New Regulations on Land Use Right Certificates (Red Books) from July 1, 2025: Key Notes for Citizens, Enterprises, and Local Authorities

As of July 1, 2025, Decree 151/2025/ND-CP officially takes effect, bringing significant reforms to the procedures for granting Land Use Right Certificates (LURCs), commonly known as “red books”. Below are some key highlights:

→ Commune-Level People’s Committees Authorized to Issue Red Books

According to Decree 151/2025/ND-CP, the role of commune-level People’s Committees is clearly emphasized in the process of issuing LURCs to the public, reducing complex administrative procedures and creating favorable conditions for individuals and enterprises to handle land-related formalities more easily.

 → First-Time Red Book Issuance Timeframe Shortened

Previously: The processing time for first-time land registration was up to 20 working days
From July 1: Now limited to a maximum of 17 days (reduced by 3 days)
LURC issuance time remains unchanged: No more than 3 working days

Other procedures:
• Transfer, gifting, inheritance, etc.: no more than 8 days
• Changes in information, address: 4 days
• Change of land use purpose: 7 days

→ Applications Can Be Submitted at Any Unit Within the Same Province

There is no longer a requirement to submit documents only at the location of the land.
Citizens may now choose to file applications at any authorized receiving unit within the same province or municipality.

→ No Need for Verification of Planning Conformity or Land Dispute Status

When issuing red books, commune-level People’s Committees are not required to separately verify:
• Planning conformity
• Land dispute status
• Stable land use status
This simplifies the procedure and reduces unnecessary paperwork.

1. The Role of People’s Committees Is “Upgraded”

Under Article 5 of Decree 151/2025/ND-CP:
1. Powers of district-level People’s Committees as stipulated in the Land Law are transferred to the Chairpersons of commune-level People’s Committees, including:

a) Approving agricultural land use plans of economic organizations under Clause 6, Article 45 of the Land Law; approving rice land use plans for individuals under Clause 7, Article 45 of the Land Law;

b) Issuing land recovery decisions for cases under Clause 2, Article 83 of the Land Law; recovering land related to Point b, Clause 3; Clause 5; Point b, Clause 6, Article 87; and Clause 7, Article 91 of the Land Law;

c) Issuing land recovery notifications under Point a, Clause 2, Article 87 of the Land Law;

d) Approving compensation, support, and resettlement plans under Point c, Clause 3, Article 87 of the Land Law;

đ) Approving enforcement plans for land recovery decisions and budgets for enforcement activities under Point b, Clause 5, Article 89 of the Land Law;

e) Issuing specific land price decisions under Clause 2, Article 91 of the Land Law;

g) Issuing prices for resettlement housing within the locality under Clause 3, Article 111 of the Land Law;

h) Issuing Land Use Right Certificates, certificates of ownership of assets attached to land under Point b, Clause 1, Article 136 and Point d, Clause 2, Article 142 of the Land Law;

i) Re-determining residential land area and issuing LURCs and ownership certificates under Clause 6, Article 141 of the Land Law;

k) Recording land prices in decisions on land allocation, land lease, permission for change of land use purpose, extension, adjustment of land use duration, or conversion of land use type under the authority of commune-level Chairpersons when using price lists to calculate land use fees or rents; issuing specific land price decisions under Clause 4, Article 155 of the Land Law;

l) Establishing the Council for specific land price appraisal under Clause 3, Article 161 of the Land Law;

m) Issuing decisions on land allocation, lease, or change of use purpose for individuals under Point c, Clause 1, and Point a, Clause 2, Article 123 of the Land Law; issuing land allocation decisions for communities under Point b, Clause 2, Article 123; and for allocation of agricultural land to individuals under Point b, Clause 2, Article 178 of the Land Law;

n) Approving land use contribution plans and land readjustment for rural renovation projects, development of rural residential areas, or upgrading rural roads under Point b, Clause 3, Article 219 of the Land Law.

2. Powers of the Chairpersons of district-level People’s Committees under the Land Law are transferred to the Chairpersons of commune-level People’s Committees, specifically:

a) Establishing compensation, support, and resettlement councils for each project under Point c, Clause 2, Article 86 of the Land Law;

b) Issuing compulsory inventory decisions under Point đ, Clause 2, Article 87 of the Land Law;

c) Issuing enforcement decisions for compulsory inventory under Clause 3, Article 88 of the Land Law;

d) Issuing enforcement decisions for land recovery under Clause 3, Article 89 of the Land Law; establishing land recovery enforcement teams under Point a, Clause 4, Article 89 of the Land Law;

đ) Issuing land requisition decisions and extensions under Clause 3, Article 90 of the Land Law; forming compensation councils for requisition damages and deciding on compensation amounts under Point d, Clause 7, Article 90 of the Land Law;

e) Issuing specific land price decisions under Point b, Clause 2, Article 160 of the Land Law;

g) Resolving land disputes between households, individuals, and communities under Point a, Clause 3, Article 236; issuing land dispute resolution decisions and enforcement orders under Clause 4, Article 236 of the Land Law.”

Therefore, the Chairperson of the commune-level People’s Committee is officially authorized to issue Land Use Right Certificates (red books) to:

Domestic individuals
• Overseas Vietnamese who are citizens of Vietnam
• Residential communities

Additionally, commune-level People’s Committees are empowered to:
• Approve compensation, support, and resettlement plans
• Decide on specific land prices and prices of resettlement housing, etc.

What Should Citizens and Enterprises Do?

Be proactive in reviewing your land use rights and related documents: contracts, tax receipts, local authority confirmations, etc.
If you haven’t been issued a red book, prepare your application according to the new regulations.
Businesses should coordinate early with the local Department of Natural Resources and Environment and People’s Committees to fulfill their obligations regarding LURC issuance to clients.
In case of any difficulties, promptly consult a qualified legal service provider to ensure your rights are protected.

Legal Basis: 

– Land Law 2024 – Effective from January 1, 2025

– Decree No. 151/2025/ND-CP on decentralization and delegation of authority in land management – Effective from July 1, 2025