A judicial record certificate is a document issued by the agency in Vietnam that manages the criminal record database in Vietnam. The certificate will serve as valid proof of whether or not the person has a previous criminal conviction in Vietnam. It will also prove if the person is banned from taking up any post or from establishing or managing companies or enterprises in Vietnam.

Foreign individuals who are living in Vietnam or have lived in the country in the past are eligible to avail of the judicial record certificate. They have every right to request from Vietnam’s Dept. of Justice for a copy of their criminal record certificate.

If the foreign individual has already left Vietnam and they are currently based abroad, yet they wanted a judicial record certificate, their best bet is to authorize another person to process and claim the certificate on their behalf. Here are the requirements that they need to submit:

• Written declaration request for the granting of the judicial record certificate according to form.
• Foreign applicant’s passport and visa copy.
• Original copy of the authorization letter that authorizes another person to process the judicial record certificate. The letter must also accompany some documents proving the applicant’s relationship to the authorized representative, such as the marriage certificate and birth certificate. It must also be accompanied with Identification Cards of both the applicant and the representative.

How to Apply for the Judicial Record Certificate?

There are two ways to apply for the judicial record certificate, in-person application, and online application. For applicants who are in Vietnam, they can opt for the in-person application. Here are the steps on how to apply for the judicial record certificate in person:

1. Bring the required documents to the Department of Justice of the Province of your residence. Make sure to go there in the morning since they are closed in the afternoon.
2. After submitting all the documents, the applicant will be asked to make a payment for the processing fee. The cost is VND 200, 000 per criminal record. If you will choose to have it sent to you through courier, you will also have to pay for the courier fees. But if you will claim the document in person, there’s no longer a need to pay for the courier fees.
3. It will roughly take 15 working days for the judicial record certificate to be processed. For those who have chosen to have the document sent through courier, it will take even longer for them to receive the judicial record certificate.

For foreigners who are outside Vietnam and cannot apply for the judicial certificate in person, their best option is to apply online. Once the certificate is available, they can have it sent to them through courier post. Here’s how:

1. First, go to the official website for the online application of the judicial record certificate in Vietnam.
2. Next, fill out the form with your name and other required information. Make sure you provide the complete address where you want the courier to collect the original documents.
3. Submit your application and take note of the application code displayed on the screen before you click the “FINISH” button.

Just like with applying in person, it will take around 15 days for your judicial record certificate to be processed. The time it will take for the courier to send you back the judicial record certificate will depend upon the courier you have chosen and the country where you currently reside.

Foreigners, regardless of how long they actually reside in Vietnam, have every right to request from the Dept. of Justice for a judicial record certificate. This document is also known as the criminal record certificate or police check.

A foreigner may need to request a judicial record certificate for various reasons. But the most common reason is for a work permit application. Sometimes, they would need it for marriage registration, adoption, and many others.

Overview of the Judicial Record Certificate

The Provincial Justice Dept. is responsible for the issuance of the Judicial Record Certificate in Vietnam. It is being issued to foreigners and Vietnamese citizens who wanted to have a record of their criminal convictions while they were still living in Vietnam. The document will state if the person has been charged with a crime before.

The Judicial Record Certificates in Vietnam are available in two different types, Form Number 1 and Form Number 2. For those who need it for a work permit, it is the form number 1 that they should get. The form number 1 will only state the criminal sentences that were not removed in Vietnam’s criminal records. If the criminal case has already been closed, the form will say “no criminal record.” However, the form number 2 will record all the criminal cases of the individual, whether it has been removed or not.

Judicial Record Certificate for Foreigners Residing in Vietnam

If a foreign individual would need to apply for a judicial record certificate, they are required to submit the following documents:

• Written declaration request for the judicial record certificate to be granted according to form.
• Passport and Visa copy
• Proof of residence, such as the temporary residence card, permanent residence card, temporary residence book, or the temporary residence certificate of the commune.

All these must be submitted to the provincial Justice Dept. where the foreign individual resides.

How to Apply for the Judicial Record Certificate?

There are two ways to apply for the judicial record certificate, in-person application, and online application. For applicants who are in Vietnam, they can opt for the in-person application. Here are the steps on how to apply for the judicial record certificate in person:

1. Bring the required documents to the Department of Justice of the Province of your residence. Make sure to go there in the morning since they are closed in the afternoon.
2. After submitting all the documents, the applicant will be asked to make a payment for the processing fee. The cost is VND 200, 000 per criminal record. If you will choose to have it sent to you through courier, you will also have to pay for the courier fees. But if you will claim the document in person, there’s no longer a need to pay for the courier fees.
3. It will roughly take 15 working days for the judicial record certificate to be processed. For those who have chosen to have the document sent through courier, it will take even longer for them to receive the judicial record certificate.

For foreigners who are outside Vietnam and cannot apply for the judicial certificate in person, their best option is to apply online. Once the certificate is available, they can have it sent to them through courier post. Here’s how:

1. First, go to the official website for the online application of the judicial record certificate in Vietnam.
2. Next, fill out the form with your name and other required information. Make sure you provide the complete address where you want the courier to collect the original documents.
3. Submit your application and take note of the application code displayed on the screen before you click the “FINISH” button.

Just like with applying in person, it will take around 15 days for your judicial record certificate to be processed. The time it will take for the courier to send you back the judicial record certificate will depend upon the courier you have chosen and the country where you currently reside.

The judicial record certificate is an important requirement for various purposes in Vietnam. This document is also known as police clearance, criminal record certificate, and police check. Vietnamese citizens and foreign individuals who need to apply for jobs in Vietnam are required to submit a judicial record certificate for their work permit application.

This article will look into the requirements and processes involved to obtain a judicial record certificate for foreigners in Vietnam. It will also look into the reasons why a foreigner may need to obtain this document.

What is a Judicial Record Certificate?

A judicial record certificate is a document issued by the agency in Vietnam that manages the criminal record database in Vietnam. The certificate will serve as valid proof of whether or not the person has a previous criminal conviction in Vietnam. It will also prove if the person is banned from taking up any post or from establishing or managing companies or enterprises in Vietnam.

Foreign individuals who are living in Vietnam or have lived in the country in the past are eligible to avail of the judicial record certificate. They have every right to request from Vietnam’s Dept. of Justice for a copy of their criminal record certificate.

Types of Vietnam Criminal Record Certificates

According to Article 41 of Vietnam’s Law on Criminal Records, there are two types of Judicial Record Certificates – Judicial Record Form No. 1 And Judicial Record Form No.2.

The main difference between the two forms is that the Judicial Record Form No. 1 will only record those convictions that haven’t been removed in the criminal record database. If a case has already been deleted, it’s going to state in the form, “no criminal record”. On the other hand, the Judicial Record Form No. 2 will record all criminal convictions, including those that have already been removed in the database.

Depending on the purpose of use, the applicant can request for either the judicial record form no. 1 or the judicial record form no. 2.  When applying for a work permit, it is the criminal record form no. 1 that will be required. This applies to everyone, including foreign individuals who are planning to work in Vietnam.

Circumstances in Which Foreigners Will Need a Judicial Record Certificate

There are many reasons why a foreigner in Vietnam will need a copy of their judicial record certificate. However, the most common reason is when they need to apply for a work permit.

Foreigners who are applying for a judicial record certificate to be used for a work permit application are divided into two cases. In the first case, this applies to foreigners who are living in a foreign country or have lived in the country for less than 6 months. The judicial record certificate may also be submitted to other countries for certain purposes. However, it’s important to note that countries have different regulations on criminal records so the process of applying might also be different.

If the applicant will use a judicial record certificate that was issued by another country for their work permit application, it’s important that the certificate is translated to the local Vietnamese language. It must also be notarized and legalized according to the law of Vietnam.

The second case applies to a foreigner that continuous to reside in Vietnam temporarily for at least six months. They are qualified to apply for a judicial record certificate for the purpose of applying for a work permit or for other reasons. The judicial record certificate will be issued by an authorized agency in Vietnam that grants criminal records. It can also be obtained from the Dept. of Justice of the province where the foreigner resides.

Expiry of the Criminal Record Certificate

One of the questions that foreign applicants have when obtaining a judicial record certificate is the document’s expiry date. Currently, Vietnam’s Law on Criminal Records did not provide any regulations for the use and duration of the Judicial Record Certificate. However, depending upon the purpose of use and the specific authority, the expiry date of the judicial record certificate will vary.

For work permit application purposes, in pursuant to Clause 3 of Article 10 of the 11/2016/ND-CP Decree, the government requires the judicial record certificate to be issued no more than six months from the date of applying for the work permit.

In some instances, such as during the renewal or ceasing of Vietnamese nationality, the judicial record certificate must be issued within 90 days, as stated on Articles 28, 24, and 20 of the 2008 Vietnam Nationality Act, which was supplemented and amended in 2014.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the application of judicial record certificate in Vietnam, it’s highly recommended that you get in touch with a local agency or a law firm that can further assist you.

When a foreigner in Vietnam applies for a work permit, one of the requirements that he or she is required to submit is the judicial record certificate. This document is also required in some immigration procedures.  The judicial record certificate, which is also called the police record certificate or criminal record certificate, is issued to foreigners who are living in Vietnam and those who have lived for at least 6 months in the country.

Foreigners who are no longer in Vietnam but have resided in the country in the past for more than 6 months can still apply for this document. The document can be applied from the Dept. of Justice of the province where the foreigner lived or used to live. This document will serve as proof of whether the person has committed a crime or not during his or her stay in Vietnam. For foreigners who are outside the country, they can authorize another person to apply for the judicial record certificate on their behalf. However, they need to provide a Special Power of Attorney through a local lawyer in Vietnam.

Two Types of Judicial Record Certificate

There are two types of judicial record certificates that a foreigner in Vietnam can apply. According to Article 41 of Vietnam’s Law on Criminal Records, the two types of criminal records are Form No. 1 and Form No. 2

The biggest difference between the two is that Form No. 1 will only record sentences that were not removed in the criminal records of Vietnam. So if a person has a criminal case but this particular case has already been deleted, the document will say, “no criminal record”.

On the other hand, the Criminal Record Form No. 2 will record everything, whether the case has been deleted or not.  It will show all previous criminal convictions, including those cases that have already been closed.

The type of judicial record certificate that the person will apply will pretty much depend on how the individual will use the form. However, it is the Criminal Record Form No. 1 that’s commonly requested. This is the document that’s required for the issuance of work permits in Vietnam, which will allow them to take up jobs in the country.

Documents Needed for the Application of Judicial Record Certificate

Individuals who are requesting a judicial record certificate are required to provide the following documents during application. Your application of the judicial certificate will not be granted if you fail to comply with these requirements.

For Vietnamese nationals:

• Written declaration requesting a judicial record certificate to be issued.
• A certified true copy of passport, identity card, family record book, temporary residence card, temporary residence book, and permanent resident card. The original copy must be presented for comparison.
• Confirmation of permanent residence while living in Vietnam. This applies to Vietnamese nationals who are already living outside the country.

For foreigners:

• Written declaration requesting the criminal record to be issued.
• Copy of passport and Vietnam visa. Make sure both are still valid.
• Confirmation of being a temporary resident in Vietnam.

Guide to Preparing the Required Documents

To save time, it’s very important that you submit the correct documents. Although it will roughly take 3 – 7 business days for the judicial record certificate to be processed, it could take longer if you end up submitting the incorrect documents. So here’s a guide on how to prepare these documents.

• Application Form

If you’re going to apply in person, then you need to personally submit the application form to the provincial Dept. of Justice. The form must be accomplished in the Vietnamese language. So for foreigners who need assistance, there are local agencies that can assist you with this. They will translate the form so you will know the things you are writing there.

On the other hand, if you will choose to apply online, the online application form is available in English and Vietnamese. Take note that in the section for “Residence Process”, the current temporary residence of the applicant should be in Vietnam.

• Temporary Residence Confirmation

For the temporary residence confirmation form, your landlord should be able to assist you with this. If you can’t get a temporary residence confirmation from your landlord, you can instead get a signed letter from your local ward police to confirm your residence. This is also applicable to those whose landlords have registered them incorrectly or cannot provide them with the “house book” for some reason.

• Notarized Documents

For applications submitted through the post, applicants are required to send in a notarized copy of their passport along with a valid Vietnam visa. They must also submit a notarized temporary residence confirmation certificate. Both the original copies and photocopied documents must be submitted to the People’s Committee in the District where you reside in order for them to be notarized.

There are many reasons why a foreigner may need to request a judicial record certificate in Vietnam. But it usually has something to do with applying for a work permit. For instance, if a foreigner needs to apply for a job and the company would like a proof that they have not committed any crime while living in Vietnam, then the judicial record certificate is the best document for this.

Foreigners who are applying for judicial record certificates for a work permit application in Vietnam has two cases. First, this applies to foreigners who are living in Vietnam for at least 6 months and would need to have a criminal record that they can use in their own country. But since the laws would vary from one country to another, the judicial record certificate might turn out different.

For foreigners who need to use a judicial record certificate that was issued in a different country, the certificate must be translated to the Vietnamese language. Only then will it be accepted for a work permit application in Vietnam. It has to be translated, notarized, and legalized according to the laws of Vietnam and this can be done through a Vietnam-based law firm.

In another case, this applies to foreigners who have lived in Vietnam for more than 6 months. They are also eligible to apply for a judicial record certificate. The judicial record certificate can be applied from the Dept. of Justice of the province where the foreigner resides.

If they cannot apply in person, they can authorize another party to process it on their behalf, but they need to provide the power of attorney. The person can also claim the judicial record certificate on their behalf. Another option for foreigners outside Vietnam is to apply online or through the post.

Also known as the police clearance certificate, the judicial record certificate can be obtained in three different ways. You can either:

1. Go directly to the National Center for Criminal Records or the Ministry of Justice of Vietnam to apply in person.
2. Apply through Postal Service.
3. Use the online processing service.

If you are outside Vietnam and you need a copy of the judicial record certificate, you can either apply through postal service or use the online processing service.

For those who are applying for the judicial record certificate in person or through the postal service, you are required to submit the following:

• A written application form for the issuance of the judicial record certificate signed by you. Make sure that the signature is certified.
• A certified true copy of your passport.
• Copy of your temporary residence card during the time that you were living in Vietnam. You also need to submit a copy of your passport and visa with entry and exit stamps.

As stated on Clause 4 of Article 2 of Vietnam’s Law on Criminal Record, the criminal record certificate is a document issued by local Vietnam agencies for individuals and organizations to prove whether or not a particular individual has a criminal record. But one of the questions that individuals have when it comes to applying for a judicial record certificate is when it’s going to expire. Applicants are often wondering for how long the judicial record card will remain valid from the time it is issued.

Duration on the Use of Judicial Record Certificate

The 2009 Law on Criminal Record of Vietnam as well as the current law on documents have stated that the current judicial record certificate does not have any set duration. But this will mainly depend upon the area and purpose of using the judicial record certificate.

For instance, the Articles 28, 24, and 20 of the 2008 Nationality Act have specified that for the purpose of the application, the return and stop of Vietnamese nationality, they must possess with them a copy of the judicial record certificate that was issued no more than 90 days prior to the submission date.

In addition, several Vietnamese diplomatic representative missions from various foreign countries around the world have set a shelf life for the judicial record certificate when it comes to fulfilling requirements for visa applications. For instance, the United States consulate will require the entry visas of applicants who are at least 16 years old to submit a judicial record certificate that was issued within the past year.

So basically, the expiry date of the judicial record certificate in Vietnam is not clearly specified. But it will mainly depend upon the provision of the document of each of the various fields, as well as the will of the organizations and agencies that wanted to know about their previous criminal convictions as well as the status of the litigants.

The judicial record certificate is legal proof of an individual’s criminal convictions in Vietnam. These are based on the criminal decisions and judgments made by the court. The certificate will also state if the individual is prohibited from holding any position in Vietnam or setting up or managing a company. Thus, individuals who need to apply for a work permit are required to submit this document. The certificate is also required for some other purposes.

What is a Judicial Record Certificate?

A competent state authority issues the judicial record certificate to individuals who needed to have a copy of their judicial record certificate. The provincial department of justice or the data center that holds the judicial records issues it.

The document also provides information on whether or not the individual has a criminal record. It will also show if the individual is prohibited from holding a position in a company or banned from establishing any business in Vietnam.

Within a company, the judicial record certificate can support human resource management. It can also support the registration, establishment, and management of enterprises and cooperatives.

In addition, several organizations and government agencies in Vietnam would require individuals to submit a judicial record certificate for necessary activities, such as criminal record requirement for work permit application, employment, and immigration purposes.

Two Types of Judicial Record Certificate in Vietnam

As stated in Clause 1, Article 44 of the 2009 Law on Judicial Records, there are currently two types of judicial record certificates in Vietnam. Both of these certificates are issued by the provincial Dept. of Justice.

• Judicial Record Card No. 1 – this is issued to Vietnamese citizens and foreigners who have been residing in Vietnam, for the purpose of business registration, human resource management, and the establishment or management of cooperatives and enterprises.
• Judicial Record Card No. 2 – this document is issued to Vietnamese citizens and foreigners who have been residing in Vietnam for the purpose of immigration and others.

Depending on the purpose of using the judicial record certificate, agencies, individuals, and organizations can request for either the judicial card No. 1 or judicial card No. 2.

Legal Validity of the Judicial Record Certificate

The 2009 Law on Judicial Records has not clearly defined the validity of the judicial record certificate in Vietnam. However, the judicial record certificate’s time limit will usually depend on the provisions of the documents of each relevant legal field and will depend upon the provisions of the documents of each relevant field. It will also be dependent upon the decision of the organization or agency that has requested to verify the status of the individual’s judicial record certificate.

As stated on Articles 20, 24, and 28 of the 2008 Nationality Law of Vietnam supplemented and amended in 2017, the application for the renunciation, admission, and return of the Vietnamese nationality must possess a judicial record card that’s issued no more than 90 days. When it comes to applying for a visa at the US Embassy or Consulate General, the individual should submit a judicial record card that’s issued within a year for immigration verification.

As such, if the individual is required to provide a copy of the judicial record certificate at agencies and organizations, they need to consider the regulations for the time limit that the particular agency or organization would require. This will not be solely based on the Law on Judicial Records since the law did not clearly stipulate the legal effect of the two judicial record certificates and there are no regulations that would limit the organization or agency to set the time limit of the criminal record certificates for Vietnam.

How to Apply for the Judicial Record Certificate

When applying for the judicial record certificate in Vietnam, the applicant should send the application directly to the National Center for Criminal Record or to the provincial Ministry of Justice where the foreign individual resides. For foreigners who are outside the country, they can mail their application to the National Centre for Criminal Record. They can also authorize another individual to apply for the judicial record certificate on their behalf. For this, they need to grant the individual a special power of attorney.

As for the requirements, they need to submit a signed criminal record application form. For those who are outside the country, the Vietnam Embassy in their country of origin must legalize the form. They are also required to submit a copy of their passport.

The processing time is 5 – 7 business days from the receipt of the application form. As for the payment, they can pay in US dollar currency at the embassy. The payment can be made through money order or bank draft payable to the Embassy of Vietnam. They can also pay through credit cards.

There are 3 levels of the fee for getting a judicial record certificate in Vietnam, they are :

👉 It costs VND 200 000 (around US$10) for Vietnamese people, foreigners living in Vietnam or abroad.

👉 👉 It cost VND 100 000 (around US$5) for Vietnamese pupils, students, people contributing to the Revolution, relatives of martyrs.

👉 👉 👉 It’s free for Vietnamese poor families, families in difficult circumstances stated in laws.

Official link to apply : https://lltptructuyen.moj.gov.vn (If you apply through private agent, it may cost you more than US $100)

For support, please email to info@vietnamimmigration.org

*** If you send and receive your documents via post service, you have to pay fee for post service 

For foreigners who need to submit a police check certificate that’s issued by their own country of nationality, it must be translated, notarized, and legalized by the authorities where the document was issued, and in accordance with both foreign and Vietnam laws. Here’s how to use the juridical record certificate that’s issued overseas:

1. The Police Check Certificate or Judicial Record Certificate must first be translated into English or another language by the authorized translation offices in order to meet the purpose of its use.
2. The Judicial Record Certificate should be authenticated through an authorized notary from the country where the document was issued.
3. The notarized and translated document has to be certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam.

For those who need assistance in the issuance of their judicial record certificate, they can get in touch with a Vietnamese lawyer who is an expert in this field.

Here’s how to obtain a judicial record certificate in Vietnam:

1. Foreigners who have been residing in Vietnam for the past six months can request for the certificate directly from the Provincial Justice Dept. of where they reside.
2. For those who are no longer in Vietnam or are outside the country but would need a copy of the judicial record certificate, they can request for it online and have the document sent to them by courier.
3. Foreigners may be required to appear in person when requesting for the criminal record certificate in Vietnam. If they can’t come in person, they will need to submit a Special Power of Attorney to authorize another individual. They will also need to provide photocopies of their passport and the passport that were used previously while living in Vietnam.

The photocopy of passport and the Power of Attorney have to be authenticated by the Vietnam embassy where the foreign individual currently lives. These documents can also be authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affair’s Consular Department of Vietnam. Take note that the Power of Attorney should be translated to the local language of Vietnam through a Vietnamese notary public.

When applying for the judicial record certificate in Vietnam, there are requirements that you need to submit. These include the following:

• Declaration form requesting for the issuance of judicial record certificate.
• Copy of passport or identity card of the person who will be issued the judicial record certificate.
• Household registration book proving the individual’s temporary or permanent residency in Vietnam.

For individuals who cannot personally come to request the judicial card No. 1, they may authorize another person to carry out the procedure and claim the certificate on their behalf. However, a Power of Attorney will be required for this and a local lawyer in Vietnam can help.

Foreigners in Vietnam might be required to provide a judicial record certificate or a certificate of good conduct for various reasons. The judicial record certificate is also known as the lack of a criminal record certificate since the document will serve as proof of whether a person has a criminal record or not while living in Vietnam.

Usually, the certificate is needed when applying for a work permit, adoption, employment, school attendance, etc. Even if the foreigner is not in Vietnam, he or she is eligible to request a judicial record certificate. There are two types of judicial record certificate that a foreigner can apply, the form number 1 and form number 2.

Two Types of Judicial Record Certificate

As mentioned, there are 2 types of judicial record certificate that you can apply in Vietnam. According to Clause 4 in Article 2 of the Law on Criminal Record of Vietnam, the judicial certificate will be issued by Vietnam’s Department of Justice. The document will demonstrate if the person has a criminal conviction or not. It will also demonstrate if the person is barred from holding a position in a company or prohibited from establishing or managing a business.

As stated in Article 41 of Vietnam’s Law on Criminal Record, there are 2 types of judicial record certificate in Vietnam:

• Criminal Record Form # 1 – this type of judicial record certificate is issued upon the request of a Vietnamese individual or foreigner living in Vietnam. It can also be issued to political organizations, state agencies, and social organizations. The document can also be issued for the purpose of business registration activities, human resources management activities, and for the establishment and management of cooperatives or enterprises.
• Criminal Record Form # 2 – this form is being issued for the agency that conducts court proceedings and at the request of individuals who wanted to know the status of their criminal record.

Foreigners who needed to apply for a work permit in Vietnam will be asked to submit a judicial record certificate. Usually, the following cases will apply:

If the foreign individual has not yet entered Vietnam or is already living in the country but for less than 6 months, a judicial record certificate coming from the foreigner’s country of nationality must be submitted. Since the laws of each country are different, the rules for issuing the judicial records will also vary.

For foreign individuals who have been residing temporarily in Vietnam for the past six months, the process of applying for a criminal record for foreigners will be mandatory.

Foreigners in Vietnam can apply for the judicial record certificate at the Justice Department of the province where he or she resides.

The judicial record certificate is a certificate that’s issued by the agency in Vietnam that manages the country’s judicial record database. It serves as a valid proof of whether or not the individual has a previous conviction or is banned from taking up certain posts. This document will also tell if the person is prohibited from managing an enterprise or cooperative in case it has been declared as bankrupt by the court.

Judicial Record Card No. 1

There are two types of judicial record certificates that one can request. The first is the judicial record card No. 1, which will be issued to Vietnamese citizens as well as foreigners residing in Vietnam.

To get the judicial card No. 1, the requesting party should apply at the Justice Dept. at the provincial level. This means that they need to go to the Justice Dept. of their respective municipalities. This is applicable to all applicants, both Vietnamese citizens and foreign individuals currently residing in Vietnam.

If the foreign applicant is already out of the country, he or she should request for the judicial record certificate from the Provincial Justice Department where he or she has resided before leaving the country. Foreigners who are residing in Vietnam must apply from the Justice Department of the localities where they are residing. They can also apply for the judicial record certificate from the National Center for Judicial Records if they have already left the country.

Judicial Record Card No. 2

The other type of judicial record certificate is the judicial record card no. 2. This certificate is issued to an agency conducting inquest proceedings. It will be issued upon the request of the individuals involved who would want to go through the content of their criminal record.

The procedure for the issuance of judicial card No. 2 is the same as the procedures for the judicial card No. 1. But the biggest difference is that individuals who applied for the judicial card no. 2 cannot authorize another person to claim the certificate on their behalf. With the judicial card No. 1, the requesting party can authorize anyone to apply and claim the certificate in case they are already out of the country.

Working With Different Local Agencies

When applying for the judicial record certificate in Vietnam, the applicant might need to work with various local agencies in Vietnam, including the police agencies and the court. This is needed in case there’s not enough evidence at the police agencies that can conclude that the applicant doesn’t have any criminal record or that the content of the certificate is not clear.

The applicant may also have to deal with agencies like the People’s Committee of communes, townships, and wards, as well as local organizations and agencies that work on case proceedings. This is required to verify the conditions of having the conviction to be automatically written off.

National Center for Criminal Record

It’s important to note that foreigners who are already outside Vietnam cannot apply for the judicial record certificate from a Vietnam embassy in their country. The applicant should apply directly from the National Centre for Criminal Record or to the relevant Provincial Justice Department. The application can be sent through a secured postage service and must coordinate with the National Centre for Criminal Record of how to receive the certificate and the method of payment.

The applicant should come to the embassy in person and sign the application and registration for receiving the certificate by post or through the Power of Attorney for those who cannot come to Vietnam in person. It must be submitted before the consular staff of the embassy and have the individual’s passport copy be certified. If the applicant cannot come in person, he or she should sign the application and registration to receive the certificate through the post before the solicitor.

All documents should be sent to the Legalization Office of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to be certified and to the Embassy of Vietnam for legalization. The Law on National Assembly of Vietnam on Judicial Record regulates the application of judicial record certificate in Vietnam.

A Judicial Record Certificate in Vietnam is a document that offers judicial or criminal information regarding a person in Vietnam. Also called the police check or criminal record card, this document is an important requirement when applying for a work permit.

The law of Vietnam on criminal records will apply during the process of obtaining the judicial record.

As such, when applying for a judicial record certificate in Vietnam, the applicant is required to submit the application to the Justice Department of the province or municipality where the applicant lives. For foreigners who are residing in Vietnam, he or she has to submit a request to the Dept. of Justice and claim the certificate from there as well.

Documents Needed for the Judicial Record Certificate in Vietnam

Before you go to the Justice Department to lodge your application of the judicial record certificate, you must prepare the requirements ahead. Here are the requirements:

1. Completed application form
2. Certified photocopies of passport
3. Copy of the permanent or temporary resident card in Vietnam.
4. Authorization letter for authorized application of judicial record certificate. However, authorized persons are only limited to spouses, parents, or kids. The written authorization should be authenticated or certified according to Vietnamese law.
5. Application letter to grant the Criminal Record

When applying for the judicial record certificate, the applicant might need to work with the Public Securities Agencies and the court. This is especially the case if there’s not enough evidence from the police agencies that can prove that the applicant doesn’t have any criminal records or the content of the criminal record is not clearly understood. The applicant may also need to work with the People’s Committees of communes, townships, and wards, organizations, agencies, as well as agencies-related proceedings. Coordination with various agencies is needed to verify why the conviction has been written off.

There are also instances when a foreign applicant has already left Vietnam. However, he or she needs a judicial record certificate for those times that he or she is residing in Vietnam. In this case, they can ask for assistance from various agencies based in Vietnam.

There are also Vietnam-based lawyers that can help follow-up the changes in the law and ensure that their clients are updated. This can help the applicant to come up with better decisions.

Procedures In Applying for the Judicial Record Certificate

There are various ways to apply for a judicial record certificate in Vietnam. One is to apply in person and another is to apply online. For foreigners who are outside Vietnam, it’s also possible to apply through the mail.

1. In-person Application

Here’s how to apply for a judicial record certificate in person:

1. The applicant should apply in-person through the nearest municipal or provincial Justice Department where he or she is residing.
2. If the applicant’s temporary or permanent residence in Vietnam is unidentifiable, the person can apply for the judicial record certificate from the National Center for Judicial Records.
3. Visit the respective office and bring with you the completed application form.
4. Make sure you bring all copies of the required documents to the office, both the originals and photocopies.
5. It’s a good idea to talk to the respective authority before going to the office. They might require you o submit additional requirements.
6. Take note that you will be required to pay a certain amount for the application fees so you need to prepare money for this. You can call the office ahead to find out how much is the fee since this will usually vary.
7. After about 15 days, you can collect the certificate from the office where you sent in your application.

2. Online application

1. Visit the website for the online application of a judicial record certificate in Vietnam.
2. When the application form pops up, fill out the details that are being asked. Provide your complete name, birth date, sex, nationality, etc.
3. After you fill out the form, make sure you review everything. Check that the spelling is correct before you submit.
4. Next, you will be asked to print a copy of the declaration form. After you print the form, you need to sign it.
5. Keep a copy of the online code that will be provided and click the button that says, “Finish”.
6. Once the judicial record certificate is available, it will be sent to you through the mail.

3. Applying Through Mail

1. When applying through the mail, the applicant must send the completed application form along with the other documents and fees. These must be sent to the Vietnam Department of Justice through the post.
2. Once your application is received, the respective department will start to process it.
3. After about 15 days, the judicial record certificate will be sent to you through the mail to the address you provided during the application.

For your request, please email to : info@vietnamimmigration.org or drop a message via chat support online 👉

If you’re a foreigner in Vietnam and you need to apply for a work permit, one of the requirements that you need to submit is the judicial record certificate. Also known as the criminal record certificate, this document is a valid proof of whether or not an individual has a previous criminal conviction. This certificate will also prove that the person is not banned from holding any post, which is why it’s an important requirement for a work permit.

Applying for the judicial record certificate in Vietnam is easy. In fact, there are two ways to do it. You can apply online or you can go directly to the Provincial Department of Justice. But just in case you are wondering what this document is all about, and why you should get it, then here’s everything you need to know about the purposes of using a judicial record certificate.

Overview of Judicial Record Certificate

The judicial record certificate for foreigners in Vietnam is an important document supplementation for the application of a work permit. It’s also one of the requirements that you need to submit for marriage registration and adoption, or other important matters that would require a record of your criminal history.

There are certain conditions that apply when getting the Vietnamese judicial record certificate. For foreigners, they need to be a resident of Vietnam for more than one month. Furthermore, they must have a passport and are holding a temporary residence order at a locality. They will also be required to submit public security of commune from where they are currently residing.

Issued by the Agency of Database Management of Criminal Record

The judicial record certificate will be issued by the agency that’s responsible for managing the database of criminal records in Vietnam. Its main purpose is to prove that the individual has no criminal record and has not been banned from taking up any position in Vietnam.

Under the new regulation, foreigners who are residing in Vietnam for less than six months can now apply for the criminal record. It is the provincial Department of Justice that will grant the criminal record of the foreigner.

If the foreigner needs to submit a judicial record certificate that was issued by another country, the document must be interpreted in the local language. Furthermore, the document must be translated, legalized, and notarized according to the Vietnamese laws.

Purposes of Using Judicial Record Certificate

Under Clause 1, Article 2 of Vietnam’s Law on Criminal Record in 2009, the judicial record certificate is a document stating the previous convictions of the particular individual. This document will show if the person has been sentenced under court judgment or decision and if the person is prohibited from taking up any position. It will also show if the person is banned from managing or establishing cooperatives or companies.

Under Article 7, the Law on Criminal Record has also regulated that the following agencies, organizations, and individuals may request authorized agencies to issue the judicial record certificate:

1. Foreigners and Vietnamese citizens who are living in Vietnam have every right to request for a criminal record certificate.
2. Proceeding agencies can also request for the criminal record certificate to be issued for the purpose of an investigation, trial, and prosecution.
3. Socio-political organizations, political organizations, and state agencies can request for the criminal record to be issued, which will be used to serve the personnel management, establishment and management of cooperatives and enterprises, and business registration.

The criminal judicial record certificates include the following:

• Criminal record card #1 – this is issued to certain individuals, agencies, and organizations that were defined in Clauses 1 and 3, as well as Article 7 of this law.
• Criminal record card # 2 – this will be issued to agencies that carry out proceedings, as defined on Clause 2, Article 7. It will be issued upon request of the individual so he or she will know the nature of his or her criminal record.

The main difference between these two types of judicial record certificates is that criminal record card #1 will only record the criminal sentence that has not been removed in the criminal record database of Vietnam. But if the criminal case has been deleted, the document will say, “no criminal record.” On the other hand, the criminal record card # 2 will record all the previous convictions of the person, regardless if it has been removed or not.

Take note that the processing time of the Vietnamese judicial record certificate will take 15 – 20 days from the date of request. It will remain valid for six months from the issuance date. You can choose to apply for the judicial record certificate in person from the Justice Department of the province where you reside. But if you cannot apply for it in person, you can send in your request online and get the certificate by courier.

For your request, please email to : info@vietnamimmigration.org or drop a message via chat support online 👉

There are many reasons why a foreigner in Vietnam would need a copy of the judicial certificate. This document will prove if you have a previous criminal conviction or not.

Also known as the police certificate, this document is required when applying for a permanent residence in Vietnam. The document is also needed when applying for a work permit.

When getting a judicial certificate in Vietnam, you will have two ways to do it. One is to apply for it personally from the Provincial Department of Justice. Another option is to do it online.

Applying for the Judicial Certificate in Person

When applying in person, you need to go directly to the Department of Justice of the province where you reside. For instance, if you are from Hanoi, you will go to North Vietnam’s Dept. of Justice. You must go there in the morning since the offices are usually closed in the afternoon and they won’t accept any applications.

Before you go, make sure you prepare the requirements ahead of time. Here are the requirements:

• Original copy of the application form.
• Photocopy of your passport along with a valid Vietnam visa. You will also be required to present the original copy of your passport upon application so make sure you bring it with you. This is only for verification and they will return it back to you afterward.
• Temporary residence confirmation coming from the police. You will be asked to submit a photocopy of the document along with the original copy for verification. If you have a notarized copy then you don’t need to submit the original copy.

The standard processing time of the Judicial Certificate is 15 working days from the day you submit your application. Remember that it will be sent to you through courier and this can add to the number of days. So this is something you need to consider when applying for the judicial certificate.

You will be asked to pay for the statutory fee during the application. This will cost you around VND 200,000 for every copy. But this does not include the courier fees yet.

You will have to pay for it separately. There’s also an option to personally collect the certificate from the Department of Justice. In this case, you don’t have to pay for the courier fees.

Applying for the Judicial Certificate Online

If you don’t have the time to personally submit your application at the Justice Department, you can choose to apply for it online. Simply click the link to apply – https://lltptructuyen.moj.gov.vn/home?locale=en. Then you will be asked to choose the type of applicant. If you are a foreigner residing in Vietnam, then you should choose that option. After that, select the city of your residence and you will be taken to the home page where you can apply for the judicial certificate. Then follow these steps:

1. Click the button that says “Get Started”.
2. Then the application form will come up. Fill out all the details that are being asked from you. Enter your full name, sex, birth date, nationality, and address.
3. After you provide all the information on the form, review everything very carefully. Make sure the information you have provided is correct. If you’re certain that all details are correct, click next. In this step, you will also be asked to print the declaration form and sign it.
4. Take note of the online code that will be provided on the screen then click the “Finish” button if you’re done.
5. Submit your profile online code to the receipt department.

Just like with applying in-person, it will take approximately 15 days for your judicial certificate to be available. If you want to know the status, click the button at the homepage that says “Lookup”. A box will then appear to ask you to enter the registration code, passport number, and the confirmation code. Then click on the “lookup” button again to display the status of your judicial certificate application.

Take note that you will also be asked to pay for the VND 200,000 when applying for the judicial certificate online. You can choose to receive it through courier or claim it yourself from the Justice Department. If you want to receive it by post, you’ll have to pay for the courier fees.

The validity of the Judicial Certificate in Vietnam

One of the most common questions that people have when applying for a judicial certificate is the document’s validity. This will actually depend on what purpose you’re going to use it for. If you need it for Work Permit, the document will remain valid if it’s issued not more than six months. However, if it is for the application of permanent residency in Vietnam, the authority requires that the document be issued within the past 90 days.

For your request, please email to : info@vietnamimmigration.org or drop a message via chat support online 👉

Criminal checks also called Police Checks, or Police Clearance is a document required in Vietnam for various purposes. Usually, the most common reason why foreigners may need to get a criminal check is for work permit applications.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the requirements and process of obtaining the criminal check. Hopefully, this guide can help foreigners who are in need to obtain criminal checks while in Vietnam.

Guide to Obtaining a Vietnam Criminal Check

1. What is a Criminal Check Certificate?

The criminal check certificate is issued by the government agency in Vietnam that manages the country’s judicial database. This document is valid proof of whether an individual has committed a crime in the past. It will also prove if the person is currently convicted or is banned from taking up a certain post in the country. Furthermore, the document will also prove if the individual is fit to establish or manage an enterprise or cooperative that the court is declared bankrupt.

Foreigners who are living in Vietnam regardless of how long they are residing in the country will have the right to request from Vietnam’s Dept. of Justice to issue the Criminal Check or the Criminal Record Certificate.

2. Different Types of Vietnam Criminal Record Certificates

According to Article 41 of the Law on Criminal Records, there are two different types of Criminal Record Certificates. They are merely called Form No. 1 and Form No. 2.

The difference between the two is that Form No. 1 records sentences that were not removed. So if certain cases were deleted, it’s going to say, “no criminal record.” On the other hand, Form No. 2 will only record all of the previous convictions where it’s removed or not.

Depending on your purpose, you may either need the Form No.1 or Form No.2. However, the most common type of criminal record certificate that’s required for work permits of foreigners in Vietnam is Form No. 1.

3. How to Request for a Criminal Record Certificate

Authority : Individuals who were or have been living temporarily in Vietnam will have every right to request from the Dept. of Justice of the place where he or she is residing for a Criminal Certificate.

Process of Application : The applicant can apply in person or do it online:

• In-Person – to apply in person, you need to bring all the necessary documents to the Dept. of Justice in the province where you are staying in Vietnam. Once the certificate is available, you can go back to claim it in person.
• Online – if you want a more convenient way to apply for the Criminal Record Certificate, you can do it online. You will be required to fill out a form and submit scanned requirements online or by courier.

4. Required Documents

Application Form – if you will personally apply for the Criminal Record, you will be asked to fill out the application form. However, this must be filled out in the Vietnamese language so you need to get in touch with a local agency that can help with the translation.

On the other hand, if you are requesting for the document online, you need to fill out the online application form. This can be obtained from both the English and Vietnamese website of the Provincial Justice Department. On the application form, you will find a section that says, “residence process”. Your temporary residence address must be in Vietnam.

• Temporary Residence Confirmation:

Your landlord can help you with acquiring the temporary registration confirmation. It’s also possible to request a signed letter from the ward police in your place of residence. This letter will serve as a confirmation that you reside in the place, which also comes in handy just in case your landlord ended up registering a wrong name or if he is not willing to help with the residence confirmation.

• Notarized Documents:

If the application was sent in by post, you will be asked to provide a notarized copy of your passport along with a valid visa. You are also required to send in a notarized temporary residence confirmation.

Original copies of the documents along with photocopies must be submitted to the People’s Committee of any District in Vietnam for notarization.

5. The validity of the Criminal Record Certificate

Currently, the law of Vietnam regarding Criminal Records doesn’t include the regulations regarding the Criminal Record’s validity. However, depending upon the specific purpose and authority of use, the certificate’s expiry date could differ.

For foreigners who needed the certificate for a work permit, the local authority requires that the certificate should be issued within six months of submitting the application for a work permit. But if the certificate will be used for the renewing or ceasing of Vietnamese nationality, the criminal record must be issued in the past 90 days only.

For your request, please email to : info@vietnamimmigration.org or drop a message via chat support online 👉