Fingerprinting in Vietnam for International Background Checks

Living between two countries means your paperwork lives between two systems too. Your address is in Vietnam, but your criminal record check has to satisfy an agency abroad. Vietnam doesn't run background checks for other countries. That's not a gap in the system, it's just not how any country's law enforcement works. So when your home country needs proof of your criminal history while you're sitting here in Da Nang or Hanoi, someone still has to physically capture your fingerprints and get them there.

A lot of people still assume that international missions handle fingerprinting in Vietnam, or that any police station can do it. But the truth is that most embassies stopped offering this service years ago, and Vietnamese police can't issue anything that foreign agencies like the FBI or the RCMP will accept.

Keep reading to understand how fingerprinting works here, who needs international fingerprinting, and where you can actually get it done right the first time.

While living in Vietnam, if you need to prove your background is clean for something official abroad, you probably need international fingerprinting. This is only applicable for people who have spent a significant amount of time living, working, or studying in countries such as the USA, the UK, Australia, Canada, and others.

Foreign teachers - If you're teaching English (or any subject) in Vietnam, your school or the Vietnamese government may ask for a clean background check from your home country. Fingerprints are how that check gets done properly.

K-1 fiancé(e) visa applicants - If you're a Vietnamese citizen engaged to a US citizen and applying for a K-1 visa, US immigration will require an FBI background check. That check is based on your fingerprints, not just your name.

Remote workers - More foreigners and digital nomads are living in Vietnam while working remotely for companies abroad. Some employers, clients, or visa processes require a background check, and fingerprinting is the only accepted method.

Expats renewing visas, work permits, or moving to a new country - If you're an expat in Vietnam and need a background check from your home country (like the FBI for Americans, RCMP for Canadians, or AFP for Australians), you'll likely need fingerprints taken here in Vietnam and sent back home. This applies to visa renewals, work permit applications, or if you're planning to move on to another country.

Vietnamese citizens headed abroad - If you're Vietnamese and applying for a visa, job, or residency in another country, that country may ask for a fingerprint-based international background check along with a Vietnamese police background check. 

Most fingerprinting requests in Vietnam come from three major cities, because that's where most foreigners, expats, and international applicants live and work: Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Da Nang.

A lot of people in Vietnam mix up these two, since both are technically background checks. But they serve different purposes, follow different processes, and are issued by different authorities entirely:

You may need both of these in some cases. This is especially true for Vietnamese citizens who've studied, worked, or lived abroad, or who hold ties to another country through family, past visas, or residency. Countries like the USA, Canada, and Australia may ask for a lý lịch tư pháp and a home-country fingerprint-based check, just to get a complete picture of your background both inside and outside Vietnam.

We have noticed some very common fingerprinting requests and background check requirements among Vietnamese citizens. Some those are:

• United States: Requires an FBI Identity History Summary Check, issued by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Fingerprints must be captured on FD-258 or FD-1164 fingerprint card, which is the format the FBI accepts.
• Canada: Requires an RCMP Criminal Record Check, issued by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Fingerprints are taken on official C216C or any equivalent RCMP-approved fingerprint card.
• Australia: Requires an AFP National Police Check, issued by the Australian Federal Police. For certain visa or migration purposes, fingerprints are captured on the standard FD-258 or any other AFP-approved fingerprint form.
• Hong Kong: Requires a Certificate of No Criminal Conviction (CNCC), issued by the Hong Kong Police Force. This check usually requires fingerprints on a standard 10-fingerprint card like FD-258.
• Singapore: Requires a Certificate of Clearance (COC), issued by the Singapore Police Force. Fingerprinting is required on Singapore COC fingerprint cards for this certificate.
• UAE: Requires a Criminal Record Check (Criminal Record Check), issued by the UAE Ministry of Interior or local Dubai/Abu Dhabi Police. This check usually requires fingerprints taken on the FD-258 or equivalent card formats.

Option 1: IOM Vietnam

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) offers official fingerprinting services in Vietnam. They have specialized operational teams who physically roll your ink prints using globally compliant equipment and cards. Walk-ins are strictly prohibited. You must schedule an appointment weeks in advance via their designated office channels.

You can find their physical offices at the following locations:

• Hanoi Headquarters: Located inside the highly secure Green One UN House (GOUNH) at 304 Kim Ma Street, Ngoc Khanh Ward, Ba Dinh District.
• Ho Chi Minh City Office: Centrally located at 1B Pham Ngoc Thach Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1.

Option 2: Local Fingerprinting Service Providers

For people who want more flexible appointment times or a location closer to home, there are private companies in Vietnam that offer fingerprinting services. These providers are mostly located in major cities like Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City.

Option 3: Mobile or Doorstep Fingerprinting Services

Some companies now offer mobile fingerprinting. This means a trained technician comes to your home, office, or another location you choose, instead of you traveling to them. If you are managing a strict corporate schedule or running an organization with multiple staff changes, mobile or on-site fingerprinting services in Vietnam are the most convenient route.

Among these providers are companies like Globeia, which not only offer doorstep fingerprinting but also assist with coordinating submissions to international authorities such as the FBI or the RCMP.

Read How to Prepare for Your Mobile Fingerprinting Appointment?

Vietnam doesn't have any internationally endorsed or affiliated fingerprinting offices, and most foreign consulates here don't offer fingerprinting services either. So if you need fingerprints taken for a background check, visa, adoption, or any official process abroad, your best (and really only) option is to find a trustworthy local fingerprinting service provider who knows how to do this correctly.

Not every provider that advertises fingerprinting services in Vietnam actually knows the international standards, and a badly done fingerprint card can get your application rejected. So how do you pick the right one?

• Ask if they know international formats (like FD-258/FD-1164 for FBI background checks.)

A good provider should be familiar with the specific fingerprint card format required by the country or agency you're applying to. If they look confused when you mention this, that's a red flag.

• Look for experience with expats and international clients.

A provider who has worked with expats before will usually understand the paperwork, formatting, and common issues foreigners face.

• Read reviews or ask for referrals.

Check Google reviews, Facebook groups for expats in Vietnam, or forums where people share their experiences. If multiple people mention the same provider positively for background check purposes, that's a good sign.

• Ask about turnaround time and correction policy.

Mistakes happen while fingerprinting, like smudged prints, missing information, etc. A reliable provider should tell you clearly how they handle errors and whether they'll redo the fingerprinting if something goes wrong on their end.

• Compare pricing, but don't choose based on price alone.

Cheap isn't always bad, and expensive isn't always good. What matters more is accuracy and reliability, since a rejected application because of poor-quality fingerprints will end up costing you more in the long run.

Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Fingerprinting Provider in Vietnam

• Do you know the specific fingerprint format required for (country/agency)?
• Have you done this for foreigners or expats before?
• Can you show me reviews or references from past clients?
• Can you help with notarization or certification if needed?
• What happens if the fingerprints come out unclear or get rejected?
• How long does the process take, from start to finish?
• What is the total cost, including any extra service fees?

If a provider can answer these questions clearly and confidently, you're probably in good hands. If they hesitate or seem unsure, it's worth looking elsewhere.

Sounds like a lot to check, right? The good news is, you don't have to go through this trial-and-error yourself. Globeia is expanding its operations in Vietnam, across two major cities, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Step 1: Fill Out the Online SmartForm

Go to Globeia's website and locate their booking section. Complete the secure SmartForm by entering your personal information, the specific reason for your application, the target country, and your preferred appointment date, time, and address.

Step 2: Complete Secure Face ID Authentication

Before your appointment can be booked, you must complete a digital Face ID verification. You will capture a live image of your face to match it against your government-issued photo ID. This guarantees that the appointment is linked to a verified individual before an associate is dispatched.

Step 3: Prepare Your Documents

While waiting for your scheduled slot, prepare the required physical documents for your fingerprinting in Vietnam. You must have:

• Two pieces of government-issued ID (at least one must have your photo, name, date of birth, and signature). You also need photocopies of both.
• Proof of address (like a utility bill or bank statement from the last 3 months).

Note: You do not need to buy fingerprint cards; Globeia provides official country-specific cards.

Step 4: Fingerprint Capture and On-Site Quality Check

A trained Globeia associate will arrive at your location in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh. They will carefully take your physical rolled ink impressions. Before leaving, the associate conducts an instant quality check to ensure the lines are clear and meet rigid international standards, minimizing the risk of errors and potential rejection by foreign agencies.

Step 5: Global Submission Coordination

Once fingerprints are collected in Vietnam, Globeia safely couriers your physical cards to their global offices for digital processing. For RCMP criminal record checks, forms go to RCMP-accredited Globeia Incorporated in Toronto, for direct electronic submission to the RCMP CCRTIS; physical cards for FBI background check go to Globeia Inc. in the USA for submission to the FBI.

Globeia vs Local Fingerprint Providers in Vietnam

When your immigration, visa, or employment paperwork depends on fingerprints, precision matters more than convenience. A reliable fingerprinting service in Vietnam should do more than take your prints; it should help you meet international requirements, reduce rejection risk, and keep the process moving smoothly from Vietnam to the agency abroad.

Schedule your fingerprinting appointments in Vietnam through Globeia using these links: