Can I request another person to apply for issuance of passport in Vietnam for me?

Can I request another person to apply for issuance of passport in Vietnam for me?

Pursuant to Article 15 of the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese citizens 2019 stipulates domestic issuance of regular passports as follows:

1. Persons applying for issuance of passports shall submit completed application forms using defined templates, 2 pictures and relevant documents specified in Clause 2 of this Article; present valid ID cards, Citizen Identity Cards or passports.

2. Documents relating to domestic issuance of regular passports include:

a) Copies of birth certificates or extracts thereof with respect to persons under 14 years of age; and

b) The most recently issued regular passports with respect to persons who have been issued with passports; in case of lost passports, attach notice of loss or notice of receipt of competent agencies specified in Article 28 of this Law; and

c) Photocopies of ID cards or Citizen Identity Cards with respect to changes to personal information compared to information in the most recently issued passports; and

d) Verified photocopies of documents issued by competent agencies proving authorized legal representatives for incapacitated persons, persons having limited recognition or behavioral control as specified in Civil Code and persons under 14 years of age. In case photocopies are not verified, present master registers for examination and comparison.

3. A person shall apply for issuance of passport for the first time at immigration authority of provincial police where he/she temporarily or permanently resides; in case he/she has Citizen Identity Cards, he/she shall apply at immigration authority of provincial police wherever suitable.

4. A person applying for passport issuance for the first time may choose to do so at immigration authority of Ministry of Public Security if:

a) He/she has letter of introduction or recommendation of hospitals regarding travelling abroad for medical diagnosis and/or treatment; or

b) His/her overseas relatives are identified to be in accidents, diseased or deceased according to well-grounded basis; or

c) Supervisory authority of his/hers who is an employee, official, officer, non-commissioned officer, professional serviceman or cadre in armed forces or personnel of cipher organization issues documents requesting issuance; or

d) He/she applies due to other humanitarian or emergency reasons decided by heads of the immigration authority of Ministry of Public Security.

5. A person shall apply for issuance of passport for the second time at immigration authority of provincial police of choice or immigration authority of Ministry of Public Security.

6. Assigned persons are responsible for accessing the application, pictures and relevant documents; examining and comparing with information on the national database for entry and export of Vietnamese citizens; taking photos and collecting fingerprints of persons applying for issuance of passports containing electronic chips for the first time; issuing notice of result collection.

7. Within 8 working days from the date of receipt, immigration authorities of provincial police shall return results to applicants.  Within 5 working days from the date of receipt, immigration authorities of Ministry of Public Security shall return results to applicants.  Processing times for cases specified in Clause 4 of this Article shall last no longer than 3 working days from the date of receipt. In case of delayed issuance of passports, immigration authorities shall respond in written form and state reasons.

8. Persons applying for issuance of passports wishing to receive results in locations other than the agencies specified in Clause 7 of this Article shall pay fees for delivery services.

Thus, people who want to apply for an regular passport for the first time at the Immigration Department of the Provincial Police in Vietnam cannot ask someone else to do it for them, but must do it themselves. 

Currently, citizens can also apply for a passport online on the Public Service Portal of the Ministry of Public Security. In this case, they can ask someone else to help with the operations on their own public service account, but must ensure that the documents are properly filed in accordance with the law in Vietnam.

What do documents relating to domestic issuance of regular passports for the first time in Vietnam comprise? 

According to Clause 1, Clause 2, Article 15 of the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese citizens 2019, domestic issuance of regular passports is as follows:

1. Persons applying for issuance of passports shall submit completed application forms using defined templates, 2 pictures and relevant documents specified in Clause 2 of this Article; present valid ID cards, Citizen Identity Cards or passports.

2. Documents relating to domestic issuance of regular passports include:

a) Copies of birth certificates or extracts thereof with respect to persons under 14 years of age; and

b) The most recently issued regular passports with respect to persons who have been issued with passports; in case of lost passports, attach notice of loss or notice of receipt of competent agencies specified in Article 28 of this Law; and

c) Photocopies of ID cards or Citizen Identity Cards with respect to changes to personal information compared to information in the most recently issued passports; and

d) Verified photocopies of documents issued by competent agencies proving authorized legal representatives for incapacitated persons, persons having limited recognition or behavioral control as specified in Civil Code and persons under 14 years of age. In case photocopies are not verified, present master registers for examination and comparison.

According to this Article, citizens, when applying for a passport for the first time at the Immigration Department of the Provincial Police, need to prepare a dossier including the above documents in Vietnam.

Is ordinary passport for the first time fee expensive in Vietnam?

Pursuant to the schedule on fees and charges for passport issuance promulgated together with Circular 25/2021/TT-BTC stipulates as follows:

Thus, the fee for issuance of regular passports for the first time is 200,000 VND / time according to the above regulations in Vietnam.

Best Regards!