Police Record Check/ Police Clearance Certificate /Criminal Record Check For Foreigners in Vietnam

I. What is a Police Record Check/ Police Clearance Certificate / Criminal Record Check (CRC)?

According to Article 2 of the Law on Judicial Records No. 28/2009/QH12 dated 17 June 2009, the Police Record Check (PRC)/ Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)/ Criminal Record Check (CRC) is a document issued by the competent agency (the provincial Justice Department or the National Center for Criminal Records) to prove whether or not an individual has the previous criminal conviction, is banned from establishing, managing enterprises in case the companies is declared bankrupt by Court.

Note: In Vietnam, the government uses the concept of Criminal Record Check (CRC) instead of Police Record Check (PRC) or Police Clearance Certificate  (PCC)

There are two types of Criminal Record Check: The CRC No. 1 and the CRC No. 2

The CRC No. 1 includes criminal conviction, which is not removed, no records about the criminal conviction, which is expunged, and information relating to the banning in establishing and managing the enterprise per request.

However, the CRC No.2 includes much more information, includes all criminal convictions which are removed and are not expunged, and information relating to the banning in establishing and managing the enterprise.

II. Steps to obtain the CRC in Viet Nam

II.1. Foreigners currently residing in Vietnam

2.1.1 Step 1: Preparation of the Dossier for Police Record Check in Viet Nam

- The Application Forms (Form No.3/2013/TT-LLTP);

- The certified copy of the passport with all pages with a valid visa

- The certified copy of the Temporary Resident Card/ Permanent Resident Card

- The certified copy of the temporary residence confirmed by the ward-level police (for foreigners);

2.1.2 Step 2: Submit the Application

For submission, bring all the documents to the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) of the Province where foreigners reside.

For the CRC No.1, the foreigners can give others a power of attorney for submission.

II.2. Foreigners who resided in Vietnam in the past

2.2.1. Step 1: Preparation the Dossier:

- The Application Forms (Form No.3/2013/TT-LLTP);

- The certified copy of the passport with all pages with a valid visa during the time lived in Vietnam;

- The certified copy of the Temporary Resident Card/ Permanent Resident Card during the time lived in Vietnam

2.2.2 Step 2: Submit the Application: 

Send all documents to Vietnam National Center of Criminal Record by post

Address: Floor 6 – Justice Academy – Tran Vy, Mai Dich ward, Cau Giay District, Ha Noi

III. How does DB Legal assist in making the CRC/ Police Clearance Certificate

All documents must be prepared in Vietnamese, so foreigners should have help from Vietnamese friends in preparing documents

DB Legal will advise, prepare, and accompany the customer to submit the documents, or the customer will make a power of attorney for DB Legal to submit on their behalf.

For foreigners who have resided in Vietnam in the past, the process takes time and is a bit more complicated. Please Contact us for advice on each specific case.

We help our client overcome the administrative barriers to complete all the certificates or licenses for their business.

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