Vietnam Social Security implements ID number transition

Vietnam Social Security has reported a significant decrease in the number of people applying for one-time social insurance payouts following the implementation of the 2024 Social Insurance Law. As of August 2026, the country has approximately 22.59 million social insurance participants, including 19.86 million under compulsory schemes and 2.72 million under voluntary schemes.

Starting September 1, 2026, the social insurance sector will begin a data transition phase where personal identification numbers or citizen identity card numbers will gradually replace social insurance codes in professional software. Authorities have clarified that this change is strictly a management system update and will not affect health insurance benefits, the validity of existing cards, or medical examination procedures. Participants do not need to exchange their health insurance cards or perform manual procedures to change their social insurance codes, as existing data and benefits will be inherited during the transition.