The Apostille Convention is one of the most important and successful international treaties developed by the Hague Conference on Private International Law, aimed at simplifying the use of public documents among member states. Under the Convention’s mechanism, instead of undergoing a complex, multi-layered consular legalization process—including certification by competent authorities in the issuing country and by diplomatic or consular missions of the country where the documents are to be used—documents now only require a single certification (the Apostille certificate) issued by a competent authority of the originating country. As a result, such documents can be directly recognized and used in other member states, thereby saving time and costs while enhancing efficiency in international legal exchanges.
On January 13, 2026, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands—the depositary of the 1961 Hague Convention—officially notified that Vietnam had deposited its instrument of accession to the Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (Apostille Convention) on December 31, 2025. In accordance with the Convention, the Apostille will take effect in relations between Vietnam and member states that have not raised objections to this accession as from September 11, 2026.[1]
In the context of the Government’s ongoing efforts to promote administrative reform, digital transformation, and improve the investment environment, Vietnam’s accession to the Apostille Convention clearly demonstrates its commitment to aligning with international legal standards. This serves as an important foundation for simplifying procedures for the recognition of public documents between Vietnam and other member states, thereby facilitating trade, investment, education, and cross-border mobility for individuals and businesses.
Types of documents exempt from consular legalization
– Documents issued by authorities or officials connected with courts or tribunals, including those prepared by prosecutors, court clerks, or bailiffs (huissier de justice);
– Administrative documents;
– Notarized documents;
– Official certificates placed on documents signed by individuals, such as certificates of registration, certification of a certain date, or authentication/notarization of signatures.
Note: An Apostille certificate only verifies the authenticity of the signature, the capacity of the person signing the document, and the seal or stamp affixed thereto; it does not certify the content of the document.
Types of documents not exempt from consular legalization
– Documents issued by diplomatic or consular officers;
– Administrative documents directly related to commercial or customs operations.
Note: According to the recommendations of the Hague Conference, these exclusions should be interpreted as narrowly as possible to ensure flexible application of the Convention and to maximize convenience for users.
With Vietnam’s official accession, the Apostille Convention now has more than 120 Contracting Parties (countries and territories). Member states are spread across various regions, including:
– Asia: Japan, South Korea, China (Hong Kong, Macao), Singapore, India, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Brunei, Indonesia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, etc.
– Europe: Germany, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Poland, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Portugal, Sweden, Norway, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Finland, Denmark, Ireland, etc.
– Americas: the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Uruguay, etc.
– Oceania: Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu, etc.
Documents that have been issued with an Apostille certificate in the above-mentioned jurisdictions may be used directly in Vietnam without undergoing consular legalization. Conversely, documents issued in Vietnam and bearing an Apostille certificate will also be recognized and accepted in other member states without the need for consular legalization procedures.
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