Nguyen Huu Khoi (born 1952, originally from Ho Chi Minh City, now residing in the United States) submitted this question: “I hold dual citizenship and possess both a U.S. passport and a Vietnamese passport issued by the Vietnamese Embassy in Washington D.C. Can I apply for a Vietnamese citizen ID card at the embassy, or do I have to return to Vietnam?”

Attorney Vu Anh Tuan (Trung Hoa Law Office, Hanoi) responded:

According to Article 19, Clause 1 of the 2023 Law on Citizen Identification, all Vietnamese citizens are eligible for a citizen ID card, regardless of whether they reside in Vietnam or overseas.

However, the process for issuing citizen ID cards currently requires individuals to be physically present in Vietnam. Article 27 of the same law stipulates that applications, renewals, and replacements for citizen ID cards must be processed by the identification management agency under the police department of the commune or ward where the citizen resides.

In certain special cases, the procedure may be carried out by the Ministry of Public Security’s central identification unit, as determined by its leadership. Additionally, in some necessary cases, ID cards can be issued at local authorities, agencies, units, or citizens' residences - but all of these must occur within Vietnamese territory.

As it stands, Vietnamese law does not authorize embassies or consulates abroad to issue citizen ID cards. Therefore, Vietnamese citizens residing overseas must return to Vietnam to apply for their national ID card at the competent local police agency.

Attorney Vu Anh Tuan advises Vietnamese nationals living abroad: If you plan to obtain your citizen ID card, it's best to arrange a visit to Vietnam and contact your local police office in advance for detailed guidance. This can help avoid unnecessary travel costs and delays.

Tien Dung