Foreigners in Vietnam Can Get VNeID Accounts: What They Can Do and How to Apply

Foreigners legally entering or residing in Vietnam can now obtain electronic identification accounts through the country’s VNeID system, giving them easier access to public services, digital transactions and other government connected services.

The system can be particularly useful for foreign residents who regularly deal with Vietnamese authorities, banks, telecommunications providers, transport services or other digital platforms. Families can also register accounts for children under 14, with parents or legal representatives managing the accounts on their behalf.

What can foreigners use a VNeID account for?

Under Article 7.2 of Decree 320/2026/ND-CP, which revises provisions of Decree 69/2024/ND-CP, foreigners who legally enter or reside in Vietnam may apply for electronic identification accounts.

Unlike Vietnamese citizens, foreigners are not assigned different levels of eID accounts.

Once issued, an account can be used for a range of digital services, including administrative procedures and public services. Users can submit procedures electronically, receive results and complete other activities without relying entirely on traditional paperwork.

The account can also be used to authenticate electronic transactions in areas including banking and credit, telecommunications, transport, e-commerce, import and export, and other services permitted by Vietnamese law.

Through the VNeID app, users may also access electronic identification information and other data integrated from national and specialised databases, as well as digital services connected to Vietnam’s electronic identification and authentication system.

VNeID can also serve as a communication channel between users and government agencies or other organisations. Authorities can send notifications through the system, while users can submit feedback or recommendations related to electronic identification and electronic transactions.

A potential benefit for international travel

There is also a potentially significant benefit for foreign residents who frequently travel in and out of Vietnam.

From September 28, 2026, foreigners whose information has been fully collected and updated in the National Immigration Database, as well as those who have been issued electronic identification accounts, will be permitted to use automated immigration control gates when entering or leaving Vietnam.

For frequent travellers, this could make immigration procedures faster and more convenient.

Can foreign families register accounts for their children?

Yes.

Foreigners legally residing in Vietnam, such as a husband and wife, can apply for their own eID accounts.

Children under 14 are also eligible, but their accounts must be managed with the consent and confirmation of a parent or other legal representative through VNeID.

Parents can use their children’s accounts to complete transactions and other activities on their behalf where necessary to protect or exercise the children’s lawful rights and interests.

For children under 14, the child must also be accompanied by a parent, legal representative or guardian when completing the registration procedure at the Immigration Division.

How do foreigners apply for a VNeID account?

Foreign residents can apply at the Immigration Division of the provincial-level Department of Public Security in the locality where they live.

Applicants should bring their passport or another international travel document and provide accurate personal information, including a mobile phone number registered in their own name and an email address, if available.

Applicants can also request that additional information be integrated into their VNeID account.

During the application process, an immigration officer will enter the applicant’s information into the electronic identification and authentication system and collect biometric information, including a facial image and fingerprints, for verification against the National Immigration Database.

Applicants will also receive instructions on downloading and installing the VNeID app and completing the required information.

The application is then forwarded to the agency responsible for operating Vietnam’s electronic identification and authentication system.

Once the application has been processed, the applicant will receive notification through the VNeID app, their registered mobile phone number or email address.

For children under 14, a parent or legal representative must accompany the child during the procedure. After the parent has obtained an eID account, they can use the mobile number registered in their own name to provide the required information and register an account for the child.

How long does the application take?

Processing time depends on whether the applicant’s biometric information is already available in the National Immigration Database.

If the applicant’s facial image and fingerprints are already available, the application can be processed within two working days after a complete and valid application is received.

If the biometric information is not yet available, processing can take up to five working days.

After receiving confirmation that the eID account has been issued, the account holder must activate it through the VNeID app within seven days.

If the account is not activated within that period, the user can contact the electronic identification and authentication system’s hotline for assistance.

Is there a fee?

No.

Vietnam does not charge a fee for registering an electronic identification account through the electronic identification and authentication system, nor for using the account for electronic transactions.

Can foreigners deactivate their VNeID account?

Yes.

Foreigners who no longer wish to use their eID account can request that it be locked through the VNeID app.

The electronic identification and authentication system will record, verify and authenticate the request before locking the account.

What this means for foreigners living in Vietnam

For international residents, VNeID is becoming more than a digital identity application. It provides a single channel for accessing government services, completing certain digital transactions and interacting with Vietnamese authorities.

For foreigners who live, work, study or frequently travel in Vietnam, obtaining an eID account could therefore reduce paperwork and make everyday administrative procedures easier to manage.