Question

I am a foreigner living in Da Nang. I need to notarize some documents in English ? Lawyers in Danang advise on the notarization of foreign language documents in Vietnam ?

Answer

Notarization of a Foreign Language Document in Vietnam ?

The following information shall give answer to your query.

Notarization in Vietnam:

Notarization means the written certification by a notary of a notarial practice organization of the authenticity and lawfulness of a contract or another civil transaction (below referred to as contract or transaction) or of the accuracy, lawfulness and conformity with social ethics of the Vietnamese or foreignlanguage translation of a paper or document (below referred to as translation) which is prescribed by law or voluntarily requested by an individual or organization to be notarized (Clause 1 Article 2 Law on Notarization No. 53/2014/QH13 dated June 20, 2014).

Spoken and written language used in notarization:

The spoken and written language used in notarization is Vietnamese (Clause 6 Article 2 Law on Notarization No. 53/2014/QH13 dated June 20, 2014).

Notarization of translations:

The translation of papers and documents from Vietnamese into a foreign language or vice versa for notarization shall be done by interpreters being collaborators of notarial practice organizations. These collaborators must be graduates of foreign language universities or other universities who are fluent in the foreign language used. These collaborators shall take responsibility before notarial practice organizations for the accuracy and consistency of their translations.

A notary shall receive originals of papers and documents to be translated, check them before handing to an interpreter being a collaborator of the notarial practice organization for translation. The interpreter shall sign every page of his/ her translations before the notary writes the testimonies and signs every page of such translations.

Every page of translations shall be appended with the “Translation” mark in the right top blank space; translations shall be attached with copies of originals and have every two adjoining sheets appended with an overlapping seal on their inner edges.

Testimonies of a notary on translations must clearly state the time and place of notarization, full name of the notary and name of the notarial practice organization; full name of the interpreter; certify that the signature in the translations is truly that of the interpreter; and certify that the translations are accurate and consistent with law and social ethics; such testimonies must bear the signature of the notary and seal of the notarial practice organization.

A notary may not receive and notarize translations in the following cases:

He/ she knows or must know that the originals are granted ultra vires or are invalid or counterfeit;

Papers or documents requested for translation have been erased or modified, have additions or omissions, or are damaged or rumpled, making their contents unreadable;

Papers or documents requested for translation are classified as state secrets; papers or documents are banned from dissemination under law.

The Minister of Justice shall stipulate in detail the model testimonies of notaries for translations (Article 61 Law on notarization No. 53/2014/QH13 dated June 20, 2014)./.

Contact us:

Call: 0914 165 703 

Email: dmslawfirm@gmail.com 

DMS Lawfirm in Vietnam
Director
(Signed)
Lawyer Do Minh Son