Circular No. 10/1999/TT-BCA guiding the issuance of border crossing permits for Vietnamese citizens traveling to Laos

CIRCULAR

Guidelines for Issuing Border Passes for Vietnamese Citizens to Laos

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Pursuant to Point 1.2, Section 1 of the Agreement between the Government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic and the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on Facilitating the Movement of Persons, Means of Transport, and Goods Across the Border Between the Two Countries signed on August 23, 1999, in Cu Lo City (Nghe An Province), the Ministry of Public Security issues guidelines for issuing border passes for Vietnamese citizens to Laos as follows:

I- SCOPE OF APPLICATION AND OBJECTS

1- Subjects eligible for issuance of border passes:

a- Officials, workers, and staff managed by provincial authorities sharing a border with Laos who are dispatched by the Provincial People's Committee or authorized agencies thereof to work in the corresponding province of Laos.

b- Officials, workers, and staff from central ministries or other provinces with their permanent residence in a province sharing a border with Laos who are dispatched by competent authorities to work in the corresponding provinces of Laos.

c- Vietnamese citizens with permanent residence in a province sharing a border with Laos who have a need to travel to the corresponding border province of Laos for personal matters.

2- Subjects not eligible for issuance of border passes:

a- Officials, workers, and staff from central ministries or other provinces not sharing a border with Laos (except those specified in Point b, Section 1 above) who are dispatched to work in Laos; officials, workers, and staff residing in provinces sharing a border with Laos but working in provinces of Laos not sharing a border with Vietnam must hold passports or equivalent documents issued by competent Vietnamese authorities.

b- Vietnamese citizens from provinces not sharing a border with Laos traveling to Laos for personal matters; Vietnamese citizens residing in provinces sharing a border with Laos traveling to provinces of Laos not sharing a border with Vietnam for personal matters must hold passports or equivalent documents issued by the Ministry of Public Security (Exit-Entry Administration Department).

3- Scope of Use of Border Passes:

a- Border passes issued to Vietnamese citizens are valid for one year, may be extended for up to six months, and are only valid within the corresponding border province of Laos. Holders of border passes are exempt from visa requirements for entry and exit to Laos.

Laotian citizens using border passes to enter corresponding border provinces of Vietnam, if they wish to travel to other provinces of Vietnam, must obtain permission from the Public Security Department of the relevant province in Vietnam.

b- Vietnamese citizens using border passes may enter and exit through the nearest border gate.

II- PROCEDURES FOR ISSUING BORDER PASSES:

1- Vietnamese citizens applying for border passes to Laos should submit applications at the Exit-Entry Management Office of the Public Security Department of the province bordering Laos where they reside and must pay fees as prescribed by the Ministry of Finance.

2- For individuals under Points a and b, Section 1, Part I, applying for border passes, the procedures include:

a- A decision by the competent authority regarding the dispatch of its officials to work in Laos. The decision must specify the name, purpose, duration, and name of the province in Laos where the work will take place.

b- Each individual applying for a border pass for the first time must submit a request form for a border pass according to the model of the Ministry of Public Security (Exit-Entry Administration Department) and three newly taken photographs measuring 4 cm x 6 cm, facing straight ahead without headwear, with one photograph affixed to the form. The head of the direct agency must affix a stamp over the photograph and confirm on the form.

For subsequent applications for border passes, the old border pass must be returned along with the decision by the competent authority dispatching the individual to work in Laos and two photographs as specified above, without the need to fill out a new request form for a border pass.

3- For individuals under Point c, Section 1, Part I, applying for border passes, the procedures include:

Each individual applying for a border pass for the first time must submit a request form for a border pass according to the model of the Ministry of Public Security (Exit-Entry Administration Department) and three newly taken photographs measuring 4 cm x 6 cm, facing straight ahead without headwear, with one photograph affixed to the form.

In the application form, the purpose and duration of the trip to Laos must be clearly stated. If the applicant is an official, worker, or staff member, the head of the agency must affix a stamp over the photograph and confirm on the form. For other cases, the head of the police station or commune where the applicant resides must affix a stamp over the photograph and confirm on the form.

For subsequent applications for border passes, the old border pass must be returned along with confirmation from the head of the competent authority if the applicant is an official, worker, or staff member, or confirmation from the head of the police station or commune where the applicant resides if the applicant is not an official, worker, or staff member, and two photographs as specified above, without the need to fill out a new request form for a border pass.

4- Timeframe for Reviewing and Issuing Border Passes:

a- For officials and staff members traveling to Laos for work purposes: five working days from the date the Public Security Department receives complete and valid documentation.

b- For citizens traveling to Laos for personal matters: seven working days from the date the Public Security Department receives complete and valid documentation.

III - IMPLEMENTATION ORGANIZATION

1- The Exit-Entry Administration Department of the Ministry of Public Security is responsible for specifying the model of the border pass, the model of the request form for a border pass, and guiding, supervising, and urging all levels of public security organs to implement this Circular.

2- This Circular replaces Circular No. 16/1998/TT-BNV dated January 12, 1998, of the Ministry of Home Affairs and takes effect from October 1, 1999.