Vietnam VNeID Digital ID for Children: 2026 Guide

VNeID Digital ID for Children: What Parents Should Know in 2026

In 2026, Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security is running a push to issue level-2 digital identity (VNeID) accounts to children aged 6 to under 14 and to students preparing for the year's exams. The goal is to integrate documents — digital school records (học bạ số), health-insurance cards, diplomas, and residence data — into the VNeID app so families can handle procedures online. Here's what parents need to know and how to prepare.

ID Card & Digital ID Rules by Age

Under the Law on Identification 2023 (No. 26/2023/QH15, effective 1 July 2024), citizens under 14 — including children under 6 — are issued an ID card (căn cước) on request, not mandatory. This is a change from the old rule, under which cards started at age 14. Biometric requirements differ by age:

Age	Requirement to issue an ID card
Under 6	No fingerprints, no photo collected. A legal representative completes the procedure; the child need not attend in person.
6 to under 14	Attend a police office with a legal representative for biometrics: face photo, fingerprints, iris.
Fee	Free for children under 14.

How to Register Your Child's ID & Digital Identity

1. The parent opens the VNeID app (level-2 account) and goes to Administrative procedures.
2. Select Issue an ID card for a person under 14 and enter the child's details. The same can be done on the Ministry of Public Security public service portal.
3. For children aged 6 to under 14: bring the child to the police office at the appointment for biometrics (photo, fingerprints, iris). Children under 6 skip this step.
4. Once the child's ID card is issued, you can activate the child's level-2 digital identity, ready to integrate digital school records, health insurance, and other documents.

Where Does Your Child's Photo Come From?

This is a common misunderstanding. The photo printed on the ID card for a child aged 6 to under 14 is taken by the police office during the biometric step — parents do not submit their own photo for that card. Children under 6 need no photo.

However, once your child's records go digital, you'll still need a standardized ID photo for other documents — most commonly digital school records, student files, and other school paperwork. For those, you can create a compliant file at home:

• Photograph your child against a bright background, then upload to the 3x4 ID photo tool or crop 4x6 tool for a correctly-sized file with a white background at 300 DPI.
• For the ID-card photo standard itself, see chip ID card photo requirements.

Notes for Parents

• Not mandatory under 14: the ID card is issued on request, but a level-2 digital ID makes public services and document integration far easier.
• Parent needs a level-2 account: if you don't have one, complete your own level-2 verification first.
• Ages 6–14 must visit a police office: the biometric step can't be done online — only the application form is online.
• Free: issuing an ID card for a child under 14 carries no fee.