On the afternoon of 5/12, the National Assembly approved amendments to several articles of the Law on Criminal Records. Under this new law, criminal record information and criminal record certificates are to be managed and used according to regulations on sensitive personal data protection.

This significant change means that agencies and organizations will no longer be allowed to demand criminal record information directly from individuals. Instead, if there is a need, these entities may access, use, and connect through data sharing from the criminal record database and the national population database.

The law specifies that criminal record information is solely for purposes such as: employment, issuing licenses, and professional practice certificates in occupations related to national defense, national security, social order, public safety, health, or to protect state interests. Furthermore, agencies, organizations, and individuals may only request criminal record certificate number 1 when explicitly stipulated by law, National Assembly resolutions, ordinances, National Assembly Standing Committee resolutions, or government decrees and resolutions.

Minister of Public Security Luong Tam Quang, explaining the provisions before the National Assembly vote, highlighted the convenience for citizens. He stated that once an electronic criminal record certificate is issued, the citizen's criminal record information will be updated and displayed on VNeID. This information will be considered a readily available data field, similar to full name and date of birth.

Minister of Public Security Luong Tam Quang. *Photo: Hoang Phong*

The criminal record information displayed on VNeID will have the same legal validity as a physical criminal record certificate. This means individuals will not need to request a separate certificate when required, maximizing convenience for citizens to access services anytime, anywhere. Both the information displayed on the application and the electronic criminal record certificate will employ authentication mechanisms to ensure security and prevent forgery.

The law takes effect from 1/7/2026.

Son Ha