What's new with electronic chip passports?
Passports with electronic chips will officially take effect from August 14, 2021, and are considered to increase security and prevent counterfeiting compared to old passports.
The Ministry of Public Security has just issued Circular No. 73/2021/TT-BCA regulating passport and travel document forms and related forms.
The circular stipulates that the new passport model has the national emblem and the national emblem printed on the cover page, and the passport with an electronic chip has the electronic chip symbol. The images on the pages of the passport are beautiful landscapes of the country, Vietnamese cultural heritage, combined with the bronze drum motif. The passport has two languages used inside: Vietnamese and English. Attaching a chip to the passport is considered to meet the need for digitalization in the new era, minimizing the risk of counterfeiting.
According to initial information, the electronic chip in the new passport stores encrypted information of the passport holder and the digital signature of the issuer. In addition, the chip can also store biometric characteristics, photos or personal information of citizens.
The passport cover is made of durable synthetic plastic. The passport maintains its original size according to ISO 7810 standards. All content and images printed in the passport are made using modern technology, meeting ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) standards, meeting security requirements.
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| Electronic chip passport. |
The three passport models are distinguished by the cover color: Ordinary passport is purple-blue; official passport is dark green and diplomatic passport has a reddish-brown cover.
Previously, the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens hadeffective from July 1, 2020There are regulations on passports with electronic chips. People aged 14 and over can choose to apply for a passport with a chip or not. For people under 14, the passport will not have an electronic chip.
People who need to apply for a regular passport or a chip-embedded passport can go to the Immigration Department of the provincial police where they are permanently or temporarily residing to apply. When completing the procedure, people need to prepare a portrait photo, identity card or citizen identification card and documents proving permanent or temporary residence. The fee for a new passport is 200,000 VND. The fee for reissuing a passport due to damage or loss is 400,000 VND.
Circular No. 73/2021/TT-BCA on passports and travel documents takes effect from August 14, 2021. Passports and travel documents issued before January 1, 2022 are valid until the expiry date stated in the passport or travel document.
Also according to the Circular, the passport form has the cover printed with the national emblem, national emblem, and passport name. The languages used in the passport include: Vietnamese and Cambodian for Vietnam - Cambodia border passports; Vietnamese and Lao for Vietnam - Laos border passports; Vietnamese and Chinese for Vietnam - China border passports.
According to regulations, a passport is a document issued by a competent authority of Vietnam to Vietnamese citizens to cross the border with countries sharing a border.
The number of pages in the passport includes 16 pages for the Vietnam - Cambodia border passport and the Vietnam - Laos border passport, 28 pages for the Vietnam - China border passport; the size is according to ISO 7810 standard; the passport cover is made of synthetic plastic material, with high durability. All printed content in the passport is done using modern technology to meet security requirements, prevent the risk of counterfeiting.../.
