Vietnam opens VNeID digital ID to all legal foreign entrants Sept. 28

Vietnam is opening its national electronic identification system, VNeID, to all foreigners who legally enter or reside in the country from Sept. 28. Until now, only holders of temporary or permanent residence cards could register. The expansion is set out in Decree 320/2026/ND-CP, issued Aug. 13.

What changed

Under the new rules, visa type and length no longer determine eligibility. Tourists on e-visas, short-term business visitors, digital nomads on longer visas, foreign residents and legally admitted children under 14 can all request a VNeID account, provided they are in Vietnam legally. The decree also drops the earlier Level 1 and Level 2 distinction for foreign users, replacing it with a single type of electronic identification account.

Registration is not fully online. Applicants must apply in person at the provincial police immigration office covering the area where they are staying. To register, you will need to:

• Present a valid passport or other international travel document
• Provide a registered mobile number, and an email address if available
• Submit facial images and fingerprints for identity verification
• Install the official VNeID app and complete the required declarations

Short-term visa holders no longer need to obtain a temporary residence card first, but they still have to wait until Sept. 28 and visit the relevant immigration office. According to the source, no specific application fee appears in the decree's official guidance, and standard visa and residence charges remain separate.

What it means for nomads

Once approved, users can access residency registration and other government services through the VNeID app. The decree allows integrated digital records to replace paper documents in administrative procedures where agencies accept VNeID. The system can store 66 types of personal documents, including passports, visas, driver's licenses, vehicle registrations and residence certificates, plus 140 types of organizational records such as business and investment licenses.

For remote workers spending extended time in Vietnam, the change means a single digital identity that can consolidate paperwork and streamline dealings with local authorities. The practical catch is the in-person requirement: you cannot complete registration purely through the app, so plan a visit to your local provincial immigration office after the launch date.

The official app is published by the Research and Application Center for Residents Data under Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security. If you are already in Vietnam or planning a longer stay, it is worth checking whether the offices in your area are processing foreign VNeID applications before making the trip.

Originally reported by Stamped Nomad.