Legalising Australian documents for use in Vietnam

What has changed

According to a notice on the Embassy's website, Vietnam has joined the Apostille Convention, and the convention takes effect for Vietnam on 11 September 2026. From that date, Australian public documents used in Vietnam only need an Apostille certificate issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). The Embassy does not accept consular legalisation for documents that already carry an Apostille.

The old legalisation route (authentication by DFAT, then legalisation by the Embassy) now applies only to documents outside the scope of the convention.

Documents usually needed

• The original Australian document, with a DFAT Apostille.
• A notarised or certified Vietnamese translation, if the document is not in Vietnamese.
• For the old legalisation route: a legalisation application form, a copy of the applicant's passport or driver licence, the document already authenticated by DFAT, and a self-addressed envelope for the result.

Timing

The Embassy states the processing time for legalisation under the old route as 1 to 2 working days, and 1 to 3 days for certifying a copy or translation that accompanies an Apostille. This does not include time at DFAT and in the post. The DFAT Apostille fee is listed as AUD 102 from January 2025 and may change each year.

See the full step-by-step guide on the Legalisation service page.

How TNT Global helps

We check which route your documents take, translate when needed, assemble the application in line with the required list and send it by tracked post. You only need to hand over the original documents and tell us where in Vietnam they will be used.