Consular legalization and consular certification are important administrative procedures commonly used in the process of granting work permits to foreigners, temporary residence cards, etc.
So what is the consular legalization and consular certificate procedure? Let’s find out by reading the following article.
Contents
1. Definition of consular certification and legalization
According to Clause 1, Article 2 of Decree 111/2011/ND-CP, the definition of consular certification and legalization is as follows:
| Consular certification | Consular legalization |
Definition | Is the competent Vietnamese agency’s certification of seals, signatures and titles on Vietnamese papers and documents so that such papers and documents can be recognized and used abroad; | Is the competent Vietnamese agency certifies seals, signatures and titles on foreign papers and documents so that such papers and documents can be recognized and used in Vietnam. |
2. Competent agency for consular certification and legalization of Vietnam
The competent authorities for consular certification in Vietnam are specified in Article 5 of Decree 111/2011/ND-CP including:
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has the authority to certify and legalize consular affairs in the country;
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs may authorize foreign affairs agencies of provinces and centrally-run cities to receive dossiers of application for consular certification and legalization; - Diplomatic missions, consular offices, or other agencies authorized to perform the consular function of Vietnam in foreign countries (hereinafter referred to as representative offices) are competent to certify consular and legal consularization abroad.
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has the authority to certify and legalize consular affairs in the country;
3. Papers exempt from consular certification and legalization:
In addition to the documents required for consular certification and legalization, there are also papers exempt from consular certification and are specified in Article 9 of Decree 111/2011/ND-CP.
- Papers and documents exempted from consular certification and legalization according to international treaties to which Vietnam and related foreign countries are members, or on the principle of reciprocity;
- Papers and documents transferred directly or through diplomatic channels between a competent Vietnamese agency and a foreign competent authority;
- Papers and documents exempt from consular certification and legalization in accordance with Vietnamese law;
- Papers and documents that do not require consular legalization or certification by a Vietnamese or foreign receiving agency or consular certification in accordance with relevant Vietnamese or foreign laws.
4. Dossier, time for consular certification and legalization
* Dossier for consular certification and legalization:
| CONSULAR LEGALIZATION | CONSULAR CERTIFICATION | |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign Office | • 01 Consular legalization declaration according to the prescribed form; • The original identity document in case of direct application; • 01 copy of identity document in case of submitting application by post; • Papers and documents requested for consular legalization; • 01 translation of papers and documents requested for consular legalization into Vietnamese or English, if such papers and documents are not made in the above languages; • 01 copy of papers proposed for consular legalization and 01 copy of translation to keep at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. | • 01 Consular legalization declaration according to the prescribed form; • The original identity document in case of direct application; • 01 copy of identity document in case of submitting application by post; • Papers and documents requested for consular legalization; |
| Vietnamese representative offices abroad | • 01 Consular legalization declaration according to the prescribed form; • The original identity document in case of direct application; • 01 copy of identity document in case of submitting application by post; • Papers and documents requested for consular legalization; • 01 translation of papers and documents requested for consular legalization into Vietnamese, English or a foreign language that the receiving officer can understand, if such papers and documents are not made in the above languages; • 01 copy of papers proposed for consular legalization and 01 copy of translation to keep at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. | • 01 application form for consular certification according to the prescribed form; • Present the original of the identification document in case of direct application; • 01 copy of identity document in case of submitting application by post; • Papers and documents requested for consular certification, enclosed with 01 copy of these papers and documents to keep at the representative office |
* Processing time for consular legalization and certification procedures:
The time limit for processing consular legalization and certification procedures at both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Vietnam’s representative missions abroad is 1 working day from the date of receipt of a complete and valid dossier. In case the application has 10 or more papers and documents, the processing time may be longer but must not exceed 05 working days.
In order to save time to learn the procedures, fill out the form, Translate, notarize, and wait for the application to be submitted, you can contact HT for consular legalization and certification services.
Contact us
- Email: hue.truong@htlaw.vn
- Phone number: +84 935 439 454.