Vietnam Opens Its National Digital ID System to Foreign Residents, w.e.f. from 28 September 2026

Vietnam runs a national digital identity system called VNeID — a government app that Vietnamese citizens use to prove who they are online, access public services, and increasingly, to verify themselves for things like banking, social media accounts, and e-commerce. If you're a foreign national living in or regularly visiting Vietnam, a decree signed on 13 August 2026 now gives you a clear, lawful path to get one too.

What the decree actually changes

Decree No. 320/2026/NĐ-CP amends Vietnam's existing electronic identification law (Decree 69/2024/NĐ-CP) in several ways, but the part that matters most for foreign nationals is straightforward: it confirms in law that any foreigner who has legally entered Vietnam or is legally residing there is eligible to be issued a VNeID account, and — for the first time — it lays out the exact procedure for getting one. The decree takes effect on 28 September 2026.

How to apply, step by step

The process runs through Vietnam's immigration authorities rather than a purely digital signup, and follows a set sequence:

1. Show up in person. You'll need to visit the exit-entry management office of the provincial police (Công an) with your passport or another valid international travel document.

2. Complete an application form. You'll fill out the official application (Form TK01, issued alongside this decree), providing a mobile phone number registered in your own name, an email address if you have one, and any other information the officer needs for your National ID app profile.

3. Biometric verification. The receiving officer will take your photo and fingerprints and check them against Vietnam's National Database on Exit-Entry, then guide you through downloading and setting up the National ID app on your phone.

4. The request is forwarded by the immigration office to the agency that runs the national e-ID and authentication system.

5. You'll be notified of the outcome — through the National ID app itself, or via the phone number or email you registered.

How long it takes

The decree sets a hard limit on processing time, which depends on whether your biometric data is already on file:

• 2 working days, if your photo and fingerprints are already in the National Database on Exit-Entry (for instance, because they were collected during your visa or entry process)

• 5 working days, if that biometric data hasn't been collected yet

If you have children or dependents in Vietnam

The decree specifically addresses foreign nationals under 14, as well as those under guardianship or legal representation. In these cases, a parent, guardian, or legal representative goes to the same provincial police office and registers the account on the person's behalf, using their own registered phone number to complete the application.

Why this is worth paying attention to

VNeID isn't just a convenience app in Vietnam — the government has been steadily expanding the situations where verified digital ID is required, including for certain online platforms and transactions. Previously, foreign nationals navigating this landscape had less legal clarity on whether or how they could get equivalent verified status. This decree closes that gap directly, giving foreign residents and long-term visitors in Vietnam an official, time-bound route to the same digital identity infrastructure Vietnamese citizens use.

What to do before 28 September 2026

If you're a foreign national currently in Vietnam or planning an extended stay, it's worth locating your nearest provincial police exit-entry management office and having your passport and a working local or personal phone number ready — both are required for the application.