Consular legalisation of documents
Consular legalisation is the procedure of authenticating the seal and signature on documents issued abroad so they are recognised and used in Vietnam, or vice versa. We help prepare documents, notarised translation and carry out the procedure.
Overview of consular legalisation
Documents issued by foreign authorities usually need consular legalisation before use in Vietnam for procedures such as marriage, employment, investment or study. The process includes authentication in the issuing country and legalisation by the competent authority.
Files by country
Each country has different authentication processes and focal authorities. We commonly support files from China, Taiwan and Korea, including translation and notarisation suited to the receiving authority's requirements.
Services in the Consular Legalisation group
Choose the service that matches your situation to see detailed guidance on documents, process and processing time.
- China documentsConsular legalisation of documents issued in China for use in Vietnam.
- Taiwan documentsAuthentication and legalisation of documents from Taiwan.Coming soon
- Korea documentsConsular legalisation of documents issued in Korea.Coming soon
Legal basis
Consular authentication and legalisation are carried out under Decree No. 111/2011/NĐ-CP on consular authentication and consular legalisation and related guiding documents.
Frequently asked questions about consular legalisation
Must foreign documents be consularly legalised?
Most documents issued abroad need consular legalisation for use in Vietnam, except where exempted under international treaties or specific regulations. This is for reference.
How long does consular legalisation take?
Depending on the country and document type, it may take from a few days to a few weeks. The timeline is for reference and may change under the competent authority's regulations.
Is a notarised translation required?
Usually yes. Foreign-language documents must be translated and notarised for the Vietnamese authority to accept them. We provide an end-to-end service.
Need to legalise documents?
Send us the document type and issuing country, and we will advise on a suitable process and file.
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