Is it mandatory to change the ID card when rearranging administrative units in Vietnam? What is the fee for changing the ID card?

Is it mandatory to change the ID card when rearranging administrative units in Vietnam?

Based on Clause 1, Article 21 of Resolution 35/2023/UBTVQH15 regarding the conversion of documents for individuals and organizations as follows:

Conversion of documents for individuals and organizations

1. Documents issued to individuals, citizens, and organizations by competent authorities under the former administrative units that remain valid can continue to be used.

2. The Provincial People’s Committee directs the district and commune-level People’s Committees to actively arrange administrative units, develop communication plans, and implement the conversion of documents for individuals and organizations, facilitating the conversion procedures and not charging any fees or charges for conversions due to changes to the administrative boundaries.

Additionally, point d, Clause 1, Article 24 of the ID card Law 2023 stipulates cases requiring the reissuance of an ID card as follows:

1. Cases for reissuance of ID cards include:

…

d) At the request of the cardholder when the information on the ID card changes due to the rearrangement of administrative units;

…

Thus, ID cards issued before the administrative unit rearrangement can continue to be used without mandatory replacement if they have not expired.

However, due to the rearrangement of administrative units, the address information of some citizens will also change. Additionally, at the first meeting organized by the Steering Committee for the implementation of district and commune-level administrative unit arrangements for the period 2023-2030, the Ministry of Public Security representatives also encouraged citizens to change their ID cards to reflect the new location names for convenience in transactions.

Is it mandatory to change the ID card when rearranging administrative units in Vietnam? What is the fee for changing the ID card? (Image from Internet)

What is the fee for changing the ID card when rearranging administrative units in Vietnam?

Based on Clause 2, Article 21 of Resolution 35/2023/UBTVQH15 stipulates as follows:

Conversion of documents for individuals and organizations

...

2. The Provincial People’s Committee directs the district and commune-level People’s Committees to actively arrange administrative units, develop communication plans, and implement the conversion of documents for individuals and organizations, facilitating the conversion procedures and not charging any fees or charges for conversions due to changes to administrative boundaries.

Additionally, point a, Clause 3, Article 38 of the ID card Law 2023 regulates the fee for changing ID cards as follows:

Fees for accessing, using information in the National Population Database and fees for issuance, reissuance, and replacement of ID cards, certificates of identity

1. Organizations and individuals stipulated in Clause 8, Article 10 of this Law must pay fees according to the law on fees and charges when accessing and using information in the National Population Database.

2. Citizens do not have to pay fees when obtaining their initial ID card.

3. Citizens must pay fees for the reissuance or replacement of their ID card, except in the following cases:

a) Reissuance of ID card as stipulated in points a and d, Clause 1, Article 24 of this Law;

b) Errors in the information printed on the ID card due to mistakes by the identity management agency.

...

According to point d, Clause 1, Article 24 of the ID card Law 2023 stipulating cases of ID card reissuance include:

Cases of issuance, reissuance of ID cards

1. Cases of reissuance of ID cards include:

a) Cases stipulated in Clause 1, Article 21 of this Law;

b) Changes, corrections to surname, middle name, given name; date, month, year of birth;

c) Changes in personal characteristics; addition of information about facial photo, fingerprint; determination or change of gender according to law;

d) Errors in the information printed on the ID card;

dd) At the request of the cardholder when the information on the ID card changes due to the rearrangement of administrative units;

e) Re-establishment of personal identification number;

g) When the cardholder requests.

...

From the above regulations, it can be seen that citizens changing their ID card due to information changes caused by the rearrangement of administrative units do not have to pay the fee for reissuance.

Where are the locations for carrying out the procedures for changing the ID card in Vietnam?

According to Article 27 of the ID card Law 2023, the procedures for changing the ID card are as follows:

- The identity management agency of the district, district, district-level town, city under the province, city under the central government where the citizen resides.

- The identity management agency of the Ministry of Public Security for cases decided by the head of the identity management agency of the Ministry of Public Security.

- In necessary cases, the two mentioned identity management agencies can organize the ID card issuance procedures at a commune, ward, commune-level town, government agency, unit, or at the citizen’s residence.