Vietnamese Docs for French Visa: Apostille or Certified Translation?
💡 Since 11 September 2026, Vietnamese civil documents for a French long-stay visa need two things: an apostille from Vietnam's MOFA, replacing consular legalization, and a certified French translation. The apostille authenticates the seal and signature on the original. The translation makes it readable. Neither replaces the other.
- Vietnam joined the Hague Apostille Convention on 11 September 2026: one MOFA apostille now replaces the old two-step consular legalization for France and most Hague member states.
- France accepts Vietnam's apostille directly: no more legalization stamp at the French Embassy.
- A certified French translation is still required: the apostille does not translate anything.
- Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic objected to Vietnam's accession: consular legalization remains mandatory for those three countries.
- USCIS is different: US immigration never requires apostille on Vietnamese documents, only a certified English translation with the translator's certificate of accuracy.
| Apostille | Certified French translation | |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Certifies the seal, signature, and capacity of the issuing official on the original document | Renders the document's content into French with the translator's signed certificate of accuracy |
| Who issues it | Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Department of Consular Affairs | A certified professional Vietnamese-French translator |
| Does the French Embassy require it? | Yes, for civil documents: birth certificate, marriage certificate, criminal record certificate | Yes, for every Vietnamese document you submit |
| Does it replace the other? | No: the apostille is on the original; French authorities still cannot read Vietnamese | No: the translation does not legally authenticate the original document |
| Changed in September 2026? | Yes: apostille replaces consular legalization for France and most Hague countries | No: the translation requirement is unchanged |
Does the Vietnam apostille replace certified French translation?
No. An apostille and a certified translation do completely different jobs. The apostille issued by Vietnam's MOFA under Decree No. 293/2026/ND-CP certifies that the seal and signature on your original document are genuine: it tells the French Embassy that this birth certificate really was issued by the People's Committee of Da Nang. It says nothing about what the document actually says.
The certified French translation tells the French consular officer what the document says: your full name, date of birth, parents' names, place of birth. Without it, the apostilled original is authentic but unreadable. Both steps are required for most Vietnamese civil documents in a French long-stay visa (VLS-TS) file.
What changed on 11 September 2026 for French visa applicants?
Before 11 September 2026, getting a Vietnamese civil document authenticated for use in France required two bureaucratic steps. First, Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs authenticated the issuing authority's signature. Second, the French Embassy in Hanoi or the Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City added its own legalization stamp. This two-step procedure, known as consular legalization, took time and cost money at each counter.
From 11 September 2026, one step replaces both: a single apostille from Vietnam's MOFA. As Baker McKenzie's September 2026 analysis confirms, France, as a long-standing Hague Convention member, accepts this apostille directly. For context on the earlier route and how apostille differs from legalization, see this earlier guide comparing consular legalization and apostille for Vietnamese documents.
What did NOT change: you still need a certified French translation of every Vietnamese document you submit.
Which documents need apostille, certified translation, or both?
For most French long-stay visas (VLS-TS), the French Embassy or TLS Contact center will ask for several Vietnamese civil documents. The usual expectation is:
- Birth certificate (giấy khai sinh): MOFA apostille and certified French translation
- Marriage certificate (giấy đăng ký kết hôn), if applicable: MOFA apostille and certified French translation
- Criminal record certificate (phiếu lý lịch tư pháp): MOFA apostille and certified French translation
- Academic diplomas or transcripts, if applicable (student or talent visa): MOFA apostille and certified French translation
- Passport: no apostille required; translation of relevant pages may be requested.
Always check the exact document checklist on the TLS Contact website for your specific visa type before preparing your file, as requirements vary between visitor, student, work, and family reunification visas.
Where do you get each step done in Vietnam?
The apostille is issued by the Department of Consular Affairs under Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. You submit the original document and request apostille certification. Processing times and fees are set by Decree No. 293/2026/ND-CP.
The certified French translation is provided by a professional translator working between Vietnamese and French, who attaches a signed certificate of accuracy. This is the service I provide at Dao Huy Translation. You send the Vietnamese original (a scan or certified copy), and receive a certified Vietnamese civil record translation with a complete certificate of accuracy, ready for your TLS Contact submission.
Is apostille first or translation first the correct order?
For most French visa files, the correct order is: get the apostille on the original first, then have the apostilled document translated into French. This matters because the apostille stamp is itself part of the document package, and the translation should ideally cover the complete package including the apostille annotation. Some TLS Contact offices accept the original (with apostille) and the translation as two separate attachments: confirm the preferred format directly with the TLS Contact office handling your application.
Does the new apostille apply if you are applying to Germany?
No. Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic formally objected to Vietnam's accession to the Hague Apostille Convention. For documents intended for these three countries, the old consular legalization route remains mandatory: Vietnam MOFA authentication, then embassy legalization. For the full picture, see the dedicated post on Vietnamese documents for Germany after the September 2026 apostille change. Also see the September 2026 apostille update guide for a complete country-by-country breakdown of where Vietnam's apostille now applies.
FAQ
Can I skip consular legalization at the French Embassy now that Vietnam has apostille?
Yes. From 11 September 2026, a single apostille from Vietnam's MOFA replaces the two-step consular legalization for France and other Hague Convention members (except Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic, which objected to Vietnam's accession).
Does the apostille replace the certified French translation requirement?
No. The apostille certifies the authenticity of the seal and signature on the original document. The certified French translation is still required for every Vietnamese-language document in your file. Both steps are mandatory for most civil documents in a French visa application.
Who issues the apostille for Vietnamese documents?
Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), specifically the Department of Consular Affairs, issues apostille certificates for Vietnamese public documents under Decree No. 293/2026/ND-CP. You submit the original document and request the certification there.
Does France require a sworn translator (traducteur assermenté)?
For visa files submitted at the French Embassy or TLS Contact center in Vietnam, certified professional translation by a qualified translator is accepted. The traducteur assermenté designation is a French domestic court appointment; it applies primarily when submitting documents to French courts or prefecture offices inside France itself. Confirm the specific requirement with your TLS Contact office for your visa type.
Does USCIS also require apostille on Vietnamese documents?
No. USCIS requires only a complete certified English translation with the translator's signed certificate of accuracy, plus a plain copy of the original. USCIS does not require apostille or notarization of foreign documents. This is an important difference between French and US immigration requirements.
Written by Dao Huy (Lucas), Vietnamese translator & localization specialist (EN · ZH · FR → Vietnamese). See translation services → · Certified Documents →