If I lose my passport while traveling abroad, can I get a new one quickly?
My son lost his passport while traveling abroad. If he wants to return home soon, can he get a new passport quickly? This is a concern of Mr. Le Nguyen (Nghia Tho commune, Nghe An province).
Reply: Pursuant to Article 17 of the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens 2019, amended and supplemented by Clause 5, Article 1 of the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens and the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam amended in 2023, which subjects are granted ordinary passports according to the simplified procedure as follows:
- People who go abroad for a limited period of time and lose their passports and wish to return home immediately.
- People who are not allowed to reside abroad but are not subject to international treaties or international agreements on receiving back citizens.
- People who must return to their country according to international treaties or international agreements on the repatriation of citizens.
- People issued ordinary passports for national defense and security reasons.
Pursuant to Clause 1, Article 18 of the 2019 Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens, the procedure for granting ordinary passports under simplified procedures for people going abroad for a limited period of time who have lost their passports and wish to return home immediately is prescribed as follows:
- The person requesting a passport must submit a lost passport report, a completed application form, two portrait photos and present identification documents issued by a competent authority of Vietnam, if any;
- Within 2 working days from the date of receiving the request, the Vietnamese representative agency abroad shall consider and decide to issue a passport, return the result to the applicant and notify in writing the Immigration Department of the Ministry of Public Security in case it has not been connected to the National Database on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens;
- In case there is not enough basis to issue a passport, within 2 working days from the date of receiving the request, the Vietnamese representative agency abroad shall send a document in the form to the Immigration Department of the Ministry of Public Security for verification, and at the same time notify the applicant in writing;
- Within 2 working days from the date of receipt of the exchange document, the Immigration Department of the Ministry of Public Security shall respond in writing to the Vietnamese representative agency abroad regarding the issuance of a passport;
- Within 1 working day from the date of receiving the reply, the Vietnamese representative agency abroad shall issue the passport and return the result to the applicant; in case the passport is not yet issued, a written reply shall be given stating the reason;
- In case of filling out the application form through relatives in the country, the Immigration Department of the Ministry of Public Security shall receive, check, respond to the relatives and notify in writing the Vietnamese representative agency abroad within 2 working days from the date of receiving the request; within 1 working day from the date of receiving the notification, the Vietnamese representative agency abroad shall collect the photo of the applicant, issue an ordinary passport and return the result.
Thus, if your child is abroad and has lost his passport and wishes to return home immediately, he will be considered for a regular passport under a simplified procedure, with the fastest processing time of only 2 working days. Citizens need to contact directly the Vietnamese representative agency in the host country for specific instructions, ensuring immigration rights and avoiding violations of residence regulations.
