Vietnam Simplifies ID Card Issuance for Children Under Six

Vietnam's government has decided to integrate the process of issuing national identification cards (Thẻ căn cước) for children under six years old into an electronic application system linked with birth and residency registration. This new regulation, introduced by Decree No. 301/2026, will take effect from September 1. Previously, obtaining an ID card for a child required separate procedures. However, this change will allow applications to be submitted online or through electronic systems concurrently with the birth registration or as part of the residency registration process. This is expected to reduce the burden on parents and expedite processing at administrative agencies. In recent years, Vietnam has accelerated efforts to promote digitalization and improve the efficiency of administrative services. The widespread adoption of national ID cards, which serve as proof of identity for each citizen, is considered an essential element in enhancing overall societal transparency and facilitating access to various public services. This initiative is anticipated not only to improve convenience for citizens, particularly families with young children, but also to contribute to the government's accurate understanding and management of citizen information. Detailed guidelines for the specific implementation of this new system are currently being developed by relevant ministries, and public interest is growing. Source: The Saigon Times