💡 For a UK Skilled Worker visa, your Vietnamese diploma and transcript need a certified English translation - UKVI does not require an apostille. A UK ENIC Statement of Comparability is also typically needed to confirm your qualification's UK level. Certified translation makes content readable; UK ENIC confirms what level it equates to. Neither replaces the other.
- UKVI requires a certified English translation of every Vietnamese diploma or transcript - apostille is not required or expected.
- The translation must include the translator's name, an accuracy statement, credentials or contact details, and date - notarisation is not required.
- A UK ENIC Statement of Comparability is separately needed for most Skilled Worker and Graduate routes to confirm your qualification's UK-equivalent level.
- Certified translation and UK ENIC are ordered from two different providers and serve two different purposes.
- The correct order: get the certified translation first, then apply to UK ENIC if your visa route requires it.
| What UKVI may need | Required? | Who provides it | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certified English translation of diploma | Yes - for all Vietnamese-language documents | Certified translator | Makes the content readable in English |
| Certified English translation of transcript | Yes - if the transcript is in Vietnamese | Certified translator | Shows subjects, grades, and dates in English |
| UK ENIC Statement of Comparability | Conditional - for most Skilled Worker and Graduate routes | UK ENIC (£210, online) | Confirms the UK-equivalent academic level |
| Apostille on Vietnamese diploma | No - UKVI does not require one | Not needed | Not needed |
| Notarisation of translation | No - explicitly not required by UKVI | Not needed | Not needed |
What UKVI actually requires for a Vietnamese diploma
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) has one clear rule for documents not in English or Welsh: provide a certified English translation. That applies directly to your Vietnamese degree certificate and academic transcript. The official Skilled Worker visa guidance on gov.uk states it plainly. The translation must be complete, covering the institution's name, your name, the qualification title, award date, and any classification. It must carry the translator's name, an accuracy statement, credentials or contact details, and date. Summaries or partial translations are rejected.
Does a Vietnamese diploma need an apostille for a UK visa?
No. UKVI does not ask for apostilles on overseas degrees. Vietnam joined the Hague Apostille Convention on 11 September 2026, so a MOFA apostille can now authenticate Vietnamese public documents for use in many Hague member countries - but the UK Home Office has no process for reviewing a Vietnamese apostille as part of a Skilled Worker application. An apostille only authenticates the official signature and seal on the original; it does not translate anything, and it does not confirm a qualification's level. Submitting an apostille alongside your visa application adds no value and may confuse reviewers. Skip the apostille step entirely for UK immigration purposes.
When do you also need a UK ENIC Statement of Comparability?
A certified translation makes your diploma readable; it does not evaluate the qualification's level. For most Skilled Worker and Graduate route applications where you rely on an overseas degree to meet the job's skill-level requirement, you separately need a UK ENIC Statement of Comparability. UK ENIC is the recognised assessment body for England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The statement costs £210 and takes around 15 working days. Check your occupation code and your sponsoring employer's guidance: some roles accept the employer's own assessment; others require the UK ENIC statement. University applications follow the same logic - most institutions also ask for a UK ENIC statement alongside the certified translation.
Certified translation vs UK ENIC: what each document actually does
These two are frequently confused because both involve your foreign qualification. A certified English translation is a word-for-word rendering of the original Vietnamese text, with a signed statement by the translator confirming accuracy. It tells UKVI what your diploma says. A UK ENIC Statement of Comparability is an independent assessment by a recognised evaluation body, telling UKVI what level your diploma equates to in the UK system. The UK ENIC process even requires you to submit your certified translation as part of the application, so the translation always comes first.
Need a certified Vietnamese diploma and transcript translation that meets UKVI's four-point certification requirement? Each translation includes a signed accuracy statement, translator credentials, contact details, and date - ready to submit with your Skilled Worker application or upload to UK ENIC.
Related posts: certified translation requirements for UK visas - apostille vs certified true copy vs translation for UK applications - what Vietnam's new apostille does and does not replace.
FAQ
Does UKVI require a notarised translation of my Vietnamese diploma?
No. UKVI explicitly states notarisation is not required. A properly certified translation with an accuracy statement, the translator's name and credentials, and date is sufficient for all UK visa applications.
Do I also need a certified translation of my Vietnamese academic transcript?
Yes. The transcript is a separate document and must be translated if it is in Vietnamese. Submit the translated diploma and translated transcript as a pair, each alongside its original.
Can I apply to UK ENIC without a certified translation first?
No. UK ENIC requires you to upload certified English translations of your documents as part of the Statement of Comparability application. The translation must be completed before you can submit to UK ENIC.
How recent does my certified translation need to be for UKVI?
UKVI does not set a hard expiry date, but translations more than 12 months old may be questioned. Order your translation close to your visa application date to avoid any issues.
What if my Vietnamese diploma has both a Vietnamese and an English section?
If the English section carries the institution's official signature and stamp, UKVI may accept it without a separate certified translation. If only the Vietnamese section is officially stamped, translate that section to be safe and confirm with your sponsor or immigration adviser.
Written by Dao Huy (Lucas), Vietnamese translator and localization specialist (English, Chinese and French into Vietnamese). See translation services → · Certified Documents →