Do residents need to renew their identity cards after the province merger?

Do residents need to renew their identity cards after the province merger? (Illustrative image.)

The merger of provinces and centrally-administered cities is an important policy of the Party and the State aimed at improving administrative efficiency, socio-economic development, and people's lives. When provinces are merged, many people wonder if they need to reapply for their citizen identification cards.

Mr. Hoang Van Anh, originally from Le Thuy district, Quang Binh province, asked: "I'm from Quang Binh, a province that is expected to merge with Quang Tri in the near future. Quang Binh will also be chosen as the administrative center after the merger. I don't know if, after the official merger takes place, I, who live and have permanent residence registration in Quang Binh, will be required to change my identity card?"

Regarding this issue, in an interview with VietNamNet, lawyer Tran Viet Ha (Nam Son Law Firm), Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association, stated that according to current regulations, citizens are not required to change or reissue their identity cards when provinces are merged.

Specifically, Clause 1, Article 21 of Resolution 35/2023/UBTVQH15 stipulates that documents issued before the reorganization according to the old administrative units, if not yet expired, may continue to be used.

Furthermore, Article 10 of Resolution 190/2025/QH15, which regulates the handling of issues related to the reorganization of the state apparatus, specifies the documents and papers issued by competent agencies and officials as follows:

“1. Documents and papers issued by competent authorities before the reorganization of the state apparatus that have not yet expired or reached their expiration date shall continue to be applied and used in accordance with the law until their expiration date or until they are amended, supplemented, replaced, repealed, canceled, or withdrawn by the agency or authority receiving the functions, tasks, and powers, or by the competent authority or person.

2. Organizations and individuals shall not be required to renew documents issued by competent authorities or positions before the restructuring of the state apparatus if these documents have not yet expired, except where the law provides otherwise.

Therefore, according to lawyer Ha, people are not required to renew their identity cards or passports when provinces are merged.

According to VNN

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/nguoi-dan-co-can-lam-lai-the-can-cuoc-khi-sap-nhap-tinh-245749.htm