How much is the fee for issuance of shore passes of foreign seamen in Vietnam? What are the cases eligible for exemption from fees?
How long is the validity of shore passes of foreign seamen in Vietnam?
Pursuant to Article 23 of Decree No. 77/2017/ND-CP stipulating as follows:
Issuance of shore passes to seamen
1. Entities eligible for the issuance of shore passes
Foreign seamen working on the Vietnamese or foreign vessel and completing entry procedures or procedures for entering a Vietnamese port checkpoint from another and wishing to go ashore while their vessel is anchored at the port checkpoint.
2. Validity of shore passes
a) The shore pass is valid for only one voyage of the vessel;
b) In case of a foreign seaman going on a vessel with daily voyage and the vessel operating at the territorial waters beyond the waters of the port checkpoint, at the request of the shipmaster, the port border guard shall allow the seaman to use the shore pass for multiple voyages with the maximum duration of 1 month from the day on which the shore pass is issued;
c) The person responsible for carrying out procedures shall revoke expired shore passes to transfer them to the port border guard.
Thus, the shore pass of foreign seamen is valid for only one voyage of the vessel.
On the other hand, in case of a foreign seaman going on a vessel with daily voyage and the vessel operating at the territorial waters beyond the waters of the port checkpoint, at the request of the shipmaster, the port border guard shall allow the seaman to use the shore pass for multiple voyages with the maximum duration of 1 month from the day on which the shore pass is issued.
How much is the fee for issuance of shore passes of foreign seamen in Vietnam? What are the cases eligible for exemption from fees?
How much is the fee for issuance of shore passes of foreign seamen in Vietnam?
Fees for licensing ashore are specified in Article 3 of Circular No. 138/2016/TT-BTC as follows:
Level of fees
1. Fees for issuance of shore passes of foreign seamen
- Foreign seamen who work on foreign boats, ships during their stay in a seaport in Vietnam and go ashore from 7:00 to 24:00 within a province, central-affiliated city where the seaport is situated: US$ 03/permit.
- Foreign seamen who work on foreign boats, ships during their stay in a seaport in Vietnam and go ashore for an overnight stay within a province, central-affiliated city where the seaport is situated: US$ 05/permit.
Thus, the fee for issuance of shore passes of foreign seamen is as follows:
- Foreign seamen who work on foreign boats, ships during their stay in a seaport in Vietnam and go ashore from 7:00 to 24:00 within a province, central-affiliated city where the seaport is situated: US$ 03/permit.
- Foreign seamen who work on foreign boats, ships during their stay in a seaport in Vietnam and go ashore for an overnight stay within a province, central-affiliated city where the seaport is situated: US$ 05/permit.
What are the cases eligible for exemption from fees?
Pursuant to Article 2 of Circular No. 138/2016/TT-BTC stipulating as follows:
Cases eligible for exemption from fees
1. Seamen on foreign naval ships which arrive in Vietnam, travel ashore within a province, central-affiliated city where the ship is anchored, and stay overnight ashore.
2. Foreign service officers, consular officers from diplomatic missions and consular agencies in Vietnam who board the ship to do their duties; officials and staff from a diplomatic mission, consular agency of the country which sends military ships to Vietnam; foreigners as guests of the captain or a diplomatic mission, consular agency of the country which anchors foreign naval ships at the seaport.
3. Officials and staff of agencies, units affiliated to ministries, sectors and local governments who board a foreign ship to work, exchange ideas, or go on a sightseeing tour at the invitation of the captain or according to programs of foreign boats and ships in Vietnam.
4. Vietnamese people and foreigners who board foreign ships to carry out relief activities or deliver humanitarian aid for Vietnamese organizations and individuals.
For cases eligible for exemption from fees, the fee collector shall stamp ‘GRATIS’ on the permits issued.
Thus, the following cases are exempt from fees:
- Seamen on foreign naval ships which arrive in Vietnam, travel ashore within a province, central-affiliated city where the ship is anchored, stays overnight ashore.
- Foreign service officers, consular officers from diplomatic missions and consular agencies in Vietnam who board the ship to do their duties; officials and staff from a diplomatic mission, consular agency of the country which sends military ships to Vietnam;
- Foreigners as guests of the captain or a diplomatic mission, consular agency of the country which anchors foreign naval ships at the seaport.
- Officials and staff of agencies, units affiliated to ministries, sectors and local governments who board a foreign ship to work, exchange ideas, or go on a sightseeing tour:
+ At the invitation of the captain; or
+ According to programs of foreign boats and ships in Vietnam.
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