What Are the Two Types of Vietnam Criminal Record Certificates (Phiếu Lý Lịch Tư Pháp) and Which One Do You Need?
If you are a foreigner in Vietnam applying for a work permit, temporary residence card, or permanent residency, you have almost certainly been asked for a "Phiếu Lý Lịch Tư Pháp" — often translated as a Criminal Record Certificate or Judicial Record. The confusion begins immediately because there are two distinct types: Certificate No. 1 and Certificate No. 2. Choosing the wrong one means paying the fee twice, waiting through processing again, and potentially missing a critical deadline. This guide breaks down the exact differences based on Vietnamese law, so you can request the correct document the first time.
Understanding the Difference Between Certificate No. 1 and Certificate No. 2
Under Article 41 of the Law on Judicial Records, the two certificates serve fundamentally different purposes and audiences .
- Phiếu Lý Lịch Tư Pháp Số 1 (Certificate No. 1) is issued at the request of Vietnamese citizens, foreigners who have resided or are currently residing in Vietnam, and state agencies, political organizations, or socio-political organizations. It serves personnel management, business registration, and enterprise/cooperative establishment and management purposes .
- Phiếu Lý Lịch Tư Pháp Số 2 (Certificate No. 2) is issued to prosecuting agencies (investigation, prosecution, adjudication) and, upon individual request, to the individual themselves so they can know the contents of their judicial record .
The key practical difference is the content disclosed. Certificate No. 1 is designed to disclose whether you have any unspent convictions (án tích chưa được xóa). Certificate No. 2 discloses all criminal records, including spent convictions that have been expunged . This distinction exists to protect privacy — Certificate No. 2 is only required when a thorough background check is legally mandated .
What Information Appears on Certificate No. 1?
According to Article 42 of the Law on Judicial Records, Certificate No. 1 contains the following :
- Personal identifying information: full name, gender, date of birth, place of birth, nationality, place of residence, ID/passport number
- Conviction status:
- If no conviction: recorded as "không có án tích" (no criminal record)
- If convicted but not yet eligible for expungement: recorded as "có án tích" (has criminal record), with crime, main penalty, and additional penalty
- If expunged and updated in the judicial record database: recorded as "không có án tích" (no criminal record)
- If amnestied and updated: recorded as "không có án tích" (no criminal record)
- Information on bans from holding positions, establishing, or managing enterprises/cooperatives (if applicable under a bankruptcy declaration)
Required Documents Checklist for Foreign Applicants
Based on official embassy guidance and the Law on Judicial Records, here is what foreign nationals need to prepare :
- Completed application form (Tờ khai yêu cầu cấp Phiếu lý lịch tư pháp) — Form 03/2025/LLTP or the interactive electronic version
- Passport copy (for foreigners) — certified by the Vietnamese Embassy or consulate if applying from abroad
- Proof of Vietnamese residence — copy of temporary residence certificate, permanent residence card, or Vietnamese visa (certified by the Vietnamese Embassy if applying from abroad)
- Written authorization (if someone is applying on your behalf) — must be notarized or certified
Official Form Field-by-Field Translation and Breakdown
The application form used for in-person or postal submissions is Form 03/2025/LLTP. For online submissions, an interactive electronic form is used that automatically syncs personal information from the National Population Database . Here is the complete breakdown for the paper form:
| Field | Vietnamese Label | English Meaning | What to Enter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tên tôi là (ghi bằng chữ in hoa, đủ dấu) | My full name (in uppercase, with diacritics) | Your full legal name as it appears on your passport |
| 2 | Tên gọi khác (nếu có) | Other names (if any) | Any aliases or former names |
| 3 | Giới tính | Gender | Male (Nam) or Female (Nữ) |
| 4 | Ngày, tháng, năm sinh | Date of birth | DD/MM/YYYY format |
| 5 | Giấy Chứng minh nhân dân/thẻ Căn cước công dân/thẻ Căn cước/Giấy chứng nhận căn cước/Hộ chiếu | ID Card/Citizen ID Card/Identity Card/Identity Certificate/Passport | For foreigners: select "Hộ chiếu" and enter passport number, issue date, and issuing authority |
| 6 | Nơi sinh (tỉnh/thành phố trực thuộc Trung ương) | Place of birth (province/centrally-governed city) | Your city/country of birth |
| 7 | Quốc tịch | Nationality | Your nationality |
| 8 | Dân tộc | Ethnicity | Your ethnicity |
| 9 | Nơi thường trú | Permanent residence | Your permanent address (if none in Vietnam, write "Không") |
| 10 | Nơi tạm trú | Temporary residence | Your registered temporary residence address in Vietnam |
| 11 | Họ tên cha | Father's full name | Your father's name |
| 12 | Họ tên mẹ | Mother's full name | Your mother's name |
| 13 | Họ tên vợ/chồng | Spouse's full name | Your spouse's name (if applicable) |
| 14 | Số điện thoại/e-mail | Phone number/email | Your contact phone and email |
| 15 | Quá trình cư trú, nghề nghiệp, nơi làm việc từ khi đủ 14 tuổi | Residence, occupation, and workplace history since age 14 | For foreigners: Declare information during your residence in Vietnam only |
| 16 | Thông tin về án tích, nội dung bị cấm đảm nhiệm chức vụ... | Information on criminal record and bans (if any) | If you have no criminal record, write "Không" |
| 17 | Yêu cầu cấp Phiếu lý lịch tư pháp: Số 1 ☐ Số 2 ☐ | Request for Certificate No. 1 or No. 2 | Check the appropriate box. For work permits and most expat procedures, select Số 1 |
| 18 | Mục đích yêu cầu cấp Phiếu lý lịch tư pháp | Purpose of request | State the purpose (e.g., "Xin giấy phép lao động" / Work permit application) |
| 19 | Hình thức, phương thức nhận kết quả | Form and method of receiving results | Check: paper directly, paper by postal service, or electronic online |
Official Submission Procedure: Step-by-Step
From July 1, 2026, new regulations under Circular 101/2026/TT-BCA fundamentally changed how foreigners can apply. There are now three official submission methods .
Method 1: Online Submission (For Foreigners with Digital Identity)
- Access the National Public Service Portal (Cổng Dịch vụ công quốc gia) or the National Identification Application (VNeID) .
- Log in using your digital identity account (định danh điện tử).
- Select the "Cấp Phiếu Lý lịch Tư pháp" service.
- Complete the interactive electronic form. Personal information is automatically synced from the National Population Database. Verify the auto-filled information for accuracy .
- Select Certificate No. 1 or No. 2 and state the purpose.
- Choose result delivery: electronic certificate (to your account) or paper certificate (direct pickup or postal delivery).
- Pay the fee online (see Fee section below).
- Receive results: Electronic certificates are returned to your personal account and have the same legal value as paper certificates. A QR code is embedded for verification .
Method 2: Direct Submission (In Person)
- Prepare the paper application form (Form 03/2025/LLTP) with all required fields completed.
- Attach a certified copy of your passport and proof of Vietnamese residence.
- Submit at the competent authority: the Provincial Police Department (Phòng Hồ sơ nghiệp vụ Công an tỉnh) or the National Center for Judicial Records .
- Pay the fee at the receiving office.
- Receive a receipt with the expected pickup date.
- Return on the scheduled date to collect your certificate.
Method 3: Postal Submission
- Prepare all documents as in the direct submission method.
- Certify your signature on the application form by a competent authority (notary or commune police) .
- Send the complete dossier via registered postal service to the competent authority.
- Include a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want the result returned by mail.
- Pay the fee via bank transfer or as instructed by the receiving office.
Copyable Authorization Letter Template
If you cannot apply in person and need to authorize someone else to submit the application on your behalf, use this template. The authorization must be in writing and comply with legal regulations .
AUTHORIZATION LETTER FOR JUDICIAL RECORD CERTIFICATE APPLICATION
================================================================= SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
Independence - Freedom - Happiness
----------------------------------- Date: [DD/MM/YYYY] AUTHORIZATION LETTER I, [Applicant Full Name], holder of passport number [Passport Number]
issued by [Issuing Country] on [Issue Date], currently residing at
[Applicant Address], hereby authorize: [Authorized Person Full Name], holder of ID/Passport number
[Authorized Person ID Number], currently residing at
[Authorized Person Address], to represent me in submitting the application for a Judicial Record
Certificate (Phiếu Lý Lịch Tư Pháp) and to receive the results on my
behalf. Type of Certificate Requested: [No. 1 / No. 2] Purpose of Request: [State Purpose, e.g., Work Permit Application,
Temporary Residence Card Application] The authorized person is permitted to:
- Submit the complete application dossier at the competent authority
- Receive the Judicial Record Certificate on my behalf This authorization letter is valid from [Start Date] until
[End Date or "the completion of the above procedure"]. I hereby certify that the information provided above is true and
correct, and I take full responsibility for this authorization. Attached documents:
- Certified copy of my passport
- Certified copy of authorized person's ID/passport Authorizer's Signature: [Signature]
[Applicant Full Name] Authorized Person's Signature: [Signature]
[Authorized Person Full Name] -----------------------------------
Note: This authorization letter must be notarized or certified
according to legal regulations before submission.
Common Mistakes and Rejection Warnings
Based on official guidance and the Law on Judicial Records, here are the most frequent errors that cause rejection or delay:
- Requesting the wrong certificate type: Confusing Certificate No. 1 with Certificate No. 2 is the most common mistake. For work permits and most administrative procedures, you need Certificate No. 1 .
- Uncertified passport copies: If applying from abroad or by mail, your passport copy must be certified by the Vietnamese Embassy or a competent authority. Uncertified copies will be rejected .
- Missing proof of Vietnamese residence: Foreign applicants must provide evidence of their residence in Vietnam (temporary residence card, visa, etc.). Without this, the application cannot be processed .
- Incomplete residence history: For the "Quá trình cư trú" (residence history) section, foreigners must declare their entire period of residence in Vietnam, not just their current address .
- Incorrect fee selection: If you qualify for a fee exemption or reduction, you must select the correct category during online submission and attach supporting documents. Selecting the exemption without documents will result in rejection .
- Signature not certified for postal submission: When submitting by postal service, the applicant's signature on the form must be certified according to legal regulations .
Processing Time, Fees, and Submission Locations
Processing Time
As of July 1, 2026, the processing time has been significantly reduced :
- 05 working days: Normal cases, from the date of receiving a valid request
- Up to 15 days: Cases requiring verification (e.g., new criminal record information, foreign applicants, or cases requiring verification of expungement conditions)
Note: The Vietnam Embassy in the United States lists a processing time of 10 working days, which may vary by diplomatic mission .
Fees
Based on Circular 16/2025/TT-BTC and official government fee schedules :
- 200,000 VND: Standard fee per request per person
- 170,000 VND: Online submission fee (from 24/4/2025 to 31/12/2025)
- 100,000 VND: Reduced fee (50% reduction) for students, persons with meritorious service to the revolution, and families of martyrs
- 80,000 VND: Online submission reduced fee for eligible categories (from 24/4/2025 to 31/12/2025)
- Free: Children under 16, persons aged 60 and above, persons with disabilities, poor/near-poor households, and ethnic minorities in especially disadvantaged areas
Submission Locations
- National Center for Judicial Records (Trung tâm Lý lịch tư pháp quốc gia), Ministry of Public Security
- Provincial Police Departments (Phòng Hồ sơ nghiệp vụ Công an tỉnh) — for in-person and postal submissions
- National Public Service Portal (dichvucong.gov.vn) — for online submissions
- VNeID Application — for online submissions by foreigners with digital identity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Certificate No. 1 and Certificate No. 2?
Certificate No. 1 (Phiếu Lý lịch Tư pháp số 1) discloses whether you have any unspent criminal convictions and is issued to individuals, agencies, and organizations for purposes such as personnel management and business registration. Certificate No. 2 discloses all criminal records, including spent convictions, and is issued to prosecuting agencies and upon individual request to know one's own judicial record. For most expat administrative procedures, Certificate No. 1 is the required document .
Can foreigners apply for a Vietnam Criminal Record Certificate?
Yes. Under Article 41 of the Law on Judicial Records, foreigners who have resided or are currently residing in Vietnam are eligible to request a Judicial Record Certificate. Since July 1, 2026, foreigners with a registered digital identity can apply online, while those without can apply directly or by postal service .
How long does it take to receive the certificate?
The standard processing time is 05 working days from the date a valid request is received. If verification is required — for example, if there is new criminal record information or the applicant is a foreigner requiring additional checks — processing may take up to 15 days .
What is the fee for a Criminal Record Certificate in Vietnam?
The standard fee is 200,000 VND per request per person. Online submissions have a reduced fee of 170,000 VND. Students, persons with meritorious service, and families of martyrs pay 100,000 VND. Children under 16, persons aged 60 and above, persons with disabilities, poor/near-poor households, and certain ethnic minorities are exempt from fees .
Can I authorize someone else to apply on my behalf?
Yes. Under Article 45 of the amended Law on Judicial Records, individuals can authorize others to complete the application procedure. The authorization must be made in writing according to legal regulations. If the authorized person is your father, mother, spouse, or child, no written authorization is required .