Vietnam has officially joined the Apostille Convention, which will be a significant shift in how foreign public documents are recognized in the country. Once the Convention enters into force, documents issued in participating member states will no longer require multi-step consular legalization. Instead, a single Apostille certificate issued in the document’s country of origin will be sufficient. This development is expected to substantially simplify documentation requirements for work permit applications in Vietnam.
Vietnam acceded to the Apostille Convention on December 31, 2025. The Convention will apply from September 11, 2026, subject to no objections from existing member states during the transition period. With the apostille certification in place, it is expected that processing timelines for work permits, visas, and other compliance-related filings will be reduced. Costs associated with consular legalization are also expected to decrease once the new process is in effect.
What this means for employers
Vietnam’s adoption of the Apostille Convention is a meaningful administrative reform that will reduce compliance burdens for companies and individuals managing cross-border documentation. The shift should speed up work permit and visa preparation timelines, lower associated costs and minimise operational delays for international assignments. We will monitor the Vietnamese government’s upcoming implementation guidance over the coming months and update as needed.
As always, don’t hesitate to reach out to your Newland Chase dedicated contact or submit an inquiry should you have any specific questions regarding this announcement.
This immigration update is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal or scenario-specific advice. Furthermore, it is important to note that immigration announcements are subject to sudden and unexpected changes. Readers are encouraged to reach out to Newland Chase for any case- or company-specific assessments.
