Breakthrough proposal in eliminating notarization and marital status certification in land and vehicle transactions

On October 9, 2025, the Ministry of Public Security has published the draft Resolution of the Government regarding the removal of notarization and marital status certification procedures (“Draft”). Aiming to meet the objectives of administrative procedure reform and national digital transformation, the Draft Resolution proposes to abolish the requirements for notarization and marital status certification in land and vehicle transactions for cases where data has already been digitized and verified.

The Draft seeks to simplify administrative procedures by completely eliminating paper-based documents for two types of transactions: transactions involving the sale, transfer, donation, mortgage, or inheritance of land use rights and assets attached to land; and) transactions involving the sale, transfer, donation, or registration of ownership of vehicles.

Accordingly, instead of requiring notarization and paper-based certification, these procedures would be integrated and automated based on existing data available in the national databases on population, civil status, land, and vehicles.

The Draft also emphasizes and affirms the legal validity of digitized and electronically authenticated data. Data collected and verified from these national databases will have the same legal effect as paper documents, and citizens will not be required to resubmit documents that already exist in the national data systems. Officials and civil servants will be responsible for retrieving and verifying information directly from the electronic system, rather than requesting paper copies from citizens.

With respect to implementation procedures, the Draft Resolution proposes to abolish the requirement for notarization and marital status certification in relevant administrative processes to eliminate unnecessary formalities, thereby reducing costs, shortening processing time, and minimizing overlapping documentation.

For cases where data has been digitized and authenticated, citizens will only need to log into the National Public Service Portal or the VNeID application to declare transaction information. The electronic data system will automatically verify personal information, marital status, land use rights, and vehicle ownership. Contracts will be created, signed, and stored on the electronic platform, with transaction results returned either online or in person, depending on the citizen’s choice.

In cases where such data has not yet been digitized within the national databases, the competent authority may request paper documents once only, while also guiding citizens on updating their information to enable simplified procedures for future transactions.

Overall, the Draft Resolution is considered a breakthrough in institutional reform, establishing a legal framework for the use of electronic data in civil transactions. It is expected to significantly reduce administrative procedures, costs, and processing time for both citizens and businesses, while enhancing public satisfaction and trust in the Government amid the ongoing process of digital transformation and international integration.