How to get a police certificate in Vietnam?

For foreigners, the Vietnam police certificate is used as a supplementary document in administrative procedures such as marriage registration, work permit application, and others. Is it difficult to obtain a Vietnam police check? What are the required documents? Let’s explore this topic with Thao & Co. in this article.

Procedures for applying for a police check in Vietnam as a foreigner

In Vietnam, police certificates are issued by government agencies managing the judicial record database including the National Center for Judicial Records and provincial-level Justice Departments.

Police clearance certificate demonstrates whether the foreigner to whom the paper is issued has violated the law during their stay in Vietnam.

There are 02 forms of police clearance certificates in Vietnam: No. 1 and No. 2.

1. ● The Vietnam police clearance certificate No. 1: Issued to citizens of Vietnam or foreigners residing in the country. Apart from personal information, the No. 1 police check clearance will show “không có án tích” for no previous criminal conviction, or “có án tích” for previous convictions, excluding those that have been remitted, along with details pertaining to each sentence.
2. ● The Vietnam police clearance certificate No. 2: The entire criminal records will be shown, including convictions that have been remitted. The No. 2 police check in Vietnam is commonly used to support investigation, prosecution, and adjudication work.

To be issued a Vietnam police check, foreign individuals must prove current or past legal residence in Vietnam. Furthermore, the applicant may also be requested to submit additional legal documents.

Important Notes:

1. ● Foreign individuals who have yet to enter Vietnam or have stayed for less than 6 months must return to the country of which they are citizens and apply for a police check there.
2. ● For those who have resided in Vietnam for more than 6 months, apply for a police check for foreigners as regulated.

Is a police clearance certificate issued by a competent authority abroad accepted in Vietnam?

The answer is YES. Before foreign-issued police checks can be used in administrative procedures in Vietnam, they must undergo consular authentication and be submitted along with corresponding notary translations.

To obtain notarized translations in Vietnam, there are several options to choose from:

In Hanoi:

1. ● Public Notary Offices: Public Notary Office No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
2. ● Lac Viet Private Notary Office
3. ● Hoang Cau Private Notary Office
4. ● Dong Da Private Notary Office
5. ● Ha Thanh Private Notary Office

In Ho Chi Minh City:

1. ● Public Notary Offices: Public Notary Office No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
2. ● ACC Private Notary Office
3. ● Dong Thanh Pho Private Notary Office
4. ● Phan Thi Kim Cuc Private Notary Office
5. ● Nha Rong Private Notary Office

For better convenience, consider choosing Thao & Co.’s Notarized Translation Services. Your documents will be accurately translated and formatted to request. Furthermore, notarization service is also provided to ensure the document’s legal validity.

Thao & Co. delivers high-quality translations performed by experienced native linguists to meet your every need. Translations are guaranteed to be delivered on time as agreed upon.

Which documents are needed to obtain a police check in Vietnam?

For a hassle-free police check application process, it’s crucial to have the following papers in order:

1. ● A declaration requesting the issuance of a police clearance certificate
2. ● A photo/copy of the applicant’s ID Card or Passport. The original must also be presented at the submission location for verification purposes. If the original documents are not available, a certified copy may be submitted as a substitute.
3. ● When applying for Police Clearance Certificate No. 1 Vietnam, if you grant power of attorney to others to submit your documents, these documents must undergo notarization and certification.
4. ● Notarized copy of the certificate of temporary residence
5. ● Documents proving the exemption or reduction of fees for issuing police check

Can you apply for a Vietnam police check online?

The answer is YES. To streamline the process, foreigners can apply for police clearance certificate No. 1 online by following these steps:

1. ● Step 1: Access the local public service portal  (domain name in English https://dichvucong.localname.gov.vn.)
2. For examples
3. Ho Chi Minh City: https://dichvucong.hochiminhcity.gov.vn
4. Ha Noi: https://dichvucong.hanoi.gov.vn
5. ● Step 2: Log in or register if you don’t have an account.
6. ● Step 3: In the search bar, enter the search keyword “lý lịch tư pháp” (Police check) into the search box.
7. ● Step 4: Select the Cấp phiếu lý lịch tư pháp cho người nước ngoài (Issuing police check for foreigners in Vietnam) section and press the button that says Nộp hồ sơ (Submit application).
8. ● Step 5: Fill out the declaration form and upload all necessary documents.
9. ● Step 6: Pay the required fees.
10. ● Step 7: Wait for approval.

Alternatively, you can submit the application in person at the local Public Administration Service Center. Your application will be processed from 5 to 7 working days.

How much does it cost to get a Vietnam police check for foreigners?

The fee for police check issuance procedure in Vietnam is regulated as follows:

1. ● For foreign employees: 200,000 VND/check/person.
2. ● For students: 100,000 VND/check/person.
3. ● Individuals exempt from obtaining a police clearance certificate in Vietnam include children, elderly people, those officially recognized as economically disadvantaged, disabled individuals, and residents of low-living standard communes.

Important consideration: From the 3rd one onward, the fee will increase by 5,000 VND/check

Important notes when obtaining a police check for Vietnam work permit

Foreign-issued police checks must be translated and notarized before they can be used to apply for a work permit in Vietnam.

When preparing documents for work permit in Vietnam, some other documents that need translation and notarization / consular authentication apart from the police check include:

1. ● Health examination certificate
2. ● Letter from the authority approving the employment of expatriate
3. ● Relevant degrees or diplomas
4. ● Employment contract
5. ● Proof of employment and experience

The tasks of translation, notarization, consular authentication, and certification should only be handled by professionals with years of experience in this field.

As one of the leading translation agencies, Thao & Co. guarantees to provide you with flawless Vietnamese translations, ensuring legal validity.

We specialize in police check translation, work permit application documents, and other legal papers, ensuring high quality and accuracy.

Thao & Co. takes pride in consistently earning clients’ trust through our unwavering commitment to accuracy and professionalism.

By choosing Thao & Co.’s services, you can expect:

1. ● Accurate translation done by linguists with years of experience in translating documents and extensive legal expertise.
2. ● Translations available for 50+ languages: English, French, Spanish, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, and many others
3. ● Commitment to on-time delivery of translations within 24 hours for standard papers and documents
4. ● Transparent and efficient workflow
5. ● Competitive pricing without any additional fees
6. ● Free certification of translation accuracy from Thao & Co. Notarization and consular authentication services available upon request for a small fee.
7. ● Thao & Co.’s proprietary platform for effortless tracking of project progress, payment status, and downloading translations.

Contact us today via the Get a Quote page for detailed consultation completely free of charge!