Vietnam Legalisation

Vietnam

Legalisation support for UK

documents to be used in Vietnam

Use your UK documents in Vietnam with the correct legalisation route, checked before submission and prepared in the right form for your receiving authority.

  • Document pre-check before submission to reduce avoidable issues
  • Vietnam-specific route checked based on current consular and apostille requirements
  • Secure, tracked UK-based handling from start to finish
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At a Glance

Step

  • Send your documents (originals or clear scans)
  • We confirm the correct Vietnam legalisation route
  • We arrange solicitor certification if required
  • We obtain a UK apostille from FCDO
  • We complete the Vietnam embassy legalisation
  • Documents returned via tracked delivery

What You Need

  • The document(s) you want to legalise
  • The destination country: Vietnam
  • Intended use (employment, business, education, etc.)
  • Clear scan or original document
  • Any instructions from the receiving authority in Vietnam
  • Certified translation if required by the Vietnamese authority

What Affects Turnaround

  • Whether certification is required before an apostille
  • FCDO processing times
  • Vietnam embassy processing timelines
  • Courier and submission schedules
  • Public holidays in the UK or the Vietnam
  • Any change in requirements due to Vietnam’s Apostille Convention transition

Common Reasons for Rejection

  • Incorrect certification format
  • Documents not suitable for FCDO legalisation in their current form
  • Name mismatches across documents
  • Missing steps in the legalisation chain
  • Translation not prepared in the required format
  • Following an outdated Vietnam route without checking the current requirement

vietnam Legalisation Process

Vietnam Legalisation Process

What is Vietnam legalisation?

Vietnam legalisation is the process of preparing a UK-issued document so it can be accepted for official use in Vietnam. In most cases, this involves the following sequence:
Certification by a Solicitor (if required)
Some documents must be certified by a UK solicitor or notary before an apostille can be issued.

This step depends on the document type.
 UK Apostille from FCDO
Your document has been submitted to the FCDO for an apostille.

This confirms the authenticity of the signature or seal on the document.
Vietnam Embassy Legalisation where required
After the apostille is issued, the document is submitted to Vietnam Embassy in London.

This final step makes the document valid for use in Vietnam.

Vietnam Legalisation Process

Important update: Vietnam and the Apostille Convention

Vietnam acceded to the Hague Apostille Convention on 31 December 2025, but the Convention is listed to enter into force for Vietnam on 11 September 2026. Until the new regime is fully in force and accepted in practice, UK documents for Vietnam should not be treated as apostille-only without checking the current requirement.

The current Embassy of Viet Nam in London guidance states that documents for use in Vietnam must be legalised by the UK authority first and then legalised by the Embassy of Viet Nam in the UK. The Embassy also lists documents with the original apostille stamp, a copy of the apostilled document, the legalisation application form and a self-addressed envelope for postal return as part of the submission requirements. Because Vietnam is in a transition period, the correct route should be checked before submission.

Vietnam Document Types

Vietnam Document Types

We handle personal, educational, and commercial documents for use in Vietnam.

Personal Documents

Use for visa, residency, and family-related matters.

  • Birth Certificates
  • Marriage certificates
  • Police certificates (ACRO)
  • Passport copies
  • Affidavits and declarations
+ More

Educational Documents

use for employment licensing, and qualification recognition

  • Degree certificates
  • Diplomas
  • Transcripts
  • Professional qualifications
  • Course Completion Certificates
+ More
Commercial Documents

Use for company setup, trade, and corporate authority.

  • Certificates of incorporation
  • Memorandum and Articles of Association
  • Board resolutions
  • Powers of attorney
  • Invoices and export documents.
+ More

Not sure which documents you need?
Send your documents for a quick review, and we’ll confirm the correct legalisation route.

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Do all Documents Need Legalisation for the Vietnam?

Most UK documents must be legalised before they are accepted in Vietnam.

However, requirements can vary depending on:

The authority requesting the document
Different Vietnamese authorities may have specific legalisation requirements.

The purpose (employment, business setup, education)
The Intended use of the document determines the legalisation route.

Whether the document is original, certified copy or privately signed

Whether the receiving authority requires Vietnamese translation

Whether the requirement changes after Vietnam’s Apostille Convention transition

Because Vietnam is moving toward the Apostille Convention regime, the route should be checked carefully at the time of submission. We confirm the likely route during the pre-check stage.

Translation Requirements for Vietnam

Some Vietnamese authorities may request documents or supporting material in Vietnamese, especially for official government, legal, employment, education, business or immigration use.

Translation may be required:

The authority requesting the document
Each authority may have its own translation rules.

The purpose (employment, legal, business, immigration)
The use of the document impacts translation requirements.

The document type
Certain documents must always be in Arabic.

In practice, translation may be required:

01

After legalisation (most common)

02

Before submission, in certain cases

03

Or both, depending on the authority

Our Translation & Legalisation Support
Will guide you through every step to ensure your documents are accepted without delay.

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TURNAROUND AND PROCESSING TIME

We offer standard and priority handling depending on urgency.

Turnaround depends on:

Document Type

Determines the legalisation route, required certifications, and whether additional steps are needed before submission.

Required steps

Some documents require certification before an apostille, then Vietnam Embassy legalisation, in the correct order.

Embassy Timelines

Processing times vary depending on Vietnam Embassy requirements, submission volume, and public holidays.

For an accurate timeframe, use

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Why choose Sterling & Reeve

Experience with Vietnam Legalisation Requirements
In-depth knowledge of the Vietnam Legalisation Process and authority requirements.

Precheck system to reduce rejection risk
Our precheck process helps identify issues early to minimise rejection.

Structured step-by-step handling
Structured handling through certification, FCDO and Vietnam Embassy Stages

Clear communication throughout
You’ll stay informed at every step with prompt updates and responsive support.

Check your documents before you start

Avoid delays and incorrect corrections.

Send your documents for a quick review, and we will all confirm:

The exact Vietnam legalisation route

What steps are required

Estimated timeframe

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Frequently asked questions

It depends on the document type, whether certification is needed before FCDO legalisation, FCDO processing times, Vietnam Embassy submission requirements and courier schedules. We confirm the expected timeframe after reviewing your documents.

In many cases, yes. Some documents can start from scans, but originals are usually required for final processing.

Yes. You can send clear scans for review, then post originals when ready.

Sometimes. This depends on the receiving authority in Vietnam and the purpose of use. If Vietnamese translation is required, we can advise how it should be prepared.

Yes. We support commercial and export-related documents including company documents, invoices, powers of attorney, certificates of origin, contracts and authorisation letters.

Not usually at the time of writing. Vietnam has acceded to the Hague Apostille Convention, but the Convention is listed to enter into force for Vietnam on 11 September 2026. Until the route is fully in force and accepted in practice, UK documents should be checked before assuming apostille-only acceptance.

Start your Vietnam legalisation correctly

Send your documents today and get the correct process confirmed before submission.

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