Vietnam nationals can travel abroad more freely and enter and exit the country with ease if they have a valid passport. What kinds of passports are available in Vietnam, and how to get a passport? You will receive thorough information about passport requirements, application processes, fees, and renewals from the all-inclusive guide below.
The recently introduced Vietnam passport combines modern security features with aspects of national identity, making international travel easier and increasing its bearers' global presence.
The new Vietnam passport is a substantial improvement over the old one, with a modern design and cutting-edge security features. The redesigned Vietnam passport is more than just a travel document. It is also a representation of the country's dynamic position on the international scene. It showcases efforts to modernize, connect internationally, and preserve historic legacy.
Vietnam updates a new passport for citizens
Early in July 2022, something amazing happened in the world of Vietnamese passports. The new Vietnamese passport was introduced, which did not have an electronic chip like the previous one. The cover of the revised model is blue-purple instead of green, as it was previously.
The new Vietnamese passport proudly displays, on each page, iconic scenes of the country's breathtaking landscapes. These features highlight its cultural legacy and national sovereignty and highlight Vietnam's attraction on the international scene.
The new passport design from Vietnam smoothly integrates security measures, improving user-friendliness and reducing potential hassles while making it simple to handle for capable authorities.
Until the specified expiration date, holders of the previous model Vietnamese passport issued before July 1, 2022, may continue to use it. Passports issued after July 1, 2022, with the outdated design, will no longer be valid.
Vietnam's new passport design will undergo a major change with the introduction of embedded electronic chips in regular passports for people starting on March 1, 2023.
The aim of this update is a progressive approach to improving immigration administration, facilitating citizen convenience, and meeting needs for international integration. This modification emphasizes how widely accessible this chance is by being open to Vietnamese people 14 years of age and up.
So, How to get a passport and how can an electronic chip be used to renew a Vietnamese passport? A physical visit to the Ministry of Public Security, the Vietnam Immigration Department, or the local immigration offices in provinces or cities is necessary for anyone wishing to apply for a new Vietnam passport.
The newly designed electronic chip-equipped Vietnam passport has an electronic device that safely stores encrypted information about the passport bearer and the signature of the issuer. Interestingly, every printed passport component, text and image included, is created with state-of-the-art technology that complies with ICAO regulations.
The purple-blue cover of both chipped and non-chipped passports is the same. Furthermore, the pages of the Vietnamese new passport eloquently display the country's distinctive landscapes and cultural assets.
There are many advantages to the new electronic chip-equipped Vietnam passport. The following are the notable benefits:
Traveling between nations becomes easier with the use of biometric identification technology, which streamlines passport control.
Entry considerations are streamlined for passport holders with electronic chips, who are granted preferential treatment during the visa application procedure.
Data contained in the chip is protected thanks to high-security protocols, making data replication extremely difficult.
The implementation of the electronic chip passport is a driving force behind significant socio-economic advancements. Simultaneously, it supports improving the standing of Vietnamese passports and actively promoting the country's integration into the region and the world.
For Vietnamese nationals to travel overseas, is a passport required and how to get a passport?
Vietnam now ranks 96th in terms of passport rankings. A significant number of 49 locations worldwide are visa-free for Vietnamese nationals.
Given that it complies with international law and is accepted by many nations, the new Vietnam passport is recognized everywhere. There is one exception, though: because this passport edition does not have "place of birth" information, the Czech Republic's embassy has temporarily stopped issuing visas for Vietnamese.
Beginning on January 1, 2023, the Ministry of Public Security and Vietnamese representative offices abroad implemented passports with "place of birth" information appended in response to the current dispute. Regular passports issued in accordance with the previous format before January 1, 2023, are still valid through the dates specified.
The new Vietnam passport has different layout, composition, and security features. However, the personal information is still the same. Notably, the "place of birth" has been added to this page, and the "surname" and "given names" are now separated into different lines.
These modifications have made it considerably simpler for foreign authorities to identify people by name and have streamlined the immigration processes for Vietnamese nationals. Furthermore, there has been less confusion regarding transactions and document issuing for Vietnamese people residing overseas.
The Ministry of Finance announced the revised Vietnam passport fee in June 2023 with Circular No. 44/2023/TT-BTC. The following fees apply to the issuance of a new Vietnam passport, with or without chips:
|
January 7, 2023–December 31, 2023 |
|
|---|---|
|
New passports |
160,000 VND |
|
Reissuance (in case you lost or are missing passports) |
320,000 VND |
|
As of January 1, 2024 |
|
|
New issuance |
200,000 VND |
|
Reissuance (in case you lost or are missing passports) |
400,000 VND |
Vietnamese citizens can verify their nationality using a Vietnam passport, which is granted by the country's responsible authorities. Vietnam's passport ranking is 82nd in the most recent Henley Passport Index, which was published on July 18, 2023. This is an increase of 6 places from January 2023 (88th position) and 10 places from 2022 (92nd place).
As a result, holders of Vietnamese passports are permitted entry into 55 nations and territories either without the need for a visa or with simpler ones like e-visas or visas on arrival. Among these nations and regions are:
|
Areas |
Countries |
|---|---|
|
Asia |
Brunei, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, the Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, the Philippines, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Cambodia, and Indonesia. |
|
Middle East |
Iran, Oman, and Kuwait. |
|
Oceania |
The Cook Islands, the Marshall Islands, the Palau archipelago, Samoa, Tuvalu, Micronesia, and Niue. |
|
Caribbean |
Barbados, St. Lucia, Dominica, and Haiti. |
|
America |
Bolivia, Surinam, Chile, Ecuador, and Panamá. |
|
Africa |
The Comoros, Djibouti, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Burundi, Cape Verde, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, Togo, Zambia, and Tanzania. |
There are four categories of Vietnam passports:
Vietnam authorities grant numerous types of passports for expats to choose from
Cover: brown-red; total pages: 48
Issued to senior state officials who have been given permission by the appropriate authority to travel overseas on official business.
Access to all nations is granted, and the validity period is five years from the date of issuance.
The Department of Foreign Affairs' Consular Department in Hanoi and the Department of External Relations in Ho Chi Minh City, or Vietnam's embassies and consulates abroad, are the issuing authorities.
48 pages overall, with a dark green cover.
Issued to public servants who have been given permission by the appropriate authorities to travel overseas on official business.
Access to all nations is allowed, and the validity period is five years from the date of issuance.
The Department of Consular Affairs within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hanoi and the Department of External Relations in Ho Chi Minh City, or Vietnam Embassies and Consulates abroad, are the issuing authorities.
48 pages overall with a purple-blue cover
Distributed to the inhabitants of Vietnam.
For 14-year-old citizens: non-renewable, valid for 10 years after the date of issuing.
For citizens under the age of 14, the validity period is five years from the date of issuance, and it is not renewed.
Issuing authority: overseas Vietnam embassies or consulates; the immigration office where you temporarily or permanently dwell; if you have a Vietnamese ID card, the nearest immigration office; otherwise, the immigration office where you reside.
Commencing August 15, 2023, this is a new passport category for Vietnam. It is 12 pages long, has a black cover, and is good for one year. The following people qualify for this passport:
Individuals who are abroad have misplaced their passports and want to come back right away.
Those without passports who are deported from their host countries.
Those who are compelled to return by international treaties or repatriation agreements.
Those who were given passports for security and defense purposes.
A Vietnam passport will not be granted in the following circumstances:
Those who are being investigated for crimes or who are being prosecuted for crimes.
Those awaiting the settlement of a civil or business dispute, or those who are presently serving a civil or business judgment.
Persons who, in the absence of their assets or money being deposited, are currently subject to decisions regarding administrative fines, tax responsibilities, and other financial commitments.
Those involved in immigration-related administrative infractions.
For the purpose of preserving social order and maintaining national security.
Guidelines on how to get a passport in detail for Vietnamese reference.
How to get a passport for locals and Vietnamese living abroad
There are two types of passports that Vietnamese can consider, as follows:
A normal passport can be applied for in Vietnam online or in person. Here are the steps to take if you would rather apply for a passport in person:
Step 1: Compile the necessary paperwork
An application to obtain a passport from Vietnam.
2 images of portraits
For those under the age of 14, a copy of their birth certificate is required.
The regular passport that was most recently issued, if any. You must provide a report of passport loss from the appropriate government if your Vietnam passport was misplaced.
If the passport applicant lacks the competence to act in civil ways, struggles with cognitive perception and behavior management, or is younger than 14 years old, the appropriate authority will certify their status as a legal representative.
Step 2: Send the documentation to the Immigration Office.
Step 3: Cover the cost and await the outcome
The National Portal for Public Services is another website where you can apply online for a Vietnamese passport. Currently, nevertheless, the portal is only available in Vietnamese. Therefore, for maximum convenience, it is advised that you apply in person.
The steps below must be followed in order to apply for an official or diplomatic passport in Vietnam:
Step 1: Assemble the necessary paperwork
A passport application form for Vietnam.
Two photos, according to the Vietnam photo requirements.
The competent authority's decision to approve the applicant's travel overseas.
The diplomatic or official passport that was most recently issued. You must produce a written notification from the supervisory authority if your Vietnam passport has been misplaced.
Step 2: Deliver the paperwork to the Department of External Relations in Ho Chi Minh City and the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hanoi (in HCMC).
Step 3: Make the payment and watch for the outcomes.
Comprehensive instructions on how to get a passport for foreigners.
How can Vietnamese nationals living abroad obtain Vietnamese passports? A Vietnamese national living abroad may apply for a regular passport at the Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate there, according to Vietnamese legislation. The steps are as follows:
Step 1: Compile the necessary paperwork
An application to obtain a passport from Vietnam.
Two images of portraits
A copy of an official document proves your residency in the host nation.
A copy of official documentation from the relevant government agency attesting to your Vietnamese nationality.
For those under the age of 14, a copy of their birth certificate is needed.
The latest standard passport that was issued, if any. Presenting a report of passport loss issued by the appropriate government is required if your Vietnam passport was misplaced.
If the applicant for a passport is under 14 years old, has trouble with cognitive perception and behavior management, or has lost the capacity for civil activities, certified proof of legal representative status will be issued by the relevant government.
Step 2: Send the paperwork to the Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate in your home country.
Step 3: Proceed to pay the charge and observe the outcomes.
The steps involved in applying for an official or diplomatic Vietnamese passport overseas are as follows:
Step 1: Assemble the necessary paperwork.
A passport application form for Vietnam.
Two pictures fulfill allthe criteria.
The competent authority's decision to approve the applicant's travel overseas.
The diplomatic or official passport that was most recently issued. You must produce a written notification from the supervisory authority if your Vietnam passport has been misplaced.
Step 2: Send the documentation to the Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate in the nation where you are currently residing.
Step 3: Enclose the payment and await the outcome.
Besides diving into how to get a passport, expats need to take into account the passport renewal or extension. Diplomatic and official passports that have less than a year left on them are eligible for a once-up to three-year extension, according to Vietnamese legislation. A fresh passport application needs to be submitted in the event of expiration.
Ordinary passports have an expiration date of 10 years and cannot be renewed. Passports that are lost or damaged must be reissued. A fresh application needs to be submitted in the event of expiration.
In addition to caring about how to get a passport, foreigners must check the visa prior to conducting any compulsory procedure. The most recent fees for issuing a Vietnam passport are listed below:
Fees for getting a Vietnamese passport in detail
|
Entry |
Fees (until December 12, 2023) |
Fees (from January 1, 2024) |
|---|---|---|
|
New issuance |
160,000 VND |
200,000 VND |
|
Reissuance (in case of passport loss) |
320,000 VND |
400,000 VND |
|
Entry |
Fees |
|---|---|
|
Issuance of regular, diplomatic, and official passports. |
70 USD |
|
Standard passports are issued (via streamlined procedures). |
35 USD |
Vietnam passport applications will be processed in 5 working days if submitted at the Immigration Department and 8 working days if submitted at the Immigration Office. If you apply for a Vietnamese passport overseas, it will take five to twenty days.
In summary, the Vietnam passport, which allows for foreign travel, is a necessary travel document for Vietnamese nationals. You can apply for a Vietnam passport online or offline, inside or outside of Vietnam, for any of the four available passport categories. You should get in touch with the Immigration Office for the most accurate and comprehensive information to guarantee a smooth application process. Contact us at [email protected] for more details to get deeper knowledge on how to get a passport in detail.
