Do children 10 years of age going abroad need their passport in Vietnam?

1. Do children 10 years of age going abroad need their passport in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 33 of the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese citizens 2019, there are regulations on eligibility for exit as follows:

1. A Vietnamese citizen may make exit if he/she:

a) has entire and valid entry and exit documents; 6 months or more in terms of passport validity; and

b) has visas or documents confirming and verifying entry acceptance of destination country, except for cases of visa-free entry; and

c) is not listed under cases of prohibited from making exit, ineligible for making exit and suspended from making exit as per the law.

2. Incapacitated persons and persons with limited recognition and behavioral control as specified in Civil Code and persons under 14 years of age must be accompanied by authorized legal representatives in addition to conditions specified in Clause 1 of this Article.

Thus, to be able to go abroad, your child must have a passport with a valid validity of at least 6 months or other immigration documents in Vietnam.

2. What documents do I need to prepare for issuance of a passport for my 10 years of age child in Vietnam? 

In Article 15 of the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese citizens 2019, there are regulations on 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.

According to this Article, in order to issue an ordinary passport for a 10 years of age child in Vietnam, you need to bring a copy of the birth certificate or birth extract to the Immigration Department of the provincial-level Police Department where you permanently or temporarily reside for procedures for issuing passports.

Best Regards!