A Vietnam Police Check Certificate, or criminal record, is often required when foreigners apply for a work permit in Vietnam, or for employment or immigration in other countries. Here are the details of the required documents, procedures, and costs for obtaining a police check certificate in Vietnam as a foreigner as of May 2026.

Important note: Starting 1st March 2025, the authority to issue Vietnam police check certificates was officially transferred from the Ministry of Justice to the Ministry of Public Security. Accordingly, any guidance or procedures referring to applications submitted through the Department of Justice or the National Center for Judicial Records of Vietnam are now outdated and no longer applicable.

1. What is a Vietnam Police Check?

Vietnam Police Check, or Criminal Record Certificate, is an official document issued by the Vietnamese police authority, validating whether an individual has a criminal record in Vietnam or not.

Vietnam currently issues 2 types of certificates to foreigners:

• Criminal Record Certificate No. 1 is a certificate that records unexpunged convictions and does not record expunged convictions. It is typically required for immigration or job application in countries such as UK, some European countries, mainland China and Vietnam. The applicant can authorize another agent to obtain the Certificate No. 1 on their behalf.
• Criminal Record Certificate No. 2 is a certificate that records all convictions, including both expunged and unexpunged convictions. It is generally required for immigration application in countries such as United States, Australia, Canada, Korea and Japan. Currently, the applicant cannot authorize another agent to submit the application on their behalf and must submit it themselves.

2. How to apply a Vietnam police check certificate as a foreigner

Foreigners currently in or previously residing in Vietnam may request a police check certificate, either by themselves or through an authorized agent (if applicable) to save time and effort. Here’s how:

Step 1. Prepare required documents

• Application form

• Certified true copy of the applicant’s passport (including valid Vietnam visa, visa exemption stamp, or TRC)

• Certificate of temporary residency, provided by the landlord and certified by the local police (if currently in Vietnam)

• Notarized authorization letter and copy of the authorized person’s ID card (if applicable)

Step 2. Submit the applications

The Provincial Police handle applications for foreigners currently living in Vietnam, while those who previously resided in Vietnam can apply through the Ministry of Public Security. There are 3 submission methods:

Method 1: In person

The applicant or an authorized agent submits the dossier in person at the competent police authority. This is the fastest method but may involve long queue times, and incomplete applications may be rejected. As procedures are in Vietnamese, it’s advisable to bring a Vietnamese assistant or authorize someone for support.

Method 2: Online submission 

The applicant must have a Level 2 identification account in Vietnam to log in to the National Public Service Portal or the VNeID application. After logging in, select “Issue Criminal Record Certificate” under the Administrative Procedures Service Group and follow the instructions provided therein. In practice, this method does not apply to foreigners who do not have a Level 2 VNeID account.

Method 3: By postal service 

The applicant sends the application dossier prepared under Step 1 by post to the competent police authority. This method may take longer than in-person submission due to delivery time, and documents may occasionally be delayed or lost in transit.

Step 3. Pay the fee

The government fee for the first two certificates is VND 200,000, payable in cash or by bank transfer.

Step 4. Receive the result

The processing times is 10 working days, though it may be longer or shorter (for expedited cases) in practice. If the application is in order, the applicant will receive the Criminal Record Certificate thereafter.

3. FAQs

#1. What is a valid criminal record certificate for a Vietnam work permit application?

A valid criminal record certificate for a Vietnam work permit application must satisfy the following criteria:

• Being a certificate issued by a competent authority either in Vietnam or overseas, certifying that the foreign applicant is not currently serving a prison sentence, does not have an uncleared criminal record, and is not undergoing criminal prosecution.
• Being issued no more than 06 months as of submission date for a Vietnam work permit application.

Option 1: Using criminal record certificates issued in Vietnam

Option 2: Using criminal record certificates issued abroad

Foreigners can use criminal record certificates issued abroad to apply for a work permit in Vietnam. This option is suitable for foreigners who have never been resided in Vietnam.

• This document may have various names depending on each country, such as: Police Check Certificate, Certificate of Clearance, National Police Certificate, Police Clearance Certificate, and so on. Please contact the competent agency issuing criminal records in your home country for further guidance, such as in Australia, Korea, Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia.
•  Moreover, for criminal record certificates issued by foreign agencies to be legally recognized in Vietnam, they require consular legalization and notarized translation into Vietnamese.

#2. How long does it take to get a Vietnam criminal record certificate?

Typically 10 working days from the submission date if the application is in order. Processing may be shorter (for expedited cases) or longer in practice. If opting to receive results by delivery, an additional 1-3 days should be allowed for the document to reach the registered address.

#3. How much does a Vietnam Criminal Record Certificate cost?

The official government fee is VND 200,000 for the first two certificates per application. For any additional certificates requested at the same time, there is a fee of VND 5,000 per certificate beyond the first two. 

#4. Can foreigners who previously resided in Vietnam obtain a Police Check Certificate without going to Vietnam?

Yes, in some cases. Eligibility for obtaining a Police Check Certificate in Vietnam without going to Vietnam depends on the applicant’s specific situation.

#5. In what language does Vietnam issue the Criminal Record Certificate?

Vietnam issues the Criminal Record Certificate in Vietnamese only. If the document needs to be submitted in a foreign country, it must be translated into the required language as requested by the receiving country.

#6. How long is a Vietnam Criminal Record Certificate valid for?

The Vietnam Criminal Record Certificate itself doesn’t indicate an expiration date. The validity period depends on the requirements of the requesting authority and the purpose of use. In practice, for purposes such as visa, immigration, or work permit applications, authorities often require that the certificate be issued no more than 6 months prior to the submission date.

4. Conclusion

The procedure for applying for a Vietnam police check certificate is as described above. However, in practice, the process can be very challenging, from preparing documents overseas to processing the application in Vietnam. Procedures also vary between countries.

At Nova Law, we assist foreign clients with police check applications daily, offering one-stop support for application, translation, and legalization. Our team has successfully obtained Vietnam Criminal Record Certificates for 500+ foreign clients from 30+ countries, with or without requiring them to travel to Vietnam. 

Please check with the destination country’s authorities to confirm the required type of Vietnam Police Certificate and whether consular legalized or an apostille is needed as part of the immigration or job application process. If you need assistance, you may inquire about Nova Law’s services by filling out this FORM.