Vietnam Streamlines ID Issuance for Under-6s Through Electronic Linkage

Vietnam's government has implemented a new decree that electronically links the issuance of identification cards (Căn cước công dân) for children under six with birth registration, residency registration, and health insurance card issuance. This new decree (Nghị định số 301/2026/NĐ-CP) amends and supplements the existing Decree 63/2024/NĐ-CP, aiming to enhance administrative efficiency and convenience for citizens, particularly vulnerable groups. Previously, obtaining an identification card for a child required multiple procedures, posing a burden on parents. With the electronic linkage of these procedures, it is now possible to apply for residency registration and a health insurance card simultaneously when submitting a birth registration. This is expected to reduce duplicate document submissions and waiting times at government offices, leading to faster issuance of identification documents. Vietnam has been actively promoting digitalization in recent years, advancing the online administration of services and the introduction of electronic identification. This measure is part of the country's digital transformation efforts and represents a significant step towards building a "digital government" as envisioned by the administration. The simplification of procedures is anticipated to be particularly beneficial for families with young children and residents in rural areas. The government plans to strengthen cooperation among relevant agencies and ensure thorough public awareness to facilitate the smooth operation of this new system. Furthermore, the administration intends to digitize more administrative procedures in the future to contribute to improving the quality of citizens' lives.