An urgent and unannounced regulatory change took effect in Vietnam on June 1, 2026. All companies, representative offices, and organisations registered in Vietnam are now required to access the National Public Service Portal and the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) portal via a Business VNeID. The previous login method using a company e-signature or token has been withdrawn with immediate effect and no transition period.
Key Information to Note
- A Business VNeID is now required to submit any administrative procedure through the online portals, including visa pre-approval applications, Temporary Residence Card (TRC) applications, and exit visa applications. Offline or direct submissions to the immigration authorities are no longer accepted, and no alternative mechanisms have been introduced.
- Entities that have not yet registered for a Business VNeID face an immediate operational risk, particularly where time-sensitive immigration applications are outstanding.
- A circular dependency exists where a company’s sole legal representative is a foreign national: obtaining a Business VNeID requires that individual to hold a valid TRC, yet a TRC application can no longer be filed without a Business VNeID already in place. Unless the authorities issue a practical workaround, affected entities may need to amend their business licence and appoint a Vietnamese national as legal representative in order to proceed. This may pose difficulties for foreign-invested companies wishing to retain a foreign legal representative structure.
- For entities that already hold a Business VNeID, portal submission rights may be delegated to an internal staff member or to an authorised third party provided the delegated individual holds a personal VNeID.
This is an abrupt and high-impact change with no transitional relief currently in place. The absence of offline alternatives means that any entity without a Business VNeID is effectively blocked from progressing immigration applications at this time. We strongly encourage clients to confirm their Business VNeID status immediately and, where delegation is possible, to authorise a designated individual to act on their behalf without delay. We are monitoring the situation closely and will provide further updates as the authorities issue additional guidance. Clients with urgent pending applications should contact us directly so we can assess the available options on a case-by-case basis.
This alert is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Please contact Newland Chase directly for case-specific guidance.
