Time limit for consular legalization of papers and documents? Can a copy of the document be used for legalization?
- How long does it take for papers and documents to be consularly legalized?
- What is the order and procedures for consular legalization at overseas Vietnamese representative missions?
- How much does consular legalization cost according to current regulations?
- Can a copy of the document be used for legalization?
How long does it take for papers and documents to be consularly legalized?
Pursuant to the provisions of Clause 2, Article 4 of Decree 111/2011/ND-CP of Vietnam, the following guidelines are recorded:
“Article 4. Requirement of consular certification and legalization
1. To be recognized and used abroad, papers and documents of Vietnam must be consularly certified, except the cases specified in Article 9 of this Decree.
2. To be recognized and used in Vietnam, papers and documents of foreign countries must be consularly legalized, except the cases specified in Article 9 of this Decree.”
Thus, for foreign diplomas to be recognized and used in Vietnam, they must be consular legalized.
The current regulations in Decree 111/2011/ND-CP and Circular 01/2012/TT-BNG do not record regulations on the validity of foreign documents and papers after they are consularly legalized. However, depending on the purpose and requirements of the agency receiving the consular legalized documents, there will be a requirement for consular certification and legalization within a certain period of time.
Consular legalization in Vietnam
What is the order and procedures for consular legalization at overseas Vietnamese representative missions?
Pursuant to Article 15 of Decree 111/2011/ND-CP of Vietnam on consular legalization dossiers at overseas Vietnamese representative missions:
“Article 15. Order and procedures for consular legalization at overseas Vietnamese representative missions
1. A requester for consular legalization shall submit a dossier comprising:
a/ One declaration for consular legalization, made according to a set form;
b/ A personal identification paper, for production in case of direct submission;
c/ One copy of the personal identification paper, in case of submission by post;
d/ Papers and documents requested for consular legalization, which have been certified by a the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or another competent foreign agency in the country in which the overseas Vietnamese representative mission is based or in charge;
e/ One translation of each paper or document requested for consular legalization in Vietnamese, English or a language which the dossier-receiving officer can understand, if such papers and documents are not made in these languages;
f/ Copies of papers and documents mentioned at Point d and e above, one copy each for filing at the representative mission.
2. When necessary to check the authenticity of papers and documents requested for consular legalization, dossier-receiving officers may ask requesters for consular legalization to additionally produce the originals of related papers and documents, and submit copies of these papers and documents, one copy each for filing at the representative mission.
3. The representative mission shall carry out consular legalization on the basis of comparing stamps, signatures and titles in certifications of competent foreign agencies on papers and documents with their specimens officially notified by the country concerned to the representative mission.
4. The time limit for settlement complies with Clause 5, Article 11 of this Decree.
5. In case specimens of signatures, stamps and titles of foreign agencies and persons competent to give consular certification have not yet been officially notified or are subject to verification, the representative mission may request competent foreign agencies to verify. Upon receiving verification results, the representative mission shall settle dossiers and return results to requesters.”
How much does consular legalization cost according to current regulations?
Pursuant to Article 8 of Decree 111/2011/ND-CP of Vietnam stipulating:
“Article 8. Consular certification and legalization expenses
1. Requesters for consular certification or legalization shall pay a fee.
2. The rates and regime of collection, payment, management and use of such fee comply with the guidance of the Ministry of Finance.
3. In case of sending dossiers by post, requesters for consular certification or legalization shall pay postal charges for both sending and receipt.”
In Article 5 of Circular 157/2016/TT-BTC of Vietnam stipulating:
“Article 5. Amount
1. Amount of consular certification/legalization fees:
a) Consular certification: VND 30,000 (thirty thousand) per certification.
b) Consular legalization: VND 30,000 (thirty thousand) per legalization.
c) Issuing copies of documents: VND 5,000 (five thousand) per issue.
2. Consular certification/legalization fees shall be paid in Vietnamese dong (VND).”
Thus, the cost is VND 30,000 (thirty thousand) per legalization.
Can a copy of the document be used for legalization?
Pursuant to Clause 3, Article 15 of Decree 111/2011/ND-CP of Vietnam stipulating:
“Article 15. Order and procedures for consular legalization at overseas Vietnamese representative missions
…
3. The representative mission shall carry out consular legalization on the basis of comparing stamps, signatures and titles in certifications of competent foreign agencies on papers and documents with their specimens officially notified by the country concerned to the representative mission.
…”
According to the regulations, papers and documents must have original signatures and stamps to be consularly legalized.
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