Under the law, commune-level People's Committees can register civil status events and information for individuals without geographical restrictions. These include: birth registration, marriage, guardianship, parent-child recognition, marital status confirmation, death registration, and other civil status information.

The chairperson of the commune-level People's Committee is authorized to sign civil status documents and may delegate this authority based on practical conditions, except for birth certificates, marriage certificates, and cases involving foreign elements. Previously, marital status confirmation had to be done at one's permanent residence, or temporary residence if there was no permanent one.

The law stipulates that all individual civil status events must be registered fully, promptly, truthfully, objectively, and accurately. If conditions are not met, the head of the civil status registration agency must refuse in writing, clearly stating the reason.

Each civil status event and information can only be registered once, except for re-registration of marriage. Civil status registration agencies are responsible for ensuring data uniqueness.

The collection, processing, storage, sharing, and exploitation of civil status data must ensure safety, confidentiality, proper purpose, and compliance with personal data protection regulations. Civil status registration agencies are responsible for proactively utilizing electronic data and searching for information in relevant databases. Citizens are not required to submit, present, or upload documents already available in the system, unless the data cannot be accessed or is incomplete or inaccurate.

National Assembly delegates at Dien Hong Hall. *Hoang Phong*

Justice Minister Hoang Thanh Tung stated that the law has thoroughly decentralized civil status registration authority and allows it to be carried out without geographical restrictions. The government has reviewed, assessed, and confirmed that the conditions and resources meet the implementation requirements.

The national civil status database is operating uniformly nationwide, connecting and sharing information with relevant databases, especially the National Population Database and local administrative procedure resolution systems. Civil status registration agencies have been conducting non-geographical data lookups to facilitate procedures.

The team of civil status officials in localities has been strengthened, ensuring professional competence. Regarding the delegation of signing documents, the law has also been adjusted to be flexible, without restrictions for death certificates to ensure timely resolution; while birth certificates and marriage certificates still require the signature of commune-level People's Committee leaders to ensure strictness.

The law also completes the civil status database, including scanned or photographed paper civil status books, along with information such as full name, date of birth, place of birth, gender, personal identification number, ethnicity, nationality, native place, residence, and identity verification documents.

Information in the civil status database, paper civil status books, and civil status documents must be consistent. Citizens have the right to request the competent authority to make adjustments if errors are found. If electronic data differs from paper records, adjustments must be made according to the paper civil status book.

The revised civil status law takes effect on 1/3/2027.

Son Ha