Vietnam Apostille: The New Route for Indian Papers
Vietnam apostille is new. The Hague Apostille Convention entered into force for Vietnam on 11 September 2026, so Indian documents now need only the Apostille from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Before that date, papers had to be legalized at the Vietnamese Embassy in New Delhi.
By the INFINITYGRO documentation teamUpdated Facts checked against MEA and HCCH
Documents from India for Vietnam
Does Vietnam accept an Indian Apostille now? Yes. From 11 September 2026, a Vietnam apostille issued by the MEA replaces embassy legalization. The document is first verified in India by the state, a notary or a Chamber of Commerce, and then apostilled. Papers legalized before that date stay valid on their own terms, but new documents follow the Apostille route.
What Changed in September 2026
Until recently, Vietnam was an embassy-route country. An Indian degree needed state verification, MEA attestation and then a stamp from the Vietnamese Embassy. That last step added time and an embassy fee.
Now the MEA Apostille is the final step. Some offices in Vietnam may still be adjusting to the change. If an office asks for consular legalization, show them that the paper carries an Apostille issued after the Convention came into force.
Key facts
| Route | MEA Apostille |
|---|---|
| Convention in force for Vietnam | 11 September 2026 |
| Old route | MEA attestation plus Vietnamese Embassy legalization |
| Step before MEA | State department, notary/SDM, or Chamber of Commerce |
| MEA government fee | Rs 50 per document |
| Translation | Vietnamese, usually certified in Vietnam |
| Common users | Teachers, IT staff, investors, exporters |
Who Sends Documents to Vietnam
Indian nationals go to Vietnam to teach English, work in IT and manufacturing, and run businesses. Students also go there for medical and other courses, and Vietnamese universities ask for school and degree records. Work permits there commonly ask for a legalized degree and a police clearance certificate. Investors and exporters need company papers for registration, tenders and distribution deals.
Vietnam Apostille Steps from India
- Get the document verified at its source in India.
- Submit it to the MEA through an authorised centre. We handle this part.
- The MEA fixes the Apostille sticker.
- Get the paper translated into Vietnamese if the office in Vietnam asks for it.
Read the MEA Apostille overview for more on the sticker. For a police clearance certificate, the PCC from Passport Seva is apostilled directly.
Papers for a Vietnam Work Permit
A foreign worker in Vietnam usually needs a work permit before the temporary residence card. Employers commonly ask for these Indian papers:
- Degree certificate, and sometimes the transcript or mark sheets. See our degree attestation page.
- A police clearance certificate, which must usually be recent.
- Experience letters from past employers, signed and notarised.
- A marriage certificate and children's birth certificates if your family is moving with you.
Rules on what is needed change from time to time, and the employer in Vietnam files the application. Get their latest checklist before you send papers to us, so each document is apostilled once.
Documents Already in Process
Some clients started the embassy route before September 2026. If your paper already has MEA attestation but no embassy stamp, ask us before doing anything more. It may be simpler to get a fresh Vietnam apostille than to finish the old route. We look at each paper and advise in writing.
Vietnamese Translation
Vietnamese offices usually want the document in Vietnamese. Translations are commonly done and certified in Vietnam after the Apostille. Ask your employer or agent which they prefer. We can also arrange translation in India if it is accepted.
Exporters and Companies
Trade between India and Vietnam covers machinery, pharmaceuticals, cotton, meat and more. A Vietnamese buyer or regulator may want certified commercial papers. Invoices and the certificate of origin go to a Chamber of Commerce first, then the MEA Apostille. See commercial documents.
Companies setting up in Vietnam also send their certificate of incorporation, memorandum and a board resolution naming the local representative. These are notarised, certified by a chamber and apostilled. Check that the company name is written the same way on every paper, because Vietnamese registration offices compare them closely.
Before You Send
- Original certificate, not laminated.
- Passport copy with matching name.
- A note of the purpose: work permit, school, company registration.
- The checklist from your employer or university in Vietnam, if you have one.
Contact us for a written quote.
Document guides for Vietnam
The same route applies to most documents; each guide covers what to send and the common mistakes.
What the stamps look like
Click any sample to enlarge. Personal details are masked.
Vietnam FAQs
When did Vietnam start accepting the Apostille?
The Convention entered into force for Vietnam on 11 September 2026.
Do I still need the Vietnamese Embassy stamp?
No. For documents apostilled under the Convention, the embassy step is no longer needed.
Is my old embassy-legalized document still valid?
Legalization done before the change is not cancelled by it. Whether an office accepts an older paper depends on its own rules about document age.
Does the Apostille include a translation?
No. The Apostille certifies the signature. Translation into Vietnamese is a separate step.
What is the MEA fee?
Rs 50 per document. Other charges are quoted in writing before you send.
Can my company in Vietnam get a Vietnam apostille on our Indian board resolution?
Yes. The resolution is printed on letterhead, signed by the authorised director, notarised and certified by a Chamber of Commerce. The MEA then adds the Apostille. Many Vietnamese offices will also want it translated.
Other Apostille countries
AlgeriaApostille
ArgentinaApostille
AustraliaApostille
AustriaApostille
BahrainApostille
BangladeshApostille
BelgiumApostille
BoliviaApostille
No country matches. Call us: we handle most embassies in New Delhi.
Apostille MEA Apostille is the final stepEmbassy legalization MEA attestation, then the embassy in New DelhiGerman verification verified through the German Embassy
Sending documents to Vietnam?
WhatsApp a photo of the document and tell us its use. We reply with the route and a written quote.