Issue ID cards to people under 14 years old on demand

On the afternoon of June 2, General To Lam, Minister of Public Security, authorized by the Prime Minister, presented the Report on the draft Law on Identification.

Remove fingerprints from ID cards

The draft Law on Identification supplements regulations on the management and issuance of identification cards for people under 14 years old and the issuance of identification certificates for people of Vietnamese origin to ensure their legitimate rights and interests and serve State management; promote the value and utility of identification cards in the activities of digital government and digital society.

“However, the issuance of cards to people under 14 years old will be done according to demand, while it is mandatory for people 14 years old and above,” said the Minister of Public Security.

General To Lam, Minister of Public Security (Photo: QH)

According to the Government's report to the National Assembly on receiving and explaining the opinions of the National Assembly Standing Committee on the draft Law on Identification, with 19 million citizens under 14 years old, it is estimated that the amount of money the State and society must spend on some related documents is about 2,000 billion VND.

Meanwhile, the cost of producing each ID card is 48,000 VND. If 19 million children under 14 years old need ID cards, the cost will be about 900 billion VND.

Regarding the content shown on the ID card, the draft Law on ID amended and supplemented in the direction of removing fingerprints; amending the regulations on information on ID card number, the words "citizen identification card", hometown, permanent residence, signature of the card issuer to personal identification number, the words "ID card", place of birth registration, place of residence.

“The change is to make it more convenient for people to use their ID cards, limit the need to issue new ID cards, and ensure people’s privacy. The issued ID cards are still valid and are not affected by this regulation,” said Minister To Lam.

The draft Law on Identification also stipulates that valid identity cards issued before the effective date of the Law on Identification will be valid until December 31, 2024. Legal documents issued using information from identity cards and citizen identification cards will remain legally valid.

According to General To Lam, the Ministry of Public Security has issued nearly 80 million citizen identification cards to eligible people, so the regulation on the expiration date of basic identity cards does not affect the people.

“This regulation will limit the continued use of old identity cards, which are not as secure as ID cards and do not have many utilities; encourage people to change their habits by using electronic chip ID cards,” the Minister of Public Security informed.

Proposal to add blood type information on ID cards

In the report on the review of the ID Law project, Chairman of the National Defense and Security Committee Le Tan Toi said that there were opinions suggesting considering the regulation that the subjects of ID card issuance are people under 14 years old because it is believed that the need to use ID cards of this group of subjects is very low.

The National Defense and Security Committee basically agreed on the content shown on the ID card. Some opinions suggested adding the “blood type” information field on the ID card to ensure convenience when used in some urgent cases.

Some opinions suggest adding blood type information on identity cards.

Regarding the integration of information into the ID card, the National Defense and Security Committee basically agreed to integrate some citizen information into the ID card to contribute to reducing paperwork for citizens, creating convenience for agencies, organizations and citizens in administrative and civil transactions, travel, and administrative procedure reform.

The National Defense and Security Committee recommends that information integration must go hand in hand with ensuring technical infrastructure and information management and use to protect citizens' civil rights and privacy.

Mr. Le Tan Toi said that there are concerns about integrating personal information into the ID card in case the card is lost and waiting to be reissued, which will affect the use of information (also documents) integrated into the ID card, affecting the exercise of citizen rights.

Source