Foreign Documents: Consular Legalization Vietnam

In recent years, Vietnam has developed and optimized policies to support and therefore attract more foreign investors. One important procedure that foreign investors need to perform when planning to invest in Vietnam is the consular legalization of foreign documents.

Certain types of foreign documents are exempt from consular legalization in Vietnam:

• Russia:
  • Documents under the authority of consular officers issued by the representative office of Russia in Vietnam; and
  • Documents prepared or certified by a judicial authority (including certified translations and extracts) issued by a judicial authority.
• Japan:
  • Documents related to civil status issued by competent authorities.
• France:
  • Civil status documents and civil documents used for marriage, child adoption, and parent and child adoption issued by competent state agencies.

The following documents are not legalized in Vietnam:

• Corrected or erased documents not compliant with law;
• Documents containing conflicting details;
• Forged or unauthorized documents as prescribed by law;
• Documents without original signatures or original seals; and
• Documents containing content that infringe upon the interests of the State of Vietnam.

• According to the provisions of Vietnamese law, the agencies authorized to carry out the process of consular legalization are:
  • The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam and related agencies in Vietnam: the Consular Department in Hanoi and the Foreign Affairs Office in Ho Chi Minh City;
  • The Embassy / Consulate of Vietnam overseas.
• In case the documents required for consular legalization are submitted at the Vietnamese Embassy / Consulate abroad, they must be certified by the competent authority of that country (the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or another foreign authority) in advance. Following this, the Vietnamese Embassy / Consulate will legalize the documents.
  If the application for consular legalization is submitted at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, it must be certified in advance by a foreign diplomatic representative mission, consulate, or by another foreign agency authorized to perform consular functions in Vietnam. Then, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam and relevant agencies can legalize such documents.
• In Vietnam, the consular legalization procedure usually involves several competent authorities in more than one country. Hence, it is a highly complex process depending on the particulars of the documentation. If having difficulties with the above procedures and documents, investors can contact ECOVIS Vietnam Law for legal support and advice.

Further information please contact:

Vu Manh Quynh
Email: quynh.vu@ecovislaw.vn

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[1] Article 9 Decree 111/2011/ND-CP and Article 4 Circular 01/2012/TT-BNG

[2] Article 10 Decree 111/2011/ND-CP and Article 4 Circular 01/2012/TT-BNG

[3] Article 14, Article 15 Decree 111/2011/ND-CP and Article 9 Circular 01/2012/TT-BNG

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