EnglishA 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, effective from 1 July 2026 onwards.
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applications submitted through the Department of Justice or the National Center for Judicial Records of Vietnam are now outdated and no longer applicable.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.
- Criminal Record Certificate No. 2 is a certificate that records all convictions, including both expunged and unexpunged convictions.
The Certificate is issued in either electronic or paper form, and both have equal legal validity.
2. How to apply a Vietnam police check certificate for foreigners
Foreigners currently in or previously residing in Vietnam may request a police check certificate, either by themselves or through an authorized agent 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 pages, or Vietnam Temporary Residence Card)
- Certificate of temporary residency, provided by the landlord and certified by the local police (if the applicant is currently residing in Vietnam)
- Notarized authorization letter and copy of the authorized person’s ID card (if applying through an authorized reprensentive)
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 4 submission methods:
Method 1. In person
The applicant 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.
Note: From 01 July 2026 onwards, if the application is submitted online, only an electronic Criminal Record Certificate will be issued. A hard copy will not be provided.
Method 3. By postal service
The applicant sends the application dossier together with authentication of the applicant’s signature, 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.
Method 4. By an agency
From 1 July 2026, applicants may authorize an authorized agent to submit the application and collect the Police Clearance Certificate on their behalf, for both Certificate No. 1 and Certificate No. 2. This is the most convenient option, allowing applicants residing overseas to complete the procedure without having to travel to Vietnam in person.
If you engage Nova Law as your agent, we’ll guide you through the authorization procedure and help you prepare a compliant dossier to send us. From there, we handle everything: reviewing and submitting the application, paying government fees, liaising with authorities, collecting the certificate, providing a notarized translation, obtaining an apostille if needed, and sending it all back to your country. This lets you complete the process without traveling to Vietnam – saving time and costs while minimizing delays from incomplete documentation.
Step 3. Pay the government fee
The government fee for the first two copies of the criminal record certificate is VND 200,000, payable in cash or by bank transfer to the police authority in charge.
Step 4. Receive the result
The processing times is 5 working days, though it may be longer in practice. If the application is in order, the applicant will receive the Criminal Record Certificate thereafter.
3. FAQs
The type of Criminal Record Certificate required depends on the requirements of the authority requesting it. Based on Nova Law’s experience: The above is for reference only. Please confirm the required certificate type with the requesting authority before applying for a Vietnam Criminal Record Certificate. A valid criminal record certificate for a Vietnam work permit application must satisfy the following criteria: 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. Typically 5 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. The official government fee is VND 200,000 for the first two certificate per application. For any additional certificates requested at the same time, there is a fee of VND 5,000 per certificate beyond the first certificate. Yes, in some cases. Eligibility for obtaining a Police Check Certificate in Vietnam without going to Vietnam depends on the applicant’s specific situation. 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. Consular legalization of Vietnam documents for use abroad is the process by which competent Vietnamese authority and/or the foreign consular authority of the destination country certify the authenticity of the signature and seal on a document issued in Vietnam so that it can be recognized and used in that destination country. Whether your Vietnam Criminal Record Certificate must be legalized depends on the requesting authority. Some does not require legalization; some only require legalization by the Vietnamese competent authority or require further legalization by their diplomatic mission in Vietnam. You should always confirm this requirement with the requesting authority before proceedings. 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. In practive, procedures also vary depending on the country and background of each applicant. Please check with the destination country’s authorities to confirm the required type of Vietnam police check 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. 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, and in most cases, clients don’t need to travel back to Vietnam in person, except in special situations where an in-person visit is the only option.
Author: Lawyer Nguyen Minh Phuong – Hanoi Bar Association
