Vietnam: Which authorities have the competence to issue domestic passports?

Specifically, according to Article 2 of Circular No. 04/2020/TT-BNG of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, authorities competent to issue, renew or revoke diplomatic/official passports and issue diplomatic notes requesting visas from foreign countries are specified as follows:

- Local authorities competent to issue, renew or revoke diplomatic/official passports and issue diplomatic notes requesting visas from foreign countries refer to the Department of Consular and Department of Foreign Affairs of Ho Chi Minh City (hereinafter referred to as local issuing authorities).

- Overseas authorities competent to issue, renew or revoke diplomatic/official passports and issue diplomatic notes requesting visas from foreign countries refer to diplomatic missions, consular agents and other agencies authorized to perform consular functions of Vietnam in foreign countries (hereinafter referred to as representative bodies).

Validity of diplomatic/official passports is as follows:

- Passports issued in case of any damage or loss occurring during short-term business travels in foreign countries, under point a clause 1 Article 13 of the Law, are valid for 1 year; passports issued when their pages run out or they are expected to be renewed are valid for a minimum of 1 year and not longer than the validity of the preexisting ones.

- Passports issued to those whose posts are changed, under point b clause 1 Article 13 of the Law are valid for a minimum of 1 year and not longer than the validity of the preexisting ones.

- New passports or renewal passports issued to the persons under point d clause 1 Article 13 of the Law are valid for a minimum of 1 year and not longer than the validity of passports of persons who they accompany or visit.

View more details: Circular No. 04/2020/TT-BNG of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam takes effect from November 10, 2020.

Thuy Tram

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