Consolidated Document number 68/VBHN-BQP on implementing electronic border procedures for seaports

Pursuant to …;

Regarding the implementation of electronic border procedures at seaports

Decision No. 10/2016/QĐ-TTg dated March 3, 2016 of the Government on the implementation of electronic border procedures at seaports, which took effect from April 18, 2016; amended and supplemented by:

Decision No. 31/2025/QĐ-TTg dated September 2, 2025 of the Government amending and supplementing certain provisions of Decisions of the Government on the implementation of electronic border procedures at border gates managed by the Ministry of National Defense, which took effect from September 2, 2025.

Pursuant to the Law on Organization of the Government dated June 19, 2015;

Pursuant to the Law on National Border dated June 17, 2003;

Pursuant to the Law on Electronic Transactions dated November 29, 2005;

Pursuant to the Law on Information Technology dated June 29, 2006;

Pursuant to the Law on Entry into, Exit from, Transit through, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam dated June 16, 2014;

Pursuant to the Ordinance on Border Guard dated March 28, 1997;

Pursuant to Decree No. 50/2008/NĐ-CP dated April 21, 2008 of the Government on management and protection of security and order at seaport border gates;

Pursuant to Decree No. 21/2012/NĐ-CP dated March 21, 2012 of the Government on management of seaports and maritime channels;

At the proposal of the Minister of National Defense,

The Prime Minister promulgates this Decision on the implementation of electronic border procedures at seaports[1].

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Decision stipulates the implementation of electronic border procedures at seaports managed by the Border Guard under the Ministry of National Defense.

Article 2. Applicability

1. This Decision applies to:

a) The Border Gate Command, Border Gate Post, and Border Gate Station under the Border Gate Post (hereinafter collectively referred to as the Border Gate Post);

b) The ship owner or ship manager, ship lessee, ship operator, ship captain, or authorized representative (hereinafter collectively referred to as the person handling the procedure); organizations and individuals, both domestic and foreign, related to the implementation of electronic border procedures at seaports;

c) [2] Domestic ships entering or exiting; foreign ships, vessels, and crew members entering or exiting, transiting, or changing ports (including exploration, exploitation, and service oil vessels operating offshore; foreign ships granted inland transport permits by the Ministry of Construction; ships and vessels owned by Vietnam flying foreign flags);

d) Foreign ships powered by nuclear energy or carrying radioactive materials; foreign ships arriving at ports to conduct scientific research, fishing, rescue, salvage, towing support operations in port waters, cultural, sports, marine construction, surveying, exploration, resource extraction, and other environmental activities in Vietnamese waters after obtaining permission or approval from competent Vietnamese authorities.

2. This Decision does not apply to foreign military ships visiting the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; ships and vessels of foreign agencies, organizations, and individuals enjoying privileges and immunities under Vietnamese law; Vietnamese fishing vessels; domestic shipping vessels of Vietnam; foreign ships seeking refuge due to emergencies such as typhoons or accidents.

Article 3. Explanation of Terms

In this Decision, the following terms shall be understood as follows:

1.[3] Electronic border procedures at seaports (hereinafter referred to as electronic border procedures), including entry procedures, exit procedures, transit procedures, and port change procedures, are border procedures at seaports where the person handling the procedure and the Border Gate Post declare, accept, process, exchange information, and confirm the completion of border procedures for ships, vessels, and crew members entering, exiting, transiting, or changing ports through the National Single Window Portal or the Electronic Border Procedures Portal at Seaports (in case the National Single Window Portal is malfunctioning).

2. The Electronic Border Procedures Portal at Seaports (hereinafter referred to as the Portal) is an access point on the network integrating information, services, and applications to facilitate the implementation of electronic border procedures, allowing users to utilize and personalize the display of information.

3. The electronic data processing system for border procedures at seaports is a centralized and unified system of software and databases managed by the Border Guard, used to implement electronic border procedures.

4. An electronic declaration form is an electronic declaration form that the person handling the procedure must fill out when implementing electronic border procedures.

5. The electronic border procedure file at seaports (hereinafter referred to as the electronic file) is a collection of electronic declarations that the person handling the procedure must fill out when implementing electronic border procedures, including: General Declaration Form; Crew List; Passenger List (if applicable); Dangerous Goods, Weapons, Explosives Declaration Form (if applicable); Stowaway Declaration Form (if applicable).

6.[4] Declaring electronic border procedures is the act of the person handling the procedure using the Internet to declare electronic forms and submit the electronic file to the Border Gate Post through the National Single Window Portal or the Portal (in case the National Single Window Portal is malfunctioning).

7.[5] Confirming the completion of electronic border procedures is the act of the Border Gate Post using the Internet and internal networks to accept, check, process information, and send notifications of the completion of border procedures for ships, vessels, and crew members entering, exiting, transiting, or changing ports to the person handling the procedure through the National Single Window Portal or the Portal (in case the National Single Window Portal is malfunctioning).

8.[6] (abolished).

9.[7] Refusal to implement electronic border procedures is the act of the Border Gate Post sending a notification through the National Single Window Portal or the Portal (in case the National Single Window Portal is malfunctioning) to the person handling the procedure regarding the transfer of the method of implementing electronic border procedures to direct inspection and handling procedures onboard the vessel.

10. A foreign-flagged vessel, including those owned by Vietnam but flying foreign flags, which has completed entry formalities at one Vietnamese port and then moves to another port within the country is considered a vessel changing ports.

Article 4. Principles for Implementing Electronic Border Control Procedures

It must ensure equality, safety, transparency, clarity, speed, convenience, and compliance with Vietnamese laws on electronic transactions and immigration, as well as be consistent with relevant international treaties to which Vietnam is a party.

Article 5. Confirmation of Completion and Refusal to Process Electronic Border Control Procedures

1. The border guard at the port checkpoint confirms the completion of border control procedures based on the electronic declaration submitted by the person handling the procedure.

2. The border guard at the port checkpoint may refuse to process electronic border control procedures for the following reasons:

a) National defense and security;

b) Special reasons affecting the economy or society, or ensuring maritime safety and preventing environmental pollution;

c) Vessels showing clear signs of violating the law;

d) Incomplete or inaccurate declarations made by the person handling the electronic border control procedures.

Article 6. Content of Implementing Electronic Border Control Procedures

1. Electronic border control procedures can be carried out 24/24 hours daily. When the portal is connected to the national single window portal, the person handling the procedure submits electronic declarations and sends electronic files to the border guard at the port checkpoint through the national single window portal according to regulations on electronic procedures for vessels entering and leaving ports and offshore oil terminals under the national single window mechanism.

In case of technical issues with the national single window portal (equipment, software, database, connection lines in the electronic data processing system of the port border guard being damaged or malfunctioning), the person handling the procedure will carry out electronic border control procedures through the portal.

2. The format of electronic declarations is prescribed by the Ministry of National Defense. The content of electronic declarations must be consistent with the content of paper declarations as stipulated by Vietnamese laws on port management and maritime routes, and the corresponding declarations published on the national single window portal.

3. After completing electronic border control procedures and other specialized administrative agency procedures at the port, vessels entering, transiting, or changing ports:

a) Are permitted to conduct cargo loading and unloading activities and other activities according to their program and plan;

b) [8] Crew members of such vessels are allowed to go ashore immediately after the vessel safely docks at the port. Crew members' shore leave shall comply with provisions set forth in Point d Clause 1 Article 44 Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam No. 47/2014/QH13 and Article 29 Decree No. 77/2017/NĐ-CP dated July 3, 2017 of the Government on Management and Security Protection at Port Gateways.

4. After completing electronic border control procedures, vessels departing or changing ports:

a) Continue to conduct cargo loading and unloading activities and other activities according to their program and plan until departure from the port;

b) If there is a change in the crew or if there is a violation of Vietnamese laws that requires handling, the border control procedures must be redone. The vessel may only depart from the port when all issues related to the vessel, crew, passengers, and cargo have been resolved.

5.[9] After completing electronic border control procedures for vessels entering, exiting, transiting, or changing ports, the person handling the procedure must present the following documents: passports or international travel documents of crew members and passengers, or crew member books for foreign crew members as specified in Clause 3 Article 13 Decree No. 77/2017/NĐ-CP dated July 3, 2017 of the Government on Management and Security Protection at Port Gateways.

6. In case the person handling the procedure discovers errors or updates information that needs to be reported after receiving confirmation of the completion of electronic border control procedures, they are permitted to amend or supplement the declaration content in the electronic file within the time limit specified in Point b Clause 2 Article 7 of this Decision but must obtain approval from the border guard at the port checkpoint.

7.[10] In case electronic border control procedures cannot be carried out due to technical issues with the portal, the border guard at the port checkpoint must notify the person handling the procedure in writing, by phone, or by email to handle border control procedures manually for vessels entering, exiting, transiting, or changing ports according to the provisions of Article 13 and Article 14 of Decree No. 77/2017/NĐ-CP dated July 3, 2017 of the Government on Management and Security Protection at Port Gateways.

Article 7. Place and Time for Implementing Electronic Border Procedures

1. Place

a) The person handling declaration procedures and receiving confirmation of completion of electronic border procedures may do so at any location with internet access;

b) The border guard at the port checkpoint shall implement electronic border procedures at their office; they shall accept paper files at their office or at the Maritime Port Office (or its representative office).

2. Time Limit

a)[11] Time limit for declaration and confirmation of completion of electronic border procedures; presenting passports or international travel documents or seaman's books:

At least four hours before the vessel is expected to arrive at the port and two hours before the vessel is expected to depart from the port, the person handling the procedure must declare the electronic border procedure. The time for initiating the electronic border procedure starts from the moment the border guard at the port checkpoint receives the complete electronic file through the Portal.

Within one hour from the time of receiving the complete electronic file, the border guard at the port checkpoint must confirm the completion of the electronic border procedure. The time of completion of the electronic border procedure is determined when the person handling the procedure receives the confirmation of completion of the electronic border procedure through the national single window portal.

For vessels entering the country; vessels transiting to the port, within ten hours after the vessel safely docks at the port, the person handling the procedure must present the required documents as stipulated in Clause 5, Article 6 of this Decision to the border guard at the port checkpoint;

For vessels departing the country; vessels transiting and leaving the port, immediately before the vessel departs from the port, the person handling the procedure must present the required documents as stipulated in Clause 5, Article 6 of this Decision to the border guard at the port checkpoint.

For vessels staying at the port for less than twenty-four hours without changing crew members or passengers, the person handling the procedure is permitted to declare the departure procedure immediately after declaring the entry procedure; presenting once the required documents as stipulated in Clause 5, Article 6 of this Decision to the border guard at the port checkpoint.

b) Time limit for sending and confirming completion of electronic border procedures for amended and supplementary electronic files:

- Within two hours after arriving at the port from the time of safely docking at the port, for vessels entering, transiting, or transferring ports, the person handling the procedure must send the amended and supplementary electronic files to the border guard at the port checkpoint. Within thirty minutes from the time of receiving the complete amended and supplementary electronic files, the border guard at the port checkpoint must confirm the completion of the electronic border procedure for the amended and supplementary electronic files.

- Within one hour before the vessel departs from the port, for vessels departing, transiting, or transferring ports, the person handling the procedure must send the amended and supplementary electronic files to the border guard at the port checkpoint. Immediately before the vessel departs from the port, the border guard at the port checkpoint must confirm the completion of the electronic border procedure for the amended and supplementary electronic files.

c) [12] (abolished).

Article 8. Responsibilities of Ministries, Agencies; People's Committees of Provinces and Cities; Relevant Units, Organizations, and Individuals in Implementing Electronic Border Procedures

1. Responsibilities of the Ministry of National Defense

a) To take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries, agencies; People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities; and coordinate with the Steering Committee for Implementing the National Single Window Mechanism of the Government in implementing electronic border procedures and integrating electronic port border procedures into the National Single Window System.

b) To issue guiding documents on implementing electronic border procedures, forms in the electronic port border procedure file, and related supporting forms consistent with the International Convention on Facilitation of Maritime Traffic (FAL 65 Convention); amendments and supplements in the declaration of electronic border procedure files; inspection, supervision, issuance of various permits for persons and means of transport entering, exiting, and operating in port border areas; information security; handling violations and complaints; providing access accounts for persons handling procedures to access the electronic border procedure portal; guiding issues arising during the process of connecting with the National Single Window Portal.

c) To propose and issue mechanisms, policies, timelines, funding, and infrastructure equipment for officially implementing electronic border procedures on the national port system managed by the Ministry of National Defense.

d) To organize publicity and support businesses, organizations, and individuals involved in implementing electronic border procedures; coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies to check and resolve emerging issues.

đ) To take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries, agencies; People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities to implement this Decision;

e) To ensure funding and necessary conditions regarding facilities and equipment for implementing electronic border procedures;

g) To conduct mid-term reviews, summaries, evaluations, and report to the Prime Minister on the results of implementing electronic border procedures;

h) To direct the Border Guard Force

- To develop and implement projects for electronic border procedures for port border guards; to build a timeline for upgrading and completing the electronic data processing system for port border procedures, applying digital signatures, and eliminating paper documents required for electronic border procedures; to organize training, provide staff with sufficient qualifications, skills, and experience to meet the requirements of electronic border procedures;

- To review, inspect, and approve organizations and individuals participating in electronic border procedures; to provide access accounts to the portal; to guide installation and information declaration for persons handling procedures participating in electronic border procedures;

- To provide and share information related to vessels, crew members, and passengers to specialized management agencies at ports;

- To take the lead and coordinate with specialized management agencies at ports and local authorities in publicizing and implementing electronic border procedures;

- To handle according to the law any violations of the law by organizations and individuals in implementing electronic border procedures.

2. Responsibilities of relevant Ministries and sectors

a) Ministry of Finance

Within its scope of duties and authority, it is responsible for directing and guiding specialized state management agencies under its jurisdiction to coordinate with the Border Guard Force in implementing electronic border procedures; taking the lead and coordinating with the Ministry of National Defense to guide enterprises, organizations, and individuals related to the implementation of electronic procedures (including electronic border procedures for seaports) for ships and vessels arriving at or departing from seaports and offshore oil ports through the National Single Window mechanism.

b) [13] Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Construction, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment

Within its scope of duties and authority, it is responsible for directing and guiding specialized state management agencies under its jurisdiction to coordinate with the Border Guard Force in implementing electronic border procedures.

3. Responsibilities of provincial People's Committees where electronic border procedures are implemented

Within its scope of duties and authority, the provincial People's Committee is responsible for directing and guiding local functional departments where electronic border procedures are implemented to coordinate and create favorable conditions for border guards at seaport checkpoints to implement electronic border procedures locally.

4. Responsibilities of organizations and individuals participating in the implementation of electronic border procedures; handling violations and resolving complaints and denunciations in the implementation of electronic border procedures

a) Organizations, individuals, officers, and soldiers of the Border Guard Force implementing electronic border procedures must comply with the provisions of this Decision and other laws of Vietnam on entry and exit; management and protection of security and public order at seaport border gates; port management and maritime channels; electronic transactions. Any violation will be handled according to the law;

b) The filing of complaints and denunciations and resolution of complaints and denunciations in the implementation of electronic border procedures shall be carried out in accordance with the law on complaints and denunciations.

Article 9. Implementation Provisions[14]

1. This Decision takes effect from April 18, 2016.

2. Abolish Decision No. 22/2011/QĐ-TTg dated April 15, 2011 of the Government Chairman regarding the pilot implementation of electronic border procedures at seaports.

Article 10. Responsibility for Implementation

Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of government agencies, Chairmen of provincial People's Committees directly related shall be responsible for implementing this Decision./.

[1] Decision No. 31/2025/QĐ-TTg amending and supplementing certain articles of Decisions of the Government Chairman on the implementation of electronic border procedures at border gates managed by the Ministry of National Defense, based on the following grounds for issuance:

Pursuant to Decree No. 78/2025/NĐ-CP dated April 1, 2025 of the Government detailing some articles and measures to organize and guide the implementation of the Law on Issuing Regulatory Legal Documents;

Pursuant to the Law on Enacting Regulatory Legal Documents No. 64/2025/QH15 amended and supplemented by Law No. 87/2025/QH15;

Pursuant to the Law on National Boundaries No. 06/2003/QH11;

Pursuant to the Law on Electronic Transactions No. 20/2023/QH15;

Pursuant to the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam No. 47/2014/QH13 amended and supplemented by Law No. 51/2019/QH14 and Law No. 23/2023/QH15;

Pursuant to the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens No. 49/2019/QH14 amended and supplemented by Law No. 23/2023/QH15;

Pursuant to the Law on Border Defense of Vietnam No. 66/2020/QH14 amended and supplemented by Law No. 98/2025/QH15;

Pursuant to Resolution No. 176/2025/QH15 of the National Assembly on the organizational structure of the Government during the 15th term of the National Assembly;

Pursuant to Resolution No. 190/2025/QH15 of the National Assembly on the handling of some issues related to the restructuring of state administrative bodies;

Pursuant to Decree No. 58/2017/NĐ-CP of the Government detailing some provisions of the Maritime Code of Vietnam on maritime activity management amended and supplemented by Decree No. 34/2025/NĐ-CP;

Pursuant to Decree No. 77/2017/NĐ-CP of the Government on management and protection of security and public order at seaport border gates;

Pursuant to Decree No. 112/2014/NĐ-CP of the Government on management of land border gates amended and supplemented by Decree No. 34/2023/NĐ-CP;

Pursuant to Decree No. 69/2024/NĐ-CP of the Government on digital identity and authentication;

"Based on the proposal of the Minister of National Defense;"

The Prime Minister promulgates the Decision amending and supplementing certain articles of Decisions of the Government Chairman on the implementation of electronic border procedures at border gates managed by the Ministry of National Defense.

[2] This point has been amended and supplemented pursuant to Article 1 of Decision No. 31/2025/QĐ-TTg amending and supplementing certain articles of Decisions of the Government Chairman on the implementation of electronic border procedures at border gates managed by the Ministry of National Defense, which takes effect from September 2, 2025.

[3] This clause has been amended and supplemented pursuant to Clause 1, Article 2 of Decision No. 31/2025/QĐ-TTg amending and supplementing certain articles of Decisions of the Government Chairman on the implementation of electronic border procedures at border gates managed by the Ministry of National Defense, which takes effect from September 2, 2025.

[4] This clause has been amended and supplemented pursuant to Clause 2, Article 2 of Decision No. 31/2025/QĐ-TTg amending and supplementing certain articles of Decisions of the Government Chairman on the implementation of electronic border procedures at border gates managed by the Ministry of National Defense, which takes effect from September 2, 2025.

[5] This clause has been amended and supplemented pursuant to Clause 3, Article 2 of Decision No. 31/2025/QĐ-TTg amending and supplementing certain articles of Decisions of the Government Chairman on the implementation of electronic border procedures at border gates managed by the Ministry of National Defense, which takes effect from September 2, 2025.

[6] This clause has been abolished pursuant to Clause 5, Article 2 of Decision No. 31/2025/QĐ-TTg amending and supplementing certain articles of Decisions of the Government Chairman on the implementation of electronic border procedures at border gates managed by the Ministry of National Defense, which takes effect from September 2, 2025.

[7] This clause has been amended and supplemented pursuant to Clause 4, Article 2 of Decision No. 31/2025/QĐ-TTg amending and supplementing certain articles of Decisions of the Government Chairman on the implementation of electronic border procedures at border gates managed by the Ministry of National Defense, which takes effect from September 2, 2025.

[8] This point is amended and supplemented pursuant to Clause 1, Article 3 of Decision No. 31/2025/QĐ-TTg amending and supplementing certain provisions of Decisions of the Government Prime Minister on implementing electronic border procedures at border gates managed by the Ministry of National Defense, which takes effect from September 2, 2025.

[9] This clause is amended and supplemented pursuant to Clause 2, Article 3 of Decision No. 31/2025/QĐ-TTg amending and supplementing certain provisions of Decisions of the Government Prime Minister on implementing electronic border procedures at border gates managed by the Ministry of National Defense, which takes effect from September 2, 2025.

[10] This clause is amended and supplemented pursuant to Clause 3, Article 3 of Decision No. 31/2025/QĐ-TTg amending and supplementing certain provisions of Decisions of the Government Prime Minister on implementing electronic border procedures at border gates managed by the Ministry of National Defense, which takes effect from September 2, 2025.

[11] This point is amended and supplemented pursuant to Clause 1, Article 4 of Decision No. 31/2025/QĐ-TTg amending and supplementing certain provisions of Decisions of the Government Prime Minister on implementing electronic border procedures at border gates managed by the Ministry of National Defense, which takes effect from September 2, 2025.

[12] This point is repealed pursuant to Clause 2, Article 4 of Decision No. 31/2025/QĐ-TTg amending and supplementing certain provisions of Decisions of the Government Prime Minister on implementing electronic border procedures at border gates managed by the Ministry of National Defense, which takes effect from September 2, 2025.

[13] This point is amended and supplemented pursuant to Article 5 of Decision No. 31/2025/QĐ-TTg amending and supplementing certain provisions of Decisions of the Government Prime Minister on implementing electronic border procedures at border gates managed by the Ministry of National Defense, which takes effect from September 2, 2025.

[14] Article 12 of Decision No. 31/2025/QĐ-TTg amending and supplementing certain provisions of Decisions of the Government Prime Minister on implementing electronic border procedures at border gates managed by the Ministry of National Defense, which takes effect from September 2, 2025, provides as follows:

"Article 12. Implementation Provisions"

This Decision takes effect from the date of issuance.