Documents relating to domestic issuance of regular passports from August 15, 2023 in Vietnam

Documents relating to domestic issuance of regular passports from August 15, 2023 in Vietnam (Internet image)

On June 24, 2023, the National Assembly approved the Law on amendments to some articles of law on entry and exit of Vietnamese citizens and law on entry, exit, transit and residence of foreigners in Vietnam 2023.

Documents relating to domestic issuance of regular passports from August 15, 2023 in Vietnam

According to Clause 2, Article 15 of the Law on Entry and Exit of Vietnamese Citizens 2019, amended in the Law on amendments to some articles of law on entry and exit of Vietnamese citizens and law on entry, exit, transit and residence of foreigners in Vietnam 2023, documents relating to domestic issuance of regular passports include:

- The most recently issued regular passports that are valid with respect to persons who have been issued with passports; in case where the valid passports are lost, attach notice of loss or notice of receipt of competent agencies specified in point a Clause 2 Article 28 of the Law on Entry and Exit of Vietnamese Citizens 2019, amended in the Law on amendments to some articles of law on entry and exit of Vietnamese citizens and law on entry, exit, transit and residence of foreigners in Vietnam 2023:

Within 02 working days from the date on which a regular passport is found to be lost, its holder shall submit a statement of loss of passport in person or by post to the immigration authority, police department of the district or commune, or a Vietnam representative office located overseas of choice or an entity supervising entry and exit at a border checkpoint or by electronic means on the national public service portal or the public service portal of the Ministry of Public Security.

In case of force majeure, deadline for submission or sending of the statement of loss may be longer but reasons thereof shall be specified in the statement;

- Copies of birth certificates or extracts thereof with respect to persons under 14 years of age who have not been issued with personal identification numbers; in case such copies of birth certificates or extracts thereof are unavailable, submit photocopies and present original copies for examination and comparison;

- Copies 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 such copies are unavailable, submit photocopies and present original copies for examination and comparison.

To amend issuance of regular passports via adoption of shortened procedures in Vietnam

According to the Law on amendments to some articles of law on entry and exit of Vietnamese citizens and law on entry, exit, transit and residence of foreigners in Vietnam 2023 amending Clause 2, Article 18 of the Law on Entry and Exit of Vietnamese Citizens 2019, issuance of ordinary passports according to the following simplified procedures:

A person whose application for residency is rejected by the foreign country and is also not regulated by any international agreement on repatriation shall be issued with a passport as follows:

- A Vietnam representative office located overseas shall receive the application from the competent authority of the host country or from the person whose application for residency was rejected by the foreign country, and 02 photographs of the rejected applicant, completed application form using defined template and personal identification documents issued by the Vietnamese competent authority (if any);

- If, due to humanitarian or emergency reasons, the Vietnam representative office located overseas has sufficient grounds for identification of personal information and nationality of the applicant for passport, within 02 working days, the Vietnam representative office located overseas may consider issuing the passport;

- Other than cases specified in point b, Clause 2 of Article 18 of the Law on Entry and Exit of Vietnamese Citizens 2019, within 02 working days from the date of receipt of the application from the competent authority of the host country or the person whose application for residency is rejected by the foreign country, the Vietnam representative office located overseas shall send information of the applicant to the immigration authority of the Ministry of Public Security.

Within 30 days from the date of receipt of the information, the immigration authority of the Ministry of Public Security shall verify the information and reply in writing to the Vietnam representative office located overseas. 

Within 02 days from the date of receipt of response from the immigration authority of the Ministry of Public Security, the Vietnam representative office located overseas shall issue a passport to the applicant; in case of refuse to issue the passport, the Vietnam representative office located overseas shall reply in writing to the applicant and clearly state reasons for such refusal.

- After issuing the passport, the Vietnam representative office located overseas shall notify the immigration authority of the Ministry of Public Security for cooperation in receipt and management of the person when he/she returns to Vietnam.

More details can be found in the Law on amendments to some articles of law on entry and exit of Vietnamese citizens and law on entry, exit, transit and residence of foreigners in Vietnam 2023, taking effect on August 15, 2023.

>> CLICK HERE TO READ THIS ARTICLE IN VIETNAMESE