Vietnam Joins the Hague Apostille Convention: What Changed September 11, 2026
If you have a California or U.S. document that will be used in Vietnam, the authentication process has changed.
On September 11, 2026, the Hague Apostille Convention entered into force for Vietnam. For covered public documents exchanged between the United States and Vietnam, an apostille generally replaces the longer consular legalization process that was previously required.
This is an important change for individuals, families, students and businesses submitting U.S. documents in Vietnam. However, an apostille does not determine which document you need, whether a translation is required or whether the receiving authority will accept the document in its current form.
Before beginning, always confirm the receiving authority’s requirements in Vietnam.
Is Vietnam Now a Hague Apostille Country?
Yes. Vietnam deposited its instrument of accession to the Hague Apostille Convention on December 31, 2025. The Convention entered into force for Vietnam on September 11, 2026.
The Convention applies between Vietnam and the United States because the United States did not object to Vietnam’s accession. This means eligible U.S. public documents intended for use in Vietnam can now follow the apostille process rather than the former multi-step embassy or consular legalization route.
An apostille authenticates the signature and official capacity of the public official whose signature appears on a document. It does not certify that the document’s contents are accurate, approve the transaction or guarantee acceptance by the receiving agency.
What Changed for U.S. Documents Going to Vietnam?
Before September 11, 2026, documents for use in Vietnam generally required a longer authentication and legalization process. Depending on the document, that could involve authentication by the issuing state or the U.S. Department of State, followed by legalization through a Vietnamese embassy or consulate.
For eligible documents covered by the Convention, the process is now more direct:
Obtain the correct original, certified copy or properly notarized document.
Obtain an apostille from the correct state or federal authority.
Complete any translation or additional step required by the receiving authority in Vietnam.
The issuing authority - not the destination - determines where the apostille must be obtained.
California Documents for Use in Vietnam
Documents issued or notarized in California are generally submitted to the California Secretary of State for an apostille. The California Secretary of State authenticates the signatures of eligible California public officials and commissioned California notaries.
Common California documents that may require an apostille for Vietnam include:
Affidavits and sworn statements
School records and diplomas
Adoption-related documents
Notarized copies or statements, when permitted by the receiving authority
The document must be properly prepared before it is presented for an apostille. For example, a California vital record should generally be a certified copy bearing an eligible public official’s signature. A private document may first require notarization using a California-compliant notarial certificate.
The California Secretary of State does not decide which notarial act a document requires. If a document needs notarization, the signer should obtain instructions from the receiving authority, document preparer or attorney regarding whether an acknowledgment, jurat or another procedure is required.
FBI Background Checks and Other Federal Documents
Federal documents do not go to the California Secretary of State.
An FBI Identity History Summary - commonly called an FBI background check - is a federal document. If it requires an apostille for use in Vietnam, it must be processed through the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C.
Other federally issued documents may also require a federal apostille, including certain documents issued by federal courts, federal agencies, U.S. consular officers or military authorities.
The U.S. Department of State requires an eligible original or certified federal document with the necessary official signature, title, seal and issue date. Do not notarize the original FBI background check or another federal document unless the issuing or receiving authority specifically instructs you to do so; improper notarization can make a document ineligible.
Learn more about FBI background check apostille services.
Birth, Marriage and Death Certificates
For a California birth, marriage or death certificate, you will generally need an eligible certified copy - not a regular photocopy or an informational copy.
The public official’s signature on the certificate determines whether it can be apostilled directly or whether an additional county-level certification or newly issued certified copy is needed. California birth and death certificates signed by a county clerk, deputy county clerk, county recorder, deputy county recorder or the State Registrar are among the records the California Secretary of State can authenticate.
If you do not have the correct certified record, Detailed Notary may be able to assist with California certified record retrieval before the apostille is obtained.
Powers of Attorney, Affidavits and Private Documents
A power of attorney, affidavit, consent form or other private document may need to be notarized before it can receive a California apostille.
The document should be reviewed by the receiving party in Vietnam before the appointment. That authority should confirm:
The exact document or form required
Whether the signer must use an acknowledgment or swear or affirm the contents under a jurat
Whether witnesses are required
Whether a Vietnamese translation is required
Whether the translation must be completed before or after the apostille
Whether multiple originals are needed
A California notary cannot select the notarial act or provide legal advice about the document’s contents.
Diplomas, Transcripts and School Records
Educational documents may be requested for employment, professional licensing, study or immigration matters in Vietnam. The correct preparation can vary by school and by the receiving authority.
Some records may need to be issued or certified by the school. Others may require a signed statement from a school official followed by notarization. Confirm the precise requirements before altering, copying or notarizing an academic record.
Corporate and Business Documents
Companies doing business in Vietnam may be asked to provide corporate records such as:
Bylaws
Board resolutions
Certificates of incumbency
Powers of attorney
Commercial agreements or authorization letters
The apostille authority depends on where the document originated and how it was executed. A California-notarized corporate document may be eligible for a California apostille, while a federal document follows the federal process. A document issued by another state must generally be apostilled by that state.
Will Vietnam Still Require a Translation?
Possibly. An apostille and a certified translation serve different purposes.
The apostille authenticates the relevant official signature and capacity. A translation makes the document understandable to the receiving authority. Vietnam’s participation in the Hague Apostille Convention does not eliminate an agency’s right to require a Vietnamese translation, a particular document format, a recently issued record or additional supporting materials.
Ask the receiving authority whether the original document, the apostille or both must be translated, and whether it requires a particular type of certification.
Detailed Notary coordinates certified document translations in more than 130 languages.
Important Exception: Austria, Germany and Czechia Objected
Austria, Germany and Czechia formally objected to Vietnam’s accession under Article 12 of the Convention. As a result, the Apostille Convention does not operate between Vietnam and those three countries.
This does not prevent the Convention from operating between Vietnam and the United States. It does mean that someone handling documents involving Austria, Germany or Czechia should not assume that Vietnam’s accession created an apostille relationship with those countries.
Does an Apostille Guarantee Acceptance in Vietnam?
No. An apostille confirms the authenticity of the relevant public official’s signature, the capacity in which the official acted and, where appropriate, the seal or stamp on the document. It does not validate the document’s contents or force a Vietnamese authority to accept the wrong type of record.
The receiving authority may still impose requirements involving:
The age or issuance date of the document
Certified versus informational copies
Vietnamese translation
Original ink signatures
Specific notarization or witness language
Supporting documents
Submission deadlines
The safest approach is to obtain written instructions from the authority receiving the document before beginning the apostille process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Vietnam accept apostilles now?
Yes. The Hague Apostille Convention entered into force for Vietnam on September 11, 2026. It operates between Vietnam and the United States because the United States did not object to Vietnam’s accession.
Do California documents still need Vietnamese consular legalization?
For eligible public documents covered by the Convention, a California apostille generally replaces the former consular legalization process. Confirm current requirements with the receiving authority in Vietnam, especially during the transition to the new system.
Where do I get an apostille for a California birth certificate going to Vietnam?
An eligible California certified birth certificate is apostilled by the California Secretary of State. The signature on the certificate must be one the Secretary of State can authenticate.
Where do I get an apostille for an FBI background check going to Vietnam?
An FBI background check is a federal document and must receive its apostille through the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., not the California Secretary of State.
Does my apostilled document need to be translated into Vietnamese?
It may. Translation requirements are set by the authority receiving the document in Vietnam. Ask whether the document, apostille or both must be translated and whether a specific certification is required.
Can Detailed Notary help if I do not have the correct certified copy?
Yes. Depending on the record and the applicant’s eligibility, Detailed Notary may be able to coordinate retrieval of California birth, marriage, death, divorce and other court-certified records before apostille processing
Need an Apostille for Vietnam?
Detailed Notary assists with California apostilles, federal apostilles, certified California record retrieval, mobile notarization and certified translations for documents being used abroad.
Services are available throughout San Mateo County and Santa Clara County, including Burlingame, San Mateo, Redwood City, Palo Alto, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, and San Jose. Nationwide assistance may also be available for documents sent by mail.
Learn more about California Apostille Services or request a quote before sending your documents. A clear scan can be reviewed first to help identify whether the document appears ready for apostille processing.
Because the details matter.
Comments