Judicial Record Certificate for Foreign Citizens Residing in Vietnam

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.