How to Apostille or legalize Singapore documents for use in Vietnam

Most eligible public documents issued in Singapore can be used in Vietnam after they receive an Apostille from the Singapore Academy of Law. You normally do not need an additional legalization stamp from the Vietnamese Embassy when the Apostille Convention applies. Private documents must usually be notarized before SAL issues the Apostille.

In this post, we will guide you through important things about Vietnam consular legalization and Apostillation of Singapore documents/papers, and how to do this process.

1. What Is an Apostille or Consular Legalization of Singapore Documents for Use in Vietnam?

An Apostille for a Singapore document is a certificate issued by the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL), Singapore’s designated competent authority. 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 Singapore documents/papers means a process in which the Vietnam’s competent authority certify stamps, signatures and titles on papers and documents which were issued in Singapore and have been authenticated by Singapore’s competent authority, so that the Singapore documents/papers can be legally used in Vietnam.

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.

👉 For a general comparison, see our guide to Apostille and consular 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. Is Singapore Apostille-Eligible for Use in Vietnam?

Yes. Singapore deposited its instrument of accession on 18 January 2021, and the Apostille Convention entered into force for Singapore on 16 September 2021. It entered into force for Vietnam on 11 September 2026. No objection prevents the Convention from applying between Singapore and Vietnam.

Your document should meet all three conditions:

• It is a public document covered by the Apostille Convention, or a private document that has first received the required public certification or notarization.
• It was issued in Singapore and can be Apostilled by Singapore’s competent authority.
• It will be used in Vietnam, and the receiving authority accepts the Apostillation for that document and purpose.

If your document meets all three conditions, use the Apostille stamp. If it doesn’t – for example, it’s a private document that hasn’t been properly attested yet, or the receiving Vietnamese authority still specifically asks for full legalization – use the consular legalization.

3. Popular Types of Documents to Be Apostilled or Legalized

Documents that skip translation and notarization entirely

• Civil-status documents in original or computer-generated text with an English version (e.g. Registry of Marriages certificates, birth certificates)
• Education certificates from local government schools, issued in original or computer-generated text with an English version
• Government commercial documents (invoices, bills of sale, certificates of origin, fumigation certificates) already certified by one of the 4 Chambers of Commerce (International, Chinese, Indian & Malay) or the Singapore Manufacturers’ Association, with an English version

Documents that need translation and/or notarization first

• Non-government documents without an English version (translation only)
• Private documents — need notarization by a Notary Public appointed by the Singapore Academy of Law
• Government commercial documents not yet certified by a Chamber of Commerce or the Singapore Manufacturers’ Association — certify with one of those bodies first

4. Popular Purposes of Using Indian Documents in Vietnam

The documents issued in India 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 India-based company’s investment or representative office in Vietnam

Request a free document review at [email protected] or (US)+1.341.999.4099 | (VN)+84.387.285.099 (WhatsApp 24/7 available).

5. Can I Get My Singapore Documents Apostilled or Legalized in Vietnam?

Yes. You can get your Singapore documents apostilled or legalized in both Singapore and Vietnam by following the procedures mentioned below.

5.1 Apostillation of Singapore documents in Singapore

For authentication, you only need an Apostille from the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL). You do not need Vietnamese Consulate legalization after a valid Apostille.

👉 Step 1: Translate into English (or Vietnamese) and notarize, only if required

Skip this step for civil-status and education documents in original or computer-generated text with an English version, or government commercial documents already certified by a Chamber of Commerce or the Singapore Manufacturers’ Association. Otherwise, get it notarized by a Notary Public appointed by the Singapore Academy of Law.

👉 Step 2: Get the Apostille from the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL)

Apply online at legalisation.sal.sg, pay online, and book an appointment to bring your documents to SAL: 1 Supreme Court Lane, Level 5M, Singapore 178879.

👉 Step 3: Translate into Vietnamese and certify your documents

This is the final step of your Singapore 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 legalization step is needed. You can use your documents in Vietnam now.

5.2 Legalization of Singapore documents in Singapore

With this options, you will need to follow 3 steps below:

👉Step 1: Translate into English and Notarize

In this step, you need to get your Singaporean document/paper translated into Vietnamese and attached with a notarial certificate by a public notary office appointed by the Singapore Academy of Law. You can check their full list here.

Important notes:

• The following documents are exempted from this step:
  • Civil documents or education certificate (eg. Registry of Marriages Certificates, Birth Certificates and Educational Certificates from local government schools) which are issued in original text or computer-generated, and have English version.
  • The government commercial documents (eg. Invoices, Bills of Sales, Certificates of Origin, Fumigation certificates, etc.) which have been certified by any of 4 Chambers of Commerce (International, Chinese, Indian & Malay) or Singapore Manufacturers’ Association and have English version.
• The following documents are exempted from the translation:
  • Non-government documents which have English version.
• The commercial government documents (eg. Invoices, Bills of Sales, Certificates of Origin, Fumigation certificates, etc.) which have not been certified by any of 4 Chambers of Commerce (International, Chinese, Indian & Malay) or Singapore Manufacturers’ Association should be certified by any of those authorities first.

👉Step 2: Authenticate at the Singapore Academy of Law

Please note that, starting from January 20, 2021, the authority competent for authentication of documents issued in Singapore is the Singapore Academy of Law, not the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

To get consular authentication at the Singapore Academy of Law, you should follow the following steps:

1. submit an online request at https://legalisation.sal.sg/;
2. make payment online by Visa or MasterCard; and
3. book an appointment to authenticate your documents at the Singapore Academy of Law by clicking “Appointment Booking”.
4. Get an Email Confirmation with the Invoice sent to your registered email and print it out.
5. Take a copy of the Email Confirmation and Invoice, and your documents for Singapore authentication to the Singapore Academy of Law on the appointed date and show them all to the authentication officer.

Here are contact details of the Singapore Academy of Law:

• Address: 1 Supreme Court Lane, Level 5M, Singapore 178879
• Phone: (65) 6332 4388
• Email: [email protected]
• Counter opening hours are from 9:00am to 4:30pm from Monday to Friday (except for public holidays).

👉Step 3: Legalize at Vietnam embassy in Singapore

You need to book an appointment online first by clicking here. You will get a confirmatory email once your appointment is booked.

You then need to prepare the following documents:

• Application form for Vietnam embassy consular legalization – Form No. LS/HPH-2012/TK;
• Original of personal identity paper;
• Original + 01 copy of documents requested for Vietnam embassy legalization;
• Original + 01 copy of the translation into English;

And then, you submit your documents to the Embassy of Vietnam in Singapore as follows:

• Address: 10 Leedon Park, Singapore 267887
• Phone: (+65) 64625994
• Email: [email protected]

After around 3 – 5 working days, you will receive your document sealed with the consular legalization stamp of the Vietnam embassy in Singapore.

You then need to have it translated into Vietnamese. The translation can be done at the Vietnam embassy in Singapore or at a public notary office in Vietnam.

After completing the who process mentioned above, your documents issued in Singapore are ready to be used legally in Vietnam.

3.2 Legalization of Singapore documents in Vietnam

This process is partially done in Singapore and partially done in Vietnam except for the Singapore Government civil documents and education certificates from local government schools which were issued in original text.

By choosing this process, you will need to follow 5 steps below:

👉Step 1: Notarize/Certify in Singapore

This step is required for government commercial documents and non-government documents, of which:

• The commercial documents issued by the Singapore government authorities need to be certified by:
  • any of 4 Chambers of Commerce (International, Chinese, Indian & Malay); or
  • Singapore Manufacturers’ Association
• The Non-government documents need to be notarized by the Notary Public appointed by the Singapore Academy of Law.

The Government civil documents and education certificates from local government schools are exempted from this step.

👉Step 2: Authenticate at Singapore Academy of Law

This step is the same as Step 2 mentioned above in the process to legalize Singapore documents in Singapore.

This step is not required for Government civil documents and education certificates from local government schools which were issued in the original text.

👉Step 3: Authenticate at Singapore Embassy/Consulate General in Vietnam

In this step, you will prepare the required documents and submit them to either of the 02 following addresses:

• Singapore embassy in Hanoi
  • Address: 41-43 Tran Phu, Dien Ban, Ba Dinh, Hanoi
  • Tel: +84-24-3848 9170-77
  • Fax: +84-24-3848 9181
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Submission Time: 9 am – 12 noon Mon-Fri (except public holidays)
• Singapore’s Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City:
  • The Saigon Centre, Level 8, 65 Le Loi Boulevard, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
  • Tel: +(84-28) 38225174 (ext 107 or 108)
  • Fax: + (84-28) 39142938
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Submission Time: 9am – 11.30am Mon-Fri (except public holidays)

After 1 working day, you will get your results.

👉Step 4: Translate into Vietnamese

You then need to translate your authenticated document into Vietnamese at a translation company or a State Notary Office.

👉Step 5: Legalize at Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs

You need to prepare the required documents as listed here. And then, you submit them to:

• Consular Department of Hanoi, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at 40 Tran Phu street, Ba Dinh district, Hanoi.
• Ho Chi Minh City Department of External Relations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at 184 bis Pasteur, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.

Normally, after 1 – 5 working days, depending on your document volume, you will get your results.

After completing this step, you can use your Singaporean document legally in Vietnam.

6. Vietnam consular legalization and apostille service for Singapore documents

You are in Vietnam and you need to use your Singaporean documents, papers, and you are aware of you need to get it legalized. But you don’t know how to do, where to start, or you are too busy to do it yourself. Then you have us as your personal assistant.

We provide a fast Vietnam legalization service to assist you in legalizing your documents issued in Singapore to ensure they are accepted in Vietnam.

Our Singapore document apostillation and legalization service is available for:

Commercial/Company documents	Private documents
Certificate of Establishment Certificate of Renaming Memorandum of Understanding Regulations Business Registration Certificate Resolution Report Annual declaration Tax certificate Accounting book, Audit report Customs declaration Tax return Invoice/Bill Contract License/ Permit Agreement Residence certificate Legal documents Certificate of Free Sale	Birth certificate Marriage certificate Divorce certificate Death certificate Court of law’s document Power of attorney Judicial Record Career certificate Appointment decision Driving license, ID, Passport Degree/ Diploma Certificate of merit Qualification Academic transcript Academic record School invitation Recruitment Letter Overseas study documents School report Curriculum Vitae

With more than 10 years experience in this regard, we have assisted 10,000+ expats in Vietnam to get their Singapore documents successfully legalized for legal use in Vietnam.