public beforehand.
Some MOFAs may request that diplomas be certified by the Ministry of Education and Training first.

Step 2: Vietnam Embassy Legalization Also known as Vietnam Embassy attestation or authentication, this step involves preparing the following documents:

01 application for certification/legalization (form LS/HPH-2012/TK) [downloadable form]
Original identification papers (for in-person submission) or 01 copy (for mail submissions)
Original and 01 copy of the documents to be legalized, which have been authenticated by the MOFA of the issuing country
Original and 01 copy of the document translation into Vietnamese or English (if the documents are in another language)

Once prepared, submit these items to the Vietnam embassy/consulate general in the issuing country for consular legalization.

Option 2: Authentication by MOFA of Issuing Country ► Authentication by Embassy/Consulate General of Issuing Country in Vietnam ► Legalization by Vietnam MOFA

Step 1: Document Authentication for Use in Vietnam This step is the same as Step 1 in Option 1, where you submit your documents to the MOFA of the issuing country for authentication.

Step 2: Authentication by Embassy/Consulate General of Issuing Country in Vietnam Once your documents are authenticated by the MOFA of the issuing country, you must bring them to the issuing country’s embassy or consulate general in Vietnam for further authentication. Be sure to follow the specific requirements set by the embassy or consulate general.

Step 3: Consular Legalization by Vietnam MOFA This is the final step to complete the consular legalization process in Vietnam. You can carry out this step at:

The Consular Department in Hanoi, or
Ho Chi Minh City Department of External Relations.

To apply for consular legalization, you need to prepare the following:

Vietnam consular legalization request form (No. LS/HPH-2012/TK)
Original identification papers (for direct submission).
01 copy of identification papers (for submission by mail).
The requested document(s) that have been certified by foreign diplomatic missions, consular offices, or other relevant agencies.
01 translation of the requested document(s) into Vietnamese or English (if not already in one of these languages).
01 copy of the original document(s) and translation(s) for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ records.

If there’s a need to verify the authenticity of your documents, the officials may ask to see the originals and request additional relevant documents, including a copy.

You can submit your application in person or by mail to the relevant office. If your documents are incomplete, the official will ask for additional items. If they are complete, you will pay the consular legalization fee and receive an appointment for collection.

Typically, processing takes 1 working day after submission of a complete dossier. However, if your documents contain 10 or more pages, the process may take up to 5 working days.

Consular Legalization Service in Vietnam

If you’re unsure about translating your documents into Vietnamese or English, completing the consular legalization application, or navigating the process itself, our Consular Legalization Service is here to assist you. Additionally, if needed, we can help you determine the document authentication procedure required by your home country’s diplomatic mission for use in Vietnam.

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