Vietnam acceded to the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (the Hague Apostille Convention), which took effect for Vietnam on 11 September 2026.
Depending on the receiving country, document type and applicable requirements, documents may be eligible for an Apostille or may require conventional consular legalisation.
How CoLaw Can Assist
Review documents and advise on preparation requirements in the receiving country.
Arrange certified true copies, certification and notarised document translations.
Assist with applications and appointment bookings at the relevant authorities.
Submit applications, track progress and collect results under a valid power of attorney.
Arrange domestic and international delivery of completed documents.
Countries and Territories Using Apostilles
An Apostille is a certificate issued under the 1961 Hague Convention to simplify the use of public documents between countries and territories where the Convention applies.
Asia: China, Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, South Korea, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, Mongolia, Pakistan, Bangladesh and others.
Europe: United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Greece, Andorra and others.
Americas: United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Uruguay and other participating countries.
Oceania: Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu.
Africa and Middle East: South Africa, Morocco, Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Algeria and others.
These examples are indicative, not exhaustive. Whether an Apostille is accepted depends on the Convention being in force between the relevant countries, any objections or declarations under the Convention, and the requirements of the receiving authority.
Countries and Territories Requiring Consular Legalisation
Where the Apostille Convention does not apply between the issuing country and the destination, documents may need conventional authentication and consular legalisation.
Destinations where consular legalisation may need to be considered include Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Taiwan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt, Nepal and others.
Depending on the destination, the process may involve notarisation or certification, authentication by the relevant foreign affairs authority, and legalisation by the appropriate embassy or consulate.
Important Document Preparation Considerations
Not all documents qualify for an Apostille in the same form. Depending on the document and the receiving authority’s requirements, the Apostille may need to be issued on the original, an appropriately certified copy, or a document bearing a duly authenticated signature or seal. Translation language requirements should also be confirmed in advance, particularly for multilingual destinations.
CoLaw provides administrative and professional support and may represent clients under valid authorisation. CoLaw is not a government authority and does not itself issue Apostilles or consular legalisation certificates. Approval and issuance remain solely with the competent authorities.
