Lt. Gen. To An Xo, Chief of the Ministry of Public Security’s Office and Spokesman of the ministry, emphasized in the Government’s regular press briefing on August 3 that the new version of Vietnam’s passport has been recognized by most countries in the world.
Lt. Gen. To An Xo, Chief of the Ministry of Public Security’s Office and Spokesman of the ministry, addresses the press briefing on August 3 (Photo: VNA).
Regarding the temporary suspension of granting visas on the new passport of Vietnam in Germany, Spain, and the Czech Republic, the Chief noted that the new passport has complied with regulations and standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the suspensions in these three countries are only temporary due to some technical factors.
Many countries such as Japan, the Republic of Korea, Switzerland, and Mongolia also do not have the “place of birth” in their passports.
To create favorable conditions for Vietnamese citizens to work, study and travel abroad, the MPS and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are working with partners in Germany, Spain, and the Czech Republic to resolve the technical issues.
The short-term solution is that the MPS will add the place of birth in the passport’s appendix. If necessary, holders of the new passport version can come to the MPS’s Immigration Department or Vietnam’s overseas representative agencies to add their places of birth in the appendix.
The MPS will coordinate with other ministries and sectors to consider relevant legal regulations to supplement the place of birth in the new passport version, according to the official.
The issue with citizen’s place of birth in the new passport
A new passport form has been used since July 1, 2022, reported the Vietnam Government Portal (VGP). The move aims to ensure technical safety and prevent counterfeiting.
Previously-issued passports are still valid until their expiration dates.
The MPS in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working with their counterparts in Germany, Spain, and the Czech Republic to address the issue of non-recognition of the new passports.
The temporary suspension is due to the lack of a place of birth listed in the new passport, which can be inferred through the citizen’s ID number.
Vietnamese holders of the new passports who have already received visas to these three countries should refrain from traveling since they would be denied entry at the border. The embassies will be contacting these individuals for further support.
The embassies have also posted relevant information on their websites and will continue to update them as new information becomes available.
