VNeID for Foreigners: E-ID Accounts Available from September 28, 2026

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Starting September 28, 2026, foreigners lawfully in Vietnam can request a VNeID electronic identification account under Decree 320/2026/ND-CP.

This mainly affects long-stay residents and workers, not short-term tourists. If you are visiting Vietnam on a tourist trip, you do not need to take any action because of this change, and it is separate from the Vietnam Pre-Arrival Form.

What Decree 320/2026/ND-CP Changed

On August 13, 2026, the Vietnamese government signed Decree 320/2026/ND-CP, which amends Decree 69/2024/ND-CP on electronic identification and authentication. The decree took effect on September 28, 2026.

One of the central changes is procedural. Under the previous framework, VNeID accounts were split into two tiers, level 1 and level 2, with different verification steps and access rights attached to each. For foreigners, Decree 320/2026/ND-CP removes this split. Instead of applying for a specific level, eligible foreigners can now request a single VNeID account that consolidates identification and document storage functions.

VNeID itself is Vietnam's national electronic identification platform, managed by the Ministry of Public Security. It was originally built around Vietnamese citizens' identification data, but recent amendments have steadily expanded its scope to cover foreign residents as well.

Who Can Get a VNeID Account

According to Decree 320/2026/ND-CP, eligibility extends to foreigners who are lawfully entering or residing in Vietnam. This includes people on long-term visas, work permits, residence cards, and other valid entry documents recognized under Vietnamese immigration law.

Importantly, the account is issued on request. It is not automatically created or mandatory for every foreigner in the country. If you want one, you will need to apply through the designated channels once they are confirmed by the Ministry of Public Security.

This framing matters for how different travelers should think about the change. A business professional on a one-year work visa, a foreign spouse with a residence card, or a long-term expat renting an apartment in Ho Chi Minh City are all the kinds of profiles this decree is designed for. Someone arriving for a two-week holiday is not the primary audience here.

What Documents Can Be Stored in a VNeID Account

Decree 320/2026/ND-CP allows up to 66 categories of personal documents to be integrated into a foreigner's VNeID account. This list includes passports and visas, alongside other personal and administrative documents recognized under Vietnamese law.

Once a document is integrated into the account, it does not need to be presented in paper form for many administrative or verification purposes.

In practice, this means a foreign resident could use their VNeID account to show proof of visa status or passport details electronically, rather than carrying physical copies everywhere. This is a meaningful shift for residents who deal with Vietnamese administrative procedures regularly, such as renewing a work permit, registering a vehicle, or opening a bank account.

For someone passing through Vietnam for a short trip, this functionality has limited relevance, since it works best after months or years of accumulated administrative interactions within the country.

Does This Matter for Short-Term Visitors?

For most short-term visitors, including tourists and short business travelers, Decree 320/2026/ND-CP has little practical impact. The decree is built around people who are lawfully residing or working in Vietnam for extended periods, not travelers passing through on a short visa or visa-free stay.

It is worth being clear about one point: VNeID eligibility under Decree 320/2026/ND-CP is not linked to the Vietnam Pre-Arrival Form.

The Pre-Arrival Form remains a separate, mandatory digital immigration requirement for foreign passport holders arriving at specific airports, governed by its own set of rules and timelines.

Completing the Pre-Arrival Form does not grant or require VNeID registration, and having a VNeID account does not replace or waive the need to submit a Pre-Arrival Form before arrival.

If you are flying into Vietnam soon, your relevant action is still the Pre-Arrival Form, submitted within 3 days (72 hours) before your scheduled arrival in Vietnam, not VNeID registration.

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