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What is a passport with an electronic chip?

 A passport with an electronic chip is a passport with an electronic device that holds the passport holder's encrypted information and the issuer's signature. This is a new improvement step to facilitate Vietnamese citizens, improve the efficiency of State management of immigration and meet the country's international integration requirements.

 In addition, the chip stores biometric characteristics, photographs and personal information of citizens on passports. This makes the procedure for refining paper records, database management easier for both competent agencies and people in need.

How is an electronic chip passport different from a regular passport?

Similarities:

Compared to ordinary passports without chips (issued from July 1, 2022), passport models with chips are similar in size, color and page numbers: With a charcoal blue cover; the pages in print show the beautiful scenery of the country and cultural heritage of Vietnam.

Modern technology, meeting security requirements, preventing the risk of counterfeiting and meeting ICAO standards.

The differences:

The first cover of the passport has an electronic chip with an electronic chip symbol to distinguish it from the old model.

The electronic chip is placed on the back cover of the passport (in the lower left corner, it is difficult for the naked eye to detect this chip) to store the identity and biometric information of the passport holder (including face photo, fingerprint ...) and digital signature of the passport issuing authority.

At the identity page of the passport with the chip, the authorities added information about the place of birth of the citizen.

Is it mandatory to change to a passport with an electronic chip?

The police agency said that ordinary passports without electronic chips and ordinary passports with electronic chips are used in tandem. When applying for a passport, Vietnamese citizens aged 14 years and above have the right to choose whether to issue a passport without an electronic chip or a passport with an electronic chip.

Vietnamese citizens who have been issued ordinary passports without electronic chips will be allowed to continue to use them until the expiry of their passports, not required to change to passports with electronic chips.

 What are the outstanding advantages of passports with electronic chips?

 - E-passports not only store information written on paper such as: full name, date of birth, nationality ... but also capable of storing human biometric information such 

as fingerprints, iris, face, blood type ... Because it is possible to save a lot of passengers' information accurately and uniformly in terms of format, immigration procedures in other countries will take place more quickly and easily, almost without wasting time for immigration control officers of countries to control, Verify the information on the passport because everything will appear quickly when reading the passport.

 - Holders of passports with electronic chips will be given priority by the foreign side when processing entry visas. Currently, there are more than 100 countries and territories in the world using e-passports, because they store a lot of information in a unified format between countries.

 - Passports with electronic chips have high information security, because stored in the chip, it is difficult to copy information. Therefore, electronic passports are more secure than regular paper passports, protecting passport holders against the risk of personal information theft; avoid counterfeiting.

 - The issuance of e-passports not only facilitates people in immigration activities but also suits the e-Government to create a breakthrough in socio-economic development; enhance the position of Vietnamese passports, promote Vietnam's integration process in the region and the world.

What are the rules for passports with electronic chips?

In Clause 1 Article 2 of Circular 73/2021/TT-BCA stipulates passport models, travel documents and related forms 

issued by the Minister of Public Security as follows:

 - The cover of the outer side of the passport is printed with the national emblem, coat of arms and passport name; passports with electronic chips have electronic chip symbols;

 - The pages of the passport show images of the beautiful scenery of the country and cultural heritage of Vietnam, combined with bronze drum motifs;

 - The language used in the passport is: Vietnamese and English;

 - Number of pages in the passport book excluding the cover: 48 pages for diplomatic, official and ordinary passports with a validity of 5 years or 10 years, for ordinary passports with 12 pages with a validity not exceeding 12 months;

 - On the back cover of the passport attached the electronic chip is placed in the cover with the electronic chip attached;

 - The passport cover is made from synthetic plastic materials, which are durable;

 - Passport letters and numbers are punched by laser technology smoothly from page 1 to the back cover of the passport book and coincide with letters and numbers on page 1;

 - All contents and images are printed in passports, made by modern technology to meet security requirements, prevent the risk of counterfeiting and meet ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) standards.

There are currently the following 3 passport models: Diplomatic passport with sepia cover (HCNG form); official passport with a dark green cover (HCCV form); ordinary passport with a blue-purple cover (HCPT form).

What is the procedure for issuing a passport with an electronic chip?

Citizens can apply for an electronic passport with a chip in many different forms. Specifically, citizens with citizen identity cards have the right to choose where to apply for a passport at any Immigration Office of the police of the province or city that citizens find most convenient.

Those who still use their identity cards are required to apply for a passport with an electronic chip at the Immigration Office where their permanent or temporary residence is located.

In case the applicant applies for a passport from the 2nd time onwards, the place of passport issuance shall be selected at the Immigration Department or the Immigration Department of any provincial police.

In addition, in order to reduce administrative procedures and save time, citizens actively make passport application forms through the Public Service Portal of the Ministry of Public Security at the link: https://dichvucong.bocongan.gov.vn/

 What is the deadline for returning results?

 Citizens can pick it up directly at the immigration office or be delivered by the postal unit to the registered address and pay the delivery fee when receiving the passport.

 Passports will be issued within 8 working days if checking in at local Immigration Offices, 5 working days if applying for passports at the Immigration Department of the Ministry of Public Security.

Source: nhandan.vn