Updated: 15 October 2026

From 11 September 2026, the Apostille Convention is in force for Vietnam, implemented by Decree No. 293/2026/ND-CP. Public documents of Vietnam and about 125 member states now need a single apostille instead of two layers of certification. This note explains which documents qualify, where to apply, timing, fees and transitional rules.

1. Vietnam's accession: timeline and scope

According to the HCCH status table, Vietnam deposited its instrument of accession on 31 December 2025 and the Convention entered into force for Vietnam on 11 September 2026. Germany (20 May 2026), Austria (19 June 2026) and the Czech Republic (2 July 2026) objected under Article 12(2), so the accession has no effect between Vietnam and those states and documents exchanged with them still require consular legalisation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs' newspaper reported on 17 September 2026 that the Convention applies between Vietnam and 125 member states, and that 4,517 apostilles had been issued by 15 September 2026.

2. What an apostille is and is not

An apostille certifies the origin of a public document: the authenticity of the signature, the capacity of the signatory and the seal. Article 4.2 of the Decree states that "an apostille does not certify the content or form of the public document", so receiving authorities may still review the content and require a translation. Compared with legalisation, it is a single step by the issuing state, valid in all member states, in a uniform bilingual format (Vietnamese and English, French title) with a QR code verifiable on a public e-register (Articles 8, 20, 21).

3. Eligible and excluded documents

Article 10 lists eligible Vietnamese public documents: court and enforcement documents; administrative documents such as civil status papers, criminal record certificates, diplomas and health certificates; notarised documents; certified documents; and other public documents. Private documents of individuals and companies (contracts, powers of attorney, charters, financial statements) qualify only once notarised or certified.

Article 11.1 excludes documents made by Vietnamese diplomatic or consular officers, administrative documents dealing directly with commercial or customs operations, unnotarised private documents and foreign public documents. Article 11.2 refuses documents that are altered, forged, unauthentic, cancelled, not allowed to be taken abroad, or electronic data without a valid digital signature. Commercial and customs documents still go through consular certification where the receiving state requires it (Article 35).

4. Authority, applicants and file

Under Article 6, "the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the competent authority to issue apostilles of Vietnam". Under Article 7, anyone may apply for their own documents or those of others without a power of attorney, and bears legal responsibility for the application. Under Article 12, the file is one set: the declaration form and the original public document (or certified copy or translation) when filed in person or by post; or an electronic declaration and digitally signed electronic copy when filed fully online via the National Public Service Portal or VNeID. Incomplete files are notified once within 7 working days (Article 13). Where verification is needed, the issuing body consults the document's issuer, which replies within 5 working days (up to 10 for complex cases) (Article 15). Refused files are returned with guidance to switch to consular certification (Article 18).

5. Timing and fees

Under Article 9, applicants pay the consular certification and legalisation fee, plus postage. The current rate under Article 5.1 of Circular No. 157/2016/TT-BTC is VND 30,000 per time for consular certification and for legalisation, and VND 5,000 for copies (as of 15 October 2026).

6. Foreign apostilled documents used in Vietnam

Under Article 25, public documents of member states bearing a valid apostille are "exempt from consular legalisation and may be used in Vietnam without any further certification", except where refused under Article 26 (not a public document, wrong authority, forged, contrary to public order, revoked). An apostille does not replace translation: under Article 27, documents not in Vietnamese must be translated into Vietnamese and the translation notarised or certified. Documents from Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic still require legalisation. See our legalisation service and translation service.

7. Transitional rules

• Consular certification files filed before 11 September 2026 continue under the old rules.
• Documents legalised before the Convention took effect remain valid, and an apostille may be obtained for them without re-issuing the original.
• Foreign apostilles issued before the Convention took effect for Vietnam are accepted, except under Article 26.
• E-apostilles and fully online filing start when the Apostille information system operates, as announced by the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
• From 11 September 2026, Vietnamese missions abroad no longer legalise documents exempted under the Convention.

8. Practical notes

Risks. Forged or altered documents are refused and referred to the authorities (Article 18); an apostille may be cancelled with effect from issuance if obtained unlawfully (Article 19). Work permit or investment files relying on a cancelled apostille will be returned or their results revoked.

Impact. FIEs save one certification layer and the waiting time at Vietnamese missions abroad; the Vietnamese State fee is unchanged. Foreign workers can apostille diplomas and criminal records at home before coming to Vietnam. Vietnamese citizens and companies using documents in member states only need an apostille from the Consular Department or the HCMC Department of Foreign Affairs.

7S Law's recommendation. Update internal checklists to read "apostille or legalisation depending on the issuing country"; keep the translation and certification step; keep the old process for Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic and non-members; for commercial and customs documents, ask the receiving authority whether consular certification is required.

9. Frequently asked questions

Is a power of attorney needed to apply for someone else?
No (Article 7).

Do apostilled documents still need translation?
Yes, with a notarised or certified translation (Article 27).

Are documents legalised before 11 September 2026 still valid?
Yes (Article 36).

Can invoices and import-export documents be apostilled?
No. They are excluded under Article 11.1; use consular certification where required (Article 35).

Can I apply online?
The Decree provides the legal basis, but e-apostilles start only when the system operates. As of 15 October 2026, filing is on paper.

Appendix: Legal basis

Quoted provisions are unofficial translations by 7S Law.

Author: Lawyer Trinh Thi Quyen

This article is for reference only and reflects the law in force at the date of update. Please consult a lawyer on your specific case before acting.

Contact 7S Law: +84 877 523 888 – lienhe@7slaw.vn