If the passport period is 6 months, are foreigners allowed to enter Vietnam?

If the passport period is 6 months, are foreigners allowed to enter Vietnam?

Pursuant to Clause 11, Article 1 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam as amended in 2019, regulations on entry conditions are as follows:

1. A foreigner shall be permitted for entry if he/she:

a) possesses a passport or documents enabling international travel, except for cases of visa-free entry as specified in this Law.

Passport of a foreigner wishing to make entry in form of unilateral visa-free must be valid at least for another 6 months; and

b) does not fall into categories of entry suspension specified in Article 21 of this Law.

2. A foreigner making entry on electronic visas must fully satisfy all conditions specified in Clause 1 of this Article and make entry via international border checkpoints decided by the Government.

In addition, Article 21 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam 2014 also stipulates the following cases:

1. Any of the conditions in Clause 1 Article 20 of this Law is not satisfied.

2. Children under 14 years of age without parents, guardians or authorized custodians.

3. Forging papers or providing false information to obtain entry/exit/residence permit.

4. Any person suffering from a mental disease or infectious disease that threatens the public health.

5. Any person that was deported from Vietnam within the last 03 years.

6. Any person that was compelled to leave Vietnam within the last 06 months.

7. For reasons of epidemic prevention.

8. For reasons of natural disasters.

9. For reasons of national defense, national security, social order, and social safety.

Thus, according to the current regulations, entry passports with a term of at least 06 months can still be entered at will. In addition to having a 06-month passport, you also need to meet the remaining conditions specified above to enter Vietnam.

Can foreigners with passports with a period of less than 6 months leave Vietnam?

In addition, Clause 12, Article 1 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam as amended in 2019 stipulates on exit conditions as follows:

1. A foreigner shall be permitted for exit if he/she:

a) possesses a passport or documents enabling international travel; and

b) temporary residence certificate, temporary resident card or permanent residence card of his/hers is still valid;

c) does not fall into categories of exit suspension specified in Article 28 of this Law.

2. A foreigner making exit on electronic visas must fully satisfy all conditions specified in Clause 1 of this Article and make exit via international border checkpoints decided by the Government.

Accordingly, Article 28 of this Law also provides for cases of temporary suspension of exit and time limits for temporary suspension of exit.

1. A foreigner may be suspended from exit in one of the following cases:

a) He/she is currently the suspect, the accused, or the person with relevant obligations in a criminal case; a defendant or a person with relevant obligations in a civil case pertaining to business, employment, administration, marriage and familial affairs;

b) He/she has to implement a judgment or decision of the Court or a Competition Settlement Council;

c) His/her tax obligation is not fulfilled;

d) He/she is obliged to implement a decision on penalties for administrative violations;

dd) For reasons of national defense and security.

2. Clause 1 of this Article is not applied to people who is serving a prison sentence and taken abroad to provide evidence as prescribed by Article 25 of the Law on Judicial assistance.

3. The duration of suspension from exit shall not exceed 03 years and may be extended.

According to this Article, when you exit, you will not be required to have a passport for more than 06 months, therefore, you only need to meet the above conditions and not the case to postpone your exit, you can still exit Vietnam.

Best Regards!