What is an e-passport? Is it compulsory to change to an e-passport before January 1, 2022 in Vietnam?
What is an electronic chip passport according to Vietnamese regulations?
According to Article 2 of the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese citizens 2019, passports are:
- “Passports” are documents owned by the Government and issued by competent authorities of Vietnam to Vietnamese citizens to make entry, exit and prove nationality and personal record.
- “Passport containing electronic chips” refers to a passport embedded with electronic equipment storing encoded information of its holder and digital signature of issuing body.
According to Article 2 of Circular 73/2021/TT-BCA, the passport model with electronic chip is:
"Article 2. Passport form
1. General specifications and techniques of passports:
a) The outer cover of the cover is printed with the national emblem, national emblem, and passport name; passports with an electronic chip symbol;
b) The images on the passport pages are the beautiful scenery of the country, and the cultural heritage of Vietnam, combined with the bronze drum motifs;
c) Languages used in the passport: Vietnamese and English;
d) Number of pages in the passport, excluding the cover page: 48 pages for diplomatic passports, official passports and ordinary passports with a validity of 5 years or 10 years, 12 pages for ordinary passports with a validity period of 5 years or 10 years. term not exceeding 12 months;
dd) Dimensions according to ISO 7810 (ID-3): 88mm x 125mm ± 0.75 mm;
e) Passport rolling corner radius r: 3.18mm ± 0.3mm;
g) The electronic chip is placed in the back cover of the passport with the electronic chip attached;
h) Passport cover is a synthetic plastic material with high durability;
i) The letters and numbers of the passport are punched by laser technology smoothly from page 1 to the back cover of the passport and coincide with the letters and numbers on page 1;
k) All contents and images printed in the passport are made by modern technology to meet the requirements of security, against the risk of counterfeiting and meet ICAO standards.
2. Passport forms:
a) Diplomatic passport, sepia cover page (form HCNG);
b) Official passport, dark green cover page (HCCV form);
c) Ordinary passport, blue and purple cover page (HCPT form)."
What is an e-passport? Is it compulsory to change to an e-passport before January 1, 2022 in Vietnam?
At what age Vietnamese citizens can get a passport?
According to Article 6 of the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese citizens 2019, the age of passport issuance is:
“Article 6. Entry and exit documents
1. Entry and exit documents include:
a) Diplomatic passports;
b) Service passports;
c) Regular passports;
d) Laissez-passers.
2. Passports containing or not containing electronic chips issued for Vietnamese citizens from 14 years of age. Passports not containing electronic chips shall be issued to Vietnamese citizens less than 14 years of age of issued by shortened procedures.
3. Information on entry and exit documents include: pictures; family name, middle name and first name; date of birth; gender; nationality; symbol, entry and exit documents number; date of issue and issuing body; date of expiry; personal identification number or ID number; positions or titles in case of diplomatic passports and service passports satisfactory to diplomatic purposes.”
Thus, Vietnamese citizens aged full 14 years or older are granted regular passports or passports with electronic chips.
+ Vietnamese citizens who are under 14 years old or issued according to simplified procedures shall issue passports without electronic chips.
Is it compulsory to change to a passport with an electronic chip in Vietnam?
According to Article 6 of Circular 73/2021/TT-BCA provides for the effect and transitional provisions
- This Circular comes into force on August 14, 2021.
- Blank publications of passports and travel documents that have been provided to agencies before the effective date of this Circular but have not been fully issued may continue to be used until January 1, 2022 according to the form of passport or travel document specified in this Circular.
- Passports and travel papers that were issued before January 1, 2022 are valid until the expiry date stated in the passport or travel papers.
What is the expiry date of a passport according to Vietnamese regulations?
According to Article 7 of the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese citizens 2019, the duration of entry and exit documents is:
- Diplomatic passports and service passports shall be effective from 1 to 5 years; can be extended no more than 3 years per instance.
- Validity of regular passports is as follows:
+ Regular passports issued to persons from 14 years of age shall be effective for 10 years and shall not be extended;
+ Regular passports issued to persons under 14 years of age shall be effective for 05 years and shall not be extended;
+ Regular passports issued by shortened procedures shall be effective for no more than 12 months and shall not be extended.
- Laissez-passers shall be effective for no more than 12 months and shall not be extended.
Based on the above regulations, passports with electronic chips will be applied from August 14, 2021, of which passports issued before January 1, 2022 are valid until the expiry date stated in the passport.
In case people have been issued passports before January 1, 2022, they can continue to use them until they expire without having to change to a passport with an electronic chip.
LawNet
