Notarisation and document services in Vietnam
Where to get translations notarised, when you need it, what it costs, and the foreigner-specific gotchas — especially for visa, marriage, and property paperwork.
Not legal advice. Document rules in Vietnam change with little notice. Verify current requirements with the relevant authority — a notary office, your embassy, or a licensed local lawyer — before acting on anything in this page.
Notary in Vietnam — what it actually is
In Vietnam, "notarisation" (công chứng) is a formal legal act performed by a licensed notary (công chứng viên). It confirms that a signature is genuine, that a document is a true copy of an original, or that a translated document accurately reflects the source. It is not a rubber stamp — the notary is personally liable for what they certify.
This is different from "certification" (chứng thực), which is a simpler administrative act performed by commune/ward People's Committees (UBND). Certification confirms a copy matches an original but does not authenticate content or translation quality. Many day-to-day tasks in Vietnam only need certification, not full notarisation, but authorities dealing with foreigners often require the stronger notarised version.
The distinction matters because the two processes happen in different places, carry different legal weight, and cost different amounts.
Public-notary offices (Phòng Công Chứng)
Vietnam has a mix of state-run notary offices (Phòng Công Chứng) and private notary offices (Văn Phòng Công Chứng). Both are licensed by the provincial Department of Justice and carry equal legal standing. Private offices are more common now in major cities and often have shorter queues and more English-speaking staff, though not always.
In Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi you will find dozens of options. In smaller provinces you may have one or two offices for the entire area, and appointments — or early queuing — are sometimes necessary.
Most offices open weekday mornings, with limited afternoon hours. Saturday morning sessions exist at some private offices. Do not assume online appointment booking is available — many offices still operate walk-in only.
Bring the originals of every document. Offices will not notarise from photocopies, even high-quality ones, without seeing the source document first.
Authorised translation companies
Notarisation of a foreign-language document requires a certified Vietnamese translation first. The translation must be prepared by a translator whose credentials are registered with the local Department of Justice. These are sometimes called "sworn translators" in English-language expat forums, though Vietnam does not use that exact title officially.
Larger translation companies in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City handle this in-house: they translate the document, apply the translator's stamp and signature, and then take the package to a notary office on your behalf. This is the most practical route for most foreigners — you hand over the original document and come back the next day or in a few days.
Check that the company is actually registered with the local Department of Justice before handing over originals. Ask for their registration number. Reputable firms will provide it without hesitation.
When you specifically need notarisation
The most common situations where foreigners need notarised documents include:
- Marriage registration — both parties typically need notarised translations of their passport, birth certificate, and certificate of single status. See the full marriage process page for the complete checklist, as requirements vary by district.
- Property purchase or long-term lease — the notary office is the mandatory final step for any land use right certificate transfer or condominium purchase. This is not optional and cannot be handled by a private lawyer alone.
- Business registration — foreign investors setting up a company need notarised copies of passport and, depending on the structure, corporate documents from the home country.
- Visa extension supporting documents — some immigration scenarios, particularly family visa applications and applications to sponsor a relative, require notarised supporting paperwork. Verify with the immigration department directly, as requirements shift.
- Opening a bank account — most banks want a notarised copy of your passport for non-standard account types, though requirements vary by bank and account category.
- Power of attorney — if someone is acting on your behalf for a property or legal matter, a notarised power of attorney document is required.
Documents you can't notarise without legalisation
This is where many foreigners hit a wall. A Vietnamese notary can certify that a translation is accurate, but they cannot verify that the underlying foreign document is genuine. For foreign documents to carry full legal weight in Vietnamese proceedings, they often need to be legalised first — either via apostille (if your country is a Hague Convention member) or via consular legalisation.
A common example: your home-country birth certificate needs an apostille from your home country's authority before it can be properly processed by a Vietnamese notary for a marriage application. The Vietnamese notary certifies the translation; the apostille certifies the original document's authenticity. These are two separate steps.
Full detail on the legalisation process is on the document apostille and legalisation page.
Costs and timelines
Prices below are estimates for 2026 and will vary by city, office, and document complexity. Treat them as rough planning figures, not quotes.
- Simple copy certification at a ward UBND: 2,000–5,000 VND per page
- Notarised copy of a single document (Vietnamese-language original): 30,000–80,000 VND per document
- Certified Vietnamese translation of a one-page foreign document (A4): 150,000–300,000 VND per page, depending on language pair and provider
- Notarisation of a translated document: Add 30,000–100,000 VND per document on top of the translation fee
- Full passport notarisation package (translation + notarise): Most cases run 200,000–500,000 VND total for a standard passport
Turnaround at walk-in offices for straightforward documents is usually same-day or next working day. Multi-document packages through a translation company typically take 1–3 working days. Rush fees exist at private offices.
The foreigner-specific gotcha — name spelling on the notary stamp
This catches foreigners more often than anything else: the name in the notary stamp must match your passport exactly, including middle names, hyphens, and diacritics. If your passport says "NGUYEN VAN AN" but your work contract spells it "Van An Nguyen," the notary office may refuse to proceed or may produce a document that a later authority rejects.
Before starting any notarisation process, check every document you are submitting for consistent name spelling against your current passport. This includes bank statements, employment letters, and home-country documents. Inconsistencies need to be resolved before you walk into the notary office — not after.
If you have legally changed your name or recently renewed your passport with a corrected spelling, bring the supporting documentation. Do not assume the notary will connect the dots.
Common pitfalls
- Bringing photocopies without originals. Offices will send you away. Bring originals every time.
- Assuming one notarised copy is enough. Different authorities often want separate originals of the notarised set. Budget for two or three copies upfront.
- Using an unregistered translator. A translation notarised on the basis of an unregistered translator's stamp may be rejected. Ask for the translator registration number before paying.
- Forgetting that some documents expire. A certificate of single status, for example, is typically only valid for six months. Get it as close to the actual use date as practical.
- Not accounting for public holidays. Vietnam has several multi-day national holidays where all notary offices close. If you have a property closing or marriage registration deadline, map out the office calendar in advance.
- Assuming your embassy can notarise for Vietnamese authorities. Embassies can notarise for their own country's purposes, but Vietnamese authorities generally require Vietnamese-licensed notaries for documents to be used in Vietnam.
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