Anyone who has sent paperwork to Vietnam knows the old drill. Get the document certified here, mail it to the Vietnamese Embassy or the consulate in San Francisco for legalization, then wait and hope nothing comes back. That last part is mostly over. Since September 11, 2026, Vietnam has been part of the Apostille Convention, and an apostille is what Vietnamese offices now expect.
For families in Hillsboro, Beaverton and around Portland who send documents back and forth for weddings, jobs and family property, that’s a real change. Here’s how it works now, and the couple of things that haven’t changed.
What actually changed
Vietnam filed its accession at the end of 2025, and it took effect on September 11, 2026. The United States didn’t object, so the Convention applies between the two countries. Under Vietnam’s implementing decree (Decree 293/2026/ND-CP), an office there can’t ask for consular legalization on top of a valid apostille, and the Embassy of Vietnam in Washington has stopped legalizing documents the Convention covers.
If you already have legalized documents from before September 11, they’re still good. Apostilles issued before that date are accepted as well. Legalization hasn’t disappeared completely; some documents connected to commercial or customs operations still go that way.
Who apostilles what
The rule of thumb is simple: the apostille comes from wherever the document came from. Oregon birth, marriage, divorce and death certificates, anything notarized in Oregon (a single status affidavit, a power of attorney, a company resolution, a translator’s statement) and Oregon diplomas with the registrar’s notarized certification all go to the Oregon Secretary of State in Salem. Washington records, and documents notarized in Washington, go to the Washington Secretary of State. Records from any other state go to that state.
FBI background checks are the exception people trip over. They’re federal, so the apostille comes from the U.S. Department of State, not Oregon. And none of this can be done once you’re in Vietnam; the U.S. Embassy there can’t apostille American civil documents.
The translation question
This is the part that hasn’t gotten simpler. Vietnam’s decree says a document that isn’t in Vietnamese needs a Vietnamese translation that’s notarized or certified under Vietnamese law. In practice, that usually means getting the translation certified in Vietnam. So before you pay for a translation here, ask the office in Vietnam whether they’ll take one done in the US or want it done locally.
Dates matter more than people expect
For a work permit, the criminal record certificate (for most Americans, an FBI background check) has to be issued within six months of filing. For marriage registration, a single status document without its own validity period is generally treated as good for six months. Order these close to when you’ll use them, not months ahead.
What people usually need
Getting married in Vietnam usually means a single status affidavit signed before a notary here and apostilled, plus a certified copy of a divorce decree if you’ve been married before. Working there usually means an FBI check with a federal apostille and a diploma with an Oregon apostille. Handling family property usually means a power of attorney signed here and apostilled; the wording should come from your lawyer or the office in Vietnam, since we can’t draft it.
Where we fit in
You can sign at our Hillsboro, Beaverton, Lake Oswego or Vancouver, WA office, or have our mobile notary come to you. We hand-deliver Oregon documents to the Secretary of State in Salem, usually turning them around in 1 to 5 business days, and we handle Washington and other-state apostilles and federal ones through the U.S. Department of State.
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Oregon apostille (state fee included) | $195 first document, $20 each additional |
| Washington apostille | $295 first document, $65 each additional |
| Other states | $195 first document, $65 each additional |
| FBI background check / with apostille | $135 / $295 |
| Notarization at our Oregon offices | $10 per signature |
FBI results usually come back within 30 minutes to 24 hours. The federal apostille adds roughly 10 business days, so if your work permit appointment is close, tell us the date when you book.
FAQ
Do I still need the Vietnamese consulate to legalize my documents?
Not for most documents since September 11, 2026. An apostille replaces it, though some commercial or customs documents may still be legalized.
Can Oregon apostille my FBI background check for Vietnam?
No. It’s a federal document, so the apostille comes from the U.S. Department of State.
Is my old legalized document still valid?
Yes. Vietnam says documents legalized before September 11, 2026 stay valid, and offices can’t ask for a new apostille on them.
Do I need a Vietnamese translation?
Yes, notarized or certified under Vietnamese law. Ask the receiving office where they want it done.
Related guides: who issues apostilles in the US · how long an FBI apostille takes · single status affidavit · does an apostille expire
Official sources: HCCH Apostille Convention status · Embassy of Vietnam: apostille in place of consular legalization · Decree 293/2026/ND-CP · Oregon Secretary of State: apostilles