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The front of the identity certificate to be issued from July 1 under the Ministry of Public and Security’s Circular 16/2024/TT-BCA |
I’m a person of Vietnamese origin with unknown citizenship and currently residing in Vietnam. What are my rights and obligations related to the identity, National Population Database and Identity Database when the new Law on Identity takes effect?
As defined in Article 3.4 of the new Law on Identity, which comes into force on July 1 this year, a person of Vietnamese origin with unknown citizenship currently residing in Vietnam is a person who is residing in Vietnam and does not have papers and documents proving that he holds Vietnamese citizenship or the citizenships of another country but shares the same direct blood line with a person who once held Vietnamese citizenship as determined according to the principle of jus sanguinis.
If falling into this case, you will have your personal data in the National Population Database and the Identity Database protected in accordance with law, have the personal identification number of a person of Vietnamese origin with unknown citizenship established, and be issued an identity certificate which will be renewed or re-issued in accordance with this Law.
Please keep in mind that identity certificates will only be issued to people of Vietnamese origin with unknown citizenship who have been residing for at least six consecutive months in a commune-level administrative unit or a district-level administrative unit where commune-level administrative units are not organized.
Besides, you may request identity management agencies to update and adjust your identity certificate as well as your information in the National Population Database and the Identity Database in accordance with the law on identity;
In addition, you are allowed to use your identity certificate in transactions and exercise of lawful rights and interests and exploit your information in the National Population Database and the Identity Database.
On the other hand, you are obliged to fulfill law-prescribed formalities for issuance, renewal and re-issuance of identity certificate; and preserve your issued identity certificate.
Your will also have to provide in a complete, accurate and prompt manner information and documents to serve the updating and adjustment of information in the National Population Database and the Identity Database. In case there are any changes in the information stated in your identity card, when conducting transactions, you must provide documents related to such changes to authorities and will be held responsible for the completeness and accuracy of such documents.
When being requested by competent persons, you will have to present your identity certificate or provide your personal identification number in accordance with law.
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The back of the identity certificate to be issued from July 1 under the Ministry of Public and Security’s Circular 16/2024/TT-BCA |
What information does my identity certificate contain?
According to Article 30.3 of the new Law, information printed on an identity certificate includes:
- The national emblem of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam;
- The phrases “CỘNG HÒA XÃ HỘI CHỦ NGHĨA VIỆT NAM, Độc lập - Tự do - Hạnh phúc” (THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM, Independence - Freedom - Happiness);
- The phrase “CHỨNG NHẬN CĂN CƯỚC” (IDENTITY CERTIFICATE);
- Face photo, fingerprints;
- Personal identification number;
- Surname, middle name and given name;
- Date of birth;
- Gender;
- Place of birth;
- Native place;
- Ethnicity;
- Religion;
- Marital status;
- Place of domicile;
- Surname, middle name and given name and citizenship of the father, mother, spouse, at-law representative, guardian or ward;
- Issuance date, issuing agency; and
- Expiry date.
Which agencies are in charge of issuing, renewing and re-issuing identity certificates for people of Vietnamese origin with unknown citizenship?
As per Article 30.4 of the Law, procedures for issuance, renewal and re-issuance of identity certificates for people of Vietnamese origin with unknown citizenship will be carried out at identity management agencies of district-level Public Security Divisions or provincial-level Public Security Departments of the localities where these persons are residing.
When necessary, the aforementioned identity management agencies may carry out procedures for issuance of identity certificates in communes, wards, townships, workplaces or places of domicile of people of Vietnamese origin with unknown citizenship.
How can I use the identity certificate for my advantage?
The identity certificate of a person of Vietnamese origin with unknown citizenship is valid for proving such person’s identity when conducting transactions and exercising his lawful rights and interests in Vietnam, as stated in Article 30.5 of the Law.
Please be aware that authorities may use the personal identification number in your identity certificate to check your information in the National Population Database, other national databases and specialized databases in accordance with law.
In case you have produced your identity certificate to competent authorities or persons at the latter’s request, you will not have to produce papers or provide information already certified in your identity certificate, unless your information has changed or the information in your identity certificate is inconsistent with information in the National Population Database.-