Applying for a Certificate of Conduct (VOG)

Instead of visiting the town hall, you can easily fill out the application digitally. Simply do it wherever and whenever you want. We will forward your online VOG application to the screening authority, Dienst Justis. They will investigate whether you have any criminal offenses or other matters associated with your name that pose a risk to the purpose for which you are applying for the VOG. If this is not the case, or if the offenses are not relevant to the purpose of your VOG, you will receive the granted Certificate of Conduct by mail.

Applying for a VOG at VOG-aanvraag.nl is much faster than submitting a paper application at the municipality. You don’t need to make an appointment and can conveniently fill it out from the comfort of your home. In short, you get the same result without waiting in queues or wasting unnecessary time. Start your VOG application now.

As an employer or employee, it is important to have knowledge about a Certificate of Conduct (VOG). Before applying for one, it is essential to understand what the VOG entails, how to apply for it, and other aspects. If you have any questions after reading this article, feel free to contact us. We are more than happy to assist you further with your VOG application.

A Certificate of Conduct (VOG) is a paper document issued in Dutch, which states that you have not engaged in any objectionable behavior in the past. This document provides confirmation to:

• Clients/contractors
• Employers
• Internship companies
• Volunteer organizations
• Or other entities that you can undertake future roles or tasks.

If you answer ‘Yes’ to any of the following questions, submit a VOG application:

• Has your employer, client, internship company, or volunteer organization asked you to apply for a VOG?
• Do you work with confidential information?
• Do you handle cash and/or financial transactions?
• Do you work with vulnerable individuals and/or animals?
• Are you applying for a visa or planning to emigrate soon?
• Do you want to obtain Dutch nationality?
• Do you transport people?
• Are you applying for a permit?
• Do you want to become a member of a shooting club?
• Will your name be listed in a professional register?
• Do you work in childcare?
• Do you hold a political office?
• Are you going to work as a (special) enforcement officer?
• Do you work in education?
• Do you work as an interpreter?
• Do you work as a financial service provider?
• Do you work as a legal service provider?
• Are you a probation officer, court investigator, or social worker?

A Certificate of Conduct (VOG) contains information that is relevant to you and your employer. It can be divided into three categories: your personal information, the purpose of the application, and the screening profile.

• Personal information

To submit the application, it must include your personal details, such as:

• Initials
• Last name
• Gender
• Address
• Date of birth
• Place of birth

• Purpose of the application

In addition to these details, it is important to mention the purpose of the application. This field is usually referred to as “job title” but can also be used to indicate other purposes, such as “operating permit,” “marriage abroad,” or “membership in a shooting club.”

• Screening profile

The screening is based on your chosen screening profile. You can select one or multiple specific or general screening profiles. Specific screening profiles are related to specific roles that require or desire a VOG, such as jobs in education, childcare, politics, or the taxi industry. General screening profiles, on the other hand, may involve access to systems, handling of hazardous substances, handling sensitive data, or handling money in your current or future position. The screening process determines whether your past behavior poses any concerns for your future role or task.

The cost of an online VOG application is €46.35.

When you apply for a VOG online, you will first pay €14.50 to submit the application. Then, for the screening process conducted by Justis, you will pay an additional €33.85. This makes it easier to have (part of) the costs reimbursed by your employer. If your employer applies for the VOG on your behalf, you will only need to pay €33.85, as the other amount will already be covered by your employer.

Some employers may also offer the option to fully reimburse the cost. You will receive a payment confirmation for the €14.50 and a one-time PDF document for the €33.85. You can use the payment confirmation or bank statement as a reimbursement claim, provided your employer agrees to it.

A Certificate of Conduct (VOG) can be applied for by employees, employers, and legal entities.

• Employees / individuals apply for a VOG for a new position, job, internship, assignment, or for purposes such as visa or permit applications, or membership applications.
• Employers have their employees screened to mitigate risks, such as when hiring new personnel.
• Legal entities require a VOG for contract agreements or to become a member of a trade association.

You can easily apply for a VOG online via this form. Here’s how the process works:

• You fill in your details and pay €14.50 for the application submission.
• On business days, you will receive an email from Justis within 24 hours.
• You confirm the email from Justis using your DigiD and then pay the remaining €33.85 for the screening process.
• The duration of the screening process depends on the workload at the Ministry of Justice and any criminal offenses you may have committed. On average, this takes 2-4 weeks.
• If the screening reveals that your past does not pose a risk to the purpose of the application, you will receive your VOG by mail.

To apply for a VOG, you give consent to check your (criminal) record for any criminal offenses by filling out this online form. In addition, it is important that you:

• Are registered with a Dutch municipality;
• Have a DigiD (digital identification);
• Have access to iDeal to complete the payment.

If you meet these conditions, you can apply for a VOG. However, it does not guarantee automatic approval of the VOG. Approval depends on the purpose for which you are applying for the VOG in combination with your (criminal) record. If you do not have a criminal record, you will always receive a VOG. If you do have a criminal record, please read further at Applying for a VOG with a criminal record.

If you have applied for your Certificate of Conduct (VOG) through VOG-aanvraag.nl, you will receive an email from Dienst Justis within 24 hours on business days, allowing you to complete the application process. The certificate will then be delivered to your doorstep within two to four weeks. The exact duration of the screening process depends on the workload at the Ministry of Justice and any criminal offenses you may have committed. If this timeframe is too long for your situation, it is possible to submit an expedited application in some cases. If you want to know the status of your submitted application, you can contact Dienst Justis at the following telephone number: 088 – 99 82 200.

It is possible to submit an expedited VOG application through VOG-aanvraag.nl. However, this option is only available for the following cases:

• Adoption
• Working abroad
• Candidacy for a position as a representative
• Appointment as a provincial executive or municipal alderman

Before you can apply for an expedited application, it is mandatory to first apply for a regular VOG. Complete the steps as described earlier. After completing the application, you can request an expedited procedure from Dienst Justis. You can contact them at the following number: 088 – 99 82 200. Upon completion, you will receive your VOG within five working days by mail.

Employers often require a Certificate of Conduct (VOG) from applicants. In some sectors, it is even mandatory to apply for a VOG. As an individual, you can apply for a VOG to demonstrate that your past behavior does not pose any concerns for your future role or task. As a consumer, you may also have other purposes for applying for a VOG, such as visa or permit applications. If you want to be sure if a VOG is required, you can do the check or apply for a VOG directly.

As an employer, a Certificate of Conduct (VOG) is highly useful for screening your employees, reducing risks when hiring new personnel, for example. As an employer, you can easily apply for VOGs for your employees through our website, whether it’s for individual or bulk requests. If you want to quickly determine if you can hire potential employees or assign certain responsibilities, you can easily request VOGs. Alternatively, you can also request more information about the process of applying for VOGs as an employer.

In certain cases, businesses or organizations may require a Certificate of Conduct known as a VOG RP (Verklaring Omtrent het Gedrag voor rechtspersonen) in Dutch. This is a written statement that demonstrates to partners, other businesses, and government authorities that the entity has not committed any criminal offenses that pose a risk to the task or activities they wish to undertake. As a director or representative of a legal entity, you can easily apply for a VOG RP through our website by following the steps for VOG applications. For more information about VOG for legal entities, you can refer to this page.

As a self-employed professional (ZZP’er), you may need a Certificate of Conduct (VOG) for certain assignments or contracts. If you already have a VOG, it is important to let your client determine if and how long it remains valid. When changing roles or activities, it is necessary to apply for a new VOG as the certificate is linked to a specific position or type of work. You can apply for a (new) VOG or do the check to verify if you require a VOG for your current situation.

When applying for a Certificate of Conduct (VOG), Dienst Justis will check the Judicial Documentation System to determine if you have a criminal record or if you have been in contact with the Police or Judiciary in the past. Occasionally, Justis may also request information from the Public Prosecution Service, Probation Service, or the police. They may also consider criminal offenses committed abroad.

The standard look-back period for criminal offenses is four years. However, there are some exceptions. For example, sexual offenses have an unlimited look-back period, and for individuals under 23 years old, the look-back period is two years (except for sexual offenses or serious violent crimes).

If you have a criminal record, you can take the following steps to find out if you can still apply for a VOG:

• You can request an indication on this website.
• You can contact Dienst Justis at 088 – 99 82 200 to explain your situation. They will assess your case and determine if you can still be eligible for a VOG.

A Certificate of Conduct (VOG) is only a snapshot of your background at the time it is issued. The validity of a VOG is determined by the organization you are working for or providing services to. In certain industries, it is mandatory to renew the VOG periodically. This applies to sectors such as:

• Childcare
• Healthcare
• Self-employed professionals (ZZP’ers)

If you already have a VOG, it is important to have its validity checked by your employer or client. Also, ensure that the screening profile is reviewed as the requirements may have changed since the previous screening. This should be done whenever you change roles or activities as the Certificate of Conduct is linked to a specific position or type of work.

Because a Certificate of Conduct (VOG) contains personal information, you will always receive your own Verklaring Omtrent Gedrag. This is in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). It is your responsibility to provide your VOG details to your employer or client if it is required by them.