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

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

(i) 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.

(ii) 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

(iii) 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 in 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 (i) and (Iii)

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

2. Content shown on the Citizen ID card in Vietnam

- 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.

(Clause 1, Article 18 of the Law on Citizen Identification in 2014)

3. Time limit for grant, renewal or re-grant of citizen identity cards in Vietnam

According to Article 25 of the Law on Citizen Identification in 2014, the time limit for grant, renewal or re-grant of citizen identity cards is as follows:

From the date of receiving a complete dossier as prescribed in this Law, a citizen identification management agency shall grant, renew or re-grant a citizen identity card for a citizen within:

- Seven working days, in cities or towns, in case of grant and renewal; or 15 working days, in case of re-grant;

- Twenty working days, in highland mountainous, border and island districts for all cases;

- Fifteen working days, in remaining areas for all cases;

- Based on the roadmap for administrative reform, the Minister of Public Security shall stipulate the shortening of the time limit for grant, renewal and re-grant of citizen identity cards.

Nguyen Ngoc Que Anh

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