Vietnam is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention (in force since 11 September 2026). A U.S. public document bound for Vietnam needs a single apostille from the competent authority of the state that issued or notarized it, or from the U.S. Department of State for federal documents. No embassy or consular legalization is required, and Vietnam's authorities cannot demand one.
Acceded 2025-12-31; in force 2026-09-11 (HCCH, verified). Germany, Austria and Czechia objected; the US did not. Vietnamese Embassy in Washington stopped legalizing US public documents on 2026-09-11.
The route, step by step
- Identify the issuing office
State or local signature → that state’s competent authority. Federal signature → U.S. Department of State. How to tell.
- Prepare the right version
Certified copies for vital and court records; complete notarization for private documents. Preparation checklist.
- Request the apostille
Name Vietnam as the destination on the request form so the office issues an apostille (not an authentication certificate).
- Translate if required
Confirm with the receiving office in Vietnam whether a translation is needed and by whom it must be made.
Using U.S. documents in Vietnam
Vietnam’s accession entered into force on 11 September 2026. From that date Vietnamese embassies and consulates stopped legalizing U.S. public documents, and a single U.S. apostille suffices for most purposes. Vietnamese authorities (the Ministry of Justice, provincial justice departments, immigration, the Ministry of Education and Training, courts and company registries) are implementing the Convention under Decision 330/QD-TTg, including an e-apostille database. Typical documents: FBI background checks and degrees for work permits (the Department of Labor requires both), marriage and birth certificates for marriage registration and family matters (Vietnam requires a certificate of marital status — for U.S. citizens, an apostilled single-status affidavit), POAs for property and inheritance, and corporate documents for foreign-invested enterprises. Translations into Vietnamese are made in Vietnam and certified by a district justice department or a notary office. Documents legalized before 11 September 2026 remain valid.
Why U.S. documents are sent to Vietnam
- work permit
- marriage in Vietnam
- registration of children / nationality
- business registration
- education
Vietnam-specific points
- Diplomatic/consular documents and certain commercial/customs administrative documents remain outside the apostille and still need consular legalization.
- Documents consular-legalized before 2026-09-11 remain valid and need not be re-apostilled.
- Decree 293/2026/ND-CP (2026-07-23) implements the Convention in Vietnam.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an apostille or legalization for Vietnam?
An apostille. Vietnam is a Hague Convention member, so no embassy legalization is needed.
Who issues the apostille for Vietnam?
The U.S. state that issued or notarized the document, or the U.S. Department of State for federal documents — never a U.S. embassy, and never Vietnam’s embassy.
Does Vietnam require a translation?
Requirements vary by the receiving authority in Vietnam; translate after the apostille with the translator type they specify.
