Decree 320/2026/ND-CP: Vietnam Expands VNeID Electronic ID Eligibility for Foreigners

On 13 August 2026 the Government issued Decree No. 320/2026/ND-CP, amending and supplementing Decree No. 69/2024/ND-CP on electronic identification and authentication. The most significant change for companies with foreign staff and partners is a major expansion of the foreigners eligible for a VNeID electronic identification account. The Decree takes effect on 28 September 2026. Trustlineax summarises the key points so employers with foreign personnel can prepare.

1. Legal basis

• Decree No. 320/2026/ND-CP dated 13 August 2026 of the Government, amending and supplementing a number of articles of Decree No. 69/2024/ND-CP dated 25 June 2024 on electronic identification and authentication.
• Effective from 28 September 2026.

2. The key change: far broader eligibility for foreigners

Under Decree No. 69/2024/ND-CP, issuing electronic identification accounts to foreigners was relatively restricted, tied mainly to foreigners who already held a permanent or temporary residence card in Vietnam.

Decree No. 320/2026/ND-CP opens this up substantially. Under the new rule (Article 3 amending Article 7 of Decree No. 69/2024/ND-CP):

“Foreigners who lawfully enter Vietnam or lawfully reside in Vietnam shall be issued an electronic identification account, regardless of level, upon request.”

Eligibility is therefore no longer limited to holders of a permanent or temporary residence card — any foreigner who has lawfully entered or is lawfully residing in Vietnam may register for VNeID on request. This opens access to far more groups: business visitors, short-term assignees, investors, accompanying family members, and foreign experts who do not yet qualify for a permanent or temporary residence card.

3. Procedure for foreigners

Under Article 6 of Decree No. 320/2026/ND-CP (amending Article 11 of Decree No. 69/2024/ND-CP), the steps are:

• The foreigner attends the provincial-level police immigration authority and presents a passport or valid international travel document.
• The applicant completes the application form for an electronic identification account (Form TK01), providing a mobile number registered in their own name, an email address (if any) and any other information to be integrated into the national identification application.
• The receiving officer enters the information into the system and captures a facial image and fingerprints for verification against the national immigration database, then assists with installing the VNeID application.
• The immigration authority forwards the account request to the agency managing and operating the electronic identification and authentication system.
• The outcome is notified through the application, the registered phone number or the registered email address.

Foreigners under 14, or those under guardianship or representation, complete the procedure together with their guardian or representative.

Processing time (Article 7 of Decree No. 320/2026/ND-CP):

• No more than 2 working days where facial image and fingerprint data already exist in the national immigration database.
• No more than 5 working days where such data does not yet exist.

4. Legal effect of documents integrated into VNeID

Once information and documents have been integrated into the national identification application, agencies and organisations handling administrative procedures, public services and civil transactions may no longer require the original or a copy of those documents.

The list of integrable documents issued with the Decree covers many items directly relevant to foreigners and foreign-invested businesses: passports, visas, visa exemption certificates, permanent and temporary residence cards for foreigners, work permits for foreign employees, driving licences, judicial record certificates, and tax registration certificates.

Foreigners holding a VNeID account may also use it for exit and entry through automated border control gates, subject to the specific rules applied by the Ministry of Public Security.

5. Deadlines to note

6. What employers with foreign personnel should do

• Review the list of foreign employees, experts and investors working in or regularly travelling to Vietnam to identify who should register for VNeID under the new rules.
• Prepare VNeID registrations where appropriate, particularly ahead of the 31 December 2026 milestone when national digital platforms must support VNeID authentication.
• For electronic transaction accounts created earlier — for example accounts on the public service portal or other state digital platforms — review and complete the linking and authentication within the deadline to avoid disruption.
• Because the work permit is on the list of integrable documents, review foreign employees’ work permit status at the same time. See also work permit requirements for foreign employees in Vietnam in 2026.
• Integration of the tax registration certificate is also relevant for foreign personnel with tax obligations in Vietnam. See also personal income tax for expatriates in Vietnam in 2026.
• Monitor further guidance from the Ministry of Public Security on using VNeID at automated border control gates, as application depends on detailed rules to be issued.

Preparing early reduces the risk of disruption to electronic transactions and administrative procedures involving foreign nationals in Vietnam.

This article was prepared by Trustlineax based on Decree No. 320/2026/ND-CP dated 13 August 2026 of the Government, amending Decree No. 69/2024/ND-CP. It is for information purposes only and does not replace the original legal documents or tailored advice for a specific case.