Circular No. 37/2003/TT-BTC stipulates the regime for collecting, submitting, and managing the use of fees for issuing passports, visas, and documents related to entry, exit, transit, and residence in Vietnam.

CIRCULAR OF THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE

Regarding the regulations on the collection, submission, and management of the use of fees for issuing passports, visas, and documents related to entry, exit, transit, and residence in Vietnam. Male

Pursuant to the Decree No. 57/2002/NĐ-CP dated 03/6/2002 This Decree provides detailed implementation of the Ordinance on Fees and Charges.

Pursuant to Article 24 of Decree No. 05/2000/NĐ-CP dated 03/3/2000 of the Government on exit and entry of Vietnamese citizens. Male.

Pursuant to Article 30 of Decree No. 21/2000/NĐ-CP dated 28/5/2001 of the Government providing detailed implementation of the Ordinance on Entry, Exit, Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam. Male.

Pursuant to Decision No. 875/TTg dated 21/11/1996 of the Prime Minister regarding the resolution for Vietnamese citizens Male to return to Vietnam for settlement. Male.

The Ministry of Finance stipulates the system of collection, submission, and management of the use of fees for issuing passports, visas, and other documents for Vietnamese and foreign nationals entering, exiting, transiting, and residing in Vietnam as follows:

I. SCOPE OF APPLICATION AND AMOUNTS OF CHARGES:

1. This Circular applies to the fees for issuing passports, visas, and other documents for Vietnamese and foreign nationals entering, exiting, transiting, or residing in Vietnam (collectively referred to as entry-exit fees) collected by agencies under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Public Security, and Ministry of National Defense within Vietnam (excluding fees for issuing passports, visas, and documents related to entry and exit collected by diplomatic missions of Vietnam abroad as provided in Circular No. 99/2002/TT-BTC dated October 25, 2002 of the Ministry of Finance).

2. Vietnamese and foreign nationals who are issued passports, visas, or documents related to entry, exit, transit, or residence in Vietnam by competent authorities under the Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or Ministry of National Defense must pay the fees as prescribed in this Circular; except for the following cases where payment of fees is exempted:

a. Invited guests (including spouses or children) of the Party, State, Government, or National Assembly invited as individuals by leaders of the Party, State, Government, or National Assembly.

b. Staff members and administrative technical personnel (including spouses or minor children) of diplomatic missions, consular offices of foreign countries, or international organizations enjoying privileges and immunities.

c. Foreign nationals holding diplomatic or service passports issued by their home country based on reciprocal agreements.

d. Foreign nationals exempted from fees according to Agreements or Arrangements signed by the Government of Vietnam.

e. Foreign nationals who are citizens of countries that have not signed Agreements or Arrangements with Vietnam to waive visa fees but unilaterally waive visa fees for Vietnamese citizens holding diplomatic, service, or ordinary passports, shall also be exempted from corresponding visa fees based on reciprocity.

f. Individuals exempted from payment according to decisions of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Public Security, or National Defense.

For the cases exempted from payment of fees as mentioned above, the fee-collecting agency must stamp "exempted from payment of fees" - (GRATIS) on the issued documents.

3. The specific amounts of entry-exit fees are set forth in the attached Fee Schedule.

Entry-exit fees are collected in Vietnamese Dong. For amounts specified in US Dollars (USD), they can be collected in USD or converted to Vietnamese Dong based on the actual average exchange rate for foreign currency transactions published by the State Bank of Vietnam at the time of fee collection.

1. Agencies collecting fees and charges for state administration to ensure order and safety in inland waterway transport are responsible for registering, declaring, and paying these fees and charges into the state budget in accordance with Circular No. 63/2002/TT-BTC dated July 24, 2002, issued by the Ministry of Finance, guiding the implementation of laws on fees and charges.

1. Agencies under the Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of National Defense responsible for issuing passports, visas, and documents related to entry, exit, or residence as stipulated in Clause 3 of Article 17, Clause 3 of Article 18 of Decree No. 05/2000/NĐ-CP dated March 3, 2000 of the Government and Clause 6 of Article 22, Clause 6 of Article 23, Clause 2 of Article 24 of Decree No. 21/2001/NĐ-CP dated May 28, 2001 of the Government, shall collect entry-exit fees (hereinafter referred to as the fee-collecting agency) in accordance with the following provisions:

a. Publicly display at the place of fee collection the objects subject to fees and the rates of fees as prescribed in this Circular. When collecting money, issue a receipt for the fee (the type of receipt for fees as prescribed by the Ministry of Finance) to the payer (the receipt is obtained from the local Tax Office where the fee-collecting agency is located and managed and used according to current regulations).

b. Open a temporary account to hold collected entry-exit fees at the Treasury where the main office is located; daily or at least once a week, prepare a list and deposit the collected fees into the account opened at the Treasury and manage it strictly according to current financial regulations.

c. Register, declare, and pay fees to the local tax authority where the main office is located; implement settlement of receipts for fees and settlement of collected and paid fees with the directly managing Tax Authority according to the provisions of Circular No. 63/2002/TT-BTC dated July 24, 2002 of the Ministry of Finance guiding the implementation of laws on fees and charges.

2. The fee-collecting agency may retain 30% (thirty percent) of the total amount of collected fees during the period for expenses related to the collection of entry-exit fees as follows:

a. Purchase or print, transport passports, visas, and other documents related to entry and exit; related forms serving the collection of entry-exit fees.

b. Purchase office supplies, travel expenses (travel, accommodation), administrative expenses according to current standards and norms.

c. Repair tools and equipment serving the collection of entry-exit fees.

d. Pay wages and contributions for contractual labor (if any) according to prescribed regulations. Provide overtime bonuses for civil servants and staff performing fee collection.

e. Other regular expenses related to the collection of entry-exit fees.

f. Establish a reward and welfare fund for staff directly involved in the collection of entry-exit fees. The amount allocated to these two funds annually per person shall not exceed three months' salary if the revenue exceeds the previous year, and two months' salary if the revenue is lower or equal to the previous year.

The entire amount of exit and entry fee revenue collected in accordance with the provisions above must be used for its intended purpose, with valid documentation in accordance with the prescribed regulations. At the end of the year, if the funds have not been fully expended, they may be carried over to the next year for expenditure in accordance with the prescribed regulations.

3. After deducting the amount retained according to the ratio specified in point 2 of this item, the remaining amount (70%) must be remitted to the state budget (corresponding chapter, category, subcategory, item 045, sub-item 03 of the current state budget). The allocation of the remitted state budget funds among different levels of the state budget shall be carried out in accordance with the State Budget Law.

4. The preparation and implementation of the budget for revenue and expenditure, as well as the decision on revenue and expenditure of exit and entry fees, shall be conducted in accordance with the guidance provided in Circular No. 63/2002/TT-BTC dated July 24, 2002, issued by the Ministry of Finance, regarding the implementation of laws and regulations on fees and charges.

III. IMPLEMENTATION:

1. Provincial Tax Departments under the central government, agencies under the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of National Defense are responsible for collecting and remitting exit and entry fees in accordance with the provisions of this Circular.

2. This Circular shall take effect fifteen days from the date of publication in the Official Gazette, replacing Decision No. 136/1999/QĐ-BTC dated November 10, 1999, issued by the Minister of Finance, concerning the issuance of the schedule of exit and entry fee rates, and Circular No. 103/2000/TT-BTC dated October 20, 2000, issued by the Ministry of Finance, guiding the management and use of exit and entry fees.

During the implementation process, if there are any difficulties, agencies are requested to report them to the Ministry of Finance for consideration and resolution.

SCHEDULE OF EXIT AND ENTRY FEE RATES FOR PASSPORT ISSUANCE AND STAMPING OF VISAS
AND OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATED TO EXIT, ENTRY,
TRANSIT, AND RESIDENCE IN VIETNAM

(Annexed to Circular No. 37/2003/TT-BTC
dated April 24

2003 of the Ministry of Finance) Appendix I:

No.        Name of Fee         Rate of Collection

Fee rates for Vietnamese citizens.

1          Passports:           

            (Unit: Dong)       200.000

            + Extension         100.000

2          New issue (including new issue due to damage or loss)            

            + New Issuance        100.000

            + Extension         50.000

a)         Border Pass:
Vietnam-Laos or Vietnam-Cambodia border pass:       

            + New Issuance        50.000

            + Extension         25.000

b)         Exit and Entry Pass for Trade Personnel and Border Area Officials of Vietnam entering China's border areas:      

            + New Issuance        50.000

            + Extension         25.000

c)         Exit and Entry Pass for residents of Vietnamese border communes crossing into Chinese border communes adjacent to Vietnam:  

            + New Issuance        5.000

            + Extension         3.000

3          Issuance of Exit Permit           200.000

4          Issuance of Diplomatic Note for Visa Application at Destination Country 10.000

5          Issuance of Diplomatic Note for Transit Visa at Third Country           5.000

6          Issuance of AB Stamp     50.000

7          Issuance of Personnel Confirmation Certificate         100.000

Notes to Appendix I:

1. Supplementing or amending passport or border pass contents shall be charged at 25% of the corresponding new issue rate.

2. Children traveling with relatives who hold passports or other documents equivalent to passports shall be charged at 25% of the corresponding new issue rate.

Appendix II: Fee rates for foreigners and overseas Vietnamese.

No.        Name of Fee         Rate of Collection

(Unit: USD)

1          Single-entry visa:   25

2          Multiple-entry visa:    

a)         Valid for less than six months:  50

b)         Valid for six months or more:      100

3          Conversion of visa:       

a)         From single-entry to multiple-entry within the validity period of the original visa:    

            - Valid for less than six months:            25

            - Valid for six months or more:     75

b)         From single-entry to multiple-entry beyond the validity period of the original visa:          

            - Valid for less than six months:            50

            - Valid for six months or more:     100

4          Transfer of visa validity and temporary residence permit from expired passport to new passport.        10

5          Amending or supplementing other information recorded in the visa.           10

6          Issuance of Temporary Residence Card:             

a)         Valid for up to one year:     60

b)         Valid for more than one year to two years:            80

c)         Valid for more than two years to three years:            100

7          Extension of Temporary Residence Certificate.      10

8          Issuance of Permanent Residence Card (but no fee for renewal).    100

9          Issuance of Repatriation Pass; Repatriation Certificate.       100

10        Issuance of Permit to Enter Restricted Areas, Border Areas; Permit for Laotian Citizens to Use Border Passes to Enter Vietnam's Interior Provinces.  10

11        Issuance of Tourist Card (for Chinese tourists).        10

12        Issuance of Permit for Visiting and Tourism in Vietnam (according to the management regulations for foreign visitors transiting through Vietnam for tourism).   5/person

Notes to Appendix II: In cases where the aforementioned documents are lost or damaged, reissuance shall be subject to the same fee as for new issues.