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 a Certificate of Conduct. 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 a Certificate of Conduct 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.
