Consular Legalization of Australian Documents for use in Vietnam is the process through which agencies of Australia and the diplomatic agency of Vietnam certify the legitimacy of the seal and signature on the documents. 

Documents issued in Australia may require consular legalization for use in Vietnam. These documents typically include:

• Government-issued documents: Australian government commercial documents (e.g. ASIC, ATO or TGA documents), Birth Certificates, Marriage Certificates, Court Orders and Judgments, etc. 
• Non-government-issued documents: Work Experience Certificate, Appointment Decision, Powers of Attorney, Bank statements, Company Constitution, Contracts, Invoices, Company-Issued Documents, Certificates of Origin, other private documents, etc. 

In this guide, Nova Law will walk you through the step-by-step process for getting your Australian documents legalized for official use in Vietnam. 

Step 1. Notarization of Australian documents 

Government-issued documents in their original form and originals issued by Australian tertiary education institutions will be directly legalized by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), so you can skip this step and proceed directly to Step 2. 

Note: DFAT only accepts a limited range of official Australian public documents in electronic form. Electronic documents will be assessed when submitted by mail or over the counter, and eligibility cannot be confirmed by phone. You may be required to provide the original email or access an online portal to verify the authenticity of the document. Some electronic documents without a signature and/or seal may need to be notarized first.

Other documents, including photocopies, non-government-issued documents, first require notarization by a notary public in Australia

You can find a Notary Public using each state or territory listing:

• Australian Capital Territory Notary Public list
• New South Wales Notary Public list
• Northern Territory Notary Public list
• Queensland Notary Public list
• South Australian Notary Public list
• Tasmania Notary Public list
• Victorian Notary Public list
• Western Australia Notary Public list

Processing time: 1 business day

Outcome Required: A General Certificate attached to the document. 

Step 2. Authentication of documents by the DFAT

After completing Step 1 (if required), documents need to be presented to the DFAT for authenticating the signatures of Notaries Public. The cost for authenticating documents is AUD 102. Here’s how to submit your documents:

Option 1: Make an appointment, submit in person

To make an appointment online please select the office that you would like to attend:

Adelaide; Brisbane; Canberra; Darwin; Hobart; Melbourne; Perth; Sydney

Option 2: Submit by mail

You can post your documents and forms to DFAT.

• Send your forms and original documents via registered post.
• Include your credit card authorization.
• Include a self-addressed registered post envelope for its safe return.

Send your application to one of the following addresses:

Australian Passport Office Authentications Section

• In Melbourne: GPO Box 2239, MELBOURNE VIC 3001; or
• In Sydney: GPO Box 2239, SYDNEY NSW 2001

Processing time: can vary depending on the time of year.

Outcome required: An Authentication/Apostille Stamp affixed to the back of the Notarial Certificate issued by DFAT

Note: Vietnam is not a party to the Hague Convention. After obtaining Apostille stamps from Australia, the documents must be further legalized by a Vietnamese diplomatic agency for use within Vietnam. 

Step 3. Consular legalization by the Vietnamese Diplomatic Authority 

The Australian document authenticated by DFAT can be legalized either by the Vietnam Embassy in Australia, or by the Consular Department of MOFA in Vietnam to verify the stamp and signature of DFAT. 

Option 1: Consular legalize documents in Australia

If you decide to consular legalize documents with the Vietnam Embassy in Australia please bring the required documents for Vietnamese consular legalization (the result of Step 2), along with one copy of each, and plan your visit in the morning.

1. Vietnam Embassy in Canberra

• Address: 6 Timbarra Crescent, O’Malley, ACT, 2606, Australia
• Phone number: (02)61694916
• Email: vembassy@iinet.net.au

2. Vietnam Consulate General Sydney, Australia

• Address: Suite 205, level 2, Edgecliff Center 203 – 233 New South Head Road, Edgecliff, NSW 2027
• Phone: 02 93271912 / 02 93272539
• Email: vnconsul@iinet.net.au

Consular Working Hours

• Days: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday
• Submission: 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM
• Collection: 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Processing time: 05 working day from the date of receiving sufficient documents.

Required Result: A Vietnamese consular legalization stamp affixed to the back of the document. 

Option 2: Legalize documents in Vietnam

If you decide to consular legalize document in Vietnam, please courier DFAT-authenticated documents to Vietnam, then follow these 2 sub-steps as follows: 

Step 3.1. Certified by the Australia Embassy/Consulate in Vietnam 

The Embassy or Consulate of Australia in Vietnam will verify the authenticity of DFAT’s Apostille Stamp on the documents: 

• In Hanoi: Australian Embassy Vietnam. Address: No. 8 Dao Tan Street, Giang Vo Ward, Hanoi City, Vietnam
• In HCMC: The Consulate General of Australia. Address: Vincom Building, 47 Ly Tu Trong Street, Saigon Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Processing time: 0,5 to 1 business days 

Result: An Australia Authentication Certificate attached to document 

Step 3.2. Legalized at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam 

Finally, bring the dossier to MOFA Vietnam to obtain the Vietnamese consular legalization stamp to: 

• In Hanoi: Consular Department – Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Address: 40 Tran Phu, Ba Dinh Ward, Hanoi. 
• In HCMC: Foreign Affairs Department of Ho Chi Minh City – Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Address: 6 Alexandre de Rhodes, Saigon Ward, Ho Chi Minh City. 

The dossier for requesting a Vietnamese consular legalization stamp includes: 

• An application form for legalization of documents (Form LS/HPH-2012/TK) 
• Documents requested for Vietnamese consular legalization (the result of step 2) and one copy 
• A photocopy of the requester’s ID or passport 

In cases where the authenticity of documents submitted for consular legalization needs to be verified, the officer receiving the application may request the applicant to present additional original copies of the relevant documents or papers and submit one photocopy of these documents or papers. 

Processing time: from 3 to 15 business days 

Required Result: A Vietnamese consular legalization stamp affixed to the back of the document 

Step 4. Notarized translation into Vietnamese 

Legalized documents in English language must be translated into Vietnamese by a certified translator and notarized in Vietnam before submission to the competent Vietnamese authorities. 

Processing time: 2 business days 

Result: A Vietnamese notarized translation of the document

Conclusion 

Total processing times for consular legalization may take at least 2 weeks if there are no delays. After the Australian document has been consular legalized and translated into Vietnamese, it can be recognized and used in Vietnam for official purposes. 

Navigating the consular legalization process for your documents intended for use in Vietnam can be complex and time-consuming, involving coordination with multiple agencies in both countries. To save time, let Nova Law assist you. We provide streamlined legalization services for Australia documents. Please share your documents with Nova Law to: info@novalaw.vn, we’ll review them and send you a service proposal.