No Fees for Citizens When Updating Documents Due to Administrative Mergers
3/28/2025
A draft resolution from the Standing Committee of the National Assembly on administrative unit restructuring mandates that no fees or charges be collected when updating personal documents due to changes in administrative boundaries.
In the draft resolution, the Ministry of Home Affairs also proposed principles for naming newly formed commune-level administrative units after the restructuring.
According to the Ministry, the names of newly established communes and wards should be easily recognizable, concise, easy to pronounce and remember, and should maintain systematic and scientific consistency.
It is encouraged to name communes and wards using numerical order or by incorporating the name of the district-level administrative unit (prior to restructuring) along with a sequential number. This approach facilitates digitization and data updates.
Additionally, using existing names of former administrative units, historically significant names, or culturally and traditionally valued names that have public support is recommended.
Importantly, newly formed communes and wards must not share the same name as any existing administrative units of the same level within the province or centrally governed city. This rule also applies to future provincial-level administrative units that have been approved for restructuring.
Regarding document updates for individuals and organizations, the draft resolution stipulates that documents issued by authorities before the restructuring will remain valid until their expiration. Citizens will not need to renew them immediately.
Citizens obtaining chip-based national ID cards at the Administrative Management and Social Order Police Department – Ho Chi Minh City Police (Image source: Tuoi Tre)
Provincial People's Committees will oversee the restructuring process at the commune level by planning public awareness campaigns and facilitating the transition of personal and organizational documents. All updates required due to administrative boundary changes will be free of charge.
The draft resolution also outlines standards and quantity regulations for commune- and ward-level administrative units post-restructuring.
Newly established communes must have a land area and population size exceeding 300% of the standard set in the National Assembly’s resolution on administrative unit classification.
For mountainous or border communes with at least 30% ethnic minority population, the minimum required population size is 7,500 residents.
Newly established wards must have a land area of at least 35 km² and a population of at least 50,000 people. In mountainous and highland regions, the minimum population requirement is 35,000 residents.
If four or more commune-level administrative units are merged into one, the new unit will not be required to meet the land area and population criteria.
Furthermore, the total number of communes and wards in each province or centrally governed city must be reduced by at least 70% and up to 75% compared to the current total.
Source: VnEconomy
Source: VnEconomy
