Consular Legalization of U.S. Documents

Looking to legalize U.S. documents for use in Vietnam? The most important thing to know first: since 11 September 2026, Vietnam recognizes the apostille, so most U.S. documents no longer have to go through a consulate at all.

VietVisas takes new consular legalization orders until 30 September 2026. From 1 October 2026, U.S. documents for use in Vietnam go the apostille route — $170 per document, 3–5 business days. See our apostille service for U.S. documents.

What is consular legalization?

Consular legalization is the procedure by which a Vietnamese mission in the U.S. confirms the seal and signature on a U.S.-issued document. With that confirmation, the document can be used in procedures in Vietnam: registering a marriage, registering a child's birth, inheritance, property, employment or school enrollment.

It runs through several steps, in a fixed order: notarization (for personal documents), state-level authentication, then legalization at a Vietnamese mission. Before 11 September 2026, it was the only way for a U.S. document to be accepted in Vietnam.

Why most documents now need only an apostille

Vietnam joined the 1961 Apostille Convention, and the Convention entered into force for Vietnam on 11 September 2026. The United States has been a party since 1981. That changes three things:

• Fewer steps. An apostille is a single certificate issued in the U.S., replacing the whole chain that ended at the consulate.
• Usually faster, because there is no longer a wait at the Vietnamese mission.
• Documents legalized earlier stay valid — nobody will ask you to redo them.

That is why VietVisas has moved to apostilles for U.S. documents used in Vietnam, and stops taking new consular legalization orders after 30 September 2026.

Do you need consular legalization or an apostille?

Situation	What to do
Most U.S. public documents: birth, marriage, divorce decrees, background checks, diplomas, notarized documents	Apostille — see the apostille service
The receiving office in Vietnam specifically requires legalization, or the document relates directly to commerce or customs	Consular legalization — VietVisas takes orders until 30 September 2026
Documents already legalized in the past	Still valid, no need to redo them
Affidavit of single status for a marriage in Vietnam	A separate package — see affidavit of single status

Not sure which applies to your documents? Send VietVisas a photo — we'll look and tell you which procedure you need before you spend anything.

Legalization orders taken until 30 September 2026

If your receiving office needs consular legalization specifically, VietVisas still takes new orders until 30 September 2026. The fee is $170 per document, with processing in 3–5 days.

1. Send photos of the documents to VietVisas so we can check them first.
2. Notarization, for personal documents.
3. State-level authentication.
4. Legalization at a Vietnamese mission in the U.S.
5. Delivery to your door, free in all 50 states. You pay after you receive the result.

Need a Vietnamese translation? We add it when the receiving office requires one, for a separate fee — see certified translation.

Orders received by 30 September 2026 are completed as consular legalization, even if they finish after that date.

From 1 October 2026: moving to apostille

For you, the starting point doesn't change — you still send photos of your documents for us to look over first. The file simply takes a shorter route:

Apostille package	Processing	Fee
Notary + apostille	3–5 business days	$170 per document
Notary + apostille + Vietnamese translation	4–7 business days	$250 per document

Each step, which documents qualify, and the common mistakes are on the apostille for U.S. documents used in Vietnam page.

Common mistakes

• Legalizing a document that only needs an apostille — an extra step and extra time, for a result that is used in Vietnam the same way.
• Not asking the receiving office first. Some offices in Vietnam may ask for additional documents or a translation.
• Separating certified documents to copy them — once taken apart, they lose their validity.
• Waiting until you're in Vietnam. Both procedures start in the U.S.; if something is missing after you arrive, the documents have to be shipped back.

Not sure what your documents need? Message VietVisas for free advice — or call +1 (415) 390-6525.