Lý Lịch Tư Pháp for Schengen Visa: Apostille or Certified Translation?

💡 For most Schengen long-stay visas (work, study, family reunification), your Vietnamese lý lịch tư pháp needs two separate steps: a MOFA apostille on the original, available since September 11, 2026, and a certified translation into the destination language. I provide the translation; the apostille is a government step you handle separately. Exception: Germany, Austria, and Czech Republic still require consular legalization.

What is a lý lịch tư pháp, and when does a Schengen embassy ask for one?

A lý lịch tư pháp is Vietnam's official judicial background certificate, stating whether the holder has a criminal conviction. Two versions exist: Certificate No. 1, which records convictions that have not been spent, and Certificate No. 2, which records all convictions including spent ones and is used for more sensitive applications such as certain professional licenses or higher immigration categories.

Schengen embassies ask for it mainly for long-stay national visa applications: work permits, student programs longer than 90 days, and family reunification visas. For a standard tourist or business visit of up to 90 days in any 180-day window, the short-stay checklist does not normally include a criminal record certificate. Always confirm the exact requirements with the specific embassy where you apply, as requirements vary by destination country.

Apostille, certified true copy, or certified translation: the decision table

What changed on September 11, 2026, and what did not?

On September 11, 2026, Vietnam became a party to the Hague Apostille Convention. Before that date, authenticating a Vietnamese document for use abroad required consular legalization: a Vietnamese authority (Ministry of Justice or a notary) first, then the foreign embassy in Vietnam would stamp its approval. That two-step process is now replaced by a single MOFA apostille for most member countries.

What did not change: the need for a certified translation. An apostille confirms the official seal and signature on the original document. It does not translate the Vietnamese text. Schengen embassies cannot read Vietnamese, so a certified translation into their language remains a mandatory, independent step regardless of whether the original carries an apostille or a legalization stamp. See also: Vietnam apostille 2026: does it replace the certified translation?

Does your lý lịch tư pháp need a certified true copy?

Almost certainly not. A certified true copy is a photocopy certified by a Vietnamese notary office or People's Committee as matching the original. Schengen embassies want the original lý lịch tư pháp, properly authenticated, alongside its certified translation - not a notarized photocopy. Submitting a certified true copy instead of the authenticated original would likely cause your application to be returned. See also: certified true copy vs certified translation explained.

A certified true copy can be useful if you need a working copy for your own records while the original goes for apostille or legalization. For the visa file itself, present the original.

Who issues the apostille in Vietnam, and what is the process?

Vietnam's designated authority for issuing apostilles is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), specifically its Consular Department. You take the original lý lịch tư pháp (issued by the provincial Department of Justice or the Ministry of Justice) to MOFA and apply for the apostille stamp. The apostille confirms the signing authority's official capacity and seal - it does not certify that the content is correct or that you have a clean record.

Processing times and fees are set by the government and may change; confirm with MOFA directly before you go. For Germany, Austria, and Czech Republic, the document must instead be authenticated by the Vietnamese Ministry of Justice and then legalized by that country's embassy or consulate in Vietnam. See also: consular legalization vs apostille for Vietnamese documents.

What does the certified translation contain?

A certified translation converts the full text of your lý lịch tư pháp into the required language - French for France, German for Germany, Spanish for Spain, Dutch for the Netherlands - and includes a signed certificate of accuracy from the translator confirming the translation is complete and faithful to the source. This signed statement is what makes it certified: it is the translator's professional attestation, not a government stamp.

For certified Vietnamese criminal record and police certificate translation, I provide the full text translation and the signed certificate of accuracy in the language your embassy requires. The apostille or legalization is a separate step handled at the relevant government office. I can advise on the correct sequence. See also: Vietnamese police clearance: apostille and certified translation.

Should you apostille first or translate first?

Either order is technically acceptable to embassies, but the practical recommendation is to get the apostille (or legalization) first, then order the translation from the fully authenticated document. This way the translator works from the final, official version. Some agencies want the translator to reference the apostille details in the certificate. It also means you will not need to retranslate if the original document is revised before authentication.

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