Procedures for granting permits for the entry of human corpses, remains and ashes into Vietnam

Procedures for granting permits for the entry of human corpses, remains and ashes into Vietnam (Image from the Internet)

Procedures for granting permits for the entry of human corpses, remains and ashes into Vietnam

Decision 1275/QD-BNG of 2024 announces the amended administrative procedures within the management scope of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Hanoi, Vietnam) to be implemented at Vietnamese overseas representative offices, including the procedure for issuingpermits for the entry of human corpses, remains and ashes into Vietnam at diplomatic missions of Vietnam in foreign countries. Specifically as follows:

(1) Implementation process:

Step 1: The requesting person prepares the dossier according to regulations and submits it at the representative office where the deceased is located, the competent representative office of that country, or the most convenient representative office if there is no representative office in the country where the deceased is located.

Step 2: The dossier-receiving officer is responsible for checking the entire dossier and comparing the information within:

- If the dossier is complete and valid, receive the dossier;

- If the dossier is incomplete or invalid, guide the applicant to supplement and complete it according to regulations. After the dossier is supplemented, perform step (i) again; if the dossier cannot be immediately supplemented, provide a written guide clearly stating the types of documents and content to be supplemented, signed and clearly named by the consular officer.

- If the dossier cannot be supplemented or completed, notify the refusal to process the dossier.

Step 3: The officer processing the dossier is responsible for re-checking the entire dossier to ensure it is complete and valid:

- If the dossier needs additional or completion, send a notice about the dossier status to the applicant – perform step (ii) again; or if the dossier does not meet the conditions for resolution, a refusal notice must be sent to the requester.

- If further checks and verifications or other reasons prevent timely result delivery, issue an apology slip and schedule a new result delivery date, clearly stating the delay reason and the rescheduled delivery time to the requester.

- If the dossier is complete, valid, and conformable (except cases where the deceased is not allowed entry for national security and social order reasons to be considered on a case-by-case basis), the consular officer reports to the Head of the representative office to sign and issue the permit to the requester.

- Record in the Register of Entry Permits for bodies, ashes, urns; notify the Consular Department - Ministry of Foreign Affairs, customs at the entry port, and the relevant immigration management authority at the entry port; stamp cancellation on the deceased’s passport or exit-entry documents issued by Vietnamese authorities (if any); notify the cancellation to the Immigration Management Department - Ministry of Public Security.

(2) Performance methods:

- The applicant submits the dossier directly at the Vietnamese representative office abroad or sends it via the postal system.

- The dossier can be submitted electronically if the technical infrastructure at the Vietnamese representative office abroad allows (including connection to the national database on population).

(3) Dossier components:

- Documents of the applicant:

+ Application for bringing bodies, ashes, urns to Vietnam according to Form No. 01/NG-LS.

+ 01 copy of the passport or exit-entry document of the applicant;+ 01 copy of documents proving the kinship with the deceased;

+ 01 copy of one of the following documents: citizen identity card, proof of residency information, notification of personal identification number, and information in the national database on population if the deceased is a Vietnamese resident abroad with relatives permanently residing in Vietnam.

+ The original of the power of attorney if the applicant is authorized by the deceased’s relatives in writing.

+ The original of the power of attorney if the applicant is the managing agency or unit of the deceased.

- Documents of the deceased:+ Copy of documents proving the identity of the deceased (ID card, identity card, passport, or other valid entry-exit documents).

+ Copy of the permanent residence permit in Vietnam of the deceased.

+ Copy of the Health and Quarantine Certificate issued by the foreign competent authority (for bodies); Exhumation Certificate and Health and Quarantine Certificate issued by the foreign competent authority (for remains); Cremation Certificate (for ashes).

+ Copy of Application for permission to bring the body/remains/ashes of relatives for burial/keeping at the locality (Form No. 02/NG-LS issued with Circular 01/2011/TT-BNG) with the consent of the commune-level town or cemetery management authority in Vietnam if the deceased has relatives permanently residing in Vietnam.

+ Copy of the death certificate issued by the foreign competent authority or the Vietnamese representative office abroad.

+ Copy of the permit issued by the competent authority of the host country for the body/remains/ashes to exit.

(4) Processing time:

- 01 day from the date of receiving a complete and valid dossier.

- In cases where the deceased is not allowed entry into Vietnam for reasons of national security and social order or dies from dangerous, contagious diseases: Within 01 working day from the receipt of a complete and valid dossier, the Vietnamese representative office abroad sends a written notice of the details of the deceased to the Consular Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. After consulting domestic competent authorities, the Consular Department informs the Vietnamese representative office abroad of the result. Within 01 working day from receiving the consent notice of the Consular Department, the Vietnamese representative office abroad issues the permit and responds to the requester with the result.

(5) Subjects of the administrative procedure: Individuals, agencies, organizations involved.

(6) Authority handling the administrative procedure:

- The representative office where the deceased is located, the competent representative office of that country, or the most convenient representative office if there is no representative office in the country where the deceased is located.- Coordinating agency: the commune-level town or cemetery management authority in Vietnam permitting the burial/keeping of the body, remains, or ashes.

(7) Result of the administrative procedure: Entry permit for body, remains, ash.

(8) Fees, charges: None

Tran Trong Tin

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