Preparing Vietnamese Academic Documents for Study Abroad: Legalization, Translation and Credential Evaluation
By Muntasir • Published Jun 26, 2026 • Updated Aug 08, 2026 • Admissions & Applications, Study in Southeast Asia
Vietnam joined the Hague Apostille Convention on December 31, 2025, but it only takes effect on September 11, 2026, so until then Vietnamese documents still need full notarization, Ministry of Foreign Affairs legalization, and sometimes embassy legalization.
🎓 Get certified true copies (bản sao công chứng) from a notary office first.
📩 Then get a certified English translation and Ministry of Foreign Affairs consular legalization.
🏠 Some destination countries need one more legalization step at their embassy in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City.
⏱️ Start the process three months ahead, since each legalization step depends on the one before it.
What Vietnamese transcripts and diplomas need before they travel abroad
A foreign university or a credential evaluator like WES wants your bảng điểm (transcript) and bằng tốt nghiệp (diploma), a certified English translation of both, and proof from the Vietnamese government that the documents and the notary who copied them are genuine.
Where Vietnam stands on the apostille
Vietnam acceded to the Hague Apostille Convention on December 31, 2025, and the Convention enters into force for Vietnam on September 11, 2026. Until that date, Vietnamese academic documents still need the full consular legalization chain below, not a single apostille certificate. After September 11, 2026, expect Vietnam to move toward a one-step apostille for documents going to other member countries, similar to the change the Philippines and Indonesia already made. Check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs consular site for the current process before you start, since the transition date is close.
Step 1: get certified true copies from your school and a notary
Request your transcript and diploma from your university's academic affairs office. Take the originals to a notary public office (phòng công chứng) to get certified true copies, called bản sao công chứng, which carry the notary's seal and signature confirming they match the original.
Step 2: get a certified translation
Have the certified copies translated into English. Many notary offices also certify translations directly (bản dịch công chứng), or you can use a translation company the notary office accepts. Confirm your target evaluator or university accepts this style of certified translation before you pay, since some ask specifically for a sworn or notarized translation rather than a plain certified one.
Step 3: consular legalization at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Submit the notarized copies to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Consular Department (Cục Lãnh sự) for legalization. This step confirms the notary's seal is registered and genuine, and it sits between the notary step and any embassy step your destination country asks for.
Step 4: destination embassy legalization, if required
Some destination countries ask for one more legalization step at their embassy or consulate in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City after Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs legalization. Others, and most credential evaluators, accept the legalized copy on its own. Check your destination country's embassy website directly, since this requirement varies by country and changes.
Step 5: confirm your degree with MOET if asked
Some evaluators or universities ask for direct confirmation that your degree is valid from the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) , particularly for older degrees or when a university has since closed or merged. Request this confirmation early, since it adds a separate wait on top of notarization and legalization.
Step 6: send documents to your evaluator
If your program requires a foreign credential evaluation, register with WES or another recognized evaluator and follow its exact document list. Most ask for the certified translation plus the legalized copy, and some also want your university to send a copy directly. Vietnam grades on a 10-point scale, and a course-by-course evaluation converts each mark to a standard GPA so foreign admissions staff can read it directly.
Quick reference
| Step | What happens | Who handles it |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Certified true copy of transcript and diploma | Notary public office (phòng công chứng) |
| 2 | Certified English translation | Notary office or an approved translation company |
| 3 | Consular legalization | Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Consular Department |
| 4 | Embassy legalization, if the destination country asks for it | Destination country's embassy in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City |
| 5 | Credential evaluation, if your program requires one | WES or another recognized evaluator |
If your university has closed or merged, MOET keeps records for institutions that no longer operate independently. Contact MOET or the successor institution directly to request confirmation of your degree when your original school cannot issue one itself.
Common mistakes to avoid
Assuming an apostille already applies to Vietnamese documents before September 11, 2026.
Skipping Ministry of Foreign Affairs legalization and sending only a notarized copy, which most foreign institutions will not accept.
Using an uncertified translation to save time, then having the evaluator or university reject it.
Waiting until close to your deadline, when notary, legalization, and embassy steps each add independent processing time.
Start the process three months before your application deadline where possible. Each legalization layer depends on the one before it, so a delay early in the chain pushes back every later step.