Vietnamese missions in the United States certify signatures and copies and draw up powers of attorney for use in Vietnam — selling or transferring property, dealing with a bank, handling an inheritance or authorising a relative to act in an administrative file.
Quick facts
Because Vietnam sits outside the apostille system, a document signed before a U.S. notary needs the whole legalisation chain before it can be used. Signing at the mission avoids that entirely, which is usually both faster and cheaper.
Fees breakdown
| Route | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Power of attorney at the mission | Consular schedule | No further legalisation needed |
| Signature or copy certification | Consular schedule | Per document |
| U.S. notary route instead | Notary plus the full chain | Several fees and rounds of postage |
| Translation into Vietnamese | Per page | Where required |
| Courier to Vietnam | Carrier’s charge | The original must travel |
Property transactions in Vietnam are document-heavy, and the wording of the authority should come from the notary or lawyer who will use it.
How to apply
- Ask the notary or lawyer in Vietnam for the exact wording and the powers required.
- Collect the full details of the person receiving the power, as they appear on their Vietnamese documents.
- Check whether your mission accepts postal filing for notarial services.
- Attend with your passport, or send the file as instructed, with the fee.
- Sign before the consular officer where personal attendance is required.
- Courier the original to Vietnam, keeping a copy and the tracking record.
Required documents
- Valid Vietnamese passport, or a foreign passport with evidence of Vietnamese origin.
- The draft power, unsigned where signature before the officer is required.
- Full details of the person receiving the power.
- Property, account or case references.
- Proof of address in the consular district.
- Payment in the accepted form.
Where to apply
At the embassy or consulate general covering your state. With few offices in the country, postal service is widely used where the mission allows it.
Additional notes
Consular route beats the chain
Where the mission can execute the act, that is almost always quicker and cheaper than notarising locally and legalising afterwards.
Be specific
Name the property, the account and the acts authorised. Vietnamese offices reject vague authorities.
Household registration details
Transactions often turn on household registration records in Vietnam. Ask what identifiers the document must quote.
Revocation
Revoking a power requires a further document executed the same way, with notice to whoever holds the original.