Vietnam residence registration: what replaces the household book

Vietnam residence registration no longer depends on the paper household book, and the change happens in steps. The Law on Residence (Law No. 68/2020/QH14) takes effect on 1 July 2021. It moves residence records into a national population database. The old book, called the "ho khau" or "so ho khau", is being phased out. This post explains what that means for you in plain words.

The short answer

From 1 July 2021, the authorities stop issuing new paper household books and stop registering new entries in them. Books you already hold stay valid for now. They count as proof of your residence until the last day of next year. After that date they will no longer be valid.

So you do not need to rush. You also should not throw your book away. Keep it safe until your local police office tells you your record is fully in the database.

Sources: Law on Residence No. 68/2020/QH14; background in VnExpress International, 4 November 2017.

Why the book is going away

The idea is not new. In late 2017 the government issued Resolution 112/NQ-CP. It took effect on 30 October 2017 and set the direction: manage residence through the national population database, not through a paper book. Each citizen gets a personal identification number, and that number is used for official procedures.

The book had a long history. It dates from the 1960s and was first used for planning and for controlling where people lived. Over time it became a requirement for many everyday tasks, such as birth registration, school enrollment and marriage. It also affected job access, home purchases and vehicle purchases in big cities.

A World Bank report from 2016 found that 36 percent of the people in Ho Chi Minh City and 18 percent of the people in Hanoi had no household book. That is a large group who faced extra steps. A database tied to a personal number is meant to remove many of those steps.

Sources: Tuoi Tre, 4 November 2017; Thanh Nien, 5 November 2017; VnExpress International, 4 November 2017.

Permanent and temporary residence: the two basic ideas

Permanent residence means the place that is your main home. Temporary residence means a place where you live for a while, away from your main home. The law keeps both ideas, but it records them in the database instead of in two paper books.

A person who lives somewhere other than their permanent residence for a longer period is expected to register temporary residence there. The exact length of stay that triggers this, and how long a registration lasts, are set in the law and its guiding rules, so ask your local police office before you rely on any number.

The separate temporary residence book is also dropped. Under the 2017 resolution, procedures such as splitting a book, reissuing it or extending a temporary residence book were to be abolished.

Sources: Law on Residence No. 68/2020/QH14; Thanh Nien, 5 November 2017.

What to do now

Take a few simple steps while the system changes.

• Keep your household book and, if you have one, your temporary residence book. They stay valid for now.
• Know your personal identification number. It is the key to your record in the database.
• Keep proof of where you live, such as a tenancy contract or a home ownership document. Offices may still ask to see it.
• If you move to a new place for a longer stay, ask the police office there about temporary residence registration and keep the receipt.
• Ask your ward or commune police office if you are unsure. They handle residence records and can confirm your status.

Procedures that once asked for a household book are expected to use the database instead. Even so, some offices will take time to adjust. Carry a copy of your book and your ID card when you visit one.

Sources: Law on Residence No. 68/2020/QH14; Tuoi Tre, 4 November 2017.

What this means for families and renters

Many families used the book to show who lives together. Records in the database are meant to do that job. If your family details are wrong, ask the police office to correct them before you need them for a school place or a loan.

Renters should be careful. Your landlord may need to confirm where you live, so keep your agreement and any residence receipt together. If a landlord refuses, ask the local police office what you can submit instead.

The change should make life simpler over time. Fewer papers, fewer trips and one record are the goals. Until then, keep your documents and check each office's rules.

Sources: Law on Residence No. 68/2020/QH14; VnExpress International, 4 November 2017.

Sources

• Law on Residence, Law No. 68/2020/QH14, National Assembly of Vietnam.
• VnExpress International, 4 November 2017
• Tuoi Tre, 4 November 2017
• Thanh Nien, 5 November 2017

This is general information, not legal advice. Check with your local police office for your own case.