Vietnam: The latest procedures for domestic issuance, amendment, and supplementation of the passports

Procedures for domestic issuance, amendment, and supplementation of the passports in Vietnam (Illustration)

1. Application

According to Article 6 Circular 29/2016/TT-BCA guiding the domestic issuance, amendment and supplementation of regular passports for Vietnamese citizens, the application for issuance, amendment and supplementation of passports include:

1. 01 declaration form Model X01;

2. 02 recent photos, size 4cm x 6cm, face straight ahead, head uncovered, not wearing colored glasses, white background. Children under 09 years old included in the passport with a parent must submit 02 photos size 3cm x 4cm;

3. Children under 14 years old must submit 01 certified copy or photo of the birth certificate, if not certified, the original must be presented for verification.

For a request for new issuance, reissuance, amendment, or supplement of passports for children under 14 years old, the declaration form Model X01 must be filled out and signed by the father, mother, or guardian, and confirmed by the Chief of the commune-level police, where the child is permanently or temporarily residing, with a stapled photo seal, along with:

- If requesting to include children under 09 years old in the passport of the father or mother, the passport of the parent must have at least 01 year of validity remaining;

- If requesting to amend details on the personal information page in the passport (adjusting name, date of birth, place of birth, gender, identity card number or citizen ID card), the child's passport must have at least 01 year of validity remaining along with legal documents proving the adjustment;

- If requesting for reissuance of the passport, the child's existing passport must be submitted;

- If requesting reissuance due to lost passport, a report according to Model X08 issued with this Circular or a confirmation from the immigration authority about having reported the lost passport must be submitted;

- If the guardian fills out and signs on behalf, a certified copy of the documents proving the guardianship must be submitted, if not certified, the original must be presented for verification.

Note some special cases as follows:

- In case of delegation according to Article 3 of this Circular, the declaration form Model X01 must be confirmed and stapled with a photo seal by the Head of the delegated agency, organization, enterprise, accompanied by a document from the delegated agency, organization, or enterprise sent to the immigration authority requesting passport issuance for the delegate (if requesting for multiple people, a list confirmed by the delegated agency, organization, or enterprise should be made).

- In case of submitting a dossier for passport reissuance via postal service as prescribed in Clause 3, Article 4 of this Circular, the declaration form Model X01 must be confirmed and sealed with a photo seal by the Chief of the commune-level police where the person permanently resides, along with a copy of the identity card or citizen ID card that is still valid;

- In case of requesting amendment of details on the personal information page in the passport (adjusting name, date of birth, place of birth, gender, identity card number or citizen ID card) for persons aged 14 or older, the passport with at least 01 year of validity remaining and legal documents proving the adjustment must be submitted;- In case of requesting reissuance due to lost passport, a confirmation from the immigration authority about having reported the lost passport must be submitted. If there was no report when the passport was lost, an explanation of the reason and time of the passport loss must be submitted;

- In case of reissuance due to a damaged passport, the damaged passport must be submitted.

2. Place for submitting applications and receiving results in Vietnam

According to Article 4 of Circular 29/2016/TT-BCA stipulating the place for issuance, amendment, and supplement of passports as follows:

- Request for new passport issuance (first issuance, reissuance when the passport expires): Immigration Management Office, Provincial/Municipal Public Security Department where the person permanently or temporarily resides.

- Request for reissuance, amendment, or supplement of passports: Immigration Management Office, Provincial/Municipal Public Security Department where the person permanently or temporarily resides, or Immigration Department, Ministry of Public Security.

For the dossier requesting passport reissuance (except for the request for reissuance for children under 14 years old), it can be submitted through the postal service.

supplementally, persons requesting the issuance, amendment, or supplement of passports can access the electronic system of the Immigration Office at https://www.vnimm.gov.vn to fill out the electronic declaration form Model X01.

Within 10 days from the date of completing the information in the electronic declaration form, the person requesting the issuance, amendment, or supplement of the passport must use the appointment scheduling function on the website to select a time to visit the Immigration Management Office, Provincial/Municipal Public Security Department or the Immigration Department to submit the dossier. After this period, the information on the electronic declaration form will automatically be deleted on the website.

In supplement, persons requesting the issuance, amendment, or supplement of passports can submit the dossier at the immigration authority where the result will be received or can receive the result at the registered address with the postal company.

3. Processing time for the issuance, amendment, or supplement of the passports in Vietnam

Article 8 of Circular 29/2016/TT-BCA stipulates the processing time for the dossier requesting the issuance, amendment, or supplement of the passport as follows:

- For dossiers submitted at the Immigration Management Office: processing time is no more than 08 working days from the date of receiving the complete and valid dossier.

- For dossiers submitted at the Immigration Department: processing time is no more than 05 working days from the date of receiving the complete and valid dossier.

In cases where the working day coincides or is adjacent to weekends, public holidays, or Tet holidays: the processing time is extended by the number of these days according to the regulations of the Government of Vietnam.

Note: If falling into one of the 4 cases requiring an urgent passport as follows, the processing will be done as soon as possible within the stipulated time:

- Persons needing to travel abroad for medical treatment with the relevant medical referral documents;

- Persons having close relatives abroad who have had an accident, are ill, or have died and need to travel urgently to deal with the situation, with relevant proof documents;

- Officials and public employees, officers, non-commissioned officers, and civilian staff in the People's Army and Public Security Forces who need to travel urgently, with a written request from the head of the agency, organization where they are working;

- Other urgent cases where there are sufficient grounds for the Director of the Immigration Department to consider and decide.

4. Fees for issuance, amendment, and supplement of passports in Vietnam

According to the fee schedule issued with Circular 219/2016/TT-BTC stipulating the fee rates, policies for collection, payment, management, and utilization of fees in the field of exit, entry, transit, and residence in Vietnam, the fees for issuance, amendment, and supplement of passports are as follows:

Above are all the procedures for requesting the issuance, amendment, and supplement of passports currently in effect. However, in the Draft Residence Law (Amendment) being put forth by the Ministry of Public Security for public consultation, it is expected that starting from July 01, 2021, paper household registration books will be replaced with personal identification codes. When carrying out administrative procedures in general, and the procedures for requesting the issuance, amendment, and supplement of passports in particular, individuals will not need to bring the household registration book but only need to provide the personal identification code, allowing the competent authority to verify personal information quickly.

This regulation is entirely appropriate in the era of 4.0 technology, simplifying traditional administrative procedures and facilitating the accurate and easy checking of information.

Le Vy

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