Many innovations in the new identity card compared to the current citizen identity card.

Colonel Luong The Loc, Head of the Administrative Police Department for Social Order of the Provincial Police, had an exchange with a reporter from Nghe An Newspaper about issues of public concern.

PV:Could you please elaborate on the aforementioned issue and explain the reason for changing the name from the Law on Citizen Identification to the Law on Identity Cards?

Colonel Luong The Loc:On the morning of November 27th, the National Assembly passed the Law on Identity Cards, replacing the 2014 Law on Citizen Identity Cards, with 87.25% of participating National Assembly deputies voting in favor.

The use of the name "Identity Card Law" clearly demonstrates its scientific nature, encompassing both the scope and subjects of application of the law, and aligning with the trend of digital society management. With the scientific integration of complete information into the identity card, along with a digital management method that ensures public accessibility, renaming it to "Identity Card" will make state management more scientific, serving the government's digital transformation, digital economy, and digital society; simultaneously, it will create favorable conditions and support citizens in participating in social activities and conducting administrative and civil transactions more conveniently.

PV:So,cardHow is this new identity card different from the current citizen identity card?

Colonel Luong The Loc:Besides the name, some information displayed on the new identity card has also been changed compared to the current citizen identity card. Specifically, the words "citizen identity card" have been changed to "identity card," "place of birth" to "place of birth registration," and "permanent residence" to "place of residence." The new identity card will no longer display fingerprints (left and right index fingers), and the signature of the issuing officer has been changed from the Director of the Department of Administrative Management of Social Order (C06) of the Ministry of Public Security to "Issuing Authority: Ministry of Public Security."

Specifically, the Law on Identity Cards stipulates that the citizen's identity card database includes many fields of information; among these are personal identification, biometrics (face image, fingerprints, iris, DNA, voice), occupation (excluding the military, police, and intelligence services)... With the new regulations, in addition to collecting fingerprints as before, the Law on Identity Cards has added the collection of iris data to serve as a basis for cross-referencing and verifying each individual's information; and to assist in cases where fingerprints cannot be collected (disabled people, deformed fingerprints...).

Biometric information, specifically DNA and voice data, will be collected in two ways. Firstly, through voluntary provision by citizens; secondly, through data sharing by criminal prosecution agencies and agencies managing individuals subject to administrative sanctions.

According to the Law on Identity Cards, all Vietnamese citizens are entitled to an identity card (instead of only those aged 14 and above as in the 2014 Law on Citizen Identity Cards). Issuing identity cards to children under 14 is based on need and is not mandatory.

PV:Is my previously issued identity card or citizen's card still valid, or do I need to get a new one?

Colonel Luong The Loc:According to the transitional provisions in Article 46 of the Law on Citizen Identification, all citizen identification cards issued before the effective date of this law (July 1, 2024) remain valid until the expiration date printed on the card. Citizens can exchange them for new citizen identification cards if needed. For existing citizen identification cards, the validity period extends until December 31, 2024.

Legal documents that have been issued using information from identity cards or citizen identification cards remain valid; state agencies are not allowed to request citizens to change or adjust information from identity cards or citizen identification cards in issued documents.

For cases where identity cards or citizen identification cards expire before the start date of issuing citizen identification cards (from July 1, 2024), Clause 3, Article 46 of the Law on Citizen Identification stipulates that citizen identification cards and identity cards that expired between January 15, 2024 and before June 30, 2024 will continue to be valid until June 30, 2024.

PV:So, what are the procedures and timeframes for issuing identity cards?

Colonel Luong The Loc:The issuance of identity cards is regulated by Article 23 of the Law on Identity Cards. Specifically, for individuals under 14 years of age, the issuance is based on the request of the individual or their parents/guardians. For children under 6 years old, the card is issued through the public service portal; for individuals under 6 years old who have not yet registered their birth, the process is carried out through procedures linked to birth registration on the public service portal or directly at the identity card management agency. For these individuals, the collection of personal characteristics and biometric information is not required when applying for an identity card. For children aged 6 to under 14, their parents or guardians must bring them to the identity card management agency to have their personal characteristics and biometric information recorded; they will then fill out the form, sign, and complete the identity card issuance procedure on their behalf.

For individuals aged 14 and above:

Step 1: The receiving officer checks and compares the information in the National Population Database… to accurately identify the person needing the card. If the information is not available, they update the information in the National Population Database.

Step 2: Collect identifying characteristics and biometric information: Facial image, fingerprints, and iris scan of the person applying for the identity card.

Step 3: The applicant checks and signs the identity card information collection form.

Step 4: Receive the appointment slip for collecting your ID card. Card collection will take place at the location specified in the appointment slip or at a different location if requested, and the recipient will be responsible for paying the delivery fee.

Regarding the timeframe for issuing identity cards, according to Article 26 of the Identity Card Law, the time limit for issuing, renewing, or reissuing identity cards is 7 working days from the date of receiving a complete and valid application.

PV:Thank you, comrade!