The Government of Vietnam has officially issued the national plan to implement the Apostille Convention. This marks a significant regulatory milestone, paving the way for eliminating consular legalization for public documents exchanged between Apostille member states.
Four Key Implementation Phases
1️⃣ Communication & Awareness (Effective immediately)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and related agencies will deploy communication activities, guidance materials, and official updates.
2️⃣ Legal Framework Development (Before 15 June 2026)
The Government will issue a Decree guiding the application of the Apostille Convention, including its implementation within the healthcare sector.
3️⃣ Apostille System Go‑Live (From 11 September 2026)
This is when the Convention officially enters into force for Vietnam. From this date, authorities must accept Apostille-certified documents without requiring consular legalization.
4️⃣ Decentralization to Local Authorities (2027–2030)
Provincial-level departments will gradually be empowered to issue Apostilles, making the process more accessible for citizens and businesses.
Impact on Healthcare, Pharmaceutical, and Medical Device Registration
✔ No more consular legalization for Apostille documents
Starting 11 September 2026, the Ministry of Health and all Vietnamese authorities cannot request consular legalization for documents issued by Apostille member states.
This directly benefits documents such as:
– CPP / FSC
– GMP certificates
– ISO 13485
– LoA…
✔ Significant reduction in registration timelines and cost
This change will:
– Save weeks to months previously spent on consular legalization
– Reduce administrative and courier costs
– Prevent dossier rejections due to missing legalization stamps
✔ Strong alignment with global regulatory standards
Vietnam will join 129 Apostille member states — including the US, Japan, EU, Canada, Australia — improving harmonization and easing global regulatory workflows.