Vietnam expands digital government with level‑2 e‑ID for foreign residents

Since July 2025 Vietnam's immigration authorities have processed 84,831 applications for the new level‑2 electronic identification (e‑ID) service, the majority submitted by Republic of Korea, Chinese and Japanese nationals. Under Government Decree No. 69, foreigners holding valid temporary or permanent residence cards can apply for a level‑2 e‑ID at immigration offices, where biometric data are collected to grant access to a wide range of public services.

Early adopters praised the system. Kim Ji Eun, president of the Korea Global School System, said, “As a foreign investor, I appreciate Vietnam’s efforts to reform administrative procedures and digitalise public services.” Jeong Young Oh, principal of the same school, noted the convenience of using his e‑ID for electronic boarding passes at airports, while American educator Samuel Herbert Brinkerhoff called the move a vital step toward global digital‑identity standards.

The rollout is part of Vietnam’s broader digital transformation agenda outlined in Resolution No. 57, aiming to make public services more transparent, efficient and business‑friendly for both citizens and foreign investors.