NEWS / Vietnam set to join Apostille Convention

The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is officially set to join the Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents, more commonly known as the Hague or Apostille Convention. This will significantly simplify the process for legalizing US-issued documents for use in Vietnam (and vice versa).

As of now, US-issued official or notarized documents must first be authenticated by the state in which the document was originally issued or notarized before being submitted to the Vietnamese Consulate for consular legalization.

On December 31, 2025, Vietnam deposited its Instrument of Accession to the Convention with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (which serves as the official depository of the Convention).

RÖDL reports that on February 25, 2026, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son signed a decree approving the implementation of the Vietnam’s accession to the Convention. The Convention is set to fully come into force by September 11, 2026.

Once the Convention comes into force, it would be sufficient to simply obtain an apostille from the state in which the document was originally issued or notarized. In Vietnam, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including the Consular Department in Hanoi and the Department of Foreign Affairs in Ho Chi Minh City, will serve as the competent authorities for issuing Apostille certificates.

According to Newland Chase Consulting, the implementation of the new simplified rules will reduce processing timelines and costs for work permits, visas, and other compliance-related filings. Overall compliance burdens for companies and individuals should be reduced, resulting in minimized operational delays in international business involving Vietnam and other Apostille Convention member states.

If you need assistance getting your US-issued document authenticated or apostilled for use in Vietnam or any other country, do not hesitate to contact us via e-mail at info@apostille.us or by phone at (212) 233-7061. You can also place an order on our website.