Can foreigners open and use ATM cards in Vietnam ?

DMS Lawyers in Danang, Vietnam advise about how can a foreign national carry out procedures to open, issue, and use ATM cards at a bank in Da Nang, Vietnam ?

Subjects that can use bank cards in Vietnam:

Based on the provisions of Clause 1 Article 16 Circular No. 19/2016/TT-NHNN dated 30/06/2016:

“1. For primary cardholders who are individuals

a) People aged from 18 years and older with full civil act capacity as prescribed by law may use debit cards, credit cards, and prepaid cards.

b) People aged from 15 years old to under 18 years old who have not lost or limited their civil act capacity and have their own assets to ensure the fulfillment of obligations in using cards can use a debit card that cannot be overdrafted and a prepaid card.

Based on the provisions of Clause  7 Artice 1 Circular No. 26/2017/TT-NHNN dated 29/12/2017 amending Circular No. 19/2016/TT-NHNN:

“4. In case the subject allowed to use cards specified in Clauses 1 and 3 of this Article is a foreigner, he/she must be allowed to reside in Vietnam for a period of 12 months or more”.

Issue cards by the electronic method:

Based on the provisions of Clause 5 Article 1 Circuar No. 17/2021/TT-NHNN dated 16/11/2021 amending Circular No. 19/2016/TT-NHNN:

“5. The electronic card issuance in this Article does not apply to the subjects in Point b, Clause 1, Clause 2, Clause 3, Article 16 of this Circular. The card issuing organization only issues cards by the electronic method to individual customers who are foreigners according to the provisions of Clause 4, Article 16 of this Circular for debit cards”.

Therefore, for individuals who are foreigners, they must be allowed to reside in Vietnam for a period of 12 months or more to be able to open and use an ATM card at a Bank in Vietnam.

Lega bases:

- Circular No. 19/2016/TT-NHNN dated 30/06/2016;

- Circular No. 26/2017/TT-NHNN dated 29/12/2017 amending Circular 19/2016/TT-NHNN./.

Contact information:

Phone: 0989 157 682

Email: dmslawfirm@gmail.com

DMS LAW LLC

Director

(Signed)

Lawyer Do Minh Son