Scenario: a Vietnam–Japan joint venture in Hai Phong has two Vietnamese individuals contributing capital. One submits a plain photocopy of a 9-digit ID card issued in 2012; the other submits a photocopy of a chip ID card that expired last month. Both are returned with supplementation requests. This article clarifies which identity documents Vietnamese capital contributors to a foreign-invested company must use — and why “an old photocopied ID” will never pass.
Legal framework: proving an individual investor’s legal status
At the investment dossier level, Point (b), Clause 1, Article 32 of Decree No. 96/2026/ND-CP requires “documents on the investor’s legal status” — for an individual investor, a copy of the passport or equivalent personal legal document. At the enterprise registration level, Article 21 of the Enterprise Law No. 59/2020/QH14 requires copies of the personal legal documents of members, founding shareholders and the legal representative.
Law No. 76/2025/QH15 (effective 1 July 2025) updated this list: Clause 16, Article 1 adds the “ID card” to valid personal legal documents, alongside chip citizen ID cards and passports — aligned with the ID Law No. 26/2023/QH15 (effective 1 July 2024).
Old ID cards expired on 1 January 2025
This is the point many Vietnamese still get wrong. Clause 2, Article 46 of the ID Law No. 26/2023/QH15 provides that ID cards (CMND) remaining valid could be used only until 31 December 2024; from 1 January 2025, all CMNDs (9-digit or 12-digit) lost their validity. The foundational CMND regulations (Decrees 05/1999, 170/2007, 106/2013) are also being repealed to unify the ID legal framework.
For chip citizen ID cards (CCCD) issued before 1 July 2024: they remain valid until the expiry date printed on the card — no mandatory switch to the new ID card form. The practical takeaway: Vietnamese capital contributors must use a valid ID card/chip CCCD or a valid passport; filing an old CMND — whatever “expiry” is printed on it — gets the dossier returned.
Certified copies, not plain photocopies
Decree No. 23/2015/ND-CP governs certification of true copies from originals: in practice, ID copies in investment and enterprise registration dossiers must be certified true copies (done at commune-level People’s Committees, Justice Divisions or competent certifying authorities). Uncertified photocopies are routinely asked to be supplemented by case officers.
Practical experience: use recently certified copies (within 3–6 months before filing), because the residence information on the card may have changed after the administrative-unit reorganization, and officers may cross-check against the National Population Database. Before certifying, verify three things: the personal ID number is printed correctly, the card is within its validity period, and the name matches the other dossier documents.
Synchronizing personal information after the administrative reorganization
After the 2025 merger and reorganization of administrative units, many people’s registered permanent-residence names on old cards no longer match current names. Declare information as it stands today; the registrar cross-checks via population data rather than mechanically following old card print. For overseas Vietnamese contributors: use a valid Vietnamese passport and declare the actual foreign residence.
Distinguish clearly: previously issued legal documents that used CMND information (e.g., land use certificates bearing an old CMND number) retain their validity — state authorities may not require citizens to update CMND information in already-issued documents. That rule covers issued documents only; it does not mean a CMND can still be used to open a new dossier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Vietnamese contributor use a passport instead of a chip ID card?
Yes. A passport is a valid personal legal document under the Enterprise Law (Article 21) and is accepted in investment dossiers. A chip ID/ID card is more convenient because its 12-digit personal number serves many administrative procedures, but a valid passport is fully acceptable.
What if the chip ID expires while the dossier is being prepared?
An expired document no longer proves legal status — the card must be renewed before filing. Hence the first step when preparing a dossier for a Vietnamese contributor is checking the ID card’s expiry date, to avoid mid-process supplementation.
Is a plain photocopy of the ID accepted, or must it be certified?
In practice, investment and enterprise registration dossiers require certified true copies under Decree 23/2015/ND-CP. Uncertified photocopies are routinely returned for supplementation, slowing the whole dossier.
A Vietnamese long resident abroad has no chip ID card — what to use?
A valid Vietnamese passport — a complete legal document. Note: if the person has renounced Vietnamese nationality, they count as a foreign investor, and the full foreign-investor rules apply (foreign passport, consular legalization where required).
