Documents from Vietnam

Why the apostille does not work between Vietnam and Germany, legalisation, document checks, translations.

No apostille between Vietnam and Germany

Vietnam joined the Hague Apostille Convention; it entered into force for Vietnam on 11 September 2026. But Germany objected to Vietnam's accession on 20 May 2026, so the Convention does not apply between the two countries (HCCH status table, objections, depositary notification). An apostille from Vietnam is therefore not enough for German offices. The old route stays: legalisation.

Legalisation by the German missions

• Done at the Embassy Hanoi and the Consulate General Ho Chi Minh City, only for civil-status and similar documents: birth, marriage and death certificates, certificate of single status, recognition of paternity, police confirmation of residence, divorce judgments, criminal-record certificates (forms 06a/07a) (Embassy page).
• The document must first be certified by the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (consular department) and translated into German.
• Fee €30 per document, paid in VND.
• School and university documents cannot be legalised. For study, the APS certificate checks them; for work, see Recognition.

Document check (Urkundenüberprüfung)

If a German authority doubts a document, it can ask the Embassy to have it checked by a lawyer in Vietnam. This happens only at the request of a German authority, not on your own initiative. Cost from €193/€263 for one document up to €443/€583 for four, depending on the region; duration about 5 months (Embassy page).

Copies and translations

• The missions certify copies for €24 per document, paid in VND. Hanoi: by appointment, cash only. Ho Chi Minh City: no appointment, cash or card (Embassy page).
• Bring originals plus one set of copies to the visa appointment; originals are returned.
• Which translators are accepted is decided by the office that reads the file – recognition bodies are often stricter than the Embassy. Ask first, then pay.