Official Definition of Administrative Documents and Certain Other Documents

Decree 30/2020/ND-CP has specifically defined a document as written information conveyed through language or symbols, formed in the activities of agencies and organizations, and presented in the correct format and technique as prescribed. This includes the definitions of administrative documents, specialized documents, as well as definitions of other types of documents.

To be specific, based on Clauses 2 and 3, Article 3 of Decree 30/2020/ND-CP:

2. "Specialized document" is a formal document created in the process of performing professional activities in a sector or field, by the head of the sector or field management agency as prescribed.

3. "Administrative document" is a document in the form of data messages created or digitized from paper documents and presented in the correct format, technique, and standard as prescribed.

Thus, from March 5, 2020, there has been an official definition of what constitutes specialized documents and administrative documents. Previously, in Clauses 2 and 3, Article 4 of Decree 110/2004/ND-CP, amended by Clause 2, Article 1 of Decree 09/2010/ND-CP, there was no specific definition for these two types of documents. Instead, administrative documents were listed, including various documents such as Resolutions (individual), decisions (individual), directives, regulations, notices, announcements, guidelines, programs, plans, proposals, projects, reports, minutes, statements, contracts, official letters, telegrams, memorandums of understanding, commitments, agreements, certificates, authorizations, invitations, introductions, leave forms, travel orders, receipt acknowledgment forms, dispatch forms, transfer forms, and official letters.

Additionally, this Decree also specifically defines other concepts such as Electronic documents, Original paper documents, Duplicated copies, Incoming documents, Outgoing documents, etc.

View specific provisions of Decree 30/2020/ND-CP HERE.

Toan Trung

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