Will add place of birth to passport, extend visa validity

On the afternoon of May 12, at the National Assembly House, continuing the 23rd Session, the National Assembly Standing Committee gave opinions on the draft Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens and the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam. Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Quang Phuong chaired the meeting.

New contents in regulations on entry and exit

At the meeting, giving a summary report on the draft Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens and the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, Minister of Public Security To Lam emphasized the necessity, purpose, guiding viewpoints for law making, and the process of preparing documents to propose the draft law.

Through research, review and summary of the practical implementation of the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens and the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, the Government found that there were some shortcomings and limitations and that the practical situation required amendments and supplements to some regulations.

The law amendment aims to contribute to simplifying procedures, promoting the implementation of administrative procedures in the electronic environment, continuing to create favorable conditions for Vietnamese citizens in issuing immigration documents and foreigners entering, exiting, transiting and residing in Vietnam; contributing to socio-economic development; protecting national security and ensuring social order and safety.

"At the same time, the law amendment also aims to perfect the legal basis, ensure consistency, unity and improve the effectiveness of state management of entry, exit, transit and residence of foreigners in Vietnam, contributing to making tourism a spearhead economic sector, creating conditions for investors to explore the market and invest," Minister To Lam emphasized.

Minister To Lam said that the draft law has 3 articles in terms of structure and basic content.

Specifically: Article 1 amends 13 articles and clauses of the 2019 Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens; focuses on reforming administrative procedures, perfecting regulations on the implementation of administrative procedures in the field of immigration management in the electronic environment; creating favorable conditions for citizens in applying for visas to enter foreign countries, issuing ordinary passports according to simplified procedures...

Article 2 amends 7 articles and clauses of the 2014 Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam (amended and supplemented in 2019), focusing on creating more favorable conditions for foreigners to enter and exit Vietnam; managing the residence of foreigners in Vietnam, contributing to protecting national security and ensuring social order and safety.

Article 3 provides for the entry into force.

Agree to add place of birth to passports, extend visa validity

Representing the agency reviewing the draft law, Chairman of the National Defense and Security Committee Le Tan Toi expressed his agreement on the necessity of amending and supplementing the law with political, legal and practical bases as stated in the Government's submission.

Regarding some specific contents, the National Defense and Security Committee agreed to add information about “place of birth” to immigration documents to ensure the legitimate rights and interests of Vietnamese citizens. The review agency also agreed to the proposal to expand the subjects eligible for ordinary passports under the simplified procedure...

Regarding the amendment and supplementation of a number of articles of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, the examining agency agreed with the regulation that electronic visas (code EV) are valid for multiple entries instead of only valid for one entry as before; increasing the duration of electronic visas from no more than 30 days to no more than 3 months...

Giving his opinion on the draft law at the meeting, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue acknowledged that the draft law dossier was carefully prepared, detailed and of high quality; qualified to be submitted to the National Assembly.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue expressed his support for this law amendment; emphasizing the trend after the pandemic, in the world, countries are trying to create the most favorable conditions to restore socio-economic development, creating conditions for Vietnamese and foreign citizens in visa issues for entry and exit.

The National Assembly Chairman also agreed with the content of increasing the temporary residence period and said that the related regulations have many reforms and incentives. However, compared to some countries, the temporary residence period of Vietnam is lower than some countries in the region, and many countries also apply unilateral visa exemption. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen e-visas, extend and increase the temporary residence period and propose to have convincing arguments for National Assembly deputies.

The National Assembly Chairman requested the submitting agency and the reviewing agency to accept the opinions of the National Assembly Standing Committee to continue perfecting the draft law to be submitted to the National Assembly, contributing positively to the recovery and development of the socio-economy, especially tourism development.

NGUYEN THAO

Source