Consular legalization and consular certification refer to the authentication of seals, signatures, and titles on documents. These processes do not validate the content or form of the documents themselves. While both terms are commonly used, they involve distinct procedures that often cause confusion. In this article, 68 SOLUTIONS provides an overview of both and offers insights into the consular legalization process in Vietnam.
What is Consular Legalization? What is Consular Certification?
According to the Government Decree No. No. 111/2011/ND-CP of December 5, 2011 on consular certification and legalization, consular legalization in Vietnam means the competent Vietnamese agencies’ certification of stamps, signatures and titles on papers and documents issued by foreign agencies for being recognized and used in Vietnam.
The consular legalization simply certifies stamps, signatures and titles on papers and documents, not certifying contents and forms of papers and documents.
Consular legalization documents
Types of consular legalization documents
- Consular legalization of marriage certificate.
- Consular legalization of documents – documents.
- Consular legalization of diplomas, driver’s licenses, birth certificates, diplomas, etc.
Papers and documents that are not consular legalized
- Papers and documents are corrected or erased but not corrected in accordance with law.
- Papers and documents in the application file for consular certification and legalization contain conflicting details.
- Papers and documents that are forged or are issued or certified against authority according to the provisions of law.
- Papers and documents with signatures or seals other than the original signature or seal.
- Papers and documents with contents that infringe upon the interests of the State of Vietnam.
Note: According to Vietnamese law, documents used when working with state agencies must be in Vietnamese. Therefore, in some cases, after documents are consularly legalized, they must be translated into Vietnamese and authenticated again before they can be used to work with state agencies in Vietnam.
Consular legalization procedures and documents in Vietnam
For the consular legalization of foreign papers and documents, it is necessary to have:
- Consular legalization/certification declaration;
- Passport or valid document replacing the passport of a foreigner;
- Papers and documents requested to be lawful consular.
For the consular certification of Vietnamese papers and documents, it is necessary to have:
- Consular legal/certification declaration;
- Identity card, citizen identity card, passport of Vietnamese people;
- Papers and documents requested for consular certification.
Call (+84) 989 529 699 for instructions on preparing documents for consular legalization.
Requirements for Documents to Be Consular Legalized in Vietnam
First of all, to be consular legalized by the competent Vietnamese agencies, the papers and documents issued by the foreign agencies should satisfy the following requirements:
- They should not contain any modifications or erasures without proper correction as required by law.
- They should not contain contradictory details.
- They should not be forged or unduly issued or certified according to law.
- They should not bear non-original signatures or stamps.
- They should not contain contents infringing upon the interests of the Vietnamese state.
And then, before carrying out the consular legalization procedure, you must ensure that:
- Your paper or document comprising two or more pages must bear a seal appended on adjoining pages;
- your papers and documents must be first certified by overseas diplomatic missions, consulates or other authorized agencies of your country in Vietnam;
- your papers and documents must be translated into Vietnamese or English (if they are not prepared in those languages).
Where to Carry Out Consular Legalization in Vietnam?
In Vietnam, you may submit the application for consular legalization of your papers and documents to the following competent agencies:
- In Vietnam:
- For consular legalization in Hanoi: Consular Department, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at 40 Tran Phu street, Ba Dinh district, Hanoi.
- For consular legalization in Saigon: Ho Chi Minh City Department of External Relations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at 184 bis Pasteur, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
- In foreign countries: Vietnam embassy/consulate general which are authorized to provide Vietnam consular legalization service.
You can submit your application and receive the result on weekdays, except public holidays.
Procedure for Consular Legalization
For Foreign Documents to Be Used in Vietnam:
Applicants must submit:
-
A completed consular legalization application form
-
A passport or equivalent ID document
-
The original documents for legalization
For Vietnamese Documents to Be Used Abroad:
Applicants must submit:
-
A completed consular certification application form
-
A Vietnamese ID, citizen ID card, or passport
-
The documents requiring certification
Contact 68 SOLUTIONS for step-by-step instructions on how to compile your application.
Official Fees for Consular Legalization
According to Circular 157/2016/TT-BTC:
-
Consular certification fee: 30,000 VND per document
-
Consular legalization fee: 30,000 VND per document
-
Fee for issuance of certified copies: 5,000 VND per copy
Note: These fees are collected in Vietnamese Dong (VND) and paid directly to the competent state agencies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How long does consular legalization take?
A: Depending on the volume and type of documents, the process may take between 1 to 14 working days.
Q2: Can I authorize someone else to submit the application?
A: Authorization rules depend on the specific consular office. Some countries (such as the U.S., UK, India) require the applicant to appear in person.
Consular legalization service
As a trusted immigration and legal consulting firm with over 500,000 clients served, 68 SOLUTIONS provides:
-
Up-to-date information on legalization procedures
-
Strict confidentiality and secure handling of client data
-
Time-efficient processing and cost savings
-
Legally compliant services with correct VAT invoicing
-
Guaranteed document accuracy and client satisfaction
-
Free consultation for related services such as visa, work permit, and document translation
Whether you’re preparing to work, study, or conduct business in Vietnam, 68 SOLUTIONS is here to help you complete your consular legalization process with confidence and peace of mind.
Contact us today for quick support via hotline: (+84) 989 529 699
Follow Fanpage 68Solutions for more updates!
___________________________________
68Solutions – Legal & Travel
Consulting & Partnerships Department
Address: 6th Floor, 67 Yen Lang Street, Trung Liet Ward, Dong Da District, Hanoi, 100000
Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/68solutions/
Hotline/ WhatsApp/ Zalo: (+84) 989 529 699
Email: sales@68solutions.vn
Website: www.68solutions.vn