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GOVERNMENT OF VIETNAM |
SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM |
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No. 280/2025/ND-CP |
Hanoi, October 27, 2025 |
Amendments to Decree No. 23/2015/ND-CP on issuance of copies from master registers, issuance of certified true copies from originals, authentication of signatures and authentication of contracts and transactions amended by Decree No. 07/2025/ND-CP
Pursuant to Law on Government Organization No. 63/2025/QH15;
At the request of the Minister of Justice;
The Government hereby promulgates a Decree on amendments to Decree No. 23/2015/ND-CP on issuance of copies from master registers, issuance of certified true copies from originals, authentication of signatures and authentication of contracts and transactions amended by Decree No. 07/2025/ND-CP.
Article 1. Amendments to Decree No. 23/2015/ND-CP on issuance of copies from master registers, issuance of certified true copies from originals, authentication of signatures and authentication of contracts and transactions amended by Decree No. 07/2025/ND-CP
1. Amendments to Clauses 2, 3, 4 and 9 Article 2:
“2. “Certifying copies of originals as true” means competent agencies, organizations or persons as defined hereof certify copies of the originals as true based on the originals.
3. “Authentication of signatures” means competent agencies, organizations or persons as defined hereof authenticate signatures on papers, documents as signatures of the requester.
4. “Authentication of transactions” means competent persons as defined hereof authenticate time and venue of entering into the civil transactions, legal capacity, willingness and appending signatures or fingerprints of the parties involved in the civil transaction.
9. “Authenticating persons” include the Chairpersons of the People’s Committees of communes, wards, special zones (hereinafter referred to as “the Commune-level People’s Committees”); persons authorized or assigned to perform authentication duties in accordance with the provisions of clause 2 Article 5 of this Decree; notaries of notary bureaus and notary offices (hereinafter referred to as “notarial practice organizations”); diplomatic staff or consular staff of embassies, consulates and other agencies authorized to perform consular functions of Vietnam abroad. (hereinafter referred to as “diplomatic missions”).”.
“Article 5. Authority and responsibilities for authentication
1. The Chairpersons of the commune-level People’s Committees shall:
a) Certify copies of originals of documents and papers issued or approved by Vietnamese competent agencies or organizations; foreign competent agencies or organizations; Vietnamese competent agencies or organizations in cooperation with foreign competent agencies or organizations as true;
b) Authenticate signatures on papers and documents;
c) Authenticate translators’ signatures on papers and documents translated from foreign languages into Vietnamese or from Vietnamese into foreign languages;
d) Authenticate transactions related to movable property;
dd) Authenticate transactions related to rights of land users in accordance with land laws;
e) Authenticate transactions on housing in accordance with housing laws;
g) Authenticate testaments;
h) Authenticate written disclaimers of estate;
i) Authenticate written agreements on division of estate that is the property specified in points d, dd and e of this clause.
2. The Chairpersons of the Commune-level People’s Committees shall direct and organize the performance of authentication-related work specified in clause 1 of this Article within their divisions.
The authorization or assignment of authentication-related work specified in clause 1 of this Article as well as the signing and use of seals during the authentication process shall comply with the provisions of law on organization of local governments, law on organization of specialized agencies under the Commune-level People’s Committees and other relevant laws.
3. The diplomatic missions shall authenticate the work specified in points a, b and c clause 1 of this Article. Diplomatic staff and consular staff shall append their signatures and seals of their diplomatic missions.
4. Notaries shall authenticate the work specified in points a, b, and c of Clause 1 of this Article, append their signatures and seals of notarial practice organizations.
5. The authentication work shall be performed regardless of the requesters’ places of residence in the following cases:
a) Certifying copies of originals as true, authenticating signatures;
c) Authenticating transactions related to movable property;
c) Authenticating testaments, authenticating written disclaimers of estate;
d) Authenticating letters of attorney related to the exercise of the rights of land and housing users;
dd) Authenticating amendments to transactions or cancellation of transactions specified in points b, c and d of this clause.
6. Transactions related to rights of land users shall be authenticated in the People’s Committees of communes to which the land belongs, and transactions related to housing shall be authenticated in the People’s Committees of communes where the housing is located, except for the cases specified in clause 5 of this Article.
“Article 6. Responsibilities of agencies and organizations for receiving electronic copies, papers and documents
1. In cases where only copies are required by law, agencies and organizations receiving the copies (hereinafter referred to as “receiving agencies and organizations”) are not allowed to request certified true copies; instead, they may request originals or copies from master registers for comparison or verification if there are grounds to suspect that the copies are forged or illegal.
2. In cases where copies from master registers or certified true copes are required by law, receiving agencies and organizations are only allowed to request originals for comparison or verification if there are grounds to suspect that the copies are forged or illegal.
3. In cases where electronic papers and documents are issued as prescribed by law, receiving agencies and organizations are not allowed to request the printed copies or certified true copies, except in cases where there is reason to believe that the electronic copies are forged or illegal, in which case it must be handled according to their authority or reported to the competent authority for resolution.”.
4. Addition of clause 8 and clause 9 to Article 9:
“8. Do not require the requesters to submit or present the originals or copies of papers and documents that have been integrated into VNeID if the requesters have already presented the corresponding information from VNeID.
9. In cases where the requester apply for authentication and the authenticating person can access information and documents from the National Population Database or other databases as prescribed by law, the authenticating person is responsible for retrieving the information and documents from these databases and is not allowed to request the requester to present the original, a copy from the master register, or a certified true copy for the information and documents that have been accessed.”.
5. Amendments to Clause 2 of Article 12:
“2. Sample testimonies enclosed with this Decree include:
a) Testimonies for certifying copies of originals as true;
b) Testimonies for authenticating an individual’s signature on a paper or document; testimonies for authenticating an individual’s signature on a paper or document at the Public Administrative Service Center; testimonies for authenticating signatures or fingerprints of multiple individuals on a paper or document; testimonies for authenticating signatures or fingerprints of multiple individuals on a paper or document at the Public Administrative Service Center; testimonies for authenticating a fingerprint; testimonies for authenticating the case where requesters’ signatures or fingerprints cannot be made;
c) Testimonies for authenticating translators’ signatures;
d) Testimonies for authenticating transactions; testimonies for authenticating transactions at the Public Administrative Service Center; testimonies for authenticating written agreements on division of estate; testimonies for authenticating written agreements on division of estate at the Public Administrative Service Center; testimonies for authenticating written disclaimers of estate; testimonies for authenticating written disclaimers of estate in cases where at least 2 persons do not claim the estate; testimonies for authenticating written disclaimers of estate in cases where a person does not claim the estate at the Public Administrative Service Center; testimonies for authenticating written disclaimers of estate in cases where at least 2 persons do not claim the estate at the Public Administrative Service Center; testimonies for authenticating testaments; testimonies for authenticating testaments at the Public Administrative Service Center.”.
6. Amendments to Clause 4 of Article 13:
“4. Specimen authentication books enclosed herewith include:
a) Compilation of certified true copies (SCT/BS);
b) Book used for recording the authentication of signatures or fingerprints (SCT/CK,DC);
c) Book used for recording the authentication of translators’ signatures (SCT/CKND);
d) Book used for recording the authentication of transactions (SCT/GD).”
“Article 17. Procedures for issuance of copies from master registers
1. An application for issuance of copies from a master register shall include the following:
a) One of the following documents: Unexpired e-ID card; the original or a copy of the unexpired Citizen ID Card, unexpired ID Card, unexpired ID Certificate, unexpired Passport, unexpired travel document or an unexpired international laissez-passer;
b) The original or a certified true copy of documents proving the relationship with the person to whom the original is issued, in cases specified in clauses 2 and 3 of Article 16 of this Decree.
2. Procedures for obtaining copies from the master register:
a) In the case of submitting the application directly to the competent agency or organization, the applicant shall present the documents prescribed in Clause 1 of this Article for the receiving person to verify;
b) In the case of submitting the application by post, the applicant must enclose the documents prescribed in Clause 1 of this Article along with one stamped envelope clearly indicating the name and address of the recipient;
c) In the case of submitting the application online, the applicant may submit the electronic document specified in Clause 1 of this Article or its electronic copy.
3. The agency or organization shall issue copies based on the master register; contents of copies must accurately reflect the original register. In cases where the master register is no longer stored or does not contain the requested information, the agency or organization is responsible for responding in writing to the requester.
The results shall be delivered in person, by post or online according to the method registered by the requester.
4. The period for issuing a copy from the master register shall comply with the provisions of Article 7 of this Decree. The period shall begin from the date the agency or organization receives a satisfactory application in person, from the date of receipt written in the postmark or from the date as recorded by the public service system as “satisfactory application received”.
“Article 19. Responsibilities of requesters and authenticating persons
1. Requesters shall be responsible for the content, validity and legality of original papers or documents used as the basis for certifying the copies. Requesters shall determine the types of papers and documents that need to be certified as true copies of the originals in accordance with the law and shall not request certification of true copies of the original papers and documents specified in Article 22 of this Decree.
2. Authenticating persons are responsible for the accuracy of the copies in comparison with the originals. In cases where authenticating persons find that the law does not require the use of certified true copies of documents or papers, they shall provide guidance on this matter to the requesters.”.
“Article 28. Part-time translators
1. Any person who qualifies and meets the conditions prescribed in Article 27 hereof may be recruited to work as a part-time translator for the Commune-level People’s Committees or notarial practice organizations throughout the country.
2. The Commune-level People’s Committees and notarial practice organizations are responsible for examining qualifications of part-time translators, signing part-time translator contracts with part-time translators which clearly define the translators’ responsibilities for the content and quality of the translations, and subsequently compiling lists of part-time translators to report to the Departments of Justice for approval.
3. The commune-level People’s Committees, Commune-level Public Administration Service Centers and notarial practice organizations shall publicly post the lists of part-time translators approved by the Department of Justice at their offices, and regularly publish and update them on the web portal or the website of the Departments of Justice.”.
“Article 29. Registration of specimen signatures
Part-time translators of the Commune-level People’s Committees or notarial practice organizations must register specimen signatures at their offices. When registering a specimen signature, the translator must submit a written request for a specimen signature and directly append three identical specimen signatures on the written request in front of the Chairperson of the Commune-level People’s Committee or his/her authorized person, the head of the notary bureau or the Chief of the notary office.”.
“Article 31. Procedures for authenticating translators’ signatures
1. A part-time translator of a Commune-level People’s Committee or a notarial practice organization requesting authentication of signature must present the translation and the source paper or document.
Upon performing authentication work, the authenticating person must compare the translator’s signature on the translation with the specimen signature before authenticating it; in cases where the signature on the translation seemed to be in doubt, the translator is required to sign in person.
2. In cases where an individual who is not a part-time translator of the Commune-level People’s Committee or a notarial practice organization translate a paper or document by themselves for personal purposes and requests to authenticate their signature on the translation, the following documents must be presented:
a) One of the following papers: Unexpired e-ID card; the original or a copy of the unexpired Citizen ID Card, unexpired ID Card, unexpired ID Certificate, unexpired Passport, unexpired travel document or an unexpired international laissez-passer;
b) The original or a copy from the master register or a certified true copy of one of the documents prescribed in Clause 2 Article 27 of this Decree; except in cases where the translation is in an uncommon language and the translator does not hold a bachelor’s degree in foreign languages or a university degree but is proficient in the language to be translated.
An uncommon language is one that is rarely represented in papers and documents used in Vietnam and few people are able to translate this language into Vietnamese or vice versa. The translator must demonstrate that they have lived, studied or worked in an environment where an uncommon language is used, must provide a commitment on their proficiency in that language and their responsibility for the content of the translation.
c) The translation shall be enclosed with the source paper or document.
The requester must append their signature in the presence of the authenticating person, except in cases specified in Clause 3, Article 24 of this Decree.
3. The authenticating person must examine the documents submitted for authentication. Depending on the case, if the documents are sufficient as stipulated in clause 1 or clause 2 of this Article and source documents or papers are not included in the provisions of Article 32 of this Decree, the authentication shall be performed as follows:
a) Fully write testimonies for authenticating the translator’s signature using the prescribed sample;
b) Append signature, full name and seal of the authenticating agency or organization and record the authentication in the authentication book.
For the translation of a paper or document consisting of two or more pages, each page must be numbered and bear the signatures of both the translator and the authenticating person; the total number of pages, sheets and the testimonies should be recorded on the last page of the translation or on the page immediately following it; if the paper or document consists of two or more sheets, it must be sealed across the sheets.
4. In cases where the translator is a diplomatic staff-cum-authenticating person or a consular staff-cum-authenticating person at a diplomatic mission, the translator must declare that the translation is accurate in comparison with the source paper or document; The signature, full name and seal of the diplomatic mission must be added.”.
12. Amendments to Clause 1 of Article 36:
“1. The requester shall present one of the following documents: The unexpired e-ID card; the original or a copy of the unexpired Citizen ID Card, unexpired ID Card, unexpired ID Certificate, unexpired Passport, unexpired travel document or an unexpired international laissez-passer and an application for authentication including the following:
a) Draft transaction;
b) Certificate of ownership of property or certificate of rights to use property or substitutive documents prescribed by law if it is required by law to register ownership or rights to use the property if the transaction involves such property; except in cases where the testator’s life is being threatened.
The procedures for authentication of transaction stipulated in this Article shall be carried out in person, by post or online.
The documents specified in point b of this clause must be either the original, a certified true copy or an electronic certified true copy; in the case of direct submission of the application, the requester may submit the copy along with presenting the original for comparison.”.
13. Addition of Clause 3 of Article 38:
“3. The procedures for authentication of an amended or cancelled transaction stipulated in this Article shall be carried out in person, by post or online.”.
14. Addition of Clause 3 of Article 39:
“3. The procedures for correcting errors in authenticated transactions as stipulated in this Article shall be carried out in person, by post or online. The results shall be delivered in person or by post.”.
“Article 43. Responsibilities of the People’s Committees at all levels for state management of authentication
1. The People’s Committee of a province shall perform the state management of authentication within the province and have the following tasks and powers:
a) Organize the implementation of legislative documents on authentication in the province;
b) Provide guidance and refresher training in professional competence in authentication for cadres and civil servants performing authentication work at the commune-level People’s Committees and notaries of notarial practice organizations;
c) Organize the dissemination and communication of legal regulations on authentication; take measures to rectify the abuse of requiring certified true copies of documents and papers when carrying out administrative procedures in the province;
d) Apply information technology in the performance of authentication work and state management of authentication within the province, meeting the requirements for providing and exchanging information;
dd) Inspect and supervise the authentication activities of the Commune-level People’s Committees and notarial practice organizations in the province;
e) Compile and publish the list of signers of the Commune-level People’s Committees within their province on the web portal or the website of the Department of Justice and update this list when there are changes;
g) Resolve complaints, denunciations, petitions and reports from individuals and organizations, and handle administrative violations related to authentication within their authority;
h) Consider deciding whether to entirely or partially transfer the authority for certification of true copies of originals, authentication of signatures to notarial practice organizations in communes where at least one notarial practice organization is operating stably and effectively at the time of the decision; the notarial practice organizations should be distributed reasonably to facilitate individuals and organizations in need of authentication in the province;
i) Provide a statement on the situation and statistics showing the authentication in the province to the Ministry of Justice in accordance with regulations.
The Department of Justice shall assist the Provincial People’s Committee in carrying out the tasks specified in points a, b, c, d, e, g, h and i of this clause and supervise the authentication activities of the Commune-level People’s Committees and notarial practice organizations in the province.
2. The People’s Committee of a commune shall perform the state management of authentication within the commune and have the following tasks and powers:
a) Manage the performance of authentication tasks according to the provisions herein;
b) Disseminate and mobilize the people to comply with legal regulations on authentication;
c) Issue certified true copies of transactions that have been authenticated;
d) Resolve complaints, denunciations, petitions and reports from individuals and organizations, and handle administrative violations related to authentication within their authority;
dd) Provide a statement on the situation and statistics showing the authentication to the Department of Justice in accordance with regulations.
The Office of the People’s Council and the People’s Committee shall cooperate with the Public Administration Service Center in assisting the Commune-level People’s Committee in performing the tasks specified in points a, b, and c of this clause.
The Chairperson of the Commune-level People’s Committee or the person authorized or assigned to perform authentication tasks as prescribed in Clause 2, Article 5 of this Decree must notify the Department of Justice of the specimen signature used for authentication.”.
“Article 47. Transitional provisions
1. For transactions that have been authenticated at a Department of Justice or a Commune-level People’s Committee before July 1, 2025, the amendment or cancellation of the transactions, the correction of errors in the transactions and the issuance of certified true copies of the transactions shall be carried out at the Commune-level People’s Committee where the authenticated transaction records are stored.
2. Compilations of certified true copies, books used for recording the authentication of signatures or fingerprints, books used for recording the authentication of translators’ signatures, books used for recording the authentication of transactions made before the effective date of this Decree shall continue to be used until the end of December 31, 2025.”.
Article 2. Replacement of certain phrases and appendices of Decree No. 23/2015/ND-CP on issuance of copies from master registers, issuance of certified true copies from originals, authentication of signatures and contracts amended by Decree No. 07/2025/ND-CP
1. Replacement of phrases:
a) The phrase “original or certified true copy of the old-style ID Card/Citizen ID Card/new-style ID Card/Citizen Certificate/Passport/travel documents/international laissez-passer that is unexpired or e-ID Card” in point a, Clause 1, Article 24, and Clause 2, Article 40 is replaced with the phrase “One of the following documents: Unexpired e-ID card; the original or a copy of the unexpired Citizen ID Card, unexpired ID Card, unexpired ID Certificate, unexpired Passport, unexpired travel document or an unexpired international laissez-passer”.
b) The phrase “old-style ID Card/Citizen ID Card/new-style ID Card/Citizen Certificate/Passport/travel documents/international laissez-passer” in clause 2 of Article 25 is replaced with the phrase “E-ID Card/Citizen ID Card/new-style ID Card/Citizen Certificate/Passport/travel documents/international laissez-passer”.
c) The phrase “contract, transaction” is replaced with the phrase “transaction” in the title of the Decree, the title of Chapter III and in the following articles and clauses: Article 1; Clause 8 of Article 2; title and Clause 4 of Article 3; Clause 3 of Article 9; Clause 1 of Article 10; Article 11; Clause 3 of Article 14; Clause 4 of Article 25; and Article 34, Article 35, Article 36, Article 37, Article 38, Article 39, Article 40.
d) The word “charges” is replaced with the word “fee” in clause 3 Article 10; clause 4 Article 14; title and clause 1 and clause 2 of Article 15.
2. The Appendix showing sample testimonies and specimen authentication books enclosed with Decree No. 23/2015/ND-CP is replaced with the Appendix showing sample testimonies and specimen authentication books enclosed herewith.
1. This Decree comes into force as of November 01, 2025.
2. The following regulations shall be annulled:
a) Article 1 of Decree No. 07/2025/ND-CP;
b) Article 13, Article 14, Article 15, Article 16, Article 17 and clause 2 Article 24 of Decree No. 120/2025/ND-CP;
c) Article 64 of Decree No. 104/2025/ND-CP.
1. The Minister of Justice shall organize the implementation of this Decree.
2. Ministers, Heads of ministerial agencies, Heads of Governmental agencies, Chairpersons of the People’s Committees of provinces and central-affiliated cities are responsible for implementation of this Decree.
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ON BEHALF OF GOVERNMENT OF VIETNAM Le Thanh Long |
