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Vietnam – New Electronic Identity Requirement Update
The Vietnamese Government has implemented mandatory electronic identity (eID) accounts via the VNeID platform for all administrative procedures, effective the 1st of July 2025. This new system aims to streamline online procedures through the National Public Service Portal and ministerial systems.
Applicability and Deadlines
The eID requirements apply to companies, branches, and representative offices of foreign companies operating in Vietnam. The requirement took effect on the 1st of July 2025.
The Ministry of Public Security (MPS) conducted a “50-day round-the-clock” campaign from the 1st of July to the 19th of August 2025, to issue Level 2 e-ID accounts to foreigners living in Vietnam. While this intensive campaign has concluded, the registration process for eID accounts continues.
Organizations are advised to initiate the eID registration process promptly to mitigate potential delays in administrative procedures. However, no specific deadline for compliance has been set after the initial implementation date.
Key Requirements
Organizations are required to utilize eID accounts for all online procedures through the National Public Service Portal and ministerial systems. Legal representatives are obligated to obtain a level-2 eID account to secure organizational eID. However, foreign nationals face restrictions as they are ineligible for level-2 eID accounts.
The system has been designed to facilitate the delegation of access rights to company accounts for national systems, encompassing tax and social insurance platforms.
Registration Process
The registration process varies depending on the legal representative’s nationality and residency status:
- For local residents: Legal representatives can use their level-2 VNeID account to register the company’s eID.
- For foreign nationals residing in Vietnam with a Temporary Residence Card: They must register a VNeID account with the Immigration Department in person. After approximately one week, they will receive their VNeID account and can then register the enterprise’s eID.
- For foreign representatives not present in Vietnam and without a Temporary Residence Card: The situation remains complex. While the law stipulates that it’s permissible to authorize a Vietnamese individual to register the VNeID account, in practice, authorities may reject such authorization and require the legal representative to be physically present in Vietnam.
Actions Required
Companies that have not yet registered for eID should assess their situation immediately. It’s crucial to determine whether the legal representative is a Vietnamese citizen or a foreign national residing in or outside Vietnam.
Based on this assessment, companies should initiate the appropriate registration process as soon as possible to avoid disruptions to their administrative processes.
Risks of Non-Compliance
While there are currently no specific penalties imposed for non-compliance, failure to register the eID for the company may adversely affect various administrative processes, including tax filings, social insurance submissions, and customs declarations.
How Mercator® by Citco Can Help
Mercator can assist with the eID registration process. For foreign legal representatives, our team can draft the required documents and accompany them to the Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City Immigration Office for VNeID account registration. For local legal representatives, we can provide guidance on registering the company’s eID.
Contact mercator@citco.com for more information.
