Apostille of Vietnamese Documents
Since 11 September 2026, a Vietnamese public document for use in an Apostille Convention country needs a single apostille from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, plus a certified English translation. This page covers what Vietnam requires, what the receiving country wants, the documents to bring, the fee and the turnaround, and how I translate and coordinate it.
An apostille is a single certificate that authenticates the seal and signature on a public document so other member states accept it without further legalization. Vietnam joined the Convention under Decree 293/2026/ND-CP, in force from 11 September 2026. The apostille does not translate anything, so a certified English translation remains a separate, necessary step. Here is exactly how the process works and where I fit in.
Where apostille stands in Vietnam now
Vietnam acceded to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention on 31 December 2025, and it entered into force on 11 September 2026 under Decree 293/2026/ND-CP. The competent authority is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: the Consular Department at 40 Tran Phu in Hanoi, and the Department of External Relations at 6 Alexandre de Rhodes in Ho Chi Minh City. Applications are accepted at the one-stop counters, by post, or fully online through the National Public Service Portal. The Convention connects Vietnam with more than 120 member states, and documents legalized under the old system before the change remain valid.
What Vietnam requires: the apostille from MOFA
For a Vietnamese document going abroad, MOFA checks that the seal and signature are genuine against its records and affixes the apostille. Documents signed by a notary office or a local People's Committee are first recorded with MOFA so the signature can be matched. You submit the APO/TK declaration form with scanned copies plus the original document; MOFA does not judge the contents, only the authenticity of the issuing office. This is a government act: as the translator I do not issue the apostille, but I prepare the certified translation and coordinate the step with a partner.
What the receiving country requires
The route depends on the destination. For a member state, you need the MOFA apostille plus a certified translation. For a country that objected to Vietnam's accession, namely Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic, and for any non-member country, the older consular legalization still applies instead of an apostille, plus a translation. For United States immigration filed with USCIS, you need neither an apostille nor legalization, only a complete certified English translation with the translator's certificate of accuracy. Always confirm what the exact receiving authority wants before you start.
How I support your apostille
My part is the certified English translation, signed with a certificate of accuracy in the format USCIS, IRCC, universities and consulates expect, and I coordinate the apostille or legalization stage with a trusted partner where you need it handled end to end. I translate the document and, where the receiving authority wants them, the apostille and any stamps, so the English package mirrors the certified original. I am the translator, not a notary or a government authority, so the apostille itself is always issued by MOFA.
Documents to bring
For the apostille itself you bring: the original public document, or a notarized or certified true copy where the office requires one; the completed APO/TK declaration form with scanned copies of the documents; and valid ID, or an authorization if someone submits on your behalf. Where the receiving authority wants the content in English, add the certified translation. Send me a clear scan or photo first and I will tell you which of these your specific case needs before you go.
Fees
The MOFA apostille fee is 30,000 VND per apostille certificate, paid by bank transfer via the QR code on the acceptance slip (Decree 293/2026/ND-CP). That is the government fee for the apostille only. My certified translation is quoted per document by length and complexity, and I confirm the exact price and turnaround before starting. Government fees can change, so I verify the current figure when I quote.
Turnaround
MOFA's stated processing time is one working day for one to four documents, two working days for five to nine, and four working days for ten or more, and it can extend to around ten working days when a document needs verification or is filed in bulk. My certified translation of a single document is typically ready in one to three days. Tell me your deadline and I plan the translation and the apostille step so the whole package lands on time.
Step by step
Confirm the destination
Tell me the destination country and authority so we know whether you need an apostille (member state), consular legalization (an objector such as Germany, Austria or the Czech Republic, or a non-member), or a translation only (USCIS).
Prepare the document and translation
Gather the original or a certified true copy, and I produce the certified English translation with a signed certificate of accuracy so the package is ready for MOFA.
Apostille at MOFA
Submit the APO/TK form and the document to MOFA (in person, by post or online); MOFA checks the seal and signature and affixes the apostille. I coordinate this stage with a partner where you want it handled.
Deliver and file
You receive the apostilled document with its certified translation, ready to submit to the receiving authority abroad.
Which route your destination needs
The short answer first: the route depends entirely on the receiving country, and a certified translation is needed in every case. I provide that certified translation, and coordinate the apostille or legalization step with a partner when you want it handled end to end.
| Destination | Authentication of the original | Certified translation |
|---|---|---|
| US immigration (USCIS) | None: neither apostille nor legalization | Required |
| Apostille member (Australia, Canada, Japan, Korea, most of the EU) | One MOFA apostille on the original | Required, separate from the apostille |
| Germany, Austria, Czech Republic (objected) | Consular legalization as before, not apostille | Required |
| Non-member country | Consular legalization through MOFA and the embassy | Required |
One catch worth knowing: Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic objected to Vietnam's accession, so the apostille does not apply between them and Vietnam. For those three, and for any non-member, consular legalization is still the route. Confirm your exact receiving authority before you start.
One apostille replaces the old legalization chain
Before 11 September 2026, a Vietnamese document going to most countries passed through several authenticating offices in turn. For a member state, a single MOFA apostille now does the same job in one step.
| Aspect | Consular legalization | Apostille (from 11 Sep 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Steps | Several, ending at the destination embassy | One certificate from MOFA |
| Applies to | Non-members and the objectors (DE, AT, CZ) | Apostille member states |
| Recognized by | Only the specific destination country | All member states, no embassy step |
| Translation still needed | Yes | Yes |
Documents most often apostilled, and what it looks like
Apostille and legalization apply to public documents. These are the Vietnamese papers I am asked to translate for an apostille most often; each has its own dedicated page covering its exact fields.
- ✓Birth, marriage and death certificates, and single-status certificates
- ✓Criminal record certificates (Phiếu lý lịch tư pháp)
- ✓Diplomas, degrees and academic transcripts
- ✓Notarized copies and powers of attorney
Mistakes that get an apostilled file rejected
Assuming apostille replaces translation
The apostille only authenticates the seal and signature. The receiving authority still needs the content in its language, so a certified translation is separate and necessary.
Sending it to Germany, Austria or Czechia
These three objected, so an apostille is not accepted between them and Vietnam. For them the older consular legalization is still required.
Translating before the apostille when both must show
If the authority wants the apostille translated too, the apostille must be affixed first, then translated with the document, so the English package mirrors the final certified original.
Name spelled differently across documents
A name rendered one way on one document and another elsewhere reads as two people. I lock the passport spelling across the whole set.
Official sources
The facts on this page are drawn from the treaty authority and Vietnam's implementing law. Verify the current detail for your case, as government fees and processing times can change.
Official sources
- ↗Hague Apostille Convention, status table (Vietnam) — HCCH
- ↗Decree 293/2026/ND-CP implementing the Apostille Convention — LuatVietnam
- ↗Guidelines issued for apostille of Vietnamese public documents — Vietnam News Agency (VietnamPlus)
FAQ
Do I still need a translation if I have an apostille?
Yes. An apostille authenticates the seal and signature on the original; it does not translate anything. You still need a certified English translation with a signed certificate of accuracy.
How much does an apostille cost in Vietnam?
The MOFA fee is 30,000 VND per apostille certificate, paid by bank transfer via the QR code on the acceptance slip. My certified translation is quoted separately per document.
How long does an apostille take?
MOFA states one working day for one to four documents, two for five to nine, and four for ten or more, extending to around ten working days if verification is needed. The certified translation of a single document is usually ready in one to three days.
Which countries do not accept a Vietnamese apostille?
Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic objected to Vietnam's accession, so between Vietnam and those countries the older consular legalization applies. Non-member countries also still require legalization.
Do I need an apostille for a USCIS filing?
No. USCIS does not require an apostille or legalization on a foreign document, only a complete certified English translation with the translator's certificate of accuracy.
Can you get the apostille for me?
The apostille is issued by MOFA, a government act I cannot sign as a translator. I provide the certified translation and coordinate the apostille stage with a trusted partner so the finished package is complete.
Related guides
📋 Vietnam Apostille and Germany: Does It Work After September 2026?
Germany, Austria, and Czech Republic objected to Vietnam's apostille. Documents for those countries still need consular legalization and certified translation.
📋 Apostille vs Consular Legalization for Vietnamese Documents in 2026
From 11 September 2026, a single MOFA apostille replaces consular legalization for Vietnamese documents. The apostille never replaces your certified translation.
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