A Certificate of Conduct (Verklaring Omtrent Gedrag, VOG) is a Dutch document issued by the Ministry of Justice that indicates if someone has a criminal record. This document is relevant for a specific job or function.
Having a criminal record doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t receive one. It depends on the offense, how long ago it happened, your behaviour since then, and the job you want. The government checks whether your record poses a risk for this specific job.
You may need one if you are going to work in education, childcare, banking/finance, taxi driving or another job where trustworthiness is essential. The government has mandated that for certain jobs a Certificate of Conduct is compulsory. For other jobs the employer can decide whether is important to have one.
If you need a Certificate of Conduct for your job, your employer will inform you how to apply. You cannot start the process yourself.
