SIM Card Biometric Rule Takes Effect June 15: What Vietnam's 110.5 Million Mobile Users Need to Know

Published: June 15, 2026 | Author: DataCore Research | Publisher: DataCore | Xem ban tieng Viet

TL;DR

• From June 15, 2026, Vietnam's SIM biometric authentication rule, issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology (Bo Khoa hoc va Cong nghe, BKHCN), requires carriers to suspend outgoing calls and Short Message Service (SMS) on any SIM not biometrically verified within 2 hours of switching devices - per Circular 08/2026/TT-BKHCN.
• The SIM biometric authentication rule affects 110.5 million mobile internet (3G/4G/5G) subscribers in Vietnam as of early 2026, per DataReportal Digital 2026 Vietnam.
• SIM biometric authentication goal: eliminate junk SIMs used for spam and fraud, and build a controlled digital identity infrastructure for Vietnam.
• For banks, digital wallets, and fintech companies, electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) infrastructure is now a compliance-layer requirement - user onboarding for SIM biometric authentication must plug into Vietnam's verified identity stack.
• DataCore (a Vietnamese financial data and infrastructure platform) provides eKYC Service, a Production-stage B2B identity verification service. Details at datacore.vn.

What Is Circular 08/2026/TT-BKHCN and Why Does It Matter?

Vietnam's Ministry of Science and Technology (Bo Khoa hoc va Cong nghe, BKHCN) issued Circular 08/2026/TT-BKHCN, effective June 15, 2026. The regulation mandates that mobile network operators - Viettel, Mobifone, Vinaphone (Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group, VNPT), Reddi (formerly Vietnamobile), and Gmobile - must suspend outgoing calls and Short Message Service (SMS) for any SIM card that fails to complete SIM biometric authentication (biometric face verification) within a maximum of 2 hours after the SIM is inserted into a new device.

The SIM biometric authentication rule pursues three goals: eliminate "SIM rac" (junk SIMs used for spam and scams), combat telecommunications fraud, and build a controlled digital identity infrastructure for Vietnam. Sources: Vietnam circular coverage on thethaoVanhoa.vn, Vietnam circular coverage on vietnamplus.vn.

Why Does the 110.5 Million Subscriber Number Matter?

Vietnam had 110.5 million mobile internet (3G/4G/5G) subscribers as of early 2026, according to DataReportal Digital 2026 Vietnam. This is not a niche regulation: SIM biometric authentication applies to virtually every mobile user in the country. Every person who switches to a new phone is now subject to a 2-hour SIM biometric authentication window.

The practical impact: a user who moves a SIM to a new device and does not verify their face will lose the ability to make outgoing calls or send SMS until they complete the biometric check - typically via their carrier's app or a store visit.

How Does SIM Biometric Authentication Work? The 2-Hour Window

The process is sequential:

1. User inserts SIM into a new device.
2. Carrier detects the device change.
3. 2-hour countdown begins.
4. If biometric face authentication is not completed within the window, outgoing calls and SMS are suspended.
5. Once verification is done, service resumes immediately.

The verification uses facial recognition matched against Vietnam's National Population Database (Co so du lieu quoc gia ve dan cu), which has been linked to mobile subscriber registration since 2023. The authentication is performed through each carrier's official app.

What Does This Mean for Banks, Fintechs, and B2B App Builders?

This is where the regulation shifts from a consumer story to a B2B infrastructure story. Any business running a banking app, digital wallet, lending platform, or fintech product in Vietnam now operates in an environment where:

• User onboarding requires biometric identity verification at the infrastructure level.
• Regulatory compliance for digital services is increasingly tied to verified real identities - not just KYC forms.
• The Vietnamese government is actively building a digital identity stack that B2B services need to connect into.

DataCore (financial data and infrastructure platform, Vietnam) provides eKYC Service - a Production-stage B2B identity verification service that integrates directly into your application's onboarding flow. Unlike building the verification infrastructure in-house, DataCore eKYC Service provides a ready API layer compliant with Vietnam's National Population Database integration requirements. Full details at datacore.vn.

Why the SIM Biometric Authentication Rule Matters for Vietnam's Digital Economy

Vietnam has spent several years tightening the link between mobile identity and real-world identity, and the SIM biometric authentication rule is the most consequential step yet. By requiring face verification within two hours of a device switch, regulators close one of the last easy routes for anonymous SIMs to circulate.

The effect on the digital economy is twofold. First, it raises the baseline trust of every phone number, which matters because Vietnamese banks, e-wallets, and public services lean heavily on SMS and phone-based verification. Second, it accelerates demand for robust eKYC: any business that onboards users remotely now operates in an environment where the underlying SIM is expected to be identity-verified.

Companies that already invested in compliant identity infrastructure are positioned to benefit, while those relying on lightly verified channels will need to adapt quickly. In that sense, the SIM biometric authentication rule is less a one-off telecom regulation and more a structural shift toward a fully verified digital identity layer for Vietnam.

What Should You Do Before Switching Devices?

To stay compliant with Vietnam's SIM biometric authentication rule, both individual users and businesses should prepare before June 15, 2026. The process is straightforward, but the 2-hour suspension window means a missed verification can cut off calls and SMS at an inconvenient moment.

For individual mobile users:

• Confirm your SIM is already biometrically registered with your carrier (Viettel, Mobifone, Vinaphone, Reddi, or Gmobile) under your real identity.
• Keep your chip-based citizen ID card on hand, since carrier apps use it during SIM biometric authentication.
• When you insert your SIM into a new device, complete the face verification step in your carrier app immediately instead of waiting.

For banks, fintechs, and B2B platforms:

• Treat SIM biometric authentication as part of your broader eKYC and onboarding flow, not an isolated telecom step.
• Map which customer journeys depend on SMS one-time passwords (OTPs), because a suspended SIM breaks OTP delivery.
• Evaluate a production-grade identity verification partner so onboarding stays compliant with Vietnam's verified identity stack.

Acting early turns a potential disruption into a routine check, and it keeps both consumers and regulated businesses on the right side of the new rule.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Circular 08/2026/TT-BKHCN apply to all SIM cards in Vietnam?

Yes. The circular applies to all licensed mobile network operators in Vietnam and all subscribers. Switching to a new device triggers a 2-hour biometric verification window, regardless of carrier.

What happens if I do not verify within the 2-hour window?

Outgoing calls and Short Message Service (SMS) are suspended until biometric face authentication is completed. Incoming calls and messages are unaffected. Mobile data services may continue depending on the carrier's implementation.

How does SIM biometric authentication connect to eKYC for businesses?

Biometric verification at the carrier level is one piece of Vietnam's broader digital identity infrastructure. For businesses, the parallel requirement is that user onboarding for financial services must verify real identity. Electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) services like DataCore's provide the B2B integration layer to do this at scale.

Which carriers are affected by the biometric SIM rule?

All licensed mobile network operators: Viettel, Mobifone, Vinaphone (VNPT), Reddi (formerly Vietnamobile), and Gmobile. The 2-hour verification window applies across all operators from June 15, 2026.

Where can businesses learn more about DataCore eKYC Service?

Visit DataCore's service page at datacore.vn for integration guides, pricing, and B2B use cases for banking, fintech, and digital wallet applications.

Sources: Vietnam circular coverage on thethaoVanhoa.vn | Vietnam circular coverage on vietnamplus.vn | DataReportal Digital 2026 Vietnam subscriber data | Circular 08/2026/TT-BKHCN (Bo Khoa hoc va Cong nghe).

When exactly does the SIM biometric authentication rule take effect?

The rule takes effect on June 15, 2026 under Circular 08/2026/TT-BKHCN. From that date, any SIM moved to a new device and not biometrically verified within two hours will have outgoing calls and SMS suspended until verification is completed. There is no separate grace period beyond the two-hour window itself.

How do I re-verify a SIM that has already been suspended?

Open your carrier's official app, sign in, and complete the face-verification step using your chip-based citizen ID. Once SIM biometric authentication succeeds, outgoing calls and SMS are usually restored within minutes. If the app cannot verify you, visit an official carrier store with your ID rather than using third-party services.

Does the rule apply to eSIM and dual-SIM devices?

Yes. The requirement is tied to identity verification of the subscriber, not the physical form factor, so eSIM profiles and each SIM in a dual-SIM phone are expected to meet the same biometric standard. Users who manage multiple numbers should verify each one to avoid partial service suspension.

What does the rule mean for foreign visitors buying a local SIM?

Short-term visitors who buy a local prepaid SIM are also subject to identity verification at the point of sale, and the same suspension logic applies if the SIM is later moved to another device without re-verification. Travelers should register the SIM under their passport and keep that identification available when switching phones.

Are prepaid SIMs treated the same as postpaid under the rule?

Yes. Circular 08/2026/TT-BKHCN applies to both prepaid and postpaid SIM cards. Any line moved to a new device must pass SIM biometric authentication within the two-hour window, regardless of the billing arrangement, or outgoing calls and SMS are suspended.

Does the rule affect mobile data, or only calls and SMS?

The suspension specifically targets outgoing calls and SMS for unverified SIMs. Mobile data behaviour can vary by carrier, but because most account recovery and one-time password flows depend on SMS, an unverified SIM is effectively limited until SIM biometric authentication is completed.