Consular legalization for documents issued in Singapore
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Updated October 2023 – Consular legalization is the Vietnamese certification process for stamps, signatures, and titles on foreign documents before being recognized and used in Vietnam.
This guide aims to equip you with the knowledge and steps needed for a smooth and legal process. Please note that Consular legalization does not include certification of the contents and forms of the documents.
1. For government-issued documents
(Ex: Registry of Marriages Certificates, Birth Certificates, and Educational Certificates)
- Originals/Photocopies (with originals) shall be certified by the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL) or the Singapore Consulate-General in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC).
- Documents legalized:
- by SAL shall be legalized by the Vietnam Embassy in Singapore.
- by the Singapore Consulate-General in HCMC shall be legalized by the Department of External Relations (DER).
2. For computer-generated documents
(Ex: Registry of Marriages Search Results, Adoption Petition, Tax Documents from Inland Revenue Singapore, etc.)
Certified by SAL:
- Legalized by the Vietnamese Embassy in Singapore.
- Or legalized by the Consulate-General of Singapore and DER in HCMC.
3. For commercial documents
(Ex: Invoices, Bills of Sales, Certificates of Origin, Fumigation certificates, etc.)
- Certified by any of the four Chambers of Commerce (International, Chinese, Indian & Malay) or the Singapore Manufacturers’ Association.
- Certified by SAL:
- Legalized in the Vietnam Embassy in Singapore or the Consulate-General.
- The consular legalized documents by the Consulate-General will be notarized by DER in HCMC.
4. For Non-Government Documents
(Ex: Foreign/private/company documents)
- Notarized by a Notary Public in Singapore.
- Certified by SAL.
- Please choose one out of the two options:
- Option 1: Certified by the Vietnam Embassy in Singapore
- Option 2: Certified by the Singapore Consulate-General in HCMC and notarized the certified documents by DER in HCMC
Once the document is consular legalized, a certified true copy and translations into Vietnamese can be made by the Vietnam Embassy in Singapore or in Vietnam at any notary public or the Justice Division of the District People’s Committee.
For detailed information, please check: https://www.mfa.gov.sg/Overseas-Mission/Ho-Chi-Minh-City/Consular-Services/Notarial-and-Authentication-Services
