Vietnam continues issuing new passports despite visa denial

A representative of the Immigration Department under the Ministry of Public Security said Tuesday there were “no problems” regarding the new passport, so issuance would still commence as usual. The new passport is issued in accordance with Vietnamese law and satisfies International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards, the unnamed official said.

Regarding the fact that the new passport has either not been acknowledged or refused visa issuance by certain countries, the department said it is cooperating with the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to deal with the issue through diplomacy.

In Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, people are still attending immigration offices to complete procedures for their new passports.

At the immigration office in Hanoi on Tuesday, large queues had formed. A representative of the office said passports were being issued normally with “no interruption”. Fewer people are applying for the new passports compared to the beginning of July, but the reduction is “negligible,” it was added.

The same day, hundreds lined up in front of the immigration office in HCMC’s District 3 for the new passports. According to an office representative, numbers had decreased recently, but the office still receives around 1,000 submissions every day.

Vietnam’s new passport has been in use since July 1 this year. It bears no information regarding one’s place of birth.

Germany and Spain have announced they would not issue visas to holders of the new passport due to the place of birth omission. The Czech Republic said it does not recognize Vietnam’s new passport for the same reason.