Vietnam Joins 1961 Apostille Convention: Consular Legalization Replaced by Apostille from September 11

HANOI, September 12, 2026 — Vietnam has officially become a party to the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents (the Apostille Convention), effective September 11, 2026.

The Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in the United States published a formal notice confirming the adoption. As a result, public documents issued in other contracting states will only require an Apostille certificate to be used in Vietnam, replacing the traditional consular legalization process.

Vietnam joins the 1961 Apostille Convention effective September 11, 2026

Key Changes at a Glance

Aspect	Change
Effective Date	September 11, 2026
Core Impact	Apostille replaces consular legalization
Vietnam Embassy in US	No longer accepts US public documents for legalization
US Documents in Vietnam	Valid Apostille accepted without additional certification
Documents Legalized Before Sept 11	Remain valid, no need for re-issuance

Impact on US Documents

From September 11, 2026, the Embassy of Vietnam in Washington, D.C., will no longer accept applications to legalize U.S. public documents. U.S. documents intended for use in Vietnam must now be apostilled by the competent authority in the United States (typically the Secretary of State of the issuing state or the U.S. Department of State for federal documents). Once a valid Apostille is attached, the document can be used directly in Vietnam without any further certification.

Exceptions: Documents Still Requiring Consular Legalization

Consular legalization will continue to apply to the following categories:

• Diplomatic and consular documents

• Certain commercial and customs-related administrative documents

• Documents originating from jurisdictions where the Apostille Convention is not in force with Vietnam, including:

  • Germany

  • Austria

  • Czech Republic

  • Thailand (until February 28, 2027)

  • Greenland (Kingdom of Denmark)

  • Tokelau (New Zealand)

  • All non-contracting states

Transition Period

Documents that were legalized through consular channels before September 11, 2026, will continue to be recognized in Vietnam and do not need to be reissued with an Apostille.

Vietnamese Documents for Use Abroad

Vietnamese diplomatic missions abroad do not issue Apostilles. Vietnamese public documents intended for use in foreign countries must obtain an Apostille from the designated competent authority in Vietnam. Information on the receiving agency, required documents, fees, and processing times is available at apostille.lanhsuvietnam.gov.vn.

Categories of Vietnamese Public Documents Eligible for Apostille

Under Decree No. 293/2026/ND-CP (issued July 23, 2026), the following five categories of Vietnamese public documents are eligible for Apostille certification:

1. Documents generated in judicial proceedings and enforcement activities (court judgments, rulings, procedural documents)

2. Administrative documents (civil status, nationality, adoption, criminal record certificates, diplomas, transcripts, health certificates, etc.)

3. Notarized documents

4. Certified documents

5. Other documents established by law

Read Also

• Vietnam to Launch Preferential Visas for High-Spending Tourists Under Sweeping Tourism Overhaul

• Vietnam Introduces New Penalties for Work Notification Violations from September 10

• Vietnam Expands VNeID Eligibility to All Foreign Nationals Legally Entering or Residing in the Country

Official Resources

Resource	Link
Vietnam Embassy in the US – Official Notice	NOTICE on the Application of the Apostille in Place of Consular Legalisation as from 11 September 2026
HCCH – Viet Nam accedes to the 1961 Apostille Convention	hcch.net/en/news-archive/details/?varevent=1132
Vietnam Apostille Online Portal	apostille.lanhsuvietnam.gov.vn
Decree No. 293/2026/ND-CP	Available via Vietnam Government Portal

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