Is it possible to get a passport in place where there is no household registration in Vietnam? Is it mandatory to change paper passports to electronic chip passports in VIetnam?

Is it possible to get a passport in place where there is no household registration in Vietnam?

In Article 15 of the Law on Entry and Exit of Vietnamese Citizens 2019 provides for domestic issuance of regular passports:

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 original copies 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, with the second registration of your passport, you are not required to return to your hometown to do, but you can apply for a new passport at the immigration management agency of the Ho Chi Minh City Police or immigration authority of Ministry of Public Security in Vietnam.

Is it mandatory to change paper passports to electronic chip passports in Vietnam?

According to Article 6 of Circular 73/2021/TT-BCA stipulating as follows:

1. This Circular takes effect from August 14, 2021.

2. 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 use, no later than January 1, 2022, must comply with the form of passport and travel document specified in this Circular.

3. Passports and travel papers that were issued before January 1, 2022 are valid until the expiry date stated in the passports or laissez-passers.

According to this Article, if you were issued a paper passport before January 1, 2022 and it has not expired, you do not have to change to a passport with an electronic chip in Vietnam.

Who are persons issued with regular passports via adoption of shortened procedures in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 17 of the Law on Entry and Exit of Vietnamese Citizens 2019 stipulates persons to be issued with regular passports via adoption of shortened procedures, according to which:

1. Persons travelling abroad for a definite period, losing their regular passports and wishing to return immediately.

2. Persons subject to written decision on expulsion of competent authorities of their host countries and lacking passports.

3. Persons forcibly returning to their countries according to international agreements or treaties on repatriation.

4. Persons issued with regular passports for purposes of national defense and security.

With this provision, the above persons will be granted regular passports via adoption of shortened procedures in Vietnam.

Best regards!