Degrees, criminal record certificates and marriage certificates issued abroad usually need consular legalisation before they can be used in Vietnam. It is also the step most likely to slow down the whole application.
What consular legalisation is
It is the certification by the competent Vietnamese authorities of the seal, signature and title on a document issued abroad, so that the document is recognised and can be used in Vietnam. It does not confirm the content of the document.
Documents that usually need it
- University degrees, professional certificates and letters confirming work experience.
- Criminal record certificates issued abroad.
- Marriage and birth certificates used in family applications.
- Corporate documents of a parent company abroad.
The usual order
- Certification or notarisation in the issuing country, if that country requires it.
- Authentication by the foreign affairs authority of the issuing country.
- Consular legalisation by the Vietnamese mission in that country.
- Back in Vietnam, translation into Vietnamese and certification of the translation.
Exemptions
Documents from some countries are exempt under international treaties to which Vietnam is a party, or under reciprocity. The list changes over time, so check before you start instead of relying on what worked for someone else.
The other direction
A document issued in Vietnam and intended for use abroad needs consular certification by the Vietnamese foreign affairs authorities, followed by legalisation at the mission of the receiving country. A typical example is a Vietnamese criminal record certificate filed with an immigration application in another country.
Advice
- Start early. This is usually the longest step in a work permit application.
- Legalise first, translate second. Doing it the other way round usually means doing it again.
- Check that the name on every document matches your passport.
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