Overseas Vietnamese seeking national ID card: How to apply?

Vietnamese citizens residing abroad who wish to obtain a national identification card (căn cước công dân) are encountering significant hurdles, particularly if they lack a household registration (hộ khẩu) or a personal identification number in Vietnam's system. One individual shared their repeated unsuccessful attempts to secure the ID card over three visits to Vietnam, highlighting the bureaucratic complexities involved.

Upon a recent return to Vietnam, the individual attempted to register their household at their husband's home to facilitate the ID card application. However, they were informed that verification with the immigration department was necessary, as their passport lacked an entry stamp from their previous arrival. This verification process requires a minimum stay of two months in Vietnam.

Lawyer Văn Thị Thu Hà from the Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association provided guidance, referencing a May 15, 2024, Ministry of Public Security circular. According to the regulations, Vietnamese citizens living abroad without a registered residence in Vietnam can have their overseas address listed on the national ID card, with the address transcribed in Vietnamese.

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For Vietnamese citizens residing abroad who do not have a place of residence in Vietnam, the residence information on the identity card will show the overseas residence address (clearly indicated in Vietnamese transcription).

For those residing abroad, the Ministry of Public Security has not yet established direct ID card issuance services at Vietnamese representative agencies overseas. However, individuals can initiate the process by contacting their local Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate. They must complete a population information collection form, which the agency will forward to the Ministry of Public Security to update the national population database and assign a personal identification number. This number serves as the basis for future ID card issuance.

Alternatively, citizens who can travel to Vietnam can apply at a local commune-level police station where they are temporarily or currently residing. This involves registering their residence, updating their information in the population database, and completing the standard ID card application procedures. Required documents include a valid Vietnamese passport showing their place of birth in Vietnam. While a Vietnamese ID card, birth certificate, or proof of Vietnamese residence is not mandatory, a population information collection form is needed. The law also permits legal representatives to apply for ID cards for children under 14.

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Currently, due to practical geographical, legal, and infrastructural conditions, the Ministry of Public Security has not yet deployed direct issuance of national identity cards at Vietnamese representative agencies abroad.