Vietnam: Documents foreigners are required when entering and exiting through the border gate

According to Circular No. 09/2016/TT-BQP of the Ministry of National Defense of Vietnam, a foreigner on entry or exit through the border gate must have the following papers:

- A citizen of a third country on entry or exit through an international border gate must have a passport or a valid international travel paper and visa granted by a competent Vietnamese state agency (except for those exempted from visa under treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a contracting party or citizens of countries eligible for visa exemption unilaterally granted by Vietnam or those eligible for visa exemption under other Vietnamese regulations).

- A foreigner who is a citizen of a neighbor country on entry or exit through an international border gate or a main border gate (bilateral border gate) must have one of the following papers:

+ The paper required for a citizen of a third country on entry or exit through an international border gate;

+ Border laissez-passer; people’s identity card (for Lao or Cambodian border inhabitants); border certification (for Lao border inhabitants);

+ Another entry or exit paper prescribed by Vietnamese law or a treaty which has been concluded by the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the bordering country.

Concurrently, Circular No. 09/2016/TT-BQP also stipulates that a citizen residing in a border province or district or a border inhabitant of a neighbor country on entry or exit through a secondary border gate must have one of the following papers:

- Border laissez-passer; border area exit or entry laissez-passer (for the Vietnam-China border line); people’s identity card (for Lao or Cambodian border inhabitants); or border certification (for Lao border inhabitants);

- Another entry or exit paper prescribed by Vietnamese Law or a treaty which has been concluded by the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the bordering country.

Citizens of a neighboring country on entry or exit through border crossings shall use papers prescribed by Vietnamese law or a treaty which Vietnam and the bordering country has signed.

View details at Circular No. 09/2016/TT-BQP of the Ministry of National Defense of Vietnam, effective from March 19, 2016.

-Thao Uyen-

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