Order and procedures for grant of citizen identity cards in Vietnam

Order and procedures for grant of citizen identity cards in Vietnam (Internet image)

1. What is citizen identification?

Citizen identification means basic information about the origin and identity of a citizen in accordance with the Law on Citizen Identification 2014.

(Clause 1, Article 3 of the Law on Citizen Identification 2014)

2. Persons eligible for grant of citizen identity cards and citizen identity card number in Vietnam

Article 19 of the  Law on Citizen Identification 2014 stipulates persons eligible for grant of citizen identity cards and citizen identity card number as follows:

- Vietnamese citizens aged full 14 years or older are eligible for grant of citizen’s' identity cards.

- The citizen identity card number is the personal identification number.

3. Use validity of citizen identity cards in Vietnam

Article 20 of the Law on Citizen Identification 2014 stipulates the use validity of citizen identity cards as follows:

- Citizen identity card is a personal paper of a Vietnamese citizen which proves citizen identification of the card holder for conducting transactions in the Vietnamese territory.

- Citizen identity cards shall be used instead of passports in case Vietnam and a foreign country have signed a treaty or international agreement permitting citizens of the signatories to use citizen identity cards instead of passports in each other’s territory

- Competent agencies, organizations and individuals may request a citizen to produce his/her citizen identity cards for checking identification and information specified in Article 18 of the Law on Citizen Identification 2014;

Use personal identification numbers in citizen identity cards for checking information about the card holders in the national population database and specialized databases in accordance with law.

When a citizen produces his/her citizen identity card at the request of a competent agency, organization or individual, this agency, organization or individual may not request the citizen to produce another paper to prove the information specified in Clauses 1 and 3 of Article 20 of the Law on Citizen Identification 2014.

- The State shall protect legitimate rights and interests of holders of citizen identity cards in accordance with law.

4. Age eligible for renewal of citizen identity cards in Vietnam

Article 21 of the Law on Citizen Identification 2014 stipulates the age eligible for renewal of citizen identity cards as follows:

- A citizen identity card must be renewed when a citizen reaches full 25 years, full 40 years and full 60 years.

- Citizen identity cards which are granted, renewed or re-granted within 2 years before a citizen reaches the age specified in Clause 1 of this Article remain to be valid until he/she reaches the subsequent age eligible for card renewal.

5. Order and procedures for grant of citizen identity cards in Vietnam

Article 22 of the Law on Citizen Identification 2014 stipulates the order and procedures for grant of citizen identity cards as follows:

Step 1: Fills in a declaration made according to a set form;

Step 2: A person assigned to collect and update information and documents specified in Clause 2, Article 13 of the Law on Citizen Identification 2014 checks and compares them with information in the national population database in order to accurately identify the to-be-holder of a citizen identity card; a citizen who has no information in the national population database shall produce lawful papers proving information to be written in the declaration according to a set form.

Persons serving in the People’s Army or People’s Public Security shall produce their identity cards granted by the People’s Army or People’s Public Security, enclosed with introduction letters of heads of their units;

Step 3: An officer of the citizen identification management agency shall take photos and fingerprints of the applicant;

Step 4: An officer of the citizen identification management agency shall issue a receipt stating the date of handover of the citizen identity card to the applicant;

Step 5: Citizen identity cards shall be handed to citizens within the time limit and at the place stated in the receipt under Article 26 of the Law on Citizen Identification 2014; in case a citizen wishes to receive his/ her card at another place, the citizen identification management agency shall hand the card to him/her at the place requested by the citizen who shall pay mail charges.

Note: For a person who suffers any mental or other diseases which deprive him/her of the ability to perceive and control his/her acts, his/her lawful representative shall appear together with him/her to carry out the procedures specified in Clause 1 of Article 22 of the Law on Citizen Identification 2014.

Ngoc Nhi

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