Four major changes to social and health insurance rules take effect in September 2026

Vietnam Social Security has outlined four notable changes to social insurance, health insurance and social welfare procedures beginning in September 2026. They concern health insurance cards, pensions, allowances, personal identification numbers and penalties for violations.

From Sept. 1, Decree 301/2026 will revise the integrated electronic process for birth registration, residence registration and issuance of health insurance cards to children under six. The process will also add the issuance of identity cards for children in that age group.

The Ministry of Justice’s administrative procedures system will receive birth-registration applications from the National Public Service Portal. Notifications about processing, deadlines and results will be sent through the portal, the VNeID application or automated text messages. The linked procedures must generally be completed within three working days after the authorities receive a complete application. If verification is required, the deadline is five working days. An identity-card application submitted at the same time can take up to five working days.

Data between the systems must be synchronized no later than 10 minutes after a procedure is completed, while the authority handling the next step must respond with the receipt status within two working hours.

Vietnam Social Security will also begin replacing social insurance numbers and internal management codes with personal identification numbers or citizen identification numbers across its systems, including VssID. The agency said this changes only the identification method. It does not alter participation records, contribution or benefit data, the validity of health insurance cards or healthcare rights. Most people will not need to complete a conversion procedure, but the agency recommends checking VssID and following instructions.

From Sept. 10, Decree 283/2026 will replace Decree 12/2022 on administrative penalties in labor, social insurance and overseas employment under contract. The new decree contains six chapters and 68 articles covering violations, penalties, remedial measures and enforcement authority. In social insurance, the main penalties are warnings or fines, depending on the nature and seriousness of the violation.