From 28 September 2026, foreigners who have entered or reside lawfully in Vietnam may all be issued an electronic identification account — no longer limited as before. This important change comes from Decree 320/2026/ND-CP (amending Decree 69/2024/ND-CP), opening the door for foreigners to complete administrative procedures and public services online and to integrate digital utilities in Vietnam. This guide covers e-identification procedures and applications for foreigners in 2026 under the rules in force as of October 2026.
Legal framework
- Decree 69/2024/ND-CP — the original framework on electronic identification and authentication.
- Decree 320/2026/ND-CP — amending Decree 69/2024; effective 28 September 2026.
⚠️ Numbering caution: Decree 320/2026 (e-identification) is an entirely different instrument from Decree 320/2025 (guiding Corporate Income Tax Law 67/2025). Always check the promulgation year when looking it up.
Key change: expanded eligibility (Article 3, Decree 320/2026)
Article 3 of Decree 320/2026 amends Article 7 of Decree 69/2024. Eligible account holders now include:
- Vietnamese citizens aged 6+ holding an ID card (level 1 or 2); under 6 (level 1);
- Foreigners who have entered or reside lawfully in Vietnam — expanded from the previous rule (previously limited to permanent or temporary residence card holders);
- Agencies and organizations established or registered in Vietnam.
Foreigners on short visits (tourism, business trips) who entered lawfully are therefore also eligible on demand.
Issuance procedure for foreigners (Article 6, Decree 320/2026)
| Step | Content |
|---|---|
| 1. Visit the competent authority | Go to the provincial immigration management office (police); present a passport or valid international travel document. |
| 2. Declare information | Complete the electronic identification account application form (Form TK01) fully and accurately: self-registered mobile number, email address (if any), other information requested for integration into the national identification app. |
| 3. Biometrics and verification | The officer enters the data; captures facial image and fingerprints; verifies against the National Immigration Database; guides installation of the national identification app (VNeID) and in-app declaration. |
| 4. Receive the result | The immigration office forwards the request to the identification-system operator; the result is notified via the app, the registered mobile number or email. |
Special case: applicants under 14
Foreigners under 14, persons under guardianship or representation: the representative or guardian must accompany the applicant to the provincial immigration office and use their own self-registered phone number for the registration.
What is the e-ID account used for?
- Administrative procedures and online public services: declarations and e-dossier filing replacing physical papers in many procedures.
- Stay notifications, health declarations and other administrative duties.
- Integrated digital utilities: healthcare, education, insurance — convenient, secure access to public services for foreigners.
- Identity authentication in electronic transactions with Vietnamese agencies and organizations.
What to prepare
- Valid passport (or international travel document).
- Self-registered mobile number in the applicant’s name (mandatory).
- Email address (if any) for notifications.
- A smartphone to install the VNeID app on site as guided.
Frequently asked questions
1. Are short-term tourist visitors eligible?
Yes, if they entered lawfully and so request — the new rule no longer limits eligibility to residence-card holders.
2. Is a self-registered Vietnamese mobile number mandatory?
The rule requires the applicant’s self-registered mobile number. In practice, foreigners should arrange a self-registered SIM before the appointment.
Legal sources
- Decree 69/2024/ND-CP — electronic identification and authentication (original framework).
- Decree 320/2026/ND-CP (effective 28 September 2026) — amending Decree 69/2024: Article 3 (amending Article 7 — eligible persons), Article 6 (amending Article 11 — issuance procedure for foreigners).
Transparency: This article was prepared by AI within the FLAW AI Legal Council workflow; it is not advice from a human lawyer and does not replace legal advice for your specific case.
FLAT Law Firm assists foreigners and FDI enterprises with administrative procedures in Vietnam — from e-identification and residence to work permits. Contact us for advice on your specific case.
This article is pending review by the QA Council.