Vietnam's VNeID App Adds Electronic Criminal Record as Legal Document

From 1 July 2026 the national digital identity application VNeID will display a citizen’s criminal‑record information (legal history) directly on the platform. The electronic record will have the same legal standing as a paper certificate, streamlining procedures for employment, study abroad, labour export and any transaction that requires proof of legal status.

Under the amended Law on Criminal Records, two types of records will be issued – a basic electronic version (type 1) shown automatically in VNeID, and a detailed version (type 2) that requires a six‑digit passcode for access. Both forms are legally equivalent to paper copies. Requests for the records can be made online via VNeID or the national e‑service portal, by post, or in person, with standard processing times of five working days (up to fifteen days for complex cases). The amendment also tightens rules on who may request a citizen’s record, limiting access to authorised bodies under specific legal provisions.

The integration is intended to reduce administrative time and costs, improve data security, and support Vietnam’s broader push toward a fully digital public administration.