Apostille of Vietnamese documents for use in Spain: from 11 September 2026

• The HCCH status table lists objections to Vietnam's accession only from Czechia, Austria and Germany. Spain did not object, so the Convention applies between Vietnam and Spain.
• Paper documents receive a physical Apostille stamp; electronic documents receive an electronic Apostille. Until Vietnam issues electronic Apostilles, obtain your documents on paper.
• Documents with a Vietnamese Apostille need no further step at the Spanish Embassy and can be submitted directly in Spain.
• Like legalisation, an Apostille confirms the signature and the capacity of the signer; it does not certify the content.
• Only originals (or authentic copies issued by the same authority) are accepted. An apostilled photocopy does not replace the original.
• An Apostille does not expire, but it is only as valid as the document itself.

Updated: 1 October 2026 · Sources: Embassy of Spain in Hanoi — Legalization and Apostille (English), Đại sứ quán Tây Ban Nha tại Hà Nội — hợp pháp hóa và Apostille La Hay (tiếng Tây Ban Nha), HCCH — bảng tình trạng Công ước Apostille (Việt Nam gia nhập, các nước phản đối)

1. 1

   Ask the receiving office in Spain

   Which documents, copies and translations it needs depends on the purpose (visa, civil registry, immigration…).

2. 2

   Get the document on paper

   An original or an authentic copy issued by the same Vietnamese authority.

3. 3

   Get the Apostille

   At the Consular Department (Hanoi) or the Department of Foreign Affairs of Ho Chi Minh City. Documents, fees and processing time are published on the Ministry's Apostille site (apostille.lanhsuvietnam.gov.vn, listed in the sources).

4. 4

   Translate into Spanish

   Translations by sworn translators (traductor jurado) recognised by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs are valid in Spain without further steps. Visa checklists ask for translations by a notary or a translation office accepted by official bodies.

5. 5

   Submit

   Hand in the apostilled original with the translation to the Spanish authority or with your visa application.

Not sure how a translation made in Vietnam will be treated? Ask the receiving authority or the Embassy (emb.hanoi.vis@maec.es) first.

Updated: 1 October 2026 · Sources: Đại sứ quán Tây Ban Nha tại Hà Nội — hợp pháp hóa và Apostille La Hay (tiếng Tây Ban Nha), Bộ Ngoại giao Tây Ban Nha — hợp pháp hóa, Apostille và dịch thuật giấy tờ (tiếng Tây Ban Nha)

• Documents issued by the Embassy of Spain in Hanoi must be legalised by the Consular Department of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs for use in Vietnam. Documents issued by embassies and consulates cannot be apostilled (Article 1 of the Convention).
• Article 1 also excludes administrative documents dealing directly with commercial or customs operations.
• The Embassy of Spain in Vietnam does not legalise or apostille documents issued in Spain; those need a Spanish Apostille for use in Vietnam. In Spain, the competent authority is the Ministry of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with the Cortes.

Updated: 1 October 2026 · Sources: Embassy of Spain in Hanoi — Legalization and Apostille (English), HCCH — toàn văn Công ước Apostille 1961 (Điều 1: phạm vi áp dụng), Bộ Ngoại giao Tây Ban Nha — hợp pháp hóa, Apostille và dịch thuật giấy tờ (tiếng Tây Ban Nha)

Before 11 September 2026, Vietnamese documents were legalised first by the Vietnamese Ministry and then at the Spanish Embassy. The Spanish-language page of the Embassy still shows that older section next to the new Apostille paragraph; the English and Vietnamese pages are up to date. The fees below come from the Embassy’s consular fee table. The legalisation fee belongs to the old procedure and does not apply to apostilled Vietnamese documents.

Updated: 1 October 2026 · Sources: Đại sứ quán Tây Ban Nha tại Hà Nội — hợp pháp hóa và Apostille La Hay (tiếng Tây Ban Nha), Đại sứ quán Tây Ban Nha tại Hà Nội — bảng lệ phí lãnh sự, Đại sứ quán Tây Ban Nha tại Hà Nội — đối chiếu, sao y bản sao giấy tờ (tiếng Tây Ban Nha)