Vietnam's electronic ID app VNeID is expanding eligibility — previously limited to foreigners holding a residence card — to all foreigners legally entering or staying in the country. Decree 320 (320/2026/NĐ-CP) takes effect on September 28, 2026, letting anyone age 6 or older apply for a Level 2 account. As Vietnam pushes its administrative procedures online, whether you can hold this account has a direct bearing on the hassle of everyday life.
Decree 320 takes effect September 28
Decree 320 formally institutionalizes the issuance of electronic identification (e-ID) to foreigners. It takes effect September 28, 2026. Overseen by Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security, the framework for issuing foreigners Level 2 accounts on the VNeID app is now moving forward. The same decree also bundles in administrative digitalization for Vietnamese citizens, with the opening up of registration to foreigners positioned as part of that broader effort.
Previously, only residence card holders could register
Until now, opening a VNeID account was effectively limited to foreigners holding a Temporary Residence Card (TRC) or Permanent Residence Card (PRC). Those staying without a card couldn't open an account and were at times left behind as administrative services moved online. With this expansion, any foreigner legally entering or staying in Vietnam is now eligible to apply.the move to bundle various procedures for foreigners under VNeIDwill take a further step forward with this change.
Eligibility starts at age 6, with in-person verification and biometrics required
Foreigners age 6 and older can apply. Issuing a Level 2 account requires the applicant to visit a counter in person for identity verification and to register biometric data — a facial photo and fingerprints. It's worth keeping in mind that this isn't a procedure that can be completed entirely online; in-person verification is a prerequisite. The biometric data is checked against Vietnam's immigration management database.
Administrative services available with a Level 2 account
With a Level 2 account, you can carry out procedures such as identity verification for banking transactions, registering a rental residence, and using public services through the app. You can store your digitized residence card and other legal documents within VNeID, cutting down on the hassle of presenting paper at a counter again. Some administrative procedures, such asobtaining a criminal record certificate online, only become available to foreigners once they have an account.
Applications are handled in person at an immigration office
The procedure is handled by the agencies responsible for immigration management. Immigration offices in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and elsewhere have been named as counters (check the latest official guidance for exact addresses). At the counter, you fill out application form TK01 with your own phone number and email address. An officer collects your biometric data, checks it against the database, confirms your consent, and creates the account.
What to bring, and how long issuance takes
Bring your passport or a valid international travel document. You'll also need a Vietnamese phone number and email address in your own name. Issuance is set to take within 3 business days if your biometric data is already in the database, or within 7 business days if it hasn't been registered yet. Anyone having their biometrics taken for the first time should book their counter appointment with some room to spare.
206 types of documents also bundled under the same Decree 320
This expansion is just the entry point to the digitalization Decree 320 is driving.206 types of documents will be integrated into VNeID under Decree 320, expanding the range of documents that no longer need to be resubmitted at government offices. Having an account becomes the foundation for pulling these integrated documents into your own app. It helps to think of the expanded eligibility and the document integration as two wheels of the same decree.
Where this matters in daily life
For foreign residents, whether or not you have an account shows up in the small procedures of everyday life — when a bank asks for identity verification, when you register residency for a lease, when you deal with public services around a child's schooling or medical care. There's room for the burden of carrying paper copies over and over to be replaced by storage within the app. How far this opens up in practice for short-term stayers is something that will become clearer once counter operations settle in, so it's worth proceeding while checking guidance after the decree takes effect.
What to check before the decree takes effect
There are three things you can prepare before September 28. First, have a Vietnamese phone number in your own name ready. Second, confirm your passport's remaining validity and that your residence status is valid. Third, check the reception hours and booking method at your nearest immigration office, and lock in a date for in-person and biometric verification early. Once you've created the account, it becomes a foundation that significantly shortens administrative procedures going forward.
Sources:
Envoy Global — Vietnam Expands VNeID Eligibility for Foreign Nationals
Việt Nam News — Public security ministry begins rollout of eID for foreigners
Vietnam Plus — Level-2 digital ID accounts ease access for foreigners
