Social Insurance Code Replaced by Citizen ID Number from September 1, 2026 

Under Plan 3115/KH-BHXH (and Official Announcement 6877/TB-BHXH), Vietnam Social Security (VSS) is officially replacing the traditional 10-digit social insurance code with the 12-digit Citizen Identification Number (CCCD / Personal Identification Number) starting September 1, 2026. This national initiative aligns with Project 06 to streamline administrative procedures, eliminate redundant identifiers, and establish a unified digital database across Vietnam. 

The transition relies on an automated background data migration. Foreign-invested enterprises (FDI) and domestic companies do not need to replace physical books manually, as the national insurance system will synchronize data directly with the National Population Database. 

Will this change affect employees’ social insurance participation process? 

No. The replacement of the 10-digit social insurance code with the 12-digit Personal Identification Number is strictly an administrative modernization. It will not interrupt, delay, or alter employees’ ongoing participation in social insurance (BHXH), health insurance (BHYT), or unemployment insurance (BHTN). 

• Continuous Benefit Accrual: All historical contribution records previously linked to the 10-digit social insurance code will automatically merge under the employee’s 12-digit Citizen ID number. 
• Uninterrupted Healthcare Services: Employees visiting medical facilities can present their chip-based Citizen ID, Level 2 VNeID account, or VssID application without presenting a physical health insurance card. 
• Parallel Lookup Support: During the migration window, VSS maintains dual-system compatibility in the background, ensuring no disruption during pension claims, maternity allowances, or sick leave payouts. 

Do social insurance participants need to perform code change procedures? 

No manual application or paperwork is required for workers whose personal records are already verified against the National Population Database. The national insurance portal handles the data migration automatically. 

The VSS database automatically links the existing 10-digit social insurance code to the individual’s 12-digit Citizen Identification Number. 

Important Exception: Manual intervention via Form TK1-TS is only required if an employee’s registered insurance file contains data discrepancies—such as mismatched full names, incorrect dates of birth, or unverified ID numbers – when cross-referenced with national population records. Employees are advised to wait until after September 1, 2026, when the synchronization process has been completed, before submitting Form TK1-TS if their information still does not match or has not been successfully updated. 

Will foreign employees participating in social insurance have their codes changed? 

No, this change does not apply to foreign employees. The regulation replacing the legacy Social Insurance Code with a 12-digit Citizen Identification Number applies specifically to Vietnamese citizens who hold a national Citizen ID (CCCD). Foreign employees participating in Vietnam’s social insurance system will continue to use their existing social insurance codes. 

• Expat Tracking Framework: Foreign expatriates working in Vietnam do not hold a 12-digit Vietnamese Citizen ID. Therefore, they will continue using their assigned 10-digit social insurance code. 
• Document Mapping: An expat’s insurance profile remains linked directly to their valid Foreign Passport Number, Work Permit, or Temporary Residence Card (TRC). 
• FDI HR Compliance: Companies operating in Vietnam must maintain two distinct database fields for payroll and compliance: local personnel (indexed by 12-digit Citizen ID) and foreign expats (indexed by 10-digit social insurance code). 

What steps must businesses take to prepare for this transition? 

Businesses should simply review their employees’ personal and social insurance information to ensure that their full names, dates of birth, Citizen ID numbers, and Social Insurance Codes are accurate and consistent. If any discrepancies remain after the system synchronization, the employer should take the necessary steps to update the information with the social insurance authority. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Q1: How will employees look up their social insurance records after September 1, 2026? 

A: Employees can query their contribution history directly on the VssID app, the VNeID portal (Level 2 identity), or the official VSS Public Service Portal using their 12-digit Citizen ID number. 

Q2: Does this system shift affect enterprise VssID or I-VAN portal logins? 

A: Corporate portal credentials remain active, but software interfaces will transition to primary 12-digit ID field indexing for local staff declarations. 

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