Operation of the Foreign Press Office residing in Vietnam

Specifically, according to Article 9 of Decree No. 88/2012/NĐ-CP of Vietnam’s Government, within 30 working days from the date of receipt of the written approval from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the permanent reporter of the permanent Office must come to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to hand over the appointment letter of the foreign press agency and receive Permit of permanent office establishment in Vietnam issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Head of permanent Office is the legal representative of the Office.

Permanent offices are allowed to be located in Hanoi or in another centrally-affiliated city or province after getting consent in writing of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the People's Committees of centrally-affiliated province and city where  the permanent Office is expected to be located. Permanent Office is allowed to appoint permanent reporter at different locality from the place where Headquarters of permanent office after getting the consent of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the people's committees of centrally-affiliated cities and provinces where the permanent office proposes the appointment of permanent reporter. The permanent Office is responsible for the activities of the permanent reporter at the localities.

When having need to appoint permanent reporter at another locality of Vietnam, the foreign press agency shall send a dossier directly or by post to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The component of dossier is similar to dossier to request appointment of permanent reporter to work at permanent office as specified in Clause 1, Article 8 of this Decree. After receiving dossier to request appointment of permanent reporter, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall propose the opinion from the People’s Committees of centrally-affiliated cities and provinces where the permanent office shall appoint permanent reporter. Within 15 working days from the time of receiving written request, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall respond in writing to foreign press agency.

Concurrently, the permanent office shall inform the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the location of headquarters of permanent office 30 days prior to official operation at that headquarter. When changing location of headquarters of permanent office, it shall inform the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 30 working days in advance.

In case the permanent office requires a seal and applies for issuance of certificate of temporary residence and traveling and other requirements to serve the information and press activities in Vietnam, it shall send a written request to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for introduction to the Vietnamese competent authorities of Vietnam to carry out necessary procedures under the current law of Vietnam.

Note: Permit of permanent office establishment shall automatically become invalid in case the permanent office has no active permanent reporter in Vietnam in the period of 180 consecutive days. Permanent office shall inform the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the closure of permanent office at least 30 working days before the closing date and return the Permit of permanent office establishment to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at least 03working days before the closing date of permanent office.

View details at Decree No. 88/2012/NĐ-CP of Vietnam’s Government, effective from December 20, 2012.

Le Vy

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