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Most Macau documents can now be used in Vietnam with just an Apostille from Macau’s Legal Affairs Bureau (DSAJ), no extra Vietnamese legalization needed, since Vietnam joined the Apostille Convention. Documents that aren’t Apostille-eligible still need the consular legalization, finished at the Vietnam Consulate General in Hong Kong, since Macau has no Vietnamese mission of its own.
Do documents issued in Macau need an Apostille, consular legalization, or another form of authentication before they can be used in Vietnam? For most public documents, an Apostille from Macau’s Legal Affairs Bureau is now enough. Vietnam recognizes it directly, so you can skip the extra step of legalizing at the Vietnam Consulate General in Hong Kong. Some documents still need the traditional legalization. This guide explains how to tell which one applies to your paperwork, and walks through both processes step by step.
1. What Is an Apostille or Consular Legalization of Macau Documents for Use in Vietnam?
An Apostille for a Macau document is a certificate issued by the Legal Affairs Bureau (DSAJ), Macau’s competent authority under the Convention. It verifies the signature, the signer’s official role, and any seal or stamp on an eligible public document. Since Vietnam recognizes the Apostille Convention, Vietnam accepts the document without an additional consular legalization step.
Vietnam consular legalization of Macau documents, papers is a process in which the Vietnam’s diplomatic mission in Macau SAR certify stamps, signatures and titles of the officials of Macau’s competent authority, so that the Macau documents, papers are legally recognized in Vietnam for official purposes.
Either way, an Apostille or legalization only confirms who signed the document and that the seal is genuine — it doesn’t confirm that the information inside the document is accurate.
👉 See How different are Apostille and Legalization?
Unsure which stamp you should get for your documents? Feel free to send us a scan for a free review at [email protected] or (US)+1.341.999.4099 | (VN)+84.387.285.099 (WhatsApp 24/7 available).
2. Are Macao Documents Eligible for Apostille Use in Vietnam?
Yes. Eligible Macao public documents can use the Apostille route for Vietnam. The Convention entered into force for Macao on 4 February 1969 and continued to apply after Macao became a Special Administrative Region of China on 20 December 1999. It entered into force for Vietnam on 11 September 2026, with no objection excluding Macao SAR.
Your Macau document qualifies for Apostille instead of full consular legalization if all three of the following are true:
- It’s a public document issued by an official Hong Kong Government authority, or already notarized by a Notary Public/Commissioner for Oaths whose specimen signature is on file at the High Court.
- It was issued in Hong Kong SAR specifically (Macao SAR and mainland China each have their own separate competent authority and procedure – see our dedicated China guide).
- The receiving Vietnamese authority doesn’t have an unusual case-specific requirement for full legalization regardless of Apostille eligibility.
The Apostille authenticates the origin of a public document, including the signature, capacity and seal or stamp. It does not verify the truth or legal effect of the document content.
3. Popular Types of Documents to Be Apostilled or Legalized
Documents to Be Apostilled
These Macau public documents bear the true signature of a recognized government officer and can go straight to Apostille – no prior notarization needed:
- Birth, marriage and death certificates
- Divorce decrees
- Single Status Affidavits
- Business registration certificates and Articles of Incorporation
- Certification of Free Sale and Certification of Origin
- Diplomas, certificates and academic transcripts
Documents to Be Legalized
Consular legalization may still need to be considered when the document falls outside the Convention, cannot be made Apostille-eligible, or another applicable rule requires a different form of authentication.
- A private agreement, letter, salary record or company document that has not been notarized or officially certified;
- A document issued by a diplomatic or consular officer;
- An administrative document dealing directly with a commercial or customs operation where the Convention exclusion applies;
- A document that has been altered, damaged, revoked or cannot be verified against the relevant signature or seal record;
- A document for which the Vietnamese receiving authority requires a different sector-specific procedure.
Still don’t know whether your documents can be apostilled or legalized? Just send us your documents for a free review at [email protected] or (US)+1.341.999.4099 | (VN)+84.387.285.099 (WhatsApp available)
4. Popular Purposes of Using Macau Documents in Vietnam
The documents issued in Macau are often used in Vietnam for the following purposes:
- Getting Vietnam work permit,
- Getting Vietnam work permit exemption certificate,
- Getting married with a Vietnamese.
- Applying for a Vietnam temporary residence card
- Registering a Macau-based company’s investment or representative office in Vietnam
5. How to apostille or legalize Macau documents for use in Vietnam
If your document is Apostille-eligible
For authentication, you only need an Apostille from the Macau’s Legal Affairs Bureau (DSAJ). You do not need Vietnamese Consulate legalization after a valid Apostille.
👉 Step 1: Notarize/Certify by a Notary Public or Commissioner of Oaths
This step is only if required, you can skip this step if your document already bears the signature of a recognized Hong Kong public official – this includes Marriage Certificates (Deputy Registrar of Marriage), Certificate of Absence of Marriage Record, Birth and Death Certificates, Certificate of Registered Particulars, Business Registration Certificate, and Certificate of Incorporation. Otherwise, have it notarized by a Notary Public or Commissioner of Oaths whose specimen signature is on file with the High Court.
👉 Step 2: Get the Apostille from the Macau’s Legal Affairs Bureau (DSAJ)
Submit your original document, a completed application form, and your original ID at DSAJ, the Government Comprehensive Service Center, or the Islands Government Integrated Service Center. The Apostille is free of charge, and processing is usually completed within about 2 working days once DSAJ confirms the document and signature on file.
👉 Step 3: Translate into Vietnamese and certify your documents
This is the final step of your Macau document apostillation for use in Vietnam. Have it translated into Vietnamese if the receiving authority requires it, then submit it directly – no further Vietnamese consular step is needed. You can use your documents in Vietnam now.
If your document needs traditional legalization
The full process of legalizing the Macau documents for Vietnam will involve in 3 steps that you should follow in correct order:
👉Step 1: Notarization
First of all, you should check your document type. In case it is a government (public) document, you will be exempted from this step. Otherwise, you need to have it notarized by a notary public in Macau.
👉Step 2. Authentication
Firstly, you need to prepare the following documents:
- Application Form for Macau document authentication for overseas use;
- Your original identity document;
- The original official document to be authenticated and the notarized one (if required).
You then submit them in person at any of the 3 offices below:
|
Legal Affairs Directorate
|
Government Comprehensive Service Center
|
|
Islands Government Integrated Service Center
|
In case you submit your documents to the Government Comprehensive Service Center or the Islands Government Integrated Service Center, they will then be sent to the Legal Affairs Directorate for authentication.
- Processing time:
- In case the Legal Affairs Directorate has the documents with the corresponding signature style, your Macau document authentication will be completed within two working days starting from the next working day after receiving the application.
- In case the Legal Affairs Directorate does not have the corresponding signature style, or the authenticity of the document in question, your Macau document authentication be completed within two working days starting from the next working day after receiving the confirmation reply from the relevant department.
- Authentication fee is FREE.
👉Step 3: Consular legalization
This step is also known by many people as Vietnam embassy legalization/authentication. Normally, it will be done at the Vietnam embassy/consulate general in the country where the Documents requested for Vietnam legalization was issued.
However, there is no embassy or consulate of Vietnam in Macau, as such, the Vietnam embassy legalization of Macau documents, papers will be done at the Vietnam Consulate General in Hong Kong SAR which covers the relevant issues in Macau SAR.
To complete this step, you need to prepared required documents and then submit them to the Consulate General of Vietnam in Hong Kong and Macau at:
- 15/F, Great Smart Tower, 230 Wan Chai Rd, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
- Tel: +852 2835 9318
You will get your legalized documents after 3 – 5 working days. The Vietnam legalization cost for Macau documents, papers is US $10/legalization stamp.
You then need to translate your documents into Vietnamese for use in Vietnam.
6. Vietnam consular legalization service for Macau documents
In case you are in Vietnam, whether you have found a new job and need to apply for a work permit Vietnam, or you are following a procedure to get married to a Vietnamese citizen, and you need to legalize your Macau documents, papers for those purposes, our dedicated team are at your disposal. We ensure that all the required procedures will be followed and your Macau documents are legally recognized in Vietnam.
Our Vietnam consular legalization service for Macau documents covers:
- Notarization if your documents are non-public ones;
- Document authentication & Apostille in Macau;
- Vietnam Embassy legalization for Macau documents;
In case you need a translation into Vietnamese, we will provide you with a high-qualify one.
Common documents we have received from our customers are:
- Birth Certificates
- Marriage Certificates
- Death Certificates
- Divorce Decree
- Single Status Affidavit
- Power of Attorney
- Copy of Passport
- Diplomas, certificate, academic transcript
- Employment confirmation
- Articles of Incorporation
- Certification of Free Sale
- Certification of Origin
- Commercial Invoice
Why our Vietnam legalization service for your
- Quick processing: only 15 calendar days
- Most comprehensive price: only from
- 10+-year experience: We offer our experience to make legalization as simple as it can be.
- Safety: We required no original documents, but scanned ones.
Our legalization service fee for Macau documents:
|
Document type |
Service fee (USD/stamp) |
Required documents |
||
|
1-2 stamps |
3-4 stamps |
From 5 stamps |
||
|
Diplomas – Certificates |
228.1 |
224.1 |
220.1 |
Scan of original Diplomas – Certificates |
|
Business registration certificate |
228.1 |
224.1 |
220.1 |
Scan of Original Business registration certificate |
|
Chinese passport |
228.1 |
224.1 |
220.1 |
Scan of Original Passport |
|
Employment confirmation |
228.1 |
224.1 |
220.1 |
Scan of Original Employment Certificate + Passport + Business registration Certificate of confirming employer |
For other document types, feel free to request a quote at [email protected] or (US)+1.341.999.4099 | (VN)+84.387.285.099(WhatsApp available).
