Every citizen will be issued an electronic identity card starting July 1st.
The 2023 Identity Card Law has added provisions regarding electronic identity cards. Accordingly, from July 1, 2024, each citizen will be issued an electronic identity card for convenience in administrative transactions. Colonel Luong The Loc - Head of the Police Department for Administrative Management of Social Order - Nghe An Provincial Police, had an exchange with a reporter from Nghe An Newspaper about issues of public concern.
PV:Could you please explain what an electronic identity card is and its uses?
Colonel Luong The Loc:Previously, when the Citizen Identity Card Law was enacted, people used chip-embedded citizen identity cards in transactions, replacing the old identity card. However, according to the 2023 Citizen Identity Card Law, which came into effect on July 1, 2024, in addition to using the old identity card, people also have access to electronic identity cards.
An electronic identity card is the identity card of a Vietnamese citizen, represented through an electronic identification account created by the electronic identification and authentication system (according to Article 3, Law on Identity Cards).
According to Article 31 of the Law on Identity Cards, each citizen is only entitled to one electronic identity card. The information in the electronic identity card includes some information already available in the National Population Database (Surname, middle name and given name; Personal identification number; Date of birth; Gender; Place of birth; Place of birth registration; Hometown, etc.) and some information from the Identity Card database (Personal identification information; Occupation, etc.).
Furthermore, if citizens request it, information such as health insurance cards, social insurance books, driver's licenses, etc., will be integrated into the electronic identity card. However, this information must be verified through the national database and specialized databases.
According to Article 33 of the 2023 Identity Card Law, the validity of electronic identity cards is stipulated as follows:
- Electronic identity cards serve as proof of identity and other information integrated into the electronic identity card of the cardholder for carrying out administrative procedures, public services, transactions, and other activities as needed by citizens.
- During the process of handling administrative procedures, public services, conducting transactions and other activities, if a discrepancy is found between the information printed on the identity card or the information stored in the encrypted storage of the identity card and the information in the electronic identity card, the agency, organization, or individual shall use the information in the electronic identity card.
PV: Will the electronic identity card replace the traditional identity card, sir?
Colonel Luong The Loc:Identity cards and electronic identity cards are two different forms of identification, both containing information about a citizen's identity. Identity cards are in physical form (plastic cards), while electronic identity cards display a person's identity information electronically in an electronic identification account created by an electronic identification and authentication system. Electronic identity cards are continuously updated with citizens' information if there are any changes.
In addition to the basic information shown on the identity card, the electronic identity card includes additional information to maximize the convenience and value of the identity card in the electronic environment, better serving the transaction needs of the people.
Electronic identity cards are used to carry out administrative procedures, public services, transactions, and other activities as needed by citizens. Electronic identity cards have the same validity as using a physical identity card in transactions that require the presentation of a physical identity card;
It is valuable to provide information in the types of documents and papers that have been integrated into the electronic identity account, so that competent agencies and organizations can verify them when conducting transactions that require the presentation of such documents.
Currently, the electronic identification and authentication system is designed to handle 180 million daily accesses to the VNeID application.
PV: Could you please tell us when the electronic ID card will be locked and when it will be unlocked?
Colonel Luong The Loc:An electronic identity card will be blocked when the cardholder requests it; or violates the agreement to use the national identification application; or has their identity card revoked or confiscated; or dies; or at the request of a prosecuting authority or other competent authority.
Depending on the specific case, the electronic identity card is unlocked upon the request of the cardholder; or after rectifying any violations of the national identification application usage agreement; or upon the return of the original identity card; or at the request of a competent authority.
PV: Regarding the process for issuing electronic identity cards, what do citizens need to do?
Colonel Luong The Loc:Regarding the process for issuing electronic identity cards, citizens should go to the district-level police station or the provincial-level police's one-stop service center to complete the procedures for obtaining an electronic identity card.
Citizens can apply for an electronic identity card through the physical identity card issuance process, or present their existing identity card to apply for an electronic identity card. They must provide information about their registered mobile phone number and request additional documents such as vehicle registration, driver's license, social insurance card, etc., which will be integrated into the electronic identity card. The receiving officer will enter the information provided by the citizen and proceed with the application process. Subsequently, the electronic identification and authentication management agency will verify the information provided by the citizen applying for the electronic identity card and notify the applicant of the registration results via the national identification application, SMS message, or email address.
PV: Another issue that many people are currently concerned about is: which cases do not need to switch to the new national identity card from July 1st, Comrade?
Colonel Luong The Loc:Article 46 of the 2023 Identity Card Law stipulates two cases where it is not necessary to换 identity cards from July 1, 2024, including: Citizen identity cards issued before July 1, 2024, and valid until the expiration date printed on the card; and National identity cards valid until December 31, 2024, which remain valid until that date.
Therefore, citizens with Citizen Identification Cards/National Identity Cards falling under the above-mentioned cases are not yet required to换 their identity cards from July 1, 2024, except in the following cases:
- The Citizen Identification Card/National Identity Card is damaged and unusable;
- Full name and identifying characteristics have been changed.
- Reconfirm place of origin and gender.
- The information on the card is incorrect.
- When citizens need to replace their old ID cards with new ones in order to use the new type of personal identification document.
Please note that legally valid documents already issued using information from the old ID card or citizen identification card remain valid; state agencies are not allowed to request citizens to change or adjust information on the old ID card or citizen identification card in the issued documents.
PV: Thank you, comrade!
