Translation, Notarization and Legalization Costs for FDI Dossiers

Scenario: a Taiwanese investor’s parent-company business license, financial statements and board resolution must all be “legalized” before the IRC dossier can be filed. The service provider quotes VND 18 million for “translation + notarization + legalization” without explaining how many steps that covers. What does each step actually cost under current regulations — and does the new Apostille regime change the math?

The four-step chain and the cost of each step

A foreign document typically passes through four paid steps before a Vietnamese licensing agency accepts it. Step 1 — translation (foreign language to Vietnamese): a market service with no state price schedule; publicly advertised rates are commonly around VND 49,000 per page/300 words for English–Vietnamese (market reference, unverified — Chinese, Japanese and Korean cost more). Step 2 — notarization of the translation: under the fee schedule accompanying Circular 257/2016/TT-BTC, the notarization fee for a translation is VND 10,000 per page for the first translated copy; from the second copy onward, VND 5,000 per page for pages 1–2 and VND 3,000 per page from page 3, capped at VND 200,000 per copy. The current Notarization Law is Law 46/2024/QH15 (passed 26 November 2024, effective 1 July 2025, replacing the 2014 Law), with 8 chapters and 76 articles. Step 3 — consular certification/legalization: consular certification (by Vietnamese authorities, for Vietnamese documents used abroad) and consular legalization (by Vietnamese missions abroad or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for foreign documents used in Vietnam) are governed by Decree 111/2011/ND-CP (effective 1 February 2012), as amended by Decree 196/2025/ND-CP (issued 4 July 2025, effective 3 August 2025; consolidated text 4443/VBHN-BNG 2025). Standard processing is 1 working day from receipt of a complete dossier (up to 5 working days for 10+ documents). Step 4 — certified true copies: under Decree 23/2015/ND-CP on certification, VND 2,000 per page for pages 1–2 and VND 1,000 per page from page 3, capped at VND 200,000 per copy; signature certification costs VND 10,000 per case. For a typical 5-document FDI dossier, the regulated fees (notarization + certification) total only a few hundred thousand dong — the real money is in translation and in the foreign-embassy legalization step, where each mission sets its own fee schedule (publicly advertised full-service packages cite roughly VND 250,000–300,000 per MFA stamp and VND 2.5–4.5 million per embassy legalization — market references, unverified).

When is legalization exempt?

Not every foreign document needs the full chain. Under Decree 111/2011/ND-CP and Article 9 of the 2009 Law on Vietnamese Representative Missions Abroad, documents are exempt from consular certification/legalization where: an international treaty to which both Vietnam and the foreign country are parties so provides; the principle of reciprocity applies; the document is transferred directly between competent authorities; or the receiving agency does not require it. In practice, investors should ask the receiving agency (Department of Finance or industrial park management board) in writing which documents it will accept without legalization — some agencies accept a certified copy of a passport with the original presented for comparison, for example.

The turning point: Vietnam joins the Apostille Convention (effective 11 September 2026)

The single biggest cost change in a decade: on 31 December 2025 Vietnam deposited its instrument of accession to the 1961 Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (the Apostille Convention), and it entered into force for Vietnam on 11 September 2026, bringing membership to 129 states (sources: HCCH, Ministry of Justice, Nhan Dan). From that date, a foreign public document bearing an apostille from the competent authority of its country of origin is accepted in Vietnam without the multi-step consular legalization chain — one formality replaces two administrations, two queues and two sets of fees. The mechanism works both ways: a Vietnamese document apostilled in Hanoi is recognized in other member states without their consulates. Three caveats: Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic objected to Vietnam’s accession, so consular legalization still applies for documents from those three countries; the apostille certifies origin (signature, capacity, seal), not content; and certified Vietnamese translation remains mandatory. For FDI dossiers prepared after September 2026, investors from member states should ask their home-country authority for an apostille first — it is typically faster and cheaper than the old chain.

Practical ways to keep the cost down

First, translate once and reuse: a notarized Vietnamese translation of the parent company’s license can serve the IRC dossier, the bank (for the capital account) and later sub-license filings — order enough notarized copies upfront, since second and subsequent copies are cheaper (VND 5,000/3,000 per page under Circular 257/2016). Second, batch the legalization: missions and service providers usually discount the second document onward. Third, check exemptions before paying: an apostille (for member states) or a treaty-based exemption can eliminate the embassy step entirely. Fourth, keep the originals’ validity in mind — some receiving agencies require documents (financial statements, bank confirmations) issued within a recent period, and re-legalizing an expired set doubles the cost.

Frequently asked questions

Which countries’ documents are exempt from consular legalization?
Three groups: documents covered by an international treaty between Vietnam and the issuing country; documents under reciprocal arrangements; and — since 11 September 2026 — public documents from the 129 Apostille Convention member states bearing an apostille. Documents from Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic still require full consular legalization because those states objected to Vietnam’s accession.

Should I translate in Vietnam or legalize a translation done abroad?
Both routes work, but the common practice is: legalize the foreign original (or its apostille) first, then translate and notarize the translation in Vietnam. A translation notarized abroad must itself be legalized to be used in Vietnam, which adds a step. Translating in Vietnam after legalization keeps the chain to one legalization round.

Does a notarized translation expire?
No law sets a general expiry date for notarized translations. In practice, however, receiving agencies may require recently issued underlying documents (e.g., financial statements from the latest fiscal year, bank confirmations within 3–6 months), which effectively forces a fresh translation. Ask the receiving agency about its recency requirements before commissioning the translation.

Does an investor’s passport need consular legalization?
Generally no — a passport is an identity document presented in original or as a certified true copy, not a document requiring legalization under Decree 111/2011/ND-CP. In practice, licensing agencies usually accept a certified copy of the passport’s information pages (VND 2,000 per page under Decree 23/2015/ND-CP) with the original available for comparison. Confirm with the specific receiving agency, as practice varies.

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