A foreigner who lives or has lived in Vietnam can apply for a Vietnamese criminal record certificate, known locally as a judicial record certificate, which states whether that person has a criminal record in Vietnam. There are two versions, usually called Form 1 and Form 2, with different content and different people entitled to request them. You apply in person, through an authorised representative where allowed, or online where the public service portal supports it, and the certificate often needs consular authentication and legalisation if it will be used abroad.
Foreigners usually need this certificate when leaving Vietnam: for immigration to another country, a new job, adoption, a professional licence or a long-term visa elsewhere. The process is not complicated, but details such as which office handles your case, which form to request and how to make the certificate usable abroad trip many people up. Responsibilities for issuing certificates were reorganised during the 2025 restructuring of the state apparatus, so this guide focuses on principles and the checks you should make before you apply.
What the certificate is and what it is not
A Vietnamese judicial record certificate is an official document issued from the national database of criminal records. It confirms whether the person has any criminal conviction recorded in Vietnam and, depending on the form, certain related information. For foreigners, it covers only the time spent in Vietnam; it says nothing about records in other countries.
It is not a general police clearance covering administrative violations. Traffic fines, administrative penalties for overstaying a visa or similar matters are not criminal convictions and do not normally appear. Nor is it a character reference. It is a narrow statement about criminal records, which is exactly what foreign immigration authorities and employers usually want.
People sometimes confuse it with the police certificate from their home country that Vietnamese authorities ask for in some applications. That is a separate document issued abroad, which comes to Vietnam through legalisation and translation. This guide covers the opposite case: a certificate issued by Vietnam about your time here.
Form 1 and Form 2 compared
The two forms serve different purposes. Destination authorities often specify which one they want; if they do not, ask, because sending the wrong one is a common reason for delay.
| Feature | Form 1 | Form 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Who can request it | The individual, and certain agencies and organisations in specified situations | The individual about themselves, and procedural authorities for proceedings |
| Convictions shown | Generally only convictions that have not been expunged | The full history, including convictions that have been expunged |
| Bans on holding positions | Shown only if specifically requested | Shown |
| Typical foreign use | Employment or applications where the destination accepts the standard version | Immigration and other applications where authorities ask for the most complete record |
| Practical tip | Check whether the destination accepts it before applying | Often requested by immigration authorities; confirm before applying |
If the destination does not specify, Form 2 is often the safer choice because it is the most complete. Some destinations, however, ask specifically for one form. Read their instructions or contact them before you file.
Who can apply and where
Foreigners currently residing in Vietnam. Historically, foreigners living in Vietnam applied at the provincial justice department where they resided. Following the 2025 restructuring, responsibility for judicial record certificates was reorganised, and the office that receives applications may now be different. Check with your provincial authorities or the national public service portal which office currently accepts applications where you live.
Foreigners who have left Vietnam. People who resided in Vietnam but now live abroad apply to the national-level judicial records body rather than a provincial office. Applications can usually be made through an authorised representative in Vietnam, or online where available.
Online applications. Vietnam has moved many procedures to the national public service portal and related systems. Some foreigners can apply online with scanned documents and collect the certificate by post or in person; others find the online system limited to people with Vietnamese electronic identification. Check what the portal currently allows for foreigners.
Through a representative. For Form 1, the law has allowed applications through an authorised representative with a valid written authorisation. For Form 2, which concerns your full history, the rules on representation are stricter and personal application is commonly required, with some exceptions. Confirm before you rely on a representative.
Through a lawyer. Lawyers can help prepare and submit the application, particularly if you are abroad. Representation still has to meet the rules for the form requested.
Applying step by step
The steps below reflect the usual process. Forms, office names and online options change, so confirm the current version before submitting.
- Confirm with the destination authority which form it requires, how recent the certificate must be and whether it must be legalised.
- Identify the receiving office: the competent provincial office where you reside, or the national-level body if you have left Vietnam. Check the public service portal for current details.
- Prepare documents: the application form, a copy of your passport and, typically, documents proving residence in Vietnam such as a residence card or a temporary residence confirmation. Bring originals for comparison if applying in person.
- If a representative applies for you, prepare a written authorisation that meets Vietnamese requirements. If signed abroad, it will usually need notarisation and legalisation.
- Submit the application and pay the state fee. Ask for the expected date of issue; the law sets maximum processing times, but they can be extended where records need checking with other authorities.
- Collect the certificate, check every detail against your passport and request correction immediately if anything is wrong.
Keep the receipt and the application reference. If the certificate is delayed or lost in the post, you will need them to follow up.
Making the certificate usable abroad
A Vietnamese certificate that will be used in another country usually needs consular authentication by the Vietnamese foreign affairs authority, then legalisation by the destination country's embassy or consulate in Vietnam. Because Vietnam has not been part of the apostille system, there is generally no shortcut through an apostille.
Translation is the other piece. Some destinations accept a translation notarised in Vietnam, which can then be authenticated together with the original. Others require translation by their own certified translators after the certificate arrives. Ask before ordering a translation, so you do not pay twice.
Timing matters because many destinations accept criminal record certificates only if issued within a certain period, often a few months. If authentication and legalisation take several weeks, apply for the certificate as late as practical while still allowing for the full chain. If you are abroad and using a representative, factor in mailing time for the certificate to reach you.
Common problems and how to avoid them
Most delays and rejections fall into a small number of categories. Watch for these:
- Name spelling differs from your passport, often because a Vietnamese form split your name differently. Check the application before submitting.
- Applying for Form 1 when the destination wanted Form 2, or the other way round.
- Using an old passport number from your time in Vietnam that differs from your current passport; bring both if your passport was renewed.
- Lack of proof of residence in Vietnam, especially if you left years ago and no longer have your residence card. Keep copies of old residence documents.
- A representative without a properly legalised authorisation from abroad.
- Letting the certificate expire in the destination country's eyes because authentication and legalisation took too long.
If your passport has changed since you lived in Vietnam, mention the old passport number on the application. Records are often linked to the passport you used while resident. If you held more than one passport during your years in Vietnam, list each of them and attach copies of the relevant pages, so the office can match every period of residence.
A hypothetical example: moving on to Canada
Consider a hypothetical British teacher who lived in Hanoi for six years, then accepted a job in Canada. Canadian immigration asks for a police certificate from every country where he lived for six months or more as an adult, which includes Vietnam. He is still in Hanoi when the request arrives, with about two months before he leaves.
He starts by reading the Canadian instructions for Vietnam, which tell him which form of the certificate to obtain and whether it must be sent directly or submitted by him. He then checks which office in Hanoi currently receives applications from foreign residents, because guidance he found online still names an office that changed role in 2025. He confirms the right counter before making the trip.
His application includes his current passport, his previous passport from his first years in Vietnam, and copies of his residence cards. The old passport turns out to matter: his records from those years are linked to the earlier passport number. He receives the certificate, checks the spelling of his name, and asks whether Canada needs it legalised. In his case, the instructions say a translation is needed but legalisation is not, so he arranges a certified translation and is done.
Had he left Vietnam first, he would have needed to apply through a representative or online to the national-level body, with mailing time both ways. Starting while still resident, with all old residence papers at hand, saved him weeks. The general lesson is to request the certificate before you leave if there is any chance you will need it later.
When you need a Vietnamese lawyer
Most people obtain this certificate without legal help. A licensed Vietnamese lawyer is worth considering if you are abroad and need someone to handle the application and authentication, if your record contains a conviction and you want to understand how it will appear and whether it has been expunged, or if the certificate shows information you believe is wrong.
A lawyer can also advise on how a Vietnamese conviction might be viewed in proceedings elsewhere, coordinating with a lawyer in the destination country. That is a question about foreign law, which a Vietnamese lawyer can address only together with a local adviser.
Check the current procedure, receiving office and fees with the competent authority or a licensed lawyer before applying. The restructuring of 2025 changed responsibilities across many public services, and guidance written before then may name offices that no longer handle these applications.
If you are unsure, a short written question to the receiving office, sent before you apply, often produces a clearer answer than a phone call, and gives you something to show if the counter later asks for different papers.
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreigner get a criminal record certificate in Vietnam?
Yes. Foreigners who live or have lived in Vietnam can apply for a Vietnamese judicial record certificate. It covers only criminal records in Vietnam. Where you apply depends on whether you still reside in Vietnam, so check the current receiving office.
Which form should I request, Form 1 or Form 2?
Ask the authority that will receive the certificate. Form 2 contains the most complete record, including expunged convictions, and is often requested for immigration. Form 1 shows only unexpunged convictions. Sending the wrong form is a common reason for delay.
Can I apply from outside Vietnam?
Usually yes, through an authorised representative or online where the system allows. People who have left Vietnam generally apply to the national-level judicial records body. Rules on representation are stricter for Form 2, so confirm before relying on a representative.
Do traffic fines appear on the certificate?
No. The certificate concerns criminal convictions recorded in Vietnam. Administrative fines, such as penalties for traffic or residence violations, are not criminal convictions and do not normally appear on a judicial record certificate, whichever form you request.
How do I use a Vietnamese criminal record certificate abroad?
Usually it must be authenticated by the Vietnamese foreign affairs authority and then legalised by the destination country's embassy or consulate in Vietnam. A translation is added either in Vietnam or abroad, depending on the destination's rules.