General regulations on types of passports in Vietnam

1. About passport types

According to Article 6 of the Law on Entry, Exit of Vietnamese Citizens 2019 and Clause 2 of Article 2 of Circular 73/2021/TT-BCA , there are currently 03 types of passports considered as immigration documents, including:

- Diplomatic passport: dark brown cover.

- Official passport: dark green cover.

- Ordinary passport: light blue cover.

In addition, the laissez-passer is also used as an immigration document in addition to the different types of passports.

Passports with electronic chips or without electronic chips are issued to Vietnamese citizens aged 14 and above. Passports without electronic chips are issued to Vietnamese citizens under 14 years of age or issued through abbreviated procedures.

2. Subjects, validity period of different passport types

2.1 Diplomatic passport

- Subjects: Diplomatic passports are issued to high-ranking state officials (as regulated in Article 8 of the Law on Entry and Exit 2019); authorized by agencies, individuals to go abroad to perform official duties.

- Validity period: Diplomatic passports are valid from 01 to 05 years; can be extended once for up to 03 years.

2.2 Official passport

- Subjects:

+ Officials, civil servants as prescribed by law on officials, civil servants;

+ Officials of public sector units specified in Clause 2 of Article 9 of the Law on Entry and Exit 2019 .;

+ Staff of Vietnam's representative office abroad, press and state media reporters of Vietnam permanently living abroad.

+ Spouses, children under 18 years old of staff of Vietnam's representative office abroad, press and state media reporters of Vietnam permanently living abroad, accompanying or visiting these individuals during their official term.

+ In necessary cases, based on the requirements and nature of the trip, the Minister of Foreign Affairs issues official passports following the Prime Minister's instructions or considers issuing official passports at the request of agencies, individuals authorized as regulated in Article 11 of the Law on Entry and Exit 2019 for individuals not mentioned above.

3. Subjects issued ordinary passports through abbreviated procedures

According to Article 17 of the Law on Entry and Exit 2019 , subjects issued ordinary passports through abbreviated procedures include:

+ Individuals going abroad whose ordinary passports have expired, wish to return to the country immediately.

+ Individuals who have a written deportation decision from the competent authority in the host country but do not have a passport.

+ Individuals required to return to the country under international conventions or agreements on receiving back citizens.

+ Individuals issued ordinary passports for defense and security reasons.

The procedures for issuing ordinary passports through abbreviated procedures are implemented according to the regulations in Article 18 of the Law on Entry and Exit 2019 .