Tiếng Việt
For businesses engaged in cross-border business activities, investment, or legal procedures involving foreign elements, the use of public documents issued by foreign authorities has traditionally involved consular certification or legalization requirements.
Starting from 11 September 2026, a new mechanism will be applied in Vietnam under the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents – the Apostille Convention.
On 23 July 2026, the Government of Vietnam issued Decree No. 293/2026/ND-CP, providing detailed regulations on the implementation of the Apostille Convention in Vietnam.
📌 WHAT IS AN APOSTILLE?
An Apostille is a certificate issued by the competent authority of the country where a public document originates, certifying the origin of that document.
The certification verifies the authenticity of:
- The signature appearing on the document;
- The capacity in which the signatory has acted;
- The authority of the signatory;
- The seal or stamp appearing on the document.
👉 An Apostille does not certify the substantive content or professional legality of the document.
🔎 KEY CHANGES TO NOTE
1️⃣ Valid Apostilled documents do not require additional consular legalization
For public documents issued by a Convention Member State having an applicable relationship with Vietnam, a valid Apostille allows the document to be used in Vietnam without additional consular certification or legalization.
This significantly simplifies the authentication process for qualifying foreign public documents.
2️⃣ e-Apostille is recognized
Another notable development is the recognition of the electronic Apostille (e-Apostille), which has the same legal validity as a paper Apostille.
Therefore, an Apostille issued in electronic form cannot be denied legal effect solely because it is provided electronically.
3️⃣ Electronic verification of Apostilles
The Decree provides for an electronic database and e-Register to store and facilitate the verification of Apostille information.
Verification may be carried out using the Apostille certificate number or QR code, making it easier for receiving agencies and organizations to check the authenticity of an Apostille.
4️⃣ Foreign-language documents still need to be translated
An Apostille does not replace language requirements.
Public documents prepared in a language other than Vietnamese must still be translated into Vietnamese. The translation must be notarized or certified in accordance with Vietnamese law, unless otherwise provided by specialized legislation.
5️⃣ Not all documents are eligible for the Apostille mechanism
Businesses should note that the applicability of the Apostille mechanism depends on:
Type of document → Issuing country → Applicability of the Convention → Competent authority issuing the Apostille → Validity of the Apostille → Translation and certification requirements → Specialized regulations.
A document bearing an Apostille may still be refused if it does not meet the requirements under the Decree, for example, where the Apostille was not issued by a competent authority, the document or Apostille shows signs of forgery or unauthorized alteration, or the Apostille has been cancelled or withdrawn.
🔄 TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS
The Decree also introduces transitional provisions to ensure the continued validity of documents that were authenticated before the Decree takes effect.
Notably, public documents of a Convention Member State that were consular legalized by a competent Vietnamese authority before 11 September 2026 will remain valid for use in Vietnam.
Businesses will not be required to obtain an Apostille for such documents.
📅 KEY DATES FOR BUSINESSES
23 July 2026: Decree No. 293/2026/ND-CP was issued.
11 September 2026: The Decree officially takes effect.
The transition to the Apostille mechanism is expected to simplify procedures, reduce processing time, and minimize administrative steps when businesses use qualifying foreign public documents in Vietnam.
However, businesses should first determine whether the issuing country has an applicable relationship with Vietnam under the Convention and whether the relevant document falls within the scope of the Apostille mechanism before selecting the appropriate authentication procedure.
For further details, please refer to the full text of the Decree:
Decree No. 293/2026/ND-CP
📌 Choosing the appropriate authentication procedure from the outset can help businesses minimize document supplementation and avoid having to repeat procedures during regulatory submissions in Vietnam.