Getting your passport for the first time is exciting – after all, it means that you get to travel overseas and see the world.
However, for decades, Vietnamese citizens who wanted to obtain a first-time passport have had to apply at the immigration office in the area where they were born or have registered their permanent residence. If not, they would need to bring along their KT3, a long-term resident book issued by local authorities, to the application interview if they were applying for a passport elsewhere. This regulation has caused a lot of inconveniences for those who live and work away from their hometowns.
However, starting from 1st July, Vietnamese citizens can apply for a first-time passport at any immigration office in Vietnam without having to go back to their hometowns to perform the application process, according to Thư Viện Pháp Luật.
From 1st July onwards, Vietnamese citizens don’t have to go back to their hometowns, or to the place where they have registered their permanent residence, to apply for first-time passports.
Image credit: Gia Hợp
It means that those whose hometowns are in Da Nang or Hanoi but currently living in Saigon can go to any immigration office in Saigon to apply for passports. They will not have to fly all the way to their hometowns for the process as before.
The only document you’ll need to bring along for the application process is your ID card.
A Vietnamese ID card
Image adapted from: Luật Việt Nam
This change in passport application rules comes as a great relief for many residents living in big cities such as Saigon and Hanoi, home to millions of people coming from other provinces. It helps people save time, energy, and money.
When we’re able to travel abroad easily again, there are plenty of countries near and far to explore.
According to the Vietnam Embassy in England, the 90 million people eligible to hold Vietnamese passports can travel to the following countries without a visa on their passports, or by obtaining a visa on arrival.
Image adapted from: @huongf_ne.201
Asia
* Visa–free entry applies to Vietnamese citizens whose passports contain visas of the US, Canada, England, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and Schengen)
Oceania
Indian Ocean nations
Africa
Europe
The Americas/Caribbean countries
* Visa–free regime applies to holders of passports containing Schengen visas
This list applies to regular Vietnamese passport holders. Diplomatic and official passport holders will enjoy different privileges when it comes to visa-free travel, so they should check in with their sponsor company or business partners.
From now on, Vietnamese nationals living and working away from home don’t have to travel all the way to their hometowns to apply for first-time passports. They can go through the process at their nearest immigration offices, which spares them a lot of time, energy, and money.
We’re glad to see how the Vietnamese government is making headways with new changes in governmental services, which streamlines the procedures and makes things easier for Vietnamese civilians.
Also check out:
Cover image adapted from: visa24h.info
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