Procedures for recognizing foreign digital signatures in Vietnam from August 15, 2024

Procedures for recognizing foreign digital signatures in Vietnam from August 15, 2024 (Image from the internet)

On July 1, 2024, the Minister of Information and Communications of Vietnam issued Circular 06/2024/TT-BTTTT stipulating the recognition of organizations providing foreign electronic signature certification services in Vietnam; recognizing foreign digital signatures and foreign digital signature certificates in Vietnam.

Procedures for recognizing foreign digital signatures in Vietnam from August 15, 2024

According to Article 7 of Circular 06/2024/TT-BTTTT, the procedures for recognizing foreign digital signatures in Vietnam are as follows:

- Organizations and individuals submit the application for recognizing foreign digital signatures, and foreign digital signature certificates in Vietnam, choosing the method either directly or by post or online according to the following instructions:

+ Submit directly or by post to the Ministry of Information and Communications (National electronic signature certification service provider), address: 18 Nguyen Du - Hai Ba Trung - Hanoi.

+ Submit online through the online public service system (National Public Service Portal, https://dichvucong.gov.vn or the Public Service Portal of the Ministry of Information and Communications, https://dichvucong.mic.gov.vn).

+ Documents issued, recognized, or certified by competent authorities of foreign countries must be consular legalized in accordance with Vietnamese law (except for cases exempted from consular legalization as per the regulations on consular legalization) and translated and notarized into Vietnamese.

- Within 30 days from the date of receiving a valid dossier, the Ministry of Information and Communications (National electronic signature certification service provider) will collaborate with the Ministry of Public Security to review, evaluate the dossier and inspect the foreign digital signature certificate being requested for recognition. In case of needing to verify the information in the documents, the result recognition period will not exceed 65 days from the receipt of a valid dossier.

- In case of meeting the required conditions:

+ The Ministry of Information and Communications will issue a recognition certificate in the form of Form No. 04 attached to this Circular.

+ The national electronic signature certification service provider will update the recognized foreign digital signature certificate on the trusted list and publish it on the Trusted Service System.

- In case the dossier does not meet the required conditions, the Ministry of Information and Communications will notify and clearly state the reasons.

- In cases where individuals and organizations choose to carry out administrative procedures in the electronic environment, online public service, the receipt, processing of dossiers, and return of results are carried out according to the regulations of the Government of Vietnam on administrative procedures conducted in the electronic environment, providing online public services by state agencies in the electronic environment, and laws on electronic transactions.

Duration of recognition of foreign digital signatures in Vietnam

- The duration of recognition of foreign digital signatures and foreign digital signature certificates in Vietnam is 05 (five) years but no longer than the validity of the respective digital signature certificates.

- In case of changes in information leading to changes in the recognized foreign digital signatures and foreign digital signature certificates in Vietnam, the organizations and individuals must report the change and request for re-recognition of the foreign digital signature and foreign digital signature certificates according to the dossier and procedures mentioned in Article 6, Article 7 of Circular 06/2024/TT-BTTTT.

(Article 8 of Circular 06/2024/TT-BTTTT)

Nguyen Ngoc Que Anh

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