Circular No. 110/2020/TT-BCA stipulates the procedures for collecting fingerprints of individuals applying for electronic chip passports and those registering for automatic border control gates.

CIRCULAR
Regulations on the process of collecting fingerprints from individuals applying for electronic passport and those registering for automatic border gate exit and entry

Pursuant to the Law on Exit from and Entry into Vietnam of Vietnamese Citizens dated November 22, 2019;

Pursuant to the Law on Entry into, Exit from, Transit through, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam dated June 16, 2014, and the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Law on Entry into, Exit from, Transit through, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam dated November 25, 2019;

Pursuant to Decree No. 01/2018/NĐ-CP dated August 6, 2018 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Public Security;

Pursuant to Decree No. 77/2020/NĐ-CP dated July 1, 2020 of the Government stipulating the management and exploitation of information in the National Population Database; online public services for issuing, managing, and controlling passports for Vietnamese citizens; and automatic border gate control;

At the proposal of the Director of the Immigration Administration Department,

The Minister of Public Security issues this Circular stipulating the process of collecting fingerprints from individuals applying for electronic passports and those registering for automatic border gate exit and entry.

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Circular stipulates the process of collecting fingerprints from individuals applying for electronic passports and those registering for automatic border gate exit and entry.

Article 2. Applicability

This Circular applies to cases prescribed in Clause 1, Article 10 of Decree No. 77/2020/NĐ-CP dated July 1, 2020 of the Government stipulating the management and exploitation of information in the National Population Database; online public services for issuing, managing, and controlling passports for Vietnamese citizens; and automatic border gate control; relevant agencies, organizations, and individuals.

Article 3. Principles of fingerprint collection

1. Fingerprint collection shall be carried out directly, once using specialized equipment, software, or materials, or from the National Identity Card Database that meets the requirements for collecting, digitizing, storing, and sharing fingerprints on an electronic system to serve the purpose of identity verification when issuing electronic passports and during automatic border gate exit and entry.

2. Ensuring accuracy and consistency between personal information of the individual whose fingerprints are collected and the information in the National Population Database and the National Citizen Database.

3. The fingerprint images collected from individuals applying for electronic passports and those registering for automatic border gate exit and entry must meet the following standards for automatic recognition:

a) Comply with the ISO/IEC 19794-4 standard with a minimum quality score of 50;

b) A minimum of 60 feature points selected;

c) The center of the fingerprint may deviate from the image center by a maximum of 32 pixels;

d) Image resolution must reach at least 500 dots per inch;

đ) The image must be compressed according to the WSQ standard;

e) The image must have 256 gray levels.

Article 4. Process of Collecting Fingerprints

1. When fingerprints are collected using a dedicated scanner, the following procedures shall be followed:

a) Collect the fingerprint of the four fingers of the right hand; the fingerprint of the four fingers of the left hand; the fingerprint of both thumbs; and the rolled fingerprints of all ten fingers.

b) In case it is not possible to collect all ten fingerprints, describe and enter information about the uncollectable fingerprints.

2. If the fingerprints collected according to the procedure prescribed in Clause 1 of this Article do not meet the standards for automatic recognition, then fingerprints shall be collected by rolling ink, subsequently scanned for storage or extracted from the National Identity Card Database (if available), and noted specifically in the fingerprint collection file.

3. The fingerprint collection process prescribed in Clauses 1 and 2 of this Article does not apply in cases where no fingerprints can be collected for automatic recognition purposes.

4. The fingerprint collector must note and sign to confirm responsibility for the data of the collected fingerprints or the reason for their inability to be collected.

Article 5. Fingerprint Collection Agency

1. The agency receiving Passport Application Forms collects fingerprints of applicants for electronic chip passports.

2. Border control units at border gates equipped with automatic control systems organize fingerprint collection for cases specified in Clause 1, Article 10 of Decree No. 77/2020/NĐ-CP dated July 1, 2020 of the Government on management and exploitation of information in the National Database on Exit and Entry; online public services for issuing, managing, and controlling Vietnamese citizens' passports; and automatic border gate control.

Article 6. Storage of Fingerprint Data

1. Fingerprint data is stored electronically in the form of images according to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards.

2. Fingerprint data storage follows personal information security mechanisms and meets the accessibility and exploitation requirements of authorized agencies and organizations.

3. Fingerprint data is stored at agencies and units specified in Article 5 of this Circular and the Management Agency of the National Database on Exit and Entry.

Article 7. Sharing and Exploitation of Fingerprint Data

1. Agencies and units specified in Article 5 of this Circular must provide collected fingerprint data to the Management Agency of the National Database on Exit and Entry.

2. The Management Agency of the National Database on Exit and Entry shares fingerprint data with agencies and units specified in Article 5 of this Circular for verification and comparison purposes.

3. The Management Agency of the National Database on Exit and Entry serves as the central point for connecting and sharing fingerprint data with other specialized database management agencies and relevant agencies and units in accordance with their functions and tasks.

4. Agencies and units exploiting fingerprint data must ensure security, safety, and confidentiality of information in accordance with the law.

Article 8. Implementation organization

1. The agency receiving passport application forms and border control units at border gates equipped with automatic control systems shall proactively arrange staff; propose dedicated equipment, software, materials, network connections, and security measures for fingerprint data collection, storage, sharing, and exploitation, and disseminate and guide implementation of this Circular.

2. The Citizen Identity Management Agency has the responsibility to cooperate in sharing fingerprint data in the Citizen Identity Database to serve the purpose of comparing and verifying fingerprint data and personal information of applicants for electronic chip passports and individuals registering for exit and entry through automatic control gates.

3. The Immigration Administration Department takes the lead and coordinates with related units to develop procedures for connecting, sharing, and exploiting fingerprint data in the National Database on Exit and Entry to serve national security protection and social order and safety assurance work.

4. The Immigration Administration Department takes the lead and coordinates with related units to propose additional funding; provide dedicated equipment, software, materials, network connections, and security measures for fingerprint data collection, storage, sharing, and exploitation within the Ministry of Public Security.

Article 9. Effective Date and Responsibility for Implementation

1. This Circular takes effect from November 30, 2020.

2. During implementation, if there are difficulties or obstacles, local police units, agencies, organizations, and individuals involved should report to the Ministry of Public Security (through the Immigration Administration Department) for timely guidance.