It’s No Longer Possible To Authenticate Documents In Vietnam If You’re From These Countries…

Here are some recent changes that may affect you if you’re planning to teach English in Vietnam.

The most important documents to bring from your home country that are required for obtaining a work permit to teach English in Vietnam are your original bachelors degree and a criminal background check. You can read more about Vietnam visas and work permits here.

Up until recently all native English speaking countries (UK, USA, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa) could bring their original documents with them and go through the process of having a copy of their degree, and the original background check, authenticated in Vietnam.

Near the end of 2017, however, the British embassy in Vietnam stopped authenticating documents in Vietnam. UK citizens now need to have these documents authenticated in the UK.

We have now also learned that the South African embassy in Vietnam has stopped authenticating documents in Vietnam. This was changed at the end of March 2018, without any notice or warning, as far as we can tell.

Therefore, if you’re from the UK or South Africa you will need to have authenticated copies made before coming out to Vietnam, or send your documents home to have them authenticated.

If you are from the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia or Ireland we now also advise you to have a copy of your degree, and your background check, authenticated in your home country. While it is still possible to have it done in Vietnam right now, this could change at any point, without notice.

In conclusion, the recent changes of the British and South African embassies in Vietnam no longer authenticating documents have led us to encourage all native English speakers to have a copy of their degree, and their original background check, authenticated in their home country.

If you’d like the most up to date information on how to have these documents authenticated in your home country please contact us.

Teaching English in Vietnam