Vietnam are joining the Hague Apostille Convention

A few week back, it was announced that Algeria were joining the Hague Apostille Convention in an effort to simplify their document attestation process.

Now, the HCCH (‘Hague Conference on Private International Law‘ –I don’t know how they get HCCH from that either) have announced that Vietnam have also submitted their application to join.

In this blog we’ll go through exactly what the Hague Apostille Convention is, why it’s significant that Vietnam have joined, and how that might affect you if you’re moving to, or have documents from, Vietnam.

A temple in rural Vietnam. Stunning cliffs in the background. The temple is situated in a peaceful lake.

What is the Hague Apostille Convention?

Firstly you’ll need to know what document attestation is – the Hague Apostille Convention exists solely for the purpose of making document attestation easier.

What is document attestation?

Document attestation (you might also hear it referred to as document legalisation) is the process of getting a document that was issued in one country officially recognised in another.

Think of it like giving your documents a special stamp of approval – an Apostille – that proves they’re legitimate. The exact steps you need to take vary depending on which country your documents are from and where they’re going, which is why it can get a bit messy.

Sometimes just getting an Apostille stamp isn’t enough. You may need additional steps – things like getting documents certified, notarised or translated. I won’t bore you with all the details here, but the point is this: when you need those extra steps, the whole thing can become expensive, complicated and time-consuming.

But that’s why the Hague Apostille Convention exists.

An image of an old waterpark in Vietnam. An ornate, now grimy and discoloured traditional dragon statue looms over an abandoned building. It is situated on a walkway in the middle of a pond. Trees are in the far background.

So what is the Hague Apostille Convention?

The Hague Apostille Convention is an international agreement. Countries that are part of it have agreed to streamline the attestation process between each other and cut out all those extra steps wherever possible. If both countries are members of the Convention, you’ll usually only need an Apostille – nothing else.

Just a quick heads up, though – a couple of member countries do still ask for one or two additional steps. It’s always worth checking the specific requirements for your documents before you start. Better safe than sorry!

What does that mean for Vietnam?

Now that Vietnam’s joining the Hague Apostille Convention, legalising documents that involve Vietnam is about to become easier.

It doesn’t matter whether you’ve got documents that were issued in Vietnam, or whether you’re taking documents from another country to present in Vietnam. The process is going to be simplified when you’re dealing with other member countries of the Convention.

When do they join?

Vietnam put in their application to join on 31st December 2025. The official date they’ll become a member is 11th September 2026 – as long as nothing unexpected pops up during the waiting period.

From 11th September 2026, Vietnam will be an official member of the Hague Apostille Convention, which means legalising documents for or from Vietnam should be significantly more straightforward.

hanoi autumn 1

Quick Recap

Here’s what you need to remember:

  • Vietnam applied to join the Hague Apostille Convention on 31st December 2025
  • The Hague Apostille Convention is an international agreement that simplifies document legalisation between member countries
  • After a short waiting period, Vietnam will officially become a member on 11th September 2026

Can you help with my Vietnamese documents?

Vietnam becoming part of the Hague Apostille Convention will definitely make things easier, but if you’ve never dealt with document attestation before, it can still feel pretty overwhelming.

If you’d rather not deal with the embassy hassle yourself, we’re here to help. Just send your documents over to us, and we’ll sort out the attestation on your behalf. Once everything’s done, we’ll post them back to you – or anywhere else you need them sent, like your employer’s office. All you need to do is get your documents to us in the post and we’ll handle the rest.

If you’d like us to take care of everything for you, get in touch today for a quote. It doesn’t matter what your situation is or which documents need legalising – we can help. Click the button below for a quote, give us a ring on +44 (0)330 088 1142, or send us an email at sales@vitalconsular.com.

While you’re here, why not keep up to date with all the latest comings and goings by following us on social media?

Declan Ramsden
Declan Ramsden

Declan is a Content Creator at Vital Consular. He studied English Literature for 4 years before joining the company. Outside of work, he enjoys listening to retro music and reading classic novels – particularly Charles Dickens!

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