How to Obtain a Police Clearance Certificate in Vietnam

How to Obtain a Police Clearance Certificate in Vietnam (Updated 2026)

Since August 2025, the process has been simplified thanks to integration with the Unified State Services Portal. There's no longer a need to visit the Ministry of Justice in person — the certificate can be obtained online along with the Work Permit (if submitted by the employer) or in person at your city's administrative center.

Important: A Vietnamese certificate only proves that you have no criminal record in Vietnam during your period of residence here. A certificate from your country of citizenship is usually still required for your first Work Permit , but if you have previously lived in Vietnam on a TRC/long-term visa, a Vietnamese certificate may be sufficient (check with your employer/lawyer).

Read our guide on legalization in Vietnam.

Two types of certificate: which one do you need to get?

In Vietnam, there are two official types of police clearance certificates: Type 1 and Type 2. They differ in content, purpose, and method of obtaining.

Most foreigners require Certificate No. 1 for Work Permit, TRC, and marriage registration.

Certificate No. 2 is rarely needed—only if specifically requested by the court or a specific agency. If you don't know which one you need, you need No. 1.

Certificate No. 1: can be obtained remotely (online)

From 2025, foreigners legally residing in Vietnam can apply for Certificate No. 1 entirely online through two official portals:

Option A – via the National Portal of Public Services (dichvucong.gov.vn):

1. Register an account with Level 2 ID verification (Vietnamese phone number required)

2. Upload completed form No. 04/2025/LLTP (for self-submission) or No. 05/2025/LLTP (if submitted by a representative under a power of attorney)

3. Please attach a notarized copy of your passport.

4. Pay the fee online - 200,000 VND (~$8)

5. Receive your certificate by mail or in person at the Justice Department.

Option B - via VNeID app (Hanoi and Thua Thien-Hue only):
If you have a VNeID level 2 account, you can apply directly from your phone. Currently, this feature is only available in two provinces, but is gradually expanding to other regions.

An important detail: you can submit your application online, but you'll still need to pick up the completed certificate either in person or by mail. A purely remote collection option (without a physical visit) is not yet available.

Certificate No. 2: Only in person; a power of attorney will not help.

Certificate No. 2 cannot be obtained through a representative under any circumstances . The law clearly states that an application for this certificate must be submitted by the individual in person.

There is one exception: parents can obtain Certificate No. 2 for their minor child —and only if the child is unable to attend in person .

Current forms for 2025 for in-person applicants:

• Form No. 01/2025/LLTP – for personal submission

• Form No. 02/2025/LLTP — for submission through a representative (only for Certificate No. 1 and parents of minors )

Option 1 for obtaining a certificate: Online through your employer (the easiest)

Suitable for: If you are applying for a Work Permit through a Vietnamese company.

How does it work:

1. The employer submits a single application for a Work Permit through the National Portal of Government Services ( dichvucong.gov.vn ).

2. The system automatically sends a request to your province's Justice Department for a criminal background check.

3. A certificate of no criminal record and a Work Permit are issued simultaneously within 15 working days.

Cost: Usually included in the overall package of services of the employer/agency (about $800-1500 for the entire WP process + LD visa + TRC).

Pros: You don’t have to go anywhere yourself, the employer does everything.

Cons: Only works if you have a real employer who is willing to issue a WP.

Option 2 for obtaining a certificate: In person at the administrative center of your city

Suitable for: If you are obtaining a certificate for something other than a Work Permit (for example, to move to another country, for an investor visa, or for personal purposes) or want to do it yourself.

Where to receive:

• Hanoi: Hanoi Department of Justice, 2A Lý Thường Kiệt, Hoàn Kiếm, Hanoi. Phone: +84 24 3933 4778

• Ho Chi Minh City: Ho Chi Minh City Department of Justice, 127 Hùng Vương, District 5, HCMC. Phone: +84 28 3855 4936

• Da Nang: Da Nang Administrative Center, 24 Trần Phú, Hải Châu, Đà Nẵng. Google Maps

Step-by-step instructions (using Da Nang as an example, similar for other cities):

Step 1: Prepare Documents

• International passport (original + copy of the page with photo and the page with visa/entry stamp)

• Proof of residence (registration confirmation):

  • If you are staying at a hotel, ask the reception for a registration certificate (with the hotel stamp)

  • If you are renting an apartment, ask the landlord for a copy of the NA17 form or a signed written confirmation.

  • If you have a TRC, a copy of the TRC

• Photos 4×6 cm (2 pcs.) - just in case, some centers require

Step 2: Arrive at the administrative center

Address in Da Nang: 24 Trần Phú, Hải Châu (Administrative Center, 2nd floor, foreigners' window)

Working hours: Mon-Fri 7:30-11:30 and 13:00-17:00, Sat until 11:30 (better to come in the morning, fewer queues)

At the counter, say: “I need a criminal record certificate” or show them in Vietnamese: “Tôi cần giấy xác nhận không có tiền án tiền sự . ”

Step 3: Fill out the form

You'll be given a form in English or Vietnamese (usually there's an English version). Fill it out:

• Full name, date of birth, nationality

• Passport number, date of entry

• Residential address in Vietnam

• Purpose of obtaining a certificate (for example: “For work permit application” / “For visa application”)

Step 4: Pay the fee

Price: 200,000 VND (~$8)

Pay at the ticket office in the administrative center (usually on the 1st floor), receive a receipt, return to the 2nd floor and return the bag.

Production time: 15 business days (sometimes faster if workload is low). You will be given a receipt with the date to pick up your order.

Step 5: Collect your completed certificate

Arrive on the appointed day with your passport and receipt. You will receive a certificate in Vietnamese and English (usually a bilingual document with a Justice Department stamp).

What's in the certificate: "Certificate confirming no criminal record" - confirmation that you have no criminal record during your period of residence in Vietnam (dates indicated).

Step 6 (optional): Legalization of the certificate for other countries

If you need a certificate not for Vietnam , but for application to another country (for example, for a visa to the EU, Australia, Canada), it must be legalized through CIFA (Consular and International Affairs Department).

CIFA addresses:

• Hanoi: 40 Trần Phú, Ba Đình, Hanoi. Phone: +84 24 3733 2090

• Ho Chi Minh City: 6 Alexandre de Rhodes, District 1, HCMC. Phone: +84 28 3822 2637

• Danang: 12 Nguyễn Văn Linh, Hải Châu, Đà Nẵng. Google Maps

What to take with you:

• A completed certificate of no criminal record (original)

• International passport (original + copy)

At the counter, say: “ I need consular legalization for this document” or in Vietnamese: “Tôi cần hợp pháp hóa lãnh sự”.

Process:

• Fill out the application

• Pay the fee:

  • Normal processing (10-15 business days): ~120,000 - 300,000 VND ($5-12)

  • Urgent processing (4-5 business days): ~500,000 - 1,000,000 VND ($20-40)

• You receive a legalized document with the seal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam.

Why is this necessary: ​​Legalization confirms the authenticity of the Justice Department seal for foreign authorities. Without it, the certificate may not be accepted by embassies of other countries.

Important nuances

Certificate validity period:

• Officially, the certificate is valid for 90 days from the date of issue.

• However, for some purposes (for example, Work Permit), the period is “frozen” after entering Vietnam or after submitting documents – check with your employer/lawyer.

• For a certificate from the country of citizenship, the period is usually 6 months.

If you have a criminal record:
A Vietnamese certificate will only show criminal records. in vietnamIf you committed crimes in another country, they won't be visible. However, when applying for a Work Permit, you'll still need a certificate from your country of citizenship, which will show all your convictions.

Is it possible to get by with just a Vietnamese certificate?
Depends on the employer and immigration office. In practice:

• If you are applying for a WP for the first time , you will usually need a certificate from your country of citizenship with an apostille.

• If you have already lived in Vietnam for several years with a TRC, they may only accept a Vietnamese certificate (but it is better to check in advance).

Online portal for self-submission:
Some provinces (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City) have launched online submission via dichvucong.gov.vn:

1. Register an account (a Vietnamese phone number is required)

2. Upload a scan of your passport and registration

3. Pay online

4. Come pick up your completed certificate at the Justice Department.

Pros: No need to stand in line to apply.
Cons: The interface is in Vietnamese, please contact a translator or a Vietnamese friend.

Table: where and how to get a certificate