The Ministry of Public Security is urgently launching a 50-day campaign to issue electronic identification (VNeID) accounts for foreigners residing in Vietnam, as per Plan No. 370/KH-BCA-V01. The implementation period runs from 1 July 2025 to 19 August 2025
The issuance of VNeID accounts aims to assist foreigners in performing online administrative procedures, authenticating personal information for banking transactions, accessing public services, storing electronic residence cards and other legal documents via the VNeID application, and protecting their legitimate rights while living and working in Vietnam.
More importantly, this is a mandatory step in the enterprise identification authentication process (for enterprises with foreign owners or legal representatives). Without completing the enterprise identification, businesses may face difficulties or be unable to carry out certain mandatory periodic procedures such as tax declarations, bank transfers, or social insurance filings etc.
Below is a summary of the VNeID issuance process for foreigners residing in Vietnam:
1. Required Documents:
- Temporary Residence Card: Valid for at least 6 months (recommended);
- Passport (or international travel document): Valid for a minimum of 6 months;
- Personal mobile phone number: registered with the passport, residence card, etc.
- Portrait pictures: passport size (hard copies and soft file ready to supplement when needed);
- Personal email address: Used to receive result notifications and VNeID account information.
- Residence address information: according to the new geographical area (effective from 01 July 2025).
2. Electronic Identification Process:
- Foreigners must directly visit the Immigration Office;
- Immigration Authority: Receives information, collects facial images and fingerprints, and submits them to the Department of Electronic Identification and Authentication – the Ministry of Public Security (C06);
- Department of Electronic Identification and Authentication: Verifies the information and sends the registration result via the foreigner’s registered email or phone number;
- Foreigner: Logs into the VNeID app using the account information provided by C06.
3. Procedure Steps:
- Obtain a queue number and wait for your turn (the queue numbers are issued 2 times a day in the beginning of the morning and afternoon sessions);
- Have a portrait photo taken;
- Provide fingerprints;
- Review and sign Form TK01, which contains all the declared and collected information. (This form will be printed by the Immigration Office after information, photos, and fingerprints are collected);
- Immigration Officer: Inputs the data into the system and forwards it to C06;
- Receive the result: Processing time approximately 05–07 working days. Upon approval by C06, foreigners will receive their Level-2 e-ID code, password, and OTP (if applicable) via registered SMS or email to log into VNeID.
Currently, due to the high number of foreign nationals registering for electronic identification, to avoid overcrowding and delays, foreigners are advised to complete the procedure as early as possible.Notice: The above procedure applies to foreigners residing in Vietnam. Non-resident foreigners may encounter difficulties or delays in obtaining an e-ID, primarily due to incomplete document submissions as required by regulations. Additional guidance for Non-resident foreigners (without a Temporary Residence Card) should be updated in about 2 weeks.
New Updates on the Social Insurance Law No. 41/2024/QH15 dated 29 June 2024, effective from 1 July 2025
The Social Insurance Law No. 41/2024/QH15 (“Social Insurance Law 2024”) will officially take effect on July 1, 2025, replacing Law No. 58/2014/QH13 (“Social Insurance Law 2014”). The following key amendments and additions warrant attention from both enterprises and employees:
1. Compulsory social insurance participants
The Social Insurance Law 2024 has amended and expanded the compulsory social insurance participants under Article 2 of the Social Insurance Law 2024, including:
- According to points a and l, clause 1, people working under indefinite-term employment contracts, employment contracts with terms of at least 01 month, even if they are referred to by other names by the employers and employees, as long as they specify the job, salary, remuneration, and the management of one party are subject to compulsory social insurance participation; This also applies employees do not work full time (working on a shift, hourly, or part-time basis) whose salaries in the month is equal to or higher than the lowest salary on which compulsory social insurance is paid.
Impact: If an enterprise employs part-time employees whose monthly salary exceeds the regional minimum wage, the enterprise should carefully review whether these employees are properly classified as compulsory social insurance participants in accordance with the regulations.
- Enterprise managers, controllers, representatives of state capital, representatives of enterprises’ capital as prescribed by law; members of Boards of Directors, General Directors, Directors, members of Boards of Controllers or Controllers, who receive salaries or not; Owners of household businesses that participate in social insurance as prescribed by regulations of the Government (points i, n, and m, clause 1).
Impact: Enterprise managers, General Directors, and household business owners, even if not receiving a salary, are still subject to compulsory social insurance participation. Enterprises should carefully review to compliance with the regulations.
- Vietnamese guest workers are defined by the Law on Vietnamese Guest Workers, unless otherwise prescribed by international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a signatory (point g, clause 1);
Impact:
- If no international treaty applies, employees working abroad under contract are required to participate in compulsory social insurance contributions in Vietnam.
- If an applicable international treaty exists with different provisions, those provisions shall take precedence and be applied accordingly.
2. Basis for calculating compulsory social insurance contributions for Employees
The basis for calculating compulsory social insurance contributions for employees remains largely unchanged compared to previous regulations:
According to point b, clause 1, article 31 of Law No. 41/2024/QH15: “For employees receiving employer-decided salaries, the salary on which compulsory social insurance is paid shall be the monthly salary, including the work-based or title-based salary, allowances and other extra payments that are periodically and stably paid under agreements.”
Note: In case an employee is on leave but still receiving a monthly salary that is equal to or higher than the minimum salary on which compulsory social insurance is paid, compulsory social insurance premiums shall be paid on the salary received during the leave period.
3. Pension Eligibility with a minimum of 15 years of Social Insurance contributions
The Social Insurance Law 2024 enhances opportunities for participants to access pension benefits by reducing the minimum required years of social insurance contributions from 20 years to 15 years.
Impact: This creates more favorable conditions for employees to qualify for pension benefits with a shorter contribution period than before. It is regarded as one of the most significant reforms in the social insurance system, expanding pension access opportunities for millions of employees.
4. Encouraging Employees to retain contribution periods for pension benefits instead of opting for a lump-sum Social Insurance payment
The Social Insurance Law 2024 introduces new provisions aimed at enhancing benefits and increasing the attractiveness of the system by encouraging employees to retain their contribution periods to qualify for pensions, rather than opting to receive a one-time social insurance payout.
Impact: Employees who retain their contribution periods instead of receiving a lump-sum social insurance payment will be entitled to more favorable benefits, including: (i) Higher benefit levels when resuming participation; (ii) Easier conditions for pension eligibility; (iii) Health insurance contributions paid by the Social Insurance Fund during their pension period; (iv) Monthly allowances in cases where the employee does not meet the conditions for a pension and has not yet reached the age for social retirement benefits; (v) During the period of receiving monthly allowances, health insurance contributions will be covered by the State budget.
5. Supplemental provisions on supplemental retirement insurance
The Social Insurance Law 2024 introduces an additional chapter on Supplementary Retirement Insurance, specifying provisions on eligible participants, principles, the Supplementary Retirement Insurance Fund, and the State’s policies for this supplementary scheme. This creates an opportunity for both employers and employees to make additional contributions, enabling them to receive higher pension benefits.
Impact: Employees and employers now have an additional option through Supplementary Retirement Insurance to secure higher pension benefits. This is a new provision under the Social Insurance Law 2024 offering more flexibility compared to previous regulations.
6. Specific Regulation on the “Reference Level” to replace the “Basic Salary”
The new law introduces the concept of a “reference level”, which will be used to calculate contribution rates and benefit levels for certain social insurance schemes. Until the basic salary is officially abolished, the reference level will be equivalent to the current basic salary.This reference level will be adjusted based on changes in the consumer price index, economic growth, and in accordance with the financial capacity of the state budget and the Social Insurance Fund.
Impact: The introduction of the reference level serves as the basis for determining social insurance entitlements. While the basic salary remains in effect, the reference level is equivalent to VND 2,340,000. When the basic salary is abolished, the reference level must not be lower than VND 2,340,000. This mechanism ensures alignment with the financial capacity of the State budget and the Social Insurance Fund.
The above is a summary of the key updates to Social Insurance Law No. 41/2024/QH15.
If you require further details or have any inquiries that need consultation, please feel free to submit your questions via the link below. Our team will reach out and provide support as soon as possible.