New Points in the Recognition of Foreign Diplomas and Degrees Im Vietnam

I. Conditions for Diploma/Degree Recognition

1. A diploma/degree awarded by a foreign educational institution that operates lawfully and delivers quality-assured educational programs shall be recognized if it meets one of the following conditions:

a) The awarding institution is licensed by the competent education authority of the country where its headquarters is located to provide training and issue the diploma/degree requested for recognition;

b) The awarding institution is accredited by an authorized educational quality accreditation body of the country where its headquarters is located, and the diploma/degree requested for recognition is recognized by the competent education authority of that country;

c) The educational program is accredited by an authorized educational quality accreditation body of the country where the institution’s headquarters is located, or is licensed for delivery by the competent education authority of that country, and the diploma/degree requested for recognition is recognized by the competent education authority of the country where the institution’s headquarters is located.

2. A diploma/degree issued by a foreign educational institution upon a learner's completion of in-person study in the country where its headquarters is located shall be recognized if it complies with Clause 1 of this Article.

3. A diploma/degree issued by a foreign educational institution conducting educational, training, or joint/twinning activities, or operating a branch campus in Vietnam, shall be recognized if the educational and training activities are lawfully implemented in Vietnam, meet all requirements regarding program approval, student admission, program duration, and other legal conditions effective at the time of program delivery, and concurrently comply with Clause 1 of this Article.

4. A diploma/degree issued by a foreign educational institution conducting educational, training, or joint/twinning activities, or having a branch campus in a country other than its headquarters country (excluding Vietnam), shall be recognized if it complies with Clause 1 of this Article and meets one of the following conditions:

a) The educational institution delivering the training program (hereinafter referred to as the training institution) has its quality recognized or accredited by the competent education or accreditation authority of the country where such activities are conducted;

b) The training institution is authorized by the competent education authority of the host country to conduct educational and training activities or issue diplomas/degrees;

c) The educational program is permitted for delivery or accredited by the competent education or accreditation authority of the host country.

5. A diploma/degree issued by a foreign educational institution for distance learning programs (online, blended online and in-person, or combinations of computer network-based, telecommunications, postal, or radio/television delivery) shall be recognized when meeting the provisions of Clause 1 of this Article, provided that during the learner's stay and study in any country, the program is licensed by the competent educational authority of that respective country.

6. A vocational education diploma awarded by a foreign educational institution shall be recognized if it satisfies Clause 1 of this Article and one of the conditions specified in Clauses 2, 3, 4, or 5 of this Article corresponding to the mode of study; it must also ensure equivalence in entry qualification requirements and compatibility in duration of study (calculated by academic years or cumulative credit points at the end of the course) under the qualification levels of Vietnam.

7. A doctoral degree awarded by a foreign educational institution via full-time, in-person study at the institution combined with field research in another country shall be recognized if it meets Clause 1 of this Article and includes a minimum of 12 months of direct, in-person study and research at the training institution throughout the entire program.

A doctoral degree awarded by a foreign educational institution through the recognition of existing research outcomes or scientific publications shall be recognized if it meets Clause 1 of this Article and the following conditions:

a) The learner has an academic supervisor, fully satisfies the academic requirements of the doctoral program, and successfully defends the dissertation before an academic council in accordance with the training institution's regulations;

b) The training institution certifies the pre-existing research outcomes and scientific publications as an integral part of the doctoral program, and the learning and research outcomes satisfy the output standards of the corresponding doctoral program standard in Vietnam.

8. The recognition of diplomas/degrees awarded by foreign educational institutions to learners impacted by war, natural disasters, epidemics, fires, force majeure events, and other special circumstances shall be decided by the Minister of Education and Training, provided that the learning and research outcomes satisfy the output standards of the corresponding training program standard in Vietnam.

II. Authority for Diploma/Degree Recognition

1. The Director General of the Quality Management Department under the Ministry of Education and Training is authorized to recognize vocational education diplomas and higher education diplomas/degrees.

2. The Director of the Department of Education and Training is authorized to recognize lower secondary diplomas, upper secondary diplomas, and certificates of completion of general education programs.

III. Dossiers, Order, and Procedures for Diploma/Degree Recognition

1. A dossier requesting recognition for diplomas/degrees specified in Clause 3, Article 3 of this Circular includes:

a) An application form for foreign diploma/degree recognition (issued under Appendix I of this Circular);

b) A copy of the diploma/degree or degree award confirmation requested for recognition, enclosed with a certified Vietnamese translation;

c) A copy of the diploma supplement (excluding pages introducing the issuing country's education system) or academic transcript, enclosed with a certified Vietnamese translation;

d) Valid copies of directly related diplomas and certificates.

2. A dossier requesting recognition for diplomas/degrees specified in Clauses 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, Article 3 of this Circular includes the components specified in Clause 1 of this Article and the following documents:

a) Immigration/border control data during the overseas study period extracted from the National Electronic Identification Application (VNeID) or the National Public Service Portal, and a copy of the entry visa for the country of study. In the absence of such data, a valid copy of documents demonstrating the study duration abroad must be submitted: passport, passport pages showing visas and entry/exit stamps corresponding to the study period; immigration verification from a competent authority; study dispatch and re-acceptance decisions issued by ministry-level employer management units (if any); or other evidentiary documents proving the period of overseas study;

b) A power of attorney for diploma/degree verification.

3. Sequence and procedures for diploma/degree recognition:

a) The applicant submits the required information as per Appendix I, uploads the dossier to the National Public Service Portal, and pays the prescribed fees. For information already available in national databases, the applicant is not required to submit physical copies or electronic certified copies.

b) If the applicant holds digital/electronic diplomas or transcripts, or if direct verification data is transmitted directly from the issuing institution or competent verification authority to the recognizing authority, the applicant may upload scans of the components under Clauses 1 and 2 of this Article (electronic certification of the original is not required). If the documents are in English, scans may be uploaded without requiring a Vietnamese translation or electronic certified copy.

c) If direct verification is unavailable, the applicant must upload electronically certified copies of the original components specified in Clauses 1 and 2 of this Article to the National Public Service Portal or submit physical copies (except for the power of attorney for diploma verification, which does not require electronic certified copy endorsement).

4. If an applicant cannot upload documents to the National Public Service Portal due to force majeure events, the dossier may be submitted directly or sent via postal services.

5. Within 20 working days from the receipt of a complete dossier, the recognizing authority shall return the recognition result. In cases requiring verification from the foreign institution or clarification of relevant information, the processing time shall not exceed 30 working days from the date of dossier receipt.

6. The receipt and processing of diploma recognition dossiers are not restricted by administrative boundaries.

IV. Results of Diploma/Degree Recognition

1. Recognition results are certified via a Diploma/Degree Recognition Certificate. This certificate may be issued in physical, electronic, or digital form, all possessing equal legal validity, conforming to the template in Appendix II of this Circular. If a diploma qualifies for recognition but its program duration is incompatible with Vietnamese training levels or its equivalence within the Vietnamese National Qualifications Framework cannot be established, the Certificate shall reflect the diploma's details according to the issuing country’s educational system.

2. Recognition results under Clause 1 of this Article shall be updated into the diploma recognition database. Information retrieved from this database or displayed on the VNeID application serves as valid verification in lieu of written confirmation from the recognizing authority. The diploma recognition database shall be systematically integrated with VNeID.

3. In cases where a diploma/degree fails to meet recognition conditions under Article 3 or exceeds the time limit under Clause 5, Article 5 of this Circular without sufficient basis for verification, the recognizing authority shall issue a written response stating the reasons.

4. Exemption from recognition procedures applies to diplomas/degrees governed by mutual recognition agreements, treaties, or international conventions to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a signatory or contracting party, as well as diplomas awarded to state-funded scholars dispatched and received back by the Ministry of Education and Training.

5. Exemption from formal recognition procedures does not exempt the diploma from verification of legitimacy and validity. The receiving agency, organization, or individual is responsible for verifying the authenticity of the diploma/degree when necessary pursuant to law.

6. A Diploma/Degree Recognition Certificate shall be revoked if the recognizing authority discovers that the diploma was unlawfully issued or the application dossier was fraudulent. A certificate may be reissued in case of clerical errors or technical defects. The recognizing authority shall issue a formal decision on revocation or reissuance stating the clear rationale. The reissuance decision shall specify that the new certificate supersedes the previously issued one. Decisions on revocation or reissuance shall be dispatched to the holder, their employer (if applicable), and relevant organizations.