Are you a Vietnamese citizen looking to apply for a Vietnamese passport for entry and exit purposes? Are you unsure about the procedures and process required to obtain a passport? Nhi Gia, a professional provider of passport application support solutions, is here to assist you.
What is a passport?
A Passport is an official statutory document under state ownership, issued by competent government authorities to its citizens. It functions as the ultimate legal authorization empowering holders to validly exit their home country and re-enter from abroad.
In simpler terms, a passport serves as an international identity card whenever you reside or travel outside the territory of Vietnam. The document explicitly features core identity profiles, including: the holder’s full name, date of birth, biometric portrait, nationality, passport number, signature, issuing authority, date of issuance, expiration date, and designated blank pages for immigration control stamps or visa endorsements from various nations.
Currently, alongside traditional passport formats, immigration authorities have actively deployed e-Passports (electronic passports embedded with microchips) to securely encrypt biometric data, heavily maximizing document security and accelerating automated immigration clearance tracks at global frontiers.
What Is a Vietnamese Passport? How Many Types Are There?
A Vietnamese passport is an exit and entry document issued by the competent Vietnamese authority to Vietnamese citizens for exit and entry purposes. It also serves to prove the nationality and identity of the passport holder.
A passport is the property of the State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Vietnamese citizens use passports to exit and enter Vietnam through Vietnamese border gates in accordance with regulations. However, whether a visa is required to enter another country or territory depends on the entry regulations of that country/territory or relevant international treaties.
Under the 2019 Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens, exit and entry documents of Vietnamese citizens include diplomatic passports, official passports, ordinary passports and laissez-passers. Among them, Vietnamese passports are generally classified into three main types: ordinary passports, official passports and diplomatic passports.
Ordinary Passport
Eligible Holders: Issued to all Vietnamese citizens requiring international transit (excluding individuals subject to temporary exit suspensions under Article 21 of the Law).
Under the current passport form, an ordinary passport has a blue-violet cover
Structural Format: Comprises 48 pages (for the 5-year or 10-year validity formats) and 12 pages (for the expedited short-term format under 12 months).
*Validity Matrix:
- Issued to individuals aged 14 and above: Valid for 10 years and non-extendable.
- Issued to minors under 14 years of age: Valid for 05 years and non-extendable.
Issued under expedited summary tracks: Valid for a maximum of 12 months and non-extendable.
Official passport
An official passport is issued to Vietnamese citizens who are assigned or permitted to travel overseas to perform official duties in accordance with regulations.
Under the current passport form, an official passport has a dark green cover.
Structural Format: Comprises 48 pages.
An official passport is valid for 01 to 05 years and may be extended once for no more than 03 years.
Whether an official passport holder is exempt from visa requirements when entering another country or territory depends on international treaties, bilateral agreements or the entry regulations of that country/territory.
Diplomatic passp
ort
A diplomatic passport is issued to Vietnamese citizens who hold diplomatic positions or titles, or who are assigned to travel overseas for diplomatic purposes in accordance with regulations.
Under the current passport form, a diplomatic passport has a reddish-brown cover.
Structural Format: Comprises 48 pages
A diplomatic passport is valid for 01 to 05 years and may be extended once for no more than 03 years.
Similar to official passports, visa exemption for diplomatic passport holders depends on international treaties, agreements between Vietnam and the relevant country/territory, or the entry regulations of the destination country.
Critical Passport Operational Rules
Enterprises and individual applicants must strictly adhere to the following operational parameters enforced by the Immigration Department (Ministry of Public Security):
- Active Passports: In the event of material damage, deterioration, modification of primary core data, or exhaustion of stamping pages while the credential is still within its validity period, the holder must execute the Re-issuance or Exchange track.
- Expired Passports: Under statutory immigration frameworks, an ordinary passport that has reached its expiration date is absolutely non-extendable. Citizens are legally required to execute a New Issuance track from the foundation stage to secure updated passport formats (including integrating into the biometric e-Passport system).
What documents are required for a Vietnamese ordinary passport application?
Nhi Gia would like to share the basic documents that Vietnamese citizens need to prepare when applying for a new issuance, re-issuance, or renewal of an ordinary passport in Vietnam.
Depending on each specific case, the application dossier may be submitted directly to the Immigration Department, submitted online via the National Public Service Portal or the Ministry of Public Security Public Service Portal, or supplemented via postal service as instructed by the receiving authority.
First-Time Passport Issuance Dossier for Applicants Aged 14 or Older
Applicable to citizens who have never been issued a passport or whose previous passport has long expired:
- 01 Official Passport Application Form (Template TK01, executed digitally via the National Public Service Portal).
- 02 Recent color photographs 4×6 cm captured against a white background, forward-facing, bareheaded, without tinted lenses, complying with ICAO standards.
- Valid National Identity Card (CCCD) or Identity Card.
- Note on Residency: Physical Residency Books and Temporary Residence Books have been fully decommissioned; data synchronization is seamlessly executed via the National Population Database upon electronic submission.
Re-issuance Due to Loss or Material Damage
- 01 Official Passport Application Form (Template TK01, digital format).
- 02 Recent color photographs ($4\text{ cm} \times 6\text{ cm}$, white background, ICAO compliant).
- Valid National Identity Card (CCCD) or Identity Card (presented or digitally attached for verification).
- In the event of physical damage: The deteriorated passport must be surrendered to the Immigration Department.
- In the event of loss: Must be accompanied by a Formal Passport Loss Report (Template TK05) or a statutory acknowledgment of loss receipt issued by the nearest local police agency or border control unit.
Renewal Due to Passport Expiration or Page Exhaustion
- 01 Official Passport Application Form (Template TK01, digital format).
- 02 Recent color photographs ($4\text{ cm} \times 6\text{ cm}$, white background, ICAO compliant).
- Valid National Identity Card (CCCD) or Identity Card.
- The most recently issued ordinary passport (mandatory for submission to immigration authorities for cancellation/corner-cutting prior to receiving the newly issued credential).
Passport Dossier for Minors Under 14 Years of Age
- 01 Official Passport Application Form executed, signed, and certified by a parent or legal guardian (if submitted physically, it commands certification and a fluid seal over the photo by the ward-level Public Security where the minor resides; if submitted digitally, parents utilize their Level-2 electronic identity accounts for verification).
- 02 Recent color photographs of the minor 4x6cm, white background).
- Certified copy or official extract of the minor’s Birth Certificate.
- Valid Identity Card (CCCD) of the executing parent or legal guardian to validate dependency links.
Dossier for Modification of Passport Information
- 01 Official Application Form (Template TK01). For minors under 14, the form is executed and signed by a parent or legal guardian.
- The current ordinary passport possessing a remaining validity of at least 01 year.
- Valid National Identity Card (CCCD) or Identity Card.
- Statutory judicial instruments validating the core modifications (Official Judicial Decisions regarding adjustments to full name, date of birth, place of birth, or gender).
- Note on Joint Passports: Under contemporary global biometric security trends, every individual (including minors under 9 years of age) is strongly encouraged to hold an independent passport rather than being integrated into a parent’s credential to facilitate seamless international border clearance.
What Is the Process for Applying for a Vietnamese Passport?
After preparing the required documents, Vietnamese citizens may apply for an ordinary passport through one of the following methods:
- Submitting the application directly to the Immigration Authority under the provincial-level Police Department;
- Submitting the application online via the National Public Service Portal or the Ministry of Public Security’s Public Service Portal;
- Sending supplementary documents via public postal service as notified by the receiving authority, if applicable.
For first-time passport applicants, the application is submitted to the Immigration Authority under the provincial-level Police Department of the applicant’s place of permanent or temporary residence. If the applicant has a Citizen Identification Card, the application may be submitted to the Immigration Authority under the provincial-level Police Department at a convenient location.
For applicants applying for a passport from the second time onward, the application may be submitted to the Immigration Authority under the provincial-level Police Department at a convenient location.
After receiving the dossier, the competent authority will review its completeness and validity. If the dossier is valid, the applicant will receive an appointment slip for result collection and pay the prescribed fee. If the dossier is incomplete or invalid, the receiving authority will provide guidance or notification for supplementation and completion.
The processing time for an ordinary passport application within Vietnam at the provincial level is currently 08 working days from the date of receipt of a complete and valid dossier.
Applicants may receive the result directly at the receiving authority or register to receive the passport by postal service as instructed. Passport collection is generally available from Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays and Tet holidays.
For assistance in reviewing your dossier and guidance on the Vietnamese passport application process, please contact Nhị Gia via 1900 6654 or info@nhigia.vn.
How Much Is the Vietnamese Passport Fee?
Note: This is the mandatory government fee payable to the competent authority when applying for a passport. Nhị Gia’s service fee, if applicable, will be advised separately based on each specific dossier.
Under current regulations, passport-related fees include:
| Item | Government fee |
| New passport issuance, including passports with and without electronic chips | VND 200,000 per issuance |
| Passport reissuance due to damage or loss | VND 400,000 per issuance |
| Extension of diplomatic or official passports | VND 100,000 per issuance |
| Issuance of personnel confirmation | VND 100,000 per issuance |
For ordinary passports, when the passport expires, runs out of pages, is damaged, lost, or requires changes to personal information, the citizen must apply for passport reissuance or new issuance in accordance with regulations. Ordinary passports cannot be extended.
Difficulties When Applying for a Passport on Your Own
Passport application procedures have become more convenient thanks to online submission and postal result delivery options. However, applicants may still encounter several difficulties when handling the procedure on their own, such as:
- Not correctly identifying the applicable case: first-time issuance, reissuance due to loss or damage, reissuance due to expiry or no blank pages, or issuance for children under 14;
- Preparing photos, application forms or personal documents incorrectly;
- Online documents not being electronically certified or requiring supplementary submission by postal service;
- Inconsistent information among the Citizen Identification Card, birth certificate, old passport or other personal documents;
- Needing to monitor supplementation notices, fee payment and result collection schedule on the online system;
- Spending additional time traveling if the dossier is incomplete, incorrect or requires original document verification.
Nhị Gia supports clients in reviewing dossiers, advising on the appropriate application case and guiding document preparation to reduce repeated supplementation, making the passport application process more convenient and time-efficient.
Where Can You Find a Reliable Vietnamese Passport Service?
With more than 20 years of experience in immigration procedures and legal dossier support, Nhị Gia assists clients in preparing applications for Vietnamese ordinary passports in a fast, accurate and time-saving manner.
When using Nhị Gia’s passport support service, clients will receive:
- Consultation on the appropriate passport application case, including first-time issuance, reissuance due to expiry, loss, damage, no blank pages or changes in personal information;
- Dossier review before submission to help minimize errors and repeated supplementation;
- Guidance on preparing required documents, passport photos, application forms and necessary information in accordance with regulations;
- Support for special or urgent cases within the scope permitted by the competent authority;
- Progress monitoring and assistance if supplementation or correction is requested;
- Clear cost consultation before implementation;
- Document and result delivery support upon request.
The estimated completion timeline will be advised by Nhị Gia after reviewing the dossier, old passport status and the client’s specific needs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Vietnamese Passports
How many characters does a Vietnamese passport number have?
A Vietnamese passport number generally consists of 08 characters, starting with 01 uppercase letter followed by 07 digits.
For ordinary passports, the passport number is usually shown on the personal information page, under the words “Hộ chiếu/Passport”, or in a clearly visible position on the passport holder’s information page. When using a passport for flight booking, visa applications or immigration procedures, applicants should carefully check the passport number to avoid information errors.
What is a “blank passport”?
A “blank passport” is a common informal term used to describe a passport of a person who has never travelled abroad or has not yet had any immigration stamps or visas from other countries.
When applying for a foreign visa, travel history may be one of the factors considered by the consular authority. However, having multiple immigration stamps does not guarantee visa approval. The result also depends on other factors such as the purpose of travel, financial documents, employment status, itinerary, ties to Vietnam and the regulations of each destination country.
Are a passport and a visa the same?
A passport and a visa are two different documents, although they are often used together during international travel.
A passport is issued by the competent Vietnamese authority to Vietnamese citizens for exit and entry purposes. It also serves to prove the nationality and identity of the passport holder.
A visa is a document or approval issued by the destination country or territory, allowing a foreign national to enter, stay or carry out an approved purpose for a certain period of time.
For some countries or territories, Vietnamese citizens may be exempt from visa requirements for a specific period under applicable regulations or bilateral agreements. However, in many cases, travelers still need to apply for a visa before departure, apply for an e-visa, or obtain a visa on arrival, depending on the rules of the destination country.
The information above provides basic guidance on Vietnamese passports. If you need assistance applying for an ordinary passport, please contact Nhị Gia via Hotline 1900 6654 for timely consultation and support.
