Vietnam Visa Document Translation Package — Bangkok

No, not automatically. Vietnam has not acceded to the Hague Apostille Convention (status as of 2026). The Embassy of Vietnam Bangkok continues to require the classic dual-legalization chain: (1) Thai-issued document; (2) certified English translation by an MoJ Master Translator; (3) MOFA Chaeng Watthana authentication of the translator's signature; (4) Embassy of Vietnam Bangkok consular stamp on the document. Thailand's accession on 1 January 2026 streamlines workflows for documents going to the 125+ Apostille countries but does NOT change requirements for Vietnam-bound use. iVC handles all four steps end-to-end within 7–12 working days, including consular fee management and pickup. For documents originating in Vietnam and needed in Thailand, the reverse chain applies (Vietnamese notary → Vietnam MOFA → Royal Thai Embassy Hanoi).

Thai passport holders are visa-exempt for up to 30 days for tourism or business activities not requiring a work permit (Bilateral Agreement ASEAN). Beyond 30 days, the e-Visa (evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn, USD 25 single / USD 50 multi, 90-day validity) covers extended tourism, short business trips, conferences. You MUST upgrade to a sponsored visa when: (a) signing an employment contract with a Vietnamese entity (→ LD1/LD2 + Work Permit); (b) registering as an investor (→ DT1–DT4 + IRC); (c) accompanying a Vietnamese spouse for >90 days (→ TT); (d) enrolling in a Vietnamese university (→ DH); (e) staffing an NGO/project office (→ NN1/NN2). Sponsored visas require a Letter of Approval (Công văn) lodged by the Vietnamese sponsor with the Immigration Department before you can submit at the Embassy.

The LD2 work visa requires a pre-issued Work Permit (Giấy Phép Lao Động) from the provincial DOLISA (Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs). Employer's prerequisites: (1) Foreign Worker Quota Approval from the Provincial People's Committee (filed at least 30 days before recruitment, justifying why no Vietnamese candidate is suitable); (2) Submit Work Permit application packet: foreigner's Resume + Educational Diploma (Apostilled + consular legalized) + 3-year Experience Certificate + Police Clearance (issued ≤6 months, legalized) + Health Certificate from MOPH-recognized hospital + 4×6 cm photos. DOLISA processing 5–10 working days, validity matches contract up to 2 years renewable. Only AFTER Work Permit issuance does the foreigner apply for LD2 visa at Embassy Bangkok (or convert in-country if already on tourist status). iVC's LD2 package coordinates DOLISA + Embassy in parallel to compress total timeline.

TRC (Thẻ Tạm Trú) is almost always better for any stay over 12 months. Issued by Provincial Immigration after arrival on a sponsored visa (LD/DT/TT/NN), valid 1, 2, 3, or 5 years depending on category — DT1 investors get 5 years, LD2 workers get permit-matched (typically 2 years), TT family gets 3 years. TRC functions as re-entry permit (no need to re-apply for visa each trip), grants tax residency benefits, allows opening bank accounts and signing leases more easily, and the foreigner's accompanying spouse/children can obtain dependent TRCs. Cost: ~USD 145 government fee for 2-year TRC vs ~USD 95 per 3-month multi-entry visa (much cheaper amortized). Requirements: original sponsored visa stamp + sponsor's Form NA6/NA7 + passport + 2×3 cm photos + residential lease + temporary residence registration with local police (Form NA17). iVC's TRC Package (18,500–32,500 THB) handles document preparation, in-country liaison via Hanoi/HCMC partners, and police registration coordination.

Partially. Embassy of Vietnam Bangkok accepts certified English translations from MoJ Master Translators (registered with Thailand's Ministry of Justice Notarial Services Attorney List) AND NAATI-certified translations for documents originating in Australia. However, once inside Vietnam, the relevant Vietnamese authority (DOLISA, Department of Planning and Investment, court, notary) will require Vietnamese-language sworn translation (công chứng dịch thuật) performed by a translator registered with a Vietnamese notary office (Phòng Công Chứng). NAATI/MoJ English is sufficient for consular and embassy submission but NOT for in-country administrative use. iVC's workflow: (1) MoJ certified Thai→English translation in Bangkok; (2) MOFA + Embassy consular legalization; (3) on arrival in Vietnam, our notary partners (Phòng Công Chứng Số 1 Hanoi / Phòng Công Chứng Số 2 HCMC) re-translate English→Vietnamese and apply notarial certification within 2–3 working days. Total cost: typically 1,500–2,800 THB per document for the Vietnamese leg, included in the package quote.

Vietnam's Investor Visa (DT) tier, defined by Law on Investment 2020 + Law on Immigration of Foreigners 2014 (amended 2019), is based on capital contribution: DT1 — capital ≥ VND 100 billion (~USD 4M) OR investment in a sector incentivized by the Prime Minister → 5-year visa + 10-year TRC eligible; DT2 — capital VND 50B–100B (~USD 2M–4M) OR incentivized sector → 5-year visa + 5-year TRC; DT3 — capital VND 3B–50B (~USD 120K–2M) → 3-year visa + 3-year TRC; DT4 — capital under VND 3B (~USD 120K) → 12-month visa + 12-month TRC. Prerequisites: Investment Registration Certificate (IRC) + Enterprise Registration Certificate (ERC) issued by Department of Planning and Investment of the province where the project will operate; proof of capital contribution into a Vietnamese bank account (escrow until ERC issued). iVC's DT package (28,500–48,500 THB) coordinates capital documentation, IRC/ERC liaison via local law firm partners in Hanoi/HCMC/Da Nang, and visa submission at Embassy Bangkok.

After marriage to a Vietnamese citizen (registered at Vietnam's Department of Justice with prior submission of Thai Single Status Certificate + Apostille [from 1 Jan 2026 Thailand outbound] + Embassy of Vietnam consular legalization of the Single Status, OR registered at Thai amphoe with Vietnamese spouse's documents legalized in the reverse direction), the foreign spouse applies for TT family visa valid up to 12 months, then 3-year TT TRC once in-country. Documents: Marriage Certificate (Khor Ror 3 if Thailand-registered, or Vietnamese Hộ Tịch extract if Vietnam-registered) translated + legalized; Vietnamese spouse's National ID (Căn Cước Công Dân) + Household Register (Sổ Hộ Khẩu) + passport; Letter of Approval (Công văn) filed by Vietnamese spouse at Immigration Department; foreign applicant's passport + 4×6 cm photos + Form NA1 visa application. iVC's TT Package (12,500–22,500 THB) handles cross-border document chain, sponsor Letter of Approval coordination, and Embassy Bangkok submission; processing 7–14 working days total. After 3 years of marriage AND residence, the foreign spouse becomes eligible to apply for Permanent Residence Card.

iVC's package is a turnkey service covering: (1) Document audit — review of the Vietnam authority's specific list (Embassy / DOLISA / DPI / Department of Justice); (2) MoJ certified translation Thai→English by translators on the Ministry of Justice Master Translator list (CCC §1015 compliance), with sworn declaration page and stamp; (3) MOFA Chaeng Watthana legalization of the translator's signature (2–3 working days); (4) Embassy of Vietnam Bangkok consular stamp (3–5 working days, direct submission Mon–Fri 08:30–11:30); (5) Optional Vietnamese in-country re-translation + notarization via Hanoi/HCMC notary partners (2–3 working days); (6) Visa application packaging including Form NA1/NA5, photos (Vietnam 4×6 cm spec), Letter of Approval coordination with sponsor; (7) Embassy submission + pickup by iVC courier; (8) Status tracking with daily updates via LINE @iVisa. Total timeline: 7–14 working days for standard packages, 15–25 days for LD2 Work Permit / DT Investor coordinated tracks. Cost transparent and capped per the pricing table above. iVC is the only Bangkok provider offering integrated Thailand outbound + Vietnam in-country notarization in a single contract.