CIRCULAR No.16/1998/TT-BNV OF JANUARY 12, 1998 GUIDING THE GRANTING OF BORDER LAISSEZ-PASSERS TO VIETNAMESE CITIZENS WHO TRAVEL TO LAOS

In furtherance of Article 5 of the Protocol on amendments and supplements to the Agreement on National Border Statute between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the People's Democratic Republic of Laos concluded on August 31, 1997 concerning the granting of border laissez-passers to citizens of the two countries to travel across the border, the Ministry of the Interior hereby provides the following guidance:

I. OBJECTS OF APPLICATION

1. Vietnamese citizens who are State officials, workers and employees; and managed by authorities of provinces bordering Laos and sent by the People's Committees of such provinces to the opposite Laotian provinces for working missions or friendship visits shall be granted border laissez-passers in accordance with Article 5 of the Protocol on the amendments and supplements to the Agreement on National Border Statute between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the People's Democratic Republic of Laos concluded on August 31, 1997.

2. State officials, workers and employees of central-level branches and provinces which do not border on Laos, who are sent to Laos for working missions or friendship visits; persons who reside in Vietnamese provinces bordering Laos and travel to Laotian provinces which do not border on Vietnam for working missions must have passports or papers of passport-substitute value granted by the Vietnamese competent agency(ies).

3. Vietnamese citizens throughout the country who travel to Laos for such personal purposes as: tourism, visits to relatives, medical treatment, self-supporting labor or study must have passports or papers of equivalent value granted by the Ministry of the Interior (the Department for Exit and Entry Management) in accordance with Clause 3, Article 6 of Decree No.48-CP of March 8, 1993 of the Government.

4. Vietnamese citizens who reside in border areas (border communes) and travel to Laos' border areas for visits to their relatives, exchange of goods essential for daily life,... shall not be granted border laissez-passers but shall use border identity cards.

Persons who reside in border areas and travel to non-border areas of Laos shall have to comply with Point 3 above.

II. THE PROCEDURES FOR GRANTING BORDER LAISSEZ-PASSERS

1. Persons mentioned in Point 1, Section I who apply for border laissez-passers to Laos shall fill procedures at the Section of Exit and Entry Management section under the Police Department of the province where they reside, including the following:

- Decisions of the competent agencies to send their officials to Laos for working missions or friendship visits. Such decisions must clearly state the names of the subject persons and the purposes for which they are sent to Laos.

- An application by each person for "border laissez-passer" according to the form set out by the Ministry of the Interior (the Department for Exit and Entry Management), enclosed with 03 (three) his/her recent photographs of 4 cm x 6 cm size, with face in straight position and a bare head, one of such photographs shall be stuck to the application. The head of the managing agency shall directly affix its seal on such photograph and write certification on the application.

- The payment of fees in accordance with the regulation jointly issued by the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

The handling time limit: within 5 working days from the date the provincial Police Department receives the complete and proper dossiers.

2. Border laissez-passers shall be granted by the Police Departments of the provinces bordering Laos and valid for one year.

The border laissez-passers shall be valid for use within the opposite Laotian provinces bordering on Vietnam and be granted to person by person. The border laissez-passer holders shall be exempt from Laos' exit and entry visas as provided for by Article 5 of the above said Protocol.

III. ORGANIZATION OF IMPLEMENTATION

1. The Department for Exit and Entry Management under the Ministry of the Interior shall have to set the form of "border laissez-passer", the form of "application for border laissez-passer" and guide, inspect and urge the police offices of all levels to implement this Circular.

2. This Circular takes effect after its issuance.

For the Minister of the Interior

Vice Minister

NGUYEN KHANH TOAN