For someone living in Canada, getting married in Vietnam can be an unexpectedly complex challenge. You probably already know that you will need to submit various documents related to your marriage. But did you know that you also need to process these documents in a specific way before they will be accepted in Vietnam? This article examines the process used for legalizing your documents for marriage in Vietnam. We review the documents you will need to present in Vietnam in order to get married, and then look at the Canadian authentication and legalization process. To wrap up, this brief guide points you to additional sources of information on the Canadian authentication and legalization process.
What documents does a Canadian need to get married in Vietnam?
As a Canadian looking to marry a Vietnamese citizen you will be required to provide a number of documents to the Government of Vietnam. This list remains the same if you are a Vietnamese citizen living in Canada who wishes to marry. The list of required documents is as follows:
- A copy of your passport
- A copy of your birth certificate
- A copy of a provincial marriage search
- A copy of your divorce judgement and your Certificate of Divorce (if divorced)
- A Single Status Declaration. This document should state your current marital status and address in Canada.
- A medical certificate issued by an appropriate medical authority (such as your physician). This medical certificate must state that the applicant is free from mental and infectious diseases, and is generally fit to get married.
- A marriage form provided by the Government of Vietnam, which can be accessed here.
If you are not able to go to Vietnam in person to submit these documents you will need to submit some additional supporting documents:
- A Power of Attorney, using a specific form that can be downloaded here.
- Two copies of a Biography Information Sheet that can be downloaded here.
- Two copies of an Application for Marriage Registration form that can be downloaded here.
Processing your documents so they will be accepted in Vietnam
Before they will be accepted in Vietnam you first need to have your documents authenticated and legalized. Document authentication and legalization is the process used to certify the validity of Canadian documents so that they will be officially recognized in another country. Document authentication and legalization is a three-step process:
Step 1 – Preparing your documents: All documents that will be used in Vietnam need to be notarized by a Notary Public or lawyer before they can be authenticated and legalized. All documents listed above need to be notarized, with the exception of the Biography Information Sheet and the Applications for Marriage Registration. All other documents listed in this article need to be notarized.
Step 2 – Document authentication: Documents are submitted to Global Affairs Canada in Ottawa for authentication. Your documents are reviewed to ensure that all is in order. When satisfied, Global Affairs Canada will place a large red stamp on each of your documents, confirming that they have been authenticated.
Step 3 – Document legalization: The third and final step is to submit your authenticated documents (see Step 2 above) to the Embassy of Vietnam for legalization. The Embassy staff will review your documents for completeness, and will ensure that your documents meet their requirements. When satisfied, they will place an additional stamp directly on each document, certifying that your documents have been legalized. Your documents can now be successfully submitted in Vietnam. Note that the Embassy of Vietnam will also be translating a number of your documents at the same time as legalizing them. See the Embassy of Vietnam’s web page on the “Procedure to Get Married to a Vietnamese Citizen” for details.
Where can I get assistance and more information?
At International Documents Canada we manage the document authentication and legalization process for thousands of clients every year. If you are looking for additional information on legalizing your documents for marriage in Vietnam we can help! In fact, we can manage the entire authentication and legalization process for you. Our website has a wealth of information on the Canadian authentication and legalization process, and is a great place to start. Or better yet, phone us for a free consultation. We’ll explain the authentication and legalization process to you, review your specific document processing needs, and answer any questions you have. No obligation and no pressure. If you choose us to process your documents we’ll help you get your documents in order, and then we manage all aspects of the authentication and legalization process for you. Phone us toll-free at 1-888-433-1011, or submit our quick form and we’ll get right back to you.
