Vietnam to implement new identity card issuance rules for children

The Vietnamese government has issued Decree 301/2026/NĐ-CP, introducing significant administrative reforms regarding identity card issuance. Effective September 1, 2026, the decree integrates the issuance of identity cards for children under six years old into the online birth registration process.

Under the new regulations, parents or guardians can request identity cards during the electronic interconnection of birth registration, permanent residence registration, and health insurance card issuance. This system allows citizens to complete multiple administrative procedures with a single declaration, reducing paperwork, travel time, and processing delays.

Once a birth is registered via the National Public Service Portal and a personal identification number is assigned, data will be shared to facilitate residence registration, health insurance, and identity card requests. For complete and valid applications, the processing time for birth registration will not exceed 24 hours from the time the civil status authority receives the dossier.