Vietnam: eID Requirement Updates

Update August 21, 2026: Starting September 28, 2026, eligibility will be expanded for foreign nationals in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to obtain an electronic identification account under the VNeID system. Under the previous framework, eligibility for foreign nationals was limited to those holding a Permanent Residence Card or Temporary Residence Card in Vietnam. Under the new provisions, foreign nationals who legally enter Vietnam or legally reside in Vietnam (in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City) may be issued an electronic identification account upon request. Obtaining a Level 2 electronic identification account may require the applicant to appear personally at an appointment so authorities can verify the applicant's information and collect the necessary biometric data, including facial images and fingerprints.  

Until now, some foreign legal representatives and company representatives could not obtain a personal electronic identification account because they did not hold the requisite residence documentation. The broader eligibility introduced by this rule change should therefore help address an important practical obstacle faced by foreign nationals interacting with Vietnam's increasingly digital administrative system.  

This eligibility is likely to be further expanded nationwide. We will report on developments. 

Update June 24, 2026: As of June 1, 2026, the transition to filing immigration applications through the organizational VNeID portal will be fully implemented. From that date, companies must use their VNeID accounts to complete eligible immigration procedures. The requirement applies to several immigration processes, including, but not limited to, applications for entry approval letters for foreign nationals and their dependents, visa extensions, work visas, exit visas, and temporary residence cards. Additionally, the government is seeking to ease VNeID requirements in the near future, to allow foreign nationals without TRCs to apply for VNeID. We will report on related developments. 

August 13, 2025: Employers must now use this system to file work permit and Work Permit Exemption Certificates, as required by the new August 2025 decree. 

July 30, 2025: Foreign nationals are now eligible for a level-2 VNeID account, provided they have a Temporary Residence Card (TRC).

June 25, 2025: Starting July 1, 2025, the Vietnamese government will require companies to use electronic identity (eID) accounts, via the VNeID platform, for all administrative procedures, both online and offline.

Specifically, all online procedures conducted through the National Public Service Portal or through ministerial-level information systems must be carried out using eID accounts, including the Ministry of Public Security portal, currently used for the submission of visa-related requests. Legal representatives of companies seeking to use an e-ID account must first obtain a level-2 e-ID account by following the steps outlined here. This is required to obtain an organizational eID.  When applications are received, authorities will verify the e-ID of the company and individual.

However, this is not feasible for companies whose legal representative is a foreign national, as foreign nationals are not eligible for a level-2-e-ID account. The foreign business community has formally raised a request for a delay in the July 1 implementation timeline, to the Office of the Government and the Ministry of Public Security, at least for companies with foreign legal representatives, until the technical barriers are resolved.

While the implementation details remain uncertain, it is advisable for companies to proactively identify eligible and responsible representatives and begin the e‑ID registration process as early as possible. Failure to complete e‑ID registration may result in delays in the registration process and hinder the timely execution of pending administrative procedures.