Since 11 September 2026, an apostille from the country that issued your document is enough for it to be accepted in Vietnam. You no longer need to take birth certificates, marriage certificates, criminal record checks, degrees or corporate papers through consular legalisation at a Vietnamese embassy, as long as the issuing country is a member of the Apostille Convention and has not objected to Vietnam joining. You still need a certified Vietnamese translation.
I get asked about this every week, so here is what changed, who it applies to, and what it means for your paperwork.
What changed with apostille in Vietnam
Vietnam joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 2025. The Government then issued Decree 293/2026/ND-CP on 23 July 2026. The Convention and the Decree both took effect for Vietnam on 11 September 2026.
Before, a foreign document usually went through several steps: notarisation at home, certification by that country’s foreign ministry, and then consular legalisation at the Vietnamese embassy or consulate. That could take weeks and several fees. Now the authority in the issuing country attaches a single apostille certificate, and Vietnamese authorities accept it.
An apostille confirms only that the signature, seal and authority of the official who signed the document are genuine. It does not confirm what the document says.
Which documents are covered
Decree 293 covers public documents, which include:
- Civil status documents: birth, marriage and death certificates, adoption and nationality papers
- Criminal record certificates (police checks)
- Diplomas, degrees and academic transcripts
- Court judgments and court documents
- Administrative documents issued by government bodies
- Notarised documents, certified copies and certified translations
Private corporate documents, such as board resolutions, powers of attorney and company charters, are not public documents in their own right. They usually need to be notarised in the home country first, and the notarial certificate is then apostilled (Indochine Counsel).
Which countries it applies to, and which it does not
The apostille route works only between Vietnam and other members of the Convention. Documents from countries outside the Convention still need consular legalisation as before.
There is one important exception. Germany, Austria and Czechia objected to Vietnam’s accession, so apostille does not currently apply between Vietnam and those three countries (Baker McKenzie). If your documents come from one of them, plan for consular legalisation.
What you still need after the apostille
- A Vietnamese translation. An apostilled document that is not in Vietnamese still has to be translated, and the translation notarised or certified in line with Vietnamese law.
- The receiving office’s own requirements. Each office, whether the Department of Finance for company registration, the labour authority for work permits or the commune for marriage registration, can still check validity periods and formats. Police checks, for example, are often only accepted within six months of issue.
- A verifiable apostille. Vietnamese authorities can check an apostille through the issuing country’s online register or its QR code, so keep the original.
Documents from Convention countries that were already legalised by a Vietnamese consulate before 11 September 2026 remain valid. You do not need to redo them.
What this means for you
If you are setting up a company
Your parent company’s certificate of incorporation and the investor’s passport or ID documents can now reach Vietnam faster. Corporate resolutions and powers of attorney still need a notary at home before the apostille. For a sense of the full setup timeline, see how long it takes to register a foreign-owned company in Ho Chi Minh City.
If you need a work permit
Degrees, experience letters and police checks are usually the slowest part of a work permit file. With an apostille, that step can shrink from weeks to days, depending on your home country’s apostille office. If you are still deciding which route fits you, read work permit or investor visa.
If you are marrying or divorcing in Vietnam
Birth certificates, single-status certificates and foreign divorce judgments are exactly the documents apostille was designed for. It removes one of the most frustrating waits in marriage registration and in divorce cases with a foreign party.
A quick checklist before you order an apostille
- Check that the issuing country is a Convention member and is not Germany, Austria or Czechia.
- Ask the Vietnamese office you are filing with how recent the document must be.
- For corporate documents, notarise first, then apostille.
- Arrange a certified Vietnamese translation once the apostille is attached, and translate the apostille as well.
- Keep the original and a scan with a readable QR code.
Frequently asked questions
Do I still need to go to the Vietnamese embassy?
Not for public documents from a Convention country that has not objected to Vietnam’s accession. The apostille from your home country replaces embassy legalisation.
Does an apostilled document still need a translation?
Yes. It must be translated into Vietnamese, and the translation notarised or certified in Vietnam.
Are my documents legalised before 11 September 2026 still valid?
Yes. Documents legalised by a Vietnamese consulate before that date remain valid.
Does apostille work for documents from Germany?
Not at the moment. Germany, Austria and Czechia objected to Vietnam’s accession, so documents from those countries still need consular legalisation.
Who issues apostilles for Vietnamese documents used abroad?
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which may authorise provincial authorities over time.
Book a free 15-minute call
If you are not sure whether your documents need an apostille, a notary, or both, fifteen minutes will usually answer it. Chat with me on WhatsApp or email [email protected]. I will give you one clear answer, in writing, with the fee up front.
This article is general information, not legal advice for your situation. Laws and procedures change; last reviewed 23 September 2026.