Why has the number of people applying for new ordinary passports increased dramatically?

The number increased 3-4 times compared to normal days.

According to records on July 11, from early morning, hundreds of people lined up to wait to make passports and travel documents at the office.Immigration Management Department of Nghe An Provincial Police.

Mr. Dau Tran Dung from Hoang Mai town said that he took a bus at 5am but when he arrived, there was already a long line of people waiting, so it was almost 10am before I could enter the headquarters. However, with a scientific approach, the steps of declaration, taking photos, etc. were all very quick, only when it came to submitting documents did I have to wait in line.

People line up to apply for passports at the Immigration Department of Nghe An Provincial Police. Photo: D.C.

Ms. Vi Thi Hien, from Chau Khe, Con Cuong district, said: Over the past two years, due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the foreign labor market has been frozen. Therefore, although I have completed my language studies, I have just now applied for a passport to follow an order in Japan. "This is the first time I have gone through the paperwork, I am not used to it, but thanks to the enthusiastic guidance of the Immigration Department, I have done it quite smoothly, in time to catch the bus home that day."

Indeed, according to observations, although the number of people increased suddenly, 3-4 times more than usual, there was no jostling or pushing. Inside, the organization and arrangement were scientific, with specific signs, along with many officers of the department arranged in the areas to promptly guide and support people.

Immigration Department staff inform people about the steps to apply for a passport. Photo: Hai Vuong

According to Major Ngo Xuan Manh, an officer of the Immigration Department: The reason why people are rushing to make passports is because since the end of May 2022, the Immigration Department - Ministry of Public Security has widely announced on the mass media to temporarily stop issuing old passports to prepare the best conditions for the implementation of issuing new ordinary passports from July 1, 2022 as stipulated in Circular No. 73/2021/TT-BCA dated June 29, 2021 of the Ministry of Public Security. Therefore, the backlog from before until now has seen a sudden increase in the number of people coming to make passports.

People wait for their number inside the Immigration Department. Photo: Hai Vuong

In addition, many people do not fully understand the new information and mistakenly think that the new passport is a regular passport with an electronic chip, so they rush to change their passports. In fact, the police department is currently issuing new passports according to the new model, not passports with electronic chips, so people with old passports that are still valid can still use them normally without having to change to a new model. In particular, after the Covid-19 pandemic, countries have now accepted foreign workers, which is also the peak tourist season... so people's demand for going abroad has also increased, leading to people having to change or make new passports.

Can apply for passport online

According to statistics, in the first 6 months of the year, the Immigration Department of Nghe An Provincial Police received and processed 42,000 applications for ordinary passports. From July 1 to July 13, 2022 alone, there were 6,000 applications, with peak days reaching 700-800 applications.

There are peak days with up to 700-800 applications/day. Photo: D.C.

With that reality, in recent days, the leaders of the Immigration Department have directed officers and soldiers to directly guide citizens in filling out electronic declarations, increase the time for receiving passport applications from citizens, and increase the number of reception desks to ensure the reception and handling of procedures quickly and conveniently, without allowing backlogs of applications to accumulate over the day.

According to Major Ngo Xuan Manh, an officer of the Immigration Department, to avoid overload, citizens should note: Those who have old passports that are still valid can rest assured to use them until they expire. Specifically, citizens who have been issued old passports before July 1, 2022 will continue to use them until the expiration date stated in the passport, and are not required to change to a new passport template.

Immigration officers guide people to fill out the declaration form. Photo: Hai Vuong

For convenience in making passports, the Immigration Department recommends that when coming to make passports directly, citizens using smartphones should scan the QR code, log in the electronic declaration content while waiting to go to the headquarters to make the application. For children under 14 years old, only need the ward police to confirm form TK01, stamp the border, and attach the birth certificate to make a passport. Parents do not need to bring their children to the Immigration Department.

In the case of having a chip-embedded ID card and an account on the public service portal, people are eligible to apply online. This will help save time and travel costs for citizens. Through Internet-connected devices (computers, smartphones, tablets, etc.), people can proactively conduct transactions at any time of the day, anywhere with Internet access without having to go directly to the immigration office to queue up to submit declarations, take photos, and receive results. Accordingly, to perform public services (level 4), people need a chip-embedded ID card and a personal phone SIM card.

Illustration of the process of receiving and processing ordinary passports (without electronic chips) at level 4 on the Ministry of Public Security's Public Service Portal. Photo: Duc Vu

Regarding the implementation process, citizens access the Ministry of Public Security's Online Public Service Portal, log in, fill in all information to request a passport according to form X01, email address, upload a portrait photo (to be printed on the passport), choose the form of receiving the passport (via postal service or directly receiving it at the immigration office), address to receive the passport, and pay the fee online when requested by the officer receiving the application.