Police Clearance Vietnam: Application Guide for Foreigners
Foreigners aged 16 or over who live or have lived in Vietnam can request a criminal record certificate. Confirm the certificate type and purpose first. Then choose the route for your residence status. Foreigners can apply in person or by post; online filing requires access to the supported digital identity service.
What Is a Vietnam Police Clearance Certificate?
A Vietnam police clearance certificate is an official record of a person’s criminal record status under Vietnamese law. Its Vietnamese name iPh"Phiếu lý lịch tư pháp". English terms such as “police check,” “judicial record certificate” and “criminal record certificate” often refer to this document.
A Vietnam-issued certificate differs from a foreign police clearance used in Vietnam. The issuing authority, records checked and preparation steps differ. Confirm which country’s document the receiving office needs before applying.
Which Vietnam Police Clearance Certificate Do You Need?
Certificate No. 1 vs. Certificate No. 2
Certificate type | Information shown |
Certificate No. 1 | Shows criminal record status under the disclosure rules for this type. Once a conviction has been legally cleared and the record updated, it generally shows no criminal record. Information on bans from certain business roles appears when requested. |
Certificate No. 2 | Provides fuller information, including convictions that have been cleared and those that remain on record. It also includes information on relevant bans from business roles. Individuals can request it to review their own record. |
Your nationality does not determine the certificate type. A foreign applicant should not select No. 2 simply because it appears more detailed.
4 Critical Misunderstandings About Vietnam Police Clearance (Form 1 vs. Form 2)
Foreigners often fail to realize that Form 1 and Form 2 are completely different documents in the eyes of immigration authorities and Vietnamese law. Here is what they usually get wrong:
Misunderstanding 1: "Both forms can be used for immigration purposes."
The Truth: They are not interchangeable. Form 1 is strictly for internal use inside Vietnam (e.g., getting a Vietnam Work Permit or a local job). Form 2 is mandatory for international immigration, visas, and citizenship to countries like the US, Canada, Australia, and Europe. Submitting Form 1 to an embassy will result in immediate rejection.
Misunderstanding 2: "I can hire an agency or ask a friend to get either form for me."
The Truth: Form 1 allows delegation (Power of Attorney). However, Form 2 strictly prohibits authorization. If they need Form 2, they must apply themselves—either through the National Public Service Portal or via the Vietnamese Embassy in their home country. No friend or agent in Vietnam can sign or pick it up for them.
Misunderstanding 3: "If my past record was cleared/expunged, it won't show up anyway."
The Truth: While Form 1 hides expunged or spent convictions (showing "No criminal record"), Form 2 will reveal their entire background history, regardless of whether the record was wiped clean under Vietnamese law or not. Embassies demand Form 2 precisely for this absolute transparency.
Misunderstanding 4: "I only need to provide my own personal details on the application."
The Truth: For Form 1, personal details are enough. But for Form 2, it is mandatory to list family details (full names of parents and spouse). Leaving these fields blank will cause the application to be rejected instantly.
Confirming the Receiving Authority’s Requirements
Ask which certificate, issue date and format the intended procedure requires. Under the rules effective from July 2026, Vietnam restricts demands for criminal record information. Organizations and individuals may not demand Certificate No. 2 from individuals; requests for No. 1 need a permitted legal basis. For overseas use, check the destination authority’s specific requirements.
How Does Your Residence Status Affect Your Application?
Applicant situation | Application route and information to check |
Foreigners Currently Living in Vietnam | Provincial police handle certificates for foreigners currently living in Vietnam. For postal applications, send the file to the competent authority where you reside. Decree 216/2026/ND-CP also permits direct filing at a competent issuing authority where you live or the nearest competent issuing authority. Confirm the intake location before visiting. |
Former Residents Applying from Outside Vietnam | Leaving Vietnam does not remove your right to request a certificate. Former foreign residents using the postal route send their application to the Ministry of Public Security’s competent issuing authority, the Police Records Department. Check the current postal address, signature certification rules and arrangements for receiving the result. |
Applicants Who Have Changed Their Passport or Address | Prepare your current details and the details used during your stay in Vietnam. Old passport numbers, former names and past addresses can help connect your records. Explain any changes rather than leaving gaps or guessing dates. |
What Documents and Information Should You Prepare?
Identity Details and Vietnam Residence History
Have your passport available and prepare the information needed for the current application form:
Full name, previous names and date of birth.
Nationality and current passport details.
Previous passport details, where relevant.
Vietnam residence addresses and dates.
Contact details, intended use and certificate type.
These details help complete the application. They do not mean that every item requires a separate supporting document.
Application Forms and Supporting Documents
Use the current form provided by the issuing authority. Online applicants complete the electronic form. Direct applicants complete the paper form. Postal applicants must also meet the rules for certifying the applicant’s signature. Ask which identity copies or supporting records your route requires, and provide proof if claiming a fee reduction or exemption.
Applying Through a Representative
Under the current rules, you may authorize another person to apply for either certificate type. The authorization must be in writing and notarized or certified as required. Authorized applications use the direct or postal route. Separate rules allow applications for a parent, spouse, child or person under guardianship without a written authorization.
How Do You Apply for Police Clearance in Vietnam?
Step 1: Confirm the Certificate Type and Intended Use
Get the receiving office’s requirements before applying. Confirm the certificate type, accepted issue date and whether it needs a paper or digital result. This gives you a clear document specification.
Step 2: Identify the Authority and Submission Route
Use your current residence status to identify the correct authority. Foreigners may apply directly or by post. For online filing through VNeID or the National Public Service Portal, first confirm that your digital identity account supports the service.
Step 3: Prepare and Submit Your Application
Complete the current form and check your details against your passport and residence records. Include signature certification or authorization documents where required. Keep a copy of the submitted file and the application reference.
Step 4: Pay the Fees and Track Progress
Follow the issuing authority’s payment instructions and keep the receipt. Use the application reference to track progress or answer requests for more information. Check whether the office has accepted your request as valid.
Step 5: Receive and Check Your Certificate
Online applications result in an electronic certificate; direct and postal applications result in a paper certificate. Both formats have equal legal value under Vietnamese law. Check your name, passport details, certificate type and recorded information before using it.
How Much Does Vietnam Police Clearance Cost and How Long Does It Take?
Government Fees and Other Costs
As reviewed on 7 October 2026, Circular 16/2025/TT-BTC sets the standard government fee at VND 200,000 per person per request. Reduced fees or exemptions apply to qualifying applicants. When requesting more than two certificates at once, the additional charge is VND 5,000 for each certificate from the third onward.
Signature certification, translation, courier delivery and optional professional support are separate costs. Ask for an itemized quote and confirm the amount payable through your chosen route.
Official Processing Time vs. Total Preparation Time
Under the amended Criminal Records Law, the standard period is five working days from receipt of a valid request. Where information about convictions or new criminal conduct requires verification, the period may extend to 15 days.
This period excludes the time you spend gathering records, correcting the file, arranging translations or waiting for delivery. Plan around the whole process rather than the official processing period alone.
How Is Police Clearance Used for a Vietnam Work Permit?
Vietnam-Issued vs. Foreign-Issued Records
Decree 219/2025/ND-CP permits qualifying criminal record documents issued by Vietnam or a foreign authority. Confirm which document meets your case’s requirements. A foreign-issued record may also need an Apostille or consular legalization in Vietnam, unless an exemption applies. A Vietnamese translation may also be required.
Checking the Issue Date
Where a separate criminal record document is required, it must generally have been issued no more than six months before the work permit application date. The decree provides an exception where the linked criminal record and work permit procedure applies. Ask whether that route is available before ordering a separate certificate. See VINEX’s Vietnam work permit guide for the complete dossier.
What If You Need the Vietnamese Certificate for Use Abroad?
Confirm the destination authority’s rules on certificate type, issue date, language and format. Then check whether an Apostille, consular certification or an exemption applies. This is an outbound Vietnamese-document process, which differs from preparing foreign records for Vietnam.
Keep the original digital file if you receive an electronic certificate. Do not assume a printout will meet every overseas filing requirement. Confirm the accepted format before paying for translation or further official checks.
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What Should You Check Before Submitting or Using the Certificate?
Before submission or use, confirm that:
Identity: Names and passport details match the intended application.
Residence history: Residence history is complete and any changes are explained.
Certificate type: The certificate type meets the relevant requirements.
Issue date: The issue date falls within the accepted period.
Document format: The receiving office accepts the document format.
Additional preparation: Any required translation or official certification is complete.
How Can VINEX Help?
VINEX supports businesses with work permit planning and dossier preparation. Contact the team to assess how the criminal record requirement fits your wider application and confirm the available scope of assistance.
Provide your current location, Vietnam residence history, intended use and submission deadline. These details help identify the points to resolve before preparing the file.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Apply After Leaving Vietnam?
Yes. Former foreign residents can request a certificate. Confirm the Ministry of Public Security route and the requirements for postal filing or an authorized representative.
Can I Apply Without a VNeID Account?
Yes. Vietnamese law permits foreigners to apply in person or by post. You do not have to obtain a VNeID account merely to use those routes.
Can Someone Apply on My Behalf?
Yes. Since 1 July 2026, the authorization route covers both certificate types. Follow the written authorization and certification requirements, or the separate rules for eligible family members and guardians.
Does the Certificate Have a Universal Expiry Date?
There is no single acceptance period for every purpose. The receiving procedure sets its requirements. The six-month work permit rule should not be treated as a universal expiry period.
What if I No Longer Have My Old Passport or Residence Documents?
Provide the details and copies you still hold. Ask the issuing authority what evidence it accepts to connect your past and current records. Do not invent missing information.
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