DECISION
Promulgating the regulation on grant and management of entry and exit permits
THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC SECURITY
Pursuant to the Government's Decree No. 21/2001/ND-CP of May 28, 2001, detailing the implementation of the April 28, 2000 Ordinance on Entry, Exit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam;
Pursuant to the Government's Decree No. 136/2003/ND-CP of November 14, 2003, defining the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the Ministry of Public Security;
At the proposal of the General Director of Security,
DECIDES:
Article 1.- To promulgate together with this Decision the Regulation on grant and management of entry and exit permits to foreigners who reside in Vietnam but have no passport to enter or exit Vietnam.
Article 2.- This Decision takes effect 15 days after its publication in "CONG BAO."
Article 3.- The director of the Ministry of Public Security's Entry and Exit Management Department and directors of provincial/municipal police offices shall, based on their functions and tasks, organize the implementation of this Decision.
For the Minister of Public Security
Vice Minister
Lieutenant-General THI VAN TAM
REGULATION ON GRANT AND MANAGEMENT OF ENTRY AND EXIT PERMITS
(Promulgated together with the Public Security Minister's Decision No. 679/2007/QD-BCA of June 20, 2007)
Article 1.- Grantees of entry and exit permits
1. Entry and exit permits are granted to foreign residents in Vietnam for the purpose of entering and exiting Vietnam.
2. Foreigners residing in Vietnam who are granted passports or passport-substitute papers by competent authorities of their native countries are not entitled to obtain entry and exit permits under this Regulation.
Article 2.- Conditions for obtaining entry and exit permits
Foreigners who satisfy the following conditions are eligible for obtaining an entry and exit permit:
1. Having a residence card granted by Vietnam's entry and exit management agency.
2. Having no passport granted by foreign competent authorities.
3. Not being banned from exit according to Vietnam law.
Article 3.- Validity of entry and exit permits
1. Entry and exit permits are granted individually and have a term corresponding to the term of residence cards which, however, does not exceed two years and is not extended.
2. Entry and exit permits cannot replace passports and do not specify the nationality of permit holders.
3. Persons who hold entry and exit permits together with residence cards are exempt from visas when they enter or exit Vietnam during the permit term.
Article 4.- Dossiers of application for entry and exit permits
1. A dossier comprises:
+ One declaration form (according to a set form)
+ A copy of the residence card granted by an entry and exit management agency of Vietnam;
+ Two 4 cm x 6cm recent photos with white background showing the applicant looking straight, bareheaded without wearing color glasses (one photo glued to the declaration form and the other left separate).
When submitting the dossier, the applicant shall submit the original residence card for comparison.
2. Agencies for dossier submission and fee payment:
- Foreign residents in Vietnam shall submit their applications for entry and exit permits to entry and exit management divisions of police offices of provinces or cities where they reside or to the Ministry of Public Security's Entry and Exit Management Department.
- Grantees of entry and exit permits shall pay fees under the Ministry of Finance's regulations.
Article 5.- Time limit for grant entry and exit permits
1. Within two working days from the date of receiving valid dossiers, entry and exit management divisions of provincial/municipal police offices shall consider and transfer dossiers of application for entry and exit permits to the Ministry of Public Security's Entry and Exit Management Department.
2. Within four working days from the date of receiving valid dossiers, the Ministry of Public Security's Entry and Exit Management Department shall consider and grant entry and exit permits.
Article 3.- Re-grant of entry and exit permits
1. Entry and exit permits are re-granted when they are expired, lost or torn.
2. Persons who request re-grant of entry and exit permits shall prepare an application dossier as prescribed in Article 4 and submit it together with their expired or torn entry and exit permit, or a report on the loss of the entry and exit permit (certified by the police office of the commune or ward where the permit is lost).
Article 7.- Withdrawal of entry and exit permits
1. Entry and exit permits are withdrawn when permit holders are subject to temporary ban from exit according to Vietnam law.
2. The Ministry of Public Security's Entry and Exit Management Department or entry and exit management divisions of provincial/municipal police offices shall undertake the withdrawal of entry and exit permits.
Article 3.- Handling of violations
Agencies, organizations and individuals violating this Regulation, shall, depending on the nature and severity of their violation, be handled according to Vietnam law.
Article 3.- Organization of implementation
The director of the Ministry of Public Security's Entry and Exit Management Department shall:
- Guide the implementation of this Regulation.
- Coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Consular Department in informing other countries' competent agencies of grantees of entry and exit permits for assistance.
- Print, and manage the printing of, blank entry and exit permits and relevant forms.
- Collect statistics on entry and exit permit grant.