What are laissez-passers? Eligible entities to be granted laissez-passers in Vietnam

What are laissez-passers? Eligible entities to be granted laissez-passers in Vietnam (Internet image)

Regarding this issue, LawNet would like to answer as follows:

1. What are laissez-passers?

According to Clause 5, Article 2 of the Law on Entry and Exit of Vietnamese Citizens 2019, laissez-passers refer to documents issued by competent authorities of Vietnam to Vietnamese citizens to enable travel across borders according to international agreements between Vietnam and countries sharing borders.

2. Eligible entities to be granted laissez-passers in Vietnam

Specifically, in Article 4 of Decree 76/2020/ND-CP, the eligible entities to be granted laissez-passers include:

(1) Eligible entities to be granted Vietnam-Cambodia border laissez-passers include officials and public employees and workers working in agencies, organizations and enterprises based in the provinces that share the border line with Cambodia sent to the opposite border province of Cambodia to work.

(2) Eligible entities to be granted Vietnam-Laos border laissez-passers:

- Vietnamese citizens having permanent residence in the province sharing the border with Laos;

- Vietnamese citizens without permanent residence registration in provinces sharing the border with Laos but working in agencies, organizations or enterprises based in the province sharing the border with Laos.

(3) Eligible entities to be granted exit and entry laissez-passers through Vietnam - China border region:

- Vietnamese citizens permanently residing in communes, wards or townships adjacent to the Vietnam-China border;

- Officials working in state agencies based in districts, towns and provincial cities of Vietnam adjacent to the Vietnam-China border who are sent to the opposite border region of China to work.

3. Procedures for issuance of laissez-passers in Vietnam

Procedures for issuance of laissez-passers must comply with the provisions of Article 8 of Decree 76/2020/ND-CP, specifically as follows:

- The applicant for a laissez-passer shall submit 1 set of application as prescribed in Article 5 of Decree 76/2020/ND-CP.

- When submitting the application, the applicant must present a valid identity card (9-digit or 12-digit) for comparison.

- In case the agency, organization or enterprise is authorized to submit application and receive final decision, the person who is assigned to submit the application shall produce valid letter of introduction or identity card (9-digit or 12-digit) of himself/herself and the authorizing person to for comparison.

- The persons who are legally incapacitated or with limited cognition or behavior control under the provisions of the Civil Code, who are less than 14 years old shall have the procedures carried out by their legal representatives.

- The persons in charge shall receive applications for issuance of laissez-passers; do checking and comparison; collect fees and issue appointments to give final decision.

- The applicant for issuance of laissez-passer must pay a given fee; if he/she requests to receive the final decision at a place other than the one prescribed in Article 7 of Decree 76/2020/ND-CP, he/she shall bear the courier cost.

4. Time limit and power to process applications in Vietnam

According to Article 9 of Decree 76/2020/ND-CP, the time limit and power to process applications are as follows:

- Within 3 working days after receiving a valid application, the Immigration Department of the public security of province which shares the border with Cambodia and the Immigration Department of the public security of province which shares the border with Laos shall issue a laissez-passer and give the final decision to the applicant.

In case of refusal, the final decision with explanation shall be provided.

- Within 1 working day after receiving a valid application, the police office of commune, ward, township which shares the border between Vietnam – China and the police office of district, town, provincial city which shares the border between Vietnam - China shall issue a laissez-passer and give the final decision to the applicant.

In case of refusal, the final decision with explanation shall be provided.

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