Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security has begun issuing new passports. Hundreds of Vietnamese citizens have been flocking at Ministry since July 1, very eager to register for a new passport.
Here are 5 things you should know about our latest passport.
1. Is it compulsory to change the passport right away?
If your passport is still valid, you are not required to change it. Besides, the new passport that is issued from July 1st is still the one without chips. Therefore, people who already have ID cards with chips don't have to change their passports.
To travel to other countries, your passport must still be valid for at least 6 months and have at least 2 blank pages. You should consider this before changing. However, with the new variant of Omicron, it is recommended to be extra careful when departing to travel. The Ministry of Public Security announced that the passport with chips will be available from the 3rd quarter of 2022. The passport is valid for 10 years. Citizens from 14 years old can have their own passports.
2. What are the differences between the old and new passports?
The new passport has a dark blue cover, instead of the original green. You can find several of Vietnam's tourist attractions that are printed on these pages, such as Ha Long Bay, Hue Citadel, Hoi An, and Nha Rong Habour. The paper material has been changed, though might seem indifferent to regular eyes, but securities can easily differentiate, thus the new passport is said to have better security and prevents counterfeiting.
3. Chips or no chips?
The passport with electronic chips will be similar to ID cards with chips. When being scanned, it is more convenient to check all the information without skimming through 50 pages of the passport. The passports without chips that are issued from July 1st have no disadvantages compared to ones with chips. However, the Ministry plans to implant passports with electronic chips in the future to improve security, and integrate information and additional features.
4. How can you get the new passport?
To save time, you can access the public service website of the Ministry of Public Security here to fill in the form to register for the new passport. After logging in, you need to put in the required information, email address, upload a profile picture, select the method of receiving, receiving address and pay the fee online.
If you want to submit documents directly, you can go to the Immigration Office in your province, city, or the Immigration Department of the Ministry of Public Security. To schedule an appointment, go to the website of the Immigration Department (https://hochieu.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn) to fill in the electronic declaration.
5. What do you need to do to have the new passport?
The fee for the new passport is 160.000 VND. If you need to reissue or renew due to loss, you have to pay 320.000 VND. It takes 8 days if you work with the local Immigration Offices and 5 days if you work with Immigration Department for your new passport.
Translated by Mi Tran