What Is Consular Legalization? A Guide for Vietnamese in the U.S.

Do you have a birth certificate, marriage certificate, diploma, or background check issued in the U.S. that you need to use in Vietnam? In most cases, these documents must go through consular legalization before a Vietnamese authority will accept them. This article explains the procedure in plain terms.

What is consular legalization?

Consular legalization is the process by which a competent Vietnamese authority verifies the seal, signature, and title on a document issued abroad. Once legalized, the document gains legal validity for use in administrative procedures in Vietnam.

In other words, a document issued by a U.S. state isn't automatically recognized in Vietnam — it needs an authenticating "bridge," and consular legalization is exactly that bridge.

Documents that usually require legalization

• Birth certificates and marriage certificates
• Diplomas, transcripts, and certificates
• Criminal background checks
• Single-status certificates, powers of attorney, and many other document types

When do you need this procedure?

You should legalize documents before returning to Vietnam in order to: register a marriage, register a child's birth, apply for a job, enroll in school, or carry out real-estate and inheritance transactions. Doing it early in the U.S. avoids having to ship documents back after you've already returned home.

What does VietVisas help with?

VietVisas handles consular legalization for the full range of U.S. documents, guides you through the file from start to finish, serves customers across the United States, and delivers results to your door free of charge in all 50 states.

Need to check whether your document requires legalization? Message VietVisas on Facebook for a free consultation.