Document Checklist for Foreign Buyers in Vietnam

Foreign buyers eyeing a branded residence such as Grand Marina Saigon usually worry most about the paperwork: "What exactly do I need? Is my passport enough? Do I have to translate and notarize anything?" This article focuses specifically on the document checklist — as distinct from the step-by-step procedure timeline — so you can gather everything in one go and avoid back-and-forth trips that delay signing.

What documents does a foreign buyer need?

At its core you need a valid passport with a legal Vietnamese entry stamp, followed by the documents for payment, notarization and ownership registration.

Contrary to what many people imagine, the paperwork for a foreigner buying property in Vietnam is not overly complex. The biggest difference from a Vietnamese buyer is that you must prove you entered the country legally and belong to the category permitted to own housing. Here are the main groups of documents to have ready:

• A valid passport (ideally with at least 6 months of validity remaining).
• The passport page with an entry stamp or a valid Vietnamese visa — proof that you were legally admitted into the country.
• The Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA) issued by developer Masterise Homes, usually bilingual Vietnamese–English.
• Bank transfer records made through a bank in Vietnam (crucial later when you want to repatriate sale proceeds).
• Your spouse's identity documents if buying jointly, plus marriage proof where required.

In practice, the project's sales and legal teams guide you through exactly which documents apply to your situation (buying alone, jointly, or through a company). You don't need to memorize everything — you just need to know ahead of time so nothing catches you off guard.

If you'd like this checklist as a printable file you can tick off item by item, just message us.

Why does the entry stamp in your passport matter?

Because regulations allow foreigners to own housing only if they were legally admitted into Vietnam, and the entry stamp is the simplest proof of that.

This is the point most first-time buyers overlook. You may hold a perfectly valid passport, but if the booklet has no current Vietnamese entry stamp, your file may be sent back for more documents. So:

• Keep the passport page with your most recent entry stamp intact; don't renew your passport right before signing the SPA.
• If you entered via an autogate that doesn't stamp, ask to have it stamped or obtain an entry confirmation.
• For long-term residents, a temporary or permanent residence card also serves as proof of valid residence status.

In short, your passport and entry stamp are your "ticket in" — placing you in the group eligible to own an apartment within the limits of 50-year ownership, renewable under Vietnamese law, and a cap of 30% of units per building for foreigners. That 30% quota is tracked tower by tower, so submitting your file early also helps you secure an ownership slot.

Which documents need notarization and translation?

Foreign documents such as your passport usually need a notarized Vietnamese translation, and these steps come with bilingual support at the project.

The part that confuses foreign buyers the most is notarization and translation, because the process differs from their home country. Typically you'll encounter the following requirements:

• Notarized translation of your passport into Vietnamese (a translation stamped by a licensed agency).
• Notarization of the SPA or any power of attorney (if you are not signing in person in Vietnam).
• Consular legalization for certain documents issued abroad (for example, a power of attorney drawn up overseas) before they can be used in Vietnam.

The good news is that Grand Marina Saigon, developed by Masterise Homes, offers bilingual paperwork and translation support, so you don't have to hunt for a notary office yourself. Even so, read the translation carefully to make sure your name, passport number and unit details all match exactly. A small error here can force the whole file to be redone — one of the issues highlighted in our piece on the 7 pitfalls foreign buyers make in Vietnam.

A checklist organized by stage

It helps to split the paperwork into three stages — booking/deposit, signing the SPA, and receiving the title — each needing a different set of documents.

The table below summarizes the documents usually needed at each step. This is a general reference; the official list per sales phase may change and will be announced by the developer.

Note that the taxes, fees and timelines above are indicative only and may change per the developer's official announcements and the laws in force at the time of your transaction. You can find more common questions on our FAQ page.

Documents related to fund transfers and payment

Always pay through a bank account in Vietnam and keep every transfer record, because that is the legal basis for repatriating your sale proceeds later.

This is the group of documents fewest people notice, yet it is among the most important for foreigners. When you buy, pay attention to:

• Pay by bank transfer and minimize cash, so the money trail stays transparent.
• Keep all receipts, statements and credit agreements (if you borrow through Techcombank, VPBank, MB or BIDV).
• Retain copies of the SPA and the liquidation record when reselling, to prove the source of funds.

Storing your records from the very start makes the final stage far smoother — explained in detail in our article on repatriating sale proceeds out of Vietnam legally. If you plan to pass the property on to your children or relatives, you should also review the inheritance & gifting rules for foreign owners in advance.

To be sure you're missing no documents for your specific nationality and purchase structure, the fastest route is a direct conversation.

A few tips for a smooth file

Preparing documents early, double-checking the details on translations, and keeping your current passport unchanged are the three simplest ways to keep your file moving.

A few practical tips to save time:

• Pre-scan your passport in color (the photo page plus the page with the entry stamp) so you can send it quickly when asked.
• Agree with your spouse beforehand on whether one name or joint ownership will appear on the title.
• Read the bilingual SPA carefully, especially the area, unit code, price and payment schedule.
• Don't renew your passport or change your residence status right before signing.

Because Grand Marina Saigon is a branded-residence project, the paperwork process is quite professionally standardized — you can learn more about this model in our piece on what branded residences are. With good preparation, owning a Marriott apartment by the Saigon River is far less complicated than many people assume.