FBI Background Check in Hanoi: What Changed When Vietnam Joined the Apostille Convention
Vietnam has applied the Hague Apostille Convention since 11 September 2026, so for most countries one apostille now replaces embassy legalisation. Here is what that means for an FBI record used in Hanoi, how it differs from the Vietnamese judicial record, and what has not changed: the fingerprints.
Need an FBI background check in Hanoi? If you live in Ba Dinh, Hoan Kiem, Tay Ho or elsewhere in the city, arranging fingerprinting is only the first step. Vietnam's recent entry into the Hague Apostille Convention has also changed how certain foreign documents are authenticated, and for many countries a single apostille now takes the place of embassy legalisation. Understanding the process can help you avoid unnecessary legalisation and translation costs and reduce the risk of delays.
This guide explains what the change means for an FBI Identity History Summary used in Hanoi, how it differs from the Vietnamese judicial record that foreigners are also sometimes asked for, and what is still the same: the fingerprints.
The Short Answer
- The Apostille Convention applies in Vietnam from 11 September 2026. That is the date given in Vietnam's Decree 293/2026 and in a notice from a Vietnamese consulate
- For most U.S. documents, one apostille now replaces embassy legalisation. The consulate notice says consular legalisation applications are no longer accepted for covered documents from that date, and a published legal update says U.S. documents for Vietnam now need an apostille
- A few country pairings are excluded. The Hague Conference's notifications page lists objections to Vietnam's accession from Germany (20 May 2026), Austria (19 June 2026) and Czechia (2 July 2026). The Convention does not apply between Vietnam and those three countries. It still applies between Vietnam and other member countries
- An FBI record is apostilled in the United States. The U.S. State Department says FBI and police records can be sent to its Office of Authentications for an apostille if necessary, and that you should specify the country where the document will be used
- The fingerprints have not changed. The FBI still requires a current card, and U.S. embassies and consulates abroad do not take fingerprints, according to the U.S. State Department
What Changed, and What Did Not
| Step | Before 11 September 2026 | Now, for Convention countries |
|---|---|---|
| Fingerprints on a current card | Needed | Still needed |
| FBI Identity History Summary | Needed | Still needed |
| U.S. authentication | State Department authentication | State Department apostille |
| Vietnamese embassy legalisation | Needed | Generally no longer needed |
| Translation into Vietnamese | Often asked for | Ask the receiving office |
The Vietnamese consulate notice says documents legalised before 11 September 2026 remain valid for use in Vietnam. One published update says Vietnamese translation requirements are unchanged. That is a secondary source, so confirm translation rules with the receiving office.
For a plain-language explanation of the three terms, see apostille vs attestation vs legalisation: what's the difference?
Who Issues Apostilles in Vietnam
Under Vietnam's Decree 293/2026, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the competent authority for issuing Vietnamese apostilles, and the decree allows authority to be delegated to provincial People's Committees. Vietnamese state media names the Ministry's Consular Department and the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Foreign Affairs as the issuing bodies. That is for Vietnamese documents going abroad. A U.S. record coming into Vietnam is apostilled in the United States, not in Hanoi.
If you hold a Vietnamese document that a foreign office wants apostilled, the Hanoi route runs through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Delegation to provinces may change which office handles your document, so confirm the current issuing office, steps and fees with the Ministry before you plan around it.
Which Document Do You Need?
| Document | Shows | Issued by | Fingerprints |
|---|---|---|---|
| FBI Identity History Summary | U.S. records | The FBI | On a current card, taken by a technician |
| Vietnamese judicial record (lý lịch tư pháp) | Vietnamese records | Vietnamese judicial authorities | Not described for the foreigner route in the sources we reviewed |
| Home-country police record (other countries) | That country's records | That country's authority | Depends on that country's process |
Always ask the office requesting the document which one it wants, because the same word, "police check", can mean any of these.
Three Hanoi Situations
You work in Hanoi and your employer asks for a record
A school, company or relocation provider may ask for a home-country criminal record as part of your onboarding or work authorisation. We did not find an official source describing exactly which records the work permit file requires, so ask the employer or the authority handling your file what it needs, how recent it must be and whether it must be apostilled.
You are in Hanoi and a U.S. office wants an FBI record
A U.S. employer, university, licensing body or immigration office may ask for the FBI record. The sequence is the same as elsewhere: a clean fingerprint card, the FBI request, then an apostille if the receiving office asks for one. Our FD-258 guide explains which card applies.
You are leaving Vietnam
A foreign office may ask for a Vietnamese judicial record. That is issued by Vietnamese authorities. A 2024 Vietnam Briefing guide says foreigners living in Vietnam apply to the provincial Department of Justice, and that those who have lived in Vietnam apply to the National Center for Judicial Records. A 2021 LuatVietnam article lists an issuance fee of 200,000 VND and a period of no longer than 15 days.
Both articles are dated, and the 2024 guide says the Department of Justice requires foreigners to apply in person, so do not treat the route, fee or timing as current. Before applying, confirm the competent issuing authority and the current application procedure, particularly if you are a foreign resident or have previously lived in more than one Vietnamese province. Printwise Global does not issue Vietnamese judicial records.
If you are also dealing with Southeast Asian paperwork elsewhere, our Manila guide covers a similar NBI versus FBI question.
Getting Fingerprinted in Hanoi
The U.S. State Department says U.S. embassies and consulates abroad do not provide fingerprinting services, so the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi cannot take your prints. You need a provider who can take a clean ink card. Our guide to taking your own fingerprints at home explains why a technician is the safer choice.
Printwise Global offers fingerprinting by appointment where we cover your location, including mobile appointments where available. Hanoi spreads across many districts, and traffic can make travel between them slow, so the exact address matters. Tell us whether you are in Ba Dinh, Hoan Kiem, Tay Ho, Cau Giay, Dong Da, Long Bien or Nam Tu Liem, and we will confirm availability and any travel charge. Coverage and appointment times vary by location.
A Practical Plan for Hanoi
- Ask the requesting office which record, how recent, and whether it needs an apostille or a Vietnamese translation
- Check the country. If the receiving country is Germany, Austria or Czechia, or you are unsure, ask whether legalisation is still needed
- Book fingerprinting with a full address and the travel time between districts in mind
- Send the card with a trackable courier and keep the tracking number. Unsure who can send it? See Can Someone Submit My Fingerprint Card for Me?
- Order the apostille only after the office confirms it. An FBI record is apostilled by the U.S. State Department
- Translate last. Ask which language and what kind of translation the office accepts before you pay for one
How Printwise Global Helps in Hanoi
We confirm the card your request needs, offer fingerprinting by appointment where we cover your address, review the card before it is sent and explain the apostille and translation steps that may follow. Our pricing is competitive and transparent, with our fee shown separately from government and third-party costs. See also our Vietnam page.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. You can request an FBI Identity History Summary while living in Vietnam. You will need to arrange fingerprint capture on a current card and submit the request through an accepted FBI submission route. If the record is intended for use in Vietnam, check whether the receiving office requires an apostille or translation.
Yes. Vietnam's Decree 293/2026 and a Vietnamese consulate notice give 11 September 2026 as the date the Convention applies in Vietnam.
For most Convention countries, one published update says it is no longer required and an apostille is used instead. Check with the receiving office, since exceptions exist.
Germany, Austria and Czechia, which objected to Vietnam's accession according to the Hague Conference's notifications page. Under Decree 293/2026, documents between Vietnam and a country that objects follow consular legalisation instead.
According to the U.S. State Department, FBI and police records can be sent to its Office of Authentications for an apostille if necessary. Offices in Hanoi do not apostille U.S. records.
Under Decree 293/2026, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the competent authority. Vietnamese state media names its Consular Department and the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Foreign Affairs as issuing bodies, and authority can be delegated to provinces, so confirm the current office.
No. The Vietnamese record shows Vietnamese records and comes from Vietnamese authorities. The FBI Identity History Summary shows U.S. records.
A 2021 article lists 200,000 VND, but fees can change. Confirm with the Department of Justice.
Ask the receiving office. One update says Vietnamese translation requirements are unchanged, so a translation may be asked for.
No. The U.S. State Department states that U.S. embassies and consulates abroad do not provide fingerprinting services.
We offer fingerprinting by appointment where we cover your address, including mobile appointments. Coverage and appointment times vary by location, and travel charges apply for mobile appointments.
The Printwise Team
Identity Verification Specialists
Printwise Global is an international identity-verification company providing certified fingerprinting, FBI and RCMP background checks, apostille, and certified translation. Our specialists manage cross-border document requirements end to end for clients across the USA, Canada, the UK, India, and beyond.
