Circular No. 51/2025/TT-BKHCN Issuing "National Technical Regulation on Requirements for Time Stamp Service"

CIRCULAR

Issuing "National Technical Regulation on Requirements for Time Stamping Services"

National Technical Regulation on Requirements for Time Stamping Services

Pursuant to the Law on Electronic Transactions No. 20/2023/QH15;

Pursuant to the Law on Standards and Technical Regulations No. 68/2006/QH11, amended and supplemented by Law No. 35/2018/QH14 and Law No. 70/2025/QH15;

Pursuant to the Government Decree No. 23/2025/NĐ-CP dated February 21, 2025, stipulating electronic signatures and trusted services;

Pursuant to Decree No. 127/2007/NĐ-CP dated August 1, 2007 of the Government detailing implementation of certain provisions of the Law on Standards and Technical Regulations, amended and supplemented by Decree No. 78/2018/NĐ-CP;

Pursuant to Decree No. 55/2025/NĐ-CP dated March 2, 2025 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Science and Technology;

At the proposal of the Director of the National Electronic Authentication Center;

The Minister of Science and Technology issues this Circular on issuing the "National Technical Regulation on Requirements for Time Stamping Services".

Article 1. Attached herewith is the National Technical Regulation on Requirements for Time Stamping Services (QCVN 138:2025/BKHCN).

Article 2. Implementation Schedule

Except for organizations providing public key infrastructure (PKI) certification services that choose to apply the provisions of the Electronic Transactions Law No. 20/2023/QH15, other PKI certification service providers currently operating legally shall be responsible for reviewing and upgrading their information systems and human resources management and technical teams to comply with the provisions of QCVN 138:2025/BKHCN before April 10, 2027.

Article 3. Effective Date

1. This Circular takes effect from July 1, 2026.

2. The following provisions cease to be effective from the date this Circular takes effect:

a) Circular No. 06/2015/TT-BTTTT dated March 23, 2015 of the Minister of Information and Communications on the list of mandatory standards applicable to digital signatures and PKI certification services;

b) Circular No. 16/2019/TT-BTTTT dated December 5, 2019 of the Minister of Information and Communications on the list of mandatory standards applicable to digital signatures and PKI certification services under mobile device and remote signing models.

Article 4. Transitional Provisions

Applications for Time Stamping Service Provision Licenses submitted to competent state authorities but not yet granted licenses by the time this Circular takes effect shall continue to apply the provisions of Circular No. 06/2015/TT-BTTTT and Circular No. 16/2019/TT-BTTTT.

Article 5. Implementation

1. The Director of the National Electronic Authentication Center shall be responsible for organizing guidance for the implementation of this Circular.

2. Organizations and individuals concerned shall be responsible for implementing this Circular.

3. During implementation, if any difficulties arise, agencies, organizations, and individuals shall promptly report in writing to the Ministry of Science and Technology (National Public Key Infrastructure Center) for research and appropriate amendments and supplements.