Use validity of citizen identity cards in Vietnam

Use validity of citizen identity cards in Vietnam (Internet image)

Regarding this issue, LawNet would like to answer as follows:

1. Use validity of citizen identity cards in Vietnam

According to Article 20 of the Law on Citizen Identification 2014, the use value of citizen identification cards includes:

- 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.

2. Contents stated in citizen identity cards in Vietnam

Pursuant to Clause 1, Article 18 of the Law on Citizen Identification 2014, a citizen identity card has the following information:

- On the front side of a card, there are the national emblem of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; the words “Cong hoa xa hoi chu nghia Viet Nam, Doc lap - Tu do - Hanh phuc” (The Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Independence - Freedom - Happiness); the words “Can cuoc cong dan” (Citizen identification); photo, citizen identity card number, family name, middle name and first name, birthdate, gender, nationality, native place, place of permanent residence; and expiry date.

- On the back side of a card, there is an encoded place for information storage; fingerprints, characteristics for identification of the card holder; date of card issuance; family name, middle name, first name, title and signature of the card issuer, and a seal bearing the national emblem of the card-issuing agency.

3. Shape, size, content, specifications, other languages and materials of the citizen ID card in Vietnam

Specifically, in Article 3 of Circular 06/2021/TT-BCA stipulating the shape, size, content, specifications, other languages and materials of the citizen identification card as follows:

(1) Shape, size: Rectangular citizen ID card 53.98 mm ± 0.12 mm wide, 85.6 mm ± 0.12 mm long, 0.76 mm ± 0. 08 mm, the four corners are rounded with a radius r = 3.18 mm ± 0.3 mm.

(2) Contents

- The front of the citizen identification card includes the following information:

+ Left, from top to bottom: Figure of the National Emblem of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, 12 mm in diameter; photo of the person issued with a citizen ID card, size 20 x 30 mm; Valid until/Date of expiry;

+ Right, from top to bottom: "CỘNG HÒA XÃ HỘI CHỦ NGHĨA VIỆT NAM"; "Độc lập - Tự do - Hạnh phúc"; SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM; Independence - Freedom - Happiness; "CĂN CƯỚC CÔNG DÂN"/Citizen Identity Card; chip icon; QR code; "Số"/No; "Họ và tên"/Full name; "Ngày sinh"/Date of birth; "Giới tính"/Sex; "Quốc tịch"/Nationality; "Quê quán"/Place of origin; "Nơi thường trú"/Place of residence;

- The back of the citizen identification card includes the following information:

+ Left, from top to bottom: "Đặc điểm nhân dạng"/Personal identification; "Ngày, tháng, năm"/Date, month, year; "CỤC TRƯỞNG CỤC CẢNH SÁT QUẢN LÝ HÀNH CHÍNH VỀ TRẬT TỰ XÃ HỘI"/DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGEMENT OF SOCIAL ORDER; signature, full name of the person authorized to issue the card; stamp bearing the national emblem of the agency issuing the citizen's identity card; electronic chips.

+ Right, from top to bottom: There are 2 boxes: "Vân tay ngón trỏ trái"/Left index finger và "Vân tay ngón trỏ phải"/Right index finger of the person issued with a citizen identification card.

+ MRZ series.

(3) Specifications

- The two sides of the Citizen ID card are printed with a blue pattern that changes in the middle from yellow to blue. The background on the front of the card includes: Vietnam administrative map, bronze drum, traditional decorative patterns. The background on the back of the Citizens ID card includes: The patterns are combined with the image of a lotus flower and intertwined diagonal curves;

- The national emblem and citizen's portrait are printed in color directly on the citizen's identity card;

- The color of the information on the Citizen ID card

+ The phrases "CỘNG HÒA XÃ HỘI CHỦ NGHĨA VIỆT NAM"; "Độc lập - Tự do - Hạnh phúc"; SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM; Independence - Freedom - Happiness; Phrase “Citizen Identity Card”; chip icon; "Số"/No; "Họ và tên"/Full name; "Ngày sinh"/Date of birth; "Giới tính"/Sex; "Quốc tịch"/Nationality; "Quê quán"/Place of origin; "Nơi thường trú"/Place of residence; "Có giá trị đến"/Date of expiry; "Đặc điểm nhân dạng"/Personal identification; "Ngày, tháng, năm"/Date, month, year; "CỤC TRƯỞNG CỤC CẢNH SÁT QUẢN LÝ HÀNH CHÍNH VỀ TRẬT TỰ XÃ HỘI"/DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGEMENT OF SOCIAL ORDER; "Ngón trỏ trái"/Left index finger; "Ngón trỏ phải"/Right index finger in blue;

+ The words "CITIZEN IDENTITY CARD"; a stamp with the national emblem of the agency issuing the citizen's identity card in red;

+ Citizen identification number; the information of the person who is issued with the citizen identification card; expiration date, month, year; left index finger fingerprint image, right index finger fingerprint image; information about the identity of the person who is issued with a citizen identification card; date, month and year of issuance of citizen identification card; full name, middle name and name and signature of the person competent to issue citizen identification cards; MRZ line, black QR code;

- An electronic chip that stores basic information of a citizen is attached to the back of the citizen's identity card.

(4) Material: The Citizen ID Card is manufactured using materials approved by the Minister of Public Security.

(5) The other language on the citizen ID card is English, which is a condition for Vietnamese citizens to use the citizen ID card instead of the passport when Vietnam signs the treaty or an international agreement allowing nationals of a Contracting State to use their Citizen ID cards in lieu of passports in each other's territories.

Ho Quoc Tuan

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