Apostille Convention: One stamp, 125 countries, and Vietnam’s timely commitment
WVR - On September 11, the 1961 Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents (Apostille Convention) was applied between Vietnam and 125 member countries. Documents exchanged between Vietnam and these countries now only require a single certification.
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| Headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs) |
One certification replaces a series of rrocedures
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| Sample of Vietnam's Apostille certification implemented from 11/9/2026. (Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs) |
In recent years, a university degree needed to be recognized by a foreign institution had to undergo procedures at both ends: domestic certification followed by confirmation at the representative office of the country where it would be used. The reverse process was similar.
This series of procedures stemmed from countries not being able to automatically recognize each other's signatures and seals on public documents. The Apostille Convention replaces the multi-step confirmation mechanism with a unified recognition mechanism: the competent authority of the country where the document is issued provides a single certification, allowing the document to be used directly in other member countries.
Each new member has six months for other countries to express their opinions. Vietnam's deadline concluded in July 2026 with the approval of the vast majority of member countries, including most countries with significant document exchanges with Vietnam such as the Republic of Korea, Japan, the United States, China…
Reducing a procedure, who benefits?
After the Convention takes effect, Vietnamese Representative Missions abroad will no longer need to legalize consular documents within the scope exempted by the Convention, issued by member countries with applicable relations with Vietnam. One procedural step, one fee, one inspection is eliminated.
There are procedures that a country cannot unilaterally abolish: Vietnam removing the requirement on its side does not mean Vietnamese documents will be exempt from corresponding procedures abroad. The way forward is an international commitment, creating a basis for changes in the laws and practices of each side to be implemented synchronously – in line with the requirement to incorporate international commitments into domestic law as set out by Resolution No. 59-NQ/TW of the Politburo on international integration in the new situation, issued at the beginning of 2025.
According to estimates, nearly 700,000 public documents are exchanged annually between Vietnam and foreign countries. The primary beneficiaries are those who have to go through many steps just to complete a set of documents, such as students studying abroad, workers, overseas Vietnamese, and those marrying foreigners. For businesses, faster document processing means projects and contracts can also be implemented more quickly.
Implementation and key considerations
In December 2025, the Government agreed to join the Convention in Resolution No. 407/NQ-CP, and Vietnam submitted the documents within the same month. The implementing decree was drafted to take effect simultaneously with the Convention in Vietnam, ensuring no gap between international commitments and domestic law.
The new mechanism is not built from scratch: it operates on a database of over 200,000 signature samples and more than 118,000 seals, without establishing new organizations or increasing staff. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has guided ministries, sectors, localities, representative offices, and organized a dissemination conference on September 10 for over 450 delegates.
As of September 15, 2026, Vietnam's Apostille certification authority has received 620 applications and issued 4,517 Apostille certifications.
Along with gradually implementing electronic Apostille certification and decentralizing certification authority to localities, the new mechanism will continue to be simplified in the future, thereby shortening the process and handling time, reducing costs for citizens, businesses, and state agencies.
Apostille not only shortens a procedure. More importantly, it is how Vietnam transforms an integration commitment into a tangible change, allowing citizens' documents to travel further, faster, and more conveniently.
| What is APOSTILLE? Applied between Vietnam and 125 member countries with applicable relations with Vietnam from September 11, 2026. Vietnam's Apostille certification authorities: Consular Department and Ho Chi Minh City Department of Foreign Affairs. Information lookup: https://www.hcch.net/ → select “English” → Instruments → 1961 Apostille Convention |
