Vietnam Consular Legalization| Fees & Detailed Guide

Vietnam Consular Legalization is essential for you to be valid overseas. This article will help you explore Vietnam’s specific rules and steps for document approval, making it easier for anyone dealing with this type of paper.

1. What is Vietnam consular legalization?

According to the Government Decree No. No. 111/2011/ND-CP of December 5, 2011, regarding consular certification and legalization, consular legalization in Vietnam refers to the validation by authorized Vietnamese agencies of stamps, signatures, and titles on foreign-issued documents for recognition and usage within Vietnam.

The purpose of Vietnam consular legalization is to ensure that documents from other countries are valid and acceptable for various purposes within Vietnam, such as legal proceedings, business transactions, or personal matters. This process does not involve verifying the contents or details within the documents. Instead, it focuses on certifying the legitimacy of the signatures and seals present on the papers.

2. How to get a Vietnam consular legalization service? 

Let’s explore the essential procedures and guidelines required to successfully obtain Vietnam’s consular legalization service.

2.1 Documents 

Article 9 of Decree No. 111/2011/ND-CP outlines four varieties of papers and documents exempted from consular legalization in Vietnam. They are:

• Documents exempted based on treaties involving Vietnam and the respective foreign countries, or under the principle of reciprocity. The specific list is listed here.
• Papers and documents are exchanged directly between authorized Vietnamese and foreign agencies, either directly or through diplomatic channels.
• Papers and documents are exempted from consular legalization under Vietnamese laws.
• Papers and documents not required of consular legalization by receiving Vietnamese or foreign agencies under relevant Vietnamese or foreign laws.

2.2 Requirements

To be eligible for Vietnam consular legalization by Vietnamese authorities, documents from foreign agencies must meet specific criteria:

• They must be unrestricted from unauthorized alterations or must adhere to legal correction standards.
• They should not present contradictory information.
• They must not be counterfeit or improperly issued or certified according to legal standards.
• They should not bear non-original signatures or stamps.
• They must not contain content that goes against Vietnamese state interests.

Moreover, you should notice that certain requirements must be fulfilled before starting the consular legalization process:

• Your multi-page document should have a seal on consecutive pages.
• Your documents need prior certification from your country’s overseas diplomatic missions, consulates, or authorized agencies in Vietnam.
• Translation into Vietnamese or English is required for documents not originally in those languages.

3. How to legalize documents for use in Vietnam?

From personal certificates to business paperwork, comprehending the steps involved in legalization is crucial for individuals and organizations. Now, we will provide you with 2 options to legalize documents for use in Vietnam. 

3.1 Option 1: Authentication by MOFA of issuing country

Step 1: Document authentication for use within Vietnam

This step involves presenting the documents to the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the country where they were issued for authentication. To comply with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regulations for authentication, it is necessary to follow their requirements. For instance:

• Some Ministries of Foreign Affairs may require prior certification by a Notary Public.
• Some may request advanced certification of diplomas by the Ministry of Education and Training.

Step 2: Vietnam embassy authentication

The second step involves the preparation of certain documents:

• An application for certification or legalization of documents
• The original identification papers (in case of direct submission) or a copy of identification papers (in case of submitting by mail)
• The original and a copy of the documents to be legalized, which have been previously certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the issuing country
• The original and a copy of the translation of the documents into Vietnamese or English (if the documents are not already written in these languages).

After preparing these documents, they should be submitted to the Vietnam embassy or the consulate general in the issuing country for consular legalization.

3.2 Option 2: Authentication by MOFA of issuing country

Step 1: Document authentication for use in Vietnam

The first step of this option is identical to Step 1 in Option 1, where the document must be authenticated for use in Vietnam. 

Step 2: Authentication by Embassy/Consulate General of Issuing country in Vietnam

Once the document has been authenticated by the Consular Department of the issuing country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the next step is to authenticate it further by the Embassy or Consulate General of the issuing country in Vietnam. It is important to note that the requirements set by the Embassy or Consulate General must be followed to complete this step.

Step 3. Consular legalization by Vietnam MOFA

This is the last and final step required to obtain Vietnam consular legalization. During this step, you need to work with either the Consular Department of Hanoi or the Ho Chi Minh City Department of External Relations.

To apply for consular legalization in Vietnam, you must prepare certain documents, including:

• The Vietnam consular legalization request form No. LS/HPH-2012/TK (which can be downloaded online or completed electronically and then printed out)
• The original copy of your identification papers (if submitting directly)
• 1 copy of your identification papers (if submitting by mail)
• The requested document(s) that have already been certified by foreign diplomatic missions, consular offices, or other relevant agencies
• 1 translation of the requested documents into Vietnamese or English (if the original documents were not prepared in either of these languages), 
• 1 copy of the documents mentioned in Items 4 and 5 for record-keeping purposes at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The dossier-receiving officials may request to check the authenticity of your documents by asking you to present the original documents, relevant documents, and submit one copy of these documents. Once you have prepared all of the necessary dossiers, you may submit them in person or by post.

The processing time for Vietnam consular legalization is typically 1 working day from the date of submission of the full required dossiers. However,  if your papers or documents contain a minimum of 10 pages, the consular legalization process might extend to a maximum of 5 working days.

The article has shown you all of the information related to the Vietnam consular legalization. Whether for personal or business needs, let us guide you through every step of this type of paperwork to make your process easier.