Tips for CCCD

These tips were created by siblings who have been deported to Vietnam. The goal of these tips is to help you and your families prepare for the national ID/Can Cuoc Cong Dan (CCCD) process. 

Locating loved ones during the last days of detention is a significant source of stress for many of our families. The lack of transparency with ICE leaves many families in turmoil for months.

After landing almost immediately we find ourselves under a cloud of stress on how to get national IDs also known as Can Cuoc Cong Dan (CCCD). This can heighten anxiety and depression during the first period after landing; and dampen excitement for getting started with the new beginning in front of us.

Here are some tips we as siblings already deported to Vietnam are providing you.Some of us have successfully received our CCCD, and some of us still are in the process. We hope this can alleviate some level of stress. You are not alone!

Tips from formerly deported siblings:

1. Adjust your mindset - prepare yourself for the journey. It is best to accept that the ID process will take at least 6 months. 

2. How to dress when visiting police offices - it is important to not wear shorts. Not even your most formal pair. This is a cultural difference.

3. How to talk to officials – have respect for yourself. Be firm, and talk to them as human beings. 

4. Prepare what paperwork you need to have - come with a folder. Prep your paper work. 

5. Be punctual. If an official asks you to come in for a meeting, please arrive on time. If you are unable to attend that day, inform them in advance so they can reschedule the appointment.

6. Educate them on the process they need to take - many provincial officials are willing to help but do not know the process. Learn what has worked from siblings in other locations, and feel free to share with the officials in your province. It can definitely be a team effort. 

7. Initiate contact – officials will often state that you will hear from them in 3 weeks. Do not wait. Once in a while call them, or go in to see the officials in person. 

8. Sponsor and families - go beyond. Families and sponsors are often well meaning but they also do not understand the process. This can result in prolonged wait times. Initiate your own process, ask others siblings, and learn!

9. Ask other siblings – people are finding trustworthy services “runners” that can help people through the process. Ba Lo does not provide this information. However many siblings have tried and true contacts who can help. 

What is a national ID/Can Cuoc Cong Dan (CCCD)?

In 2024, Vietnam ushered in a new ID system. It is a chip based identity system, which serves as the primary form of identity for citizens age 14 and older. It contains a unique, permanent 12-digit number, personal details, biometric data (fingerprints, facial photo), and a chip for high-security, facilitating legal residency, work, bank accounts, and administrative procedures.

How long does it take to get your CCCD?

The Vietnamese government aims to issue the CCCD within no more than 6 months for individuals deported back to Vietnam. Therefore, a six-month passport is issued to deported individuals as a form of temporary ID. The six-month timeframe is considered expedited, as for Vietnamese citizens living abroad who wish to return, the CCCD application process typically takes between 12 and 18 months.We know people have received their ID a few months into landing, and people who still do not have their ID reaching a year. It depends on each individual, as well as the provinces. However most of the siblings appear to be waiting several  months for this multi-step verification process. 

Why does it take so long?

The CCCD process is lengthy, due the process of confirming one's identity, personal details, family history, ho khau, etc. The card itself is not the issue.

Many deported siblings come to Vietnam with no birth certificate, no family history, etc. Provinces must conduct this background search and it takes a number of entities to do so. It is also apparent that provinces are learning how to do this, as it is not something they have had to do before. People rarely turn up in Vietnam with little family background with a need for the CCCD.In addition many documents such as birth certificates were destroyed after 1975. There are other challenges –  some people were born in refugee camps, or in rural areas often no records were kept. This creates more steps in the process. Although provinces do have alternative processes in re-issuing a birth certificate, administrative procedures can be  unclear, and take running around to different offices. Sometimes with little outcome. If you do not have your ID after 6 months, you can contact us at baloproject.org/contact to see if we can help.