The first session of the 16th National Assembly just passed the Law on Civil Status (amended). This Law takes effect from March 1, 2027.
This Law stipulates civil status, civil status registration, civil status database and state management of civil status.
The amended Law on Civil Status Marks a major change in the method of civil status management, shifting from an administrative model based on paper records and residence to digitization and data interconnection.
One of the important new points of the revised Law on Civil Status is the recognition of the legal value of electronic data and electronic copies of civil status documents equivalent to paper copies.
Previously, according to the 2014 Law, paper was still the main basis when carrying out transactions and administrative procedures. People often had to present or submit certified copies, leading to many intermediate steps.
The new regulation allows the use of electronic data directly from the civil status database, and at the same time requires agencies not to require people to provide documents if the information is already in the system.
The Law clearly states that electronic civil status data includes electronic copies of civil status documents. Data in the Civil Status Database meets the provisions of law on electronic transactions, "valuable as paper civil status documents" when carrying out administrative procedures and other transactions.
Recognizing the legal value of electronic data is the basis for reducing paperwork, limiting the situation of multiple copies and certifications, and creating conditions for the implementation of online public services.
The civil status registration agency is responsible for checking information in the Civil Status Database and related databases before registering civil status.
In case the content in the personal records, documents, and other databases does not match the birth information, the record management agency, database, and document issuing agency is responsible for proactively coordinating with the civil status registration agency and civil status management agency to check, adjust, and ensure accurate information.
The Law on Civil Status just passed by the National Assembly also emphasizes the principle that people only have to provide information once to state agencies. Agencies are responsible for exploiting and sharing data from connected systems instead of requiring people to provide it again.
Meanwhile, according to the practice of applying the 2014 Law on Civil Status Registration, people often have to re-declare information in many procedures even though the data already exists in the system of state agencies.
The new principle contributes to reducing information duplication and simplifying the dossier processing process. At the same time, data interconnection between agencies helps limit information misinformation and improve unity in management.
