Minister To Lam presented the 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 at the National Assembly on the morning of May 27. (Source: quochoi.vn)

Presenting the Report at the meeting, Minister of Public Security To Lam said that in the past time, the 13th Party Central Committee and the Politburo have issued many resolutions and directives to request state agencies to proactively apply and develop information technology to meet the requirements of sustainable development and proactively participate in the fourth industrial revolution with the goal of "By 2030, striving to complete the construction of a digital government, ranking among the top 50 countries in the world and ranking third in the ASEAN region in terms of e-government and digital economy".

The need for amendment

However, through reviewing the provisions of the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens and the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, they have not met the Party's policies and guidelines, so it is necessary to study and amend them to promptly institutionalize these policies and guidelines...

Through review, the provisions of the 2019 Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens and the 2014 Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam (amended and supplemented in 2019) have not met political, legal and practical requirements. Therefore, the drafting of the Law aims to institutionalize the Party's guidelines and policies, meet the requirements of the National Assembly and the process of administrative procedure reform and digital transformation of the Government...

Minister To Lam stated that the development of the Law aims to contribute to simplifying procedures, promoting the implementation of administrative procedures in the electronic environment, and continuing to create favorable conditions for Vietnamese citizens. (Source: quochoi.vn)

Promoting the implementation of administrative procedures in the electronic environment

Minister of Public Security To Lam stated that the development of the Law 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 the issuance of entry and exit documents and foreigners entering, exiting, transiting and residing in Vietnam; contributing to socio-economic development; both protecting national security and ensuring social order and safety. Perfecting the legal basis, ensuring synchronization, unity and improving 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.

During the process of drafting the Law, the Ministry of Public Security sent comments to ministries, ministerial-level agencies and People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities; posted the draft dossier on the Government's Electronic Information Portal and the Ministry of Public Security's Electronic Information Portal to collect public opinions. Based on the comments, the Ministry of Public Security has compiled comments and revised the draft dossier of the Law project...

The Draft Law has 03 articles. Accordingly, Article 1 amends 13 articles and clauses of the 2019 Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens; focusing on 02 groups of contents; Article 2 amends 07 articles and clauses of the 2014 Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam (amended and supplemented in 2019), focusing on 02 groups of contents; Article 3 stipulates the effective date.

Meet the urgent needs of practice.

Examining 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, Chairman of the National Defense and Security Committee Le Tan Toi stated that amending and supplementing a number of provisions of current laws on exit and entry contributes to implementing the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress on improving the effectiveness of foreign affairs activities, proactively integrating internationally, and overcoming shortcomings and limitations in practice.

Mr. Le Tan Toi stated that the amendment and supplementation of a number of provisions of the current laws on entry and exit promptly overcomes shortcomings and limitations in 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 amendment and supplementation of this Law also shows the continued reform of administrative procedures in the field of entry and exit to suit current practices, creating favorable conditions, attracting more foreigners to enter Vietnam, contributing to promoting socio-economic recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Chairman of the National Defense and Security Committee Le Tan Toi said that the National Defense and Security Committee (NDSC) agreed with the name of the 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. The scope and subjects of regulation remain unchanged compared to current laws.

Chairman of the National Defense and Security Committee Le Tan Toi stated that the drafting of the Law closely followed the Party's policies and guidelines; the provisions of the draft Law were consistent with the provisions of the Constitution, ensuring consistency with the legal system, compatibility with relevant international treaties to which Vietnam is a member; ensuring feasibility, meeting urgent practical requirements.

Chairman of the National Defense and Security Committee Le Tan Toi speaks at the National Assembly on the morning of May 27. (Source: quochoi.vn)

Expanding the scope of subjects granted shortened ordinary passports

Chairman of the National Defense and Security Committee Le Tan Toi said that the National Defense and Security Committee basically agreed with the expansion of the subjects granted ordinary passports under the simplified procedure in the draft Law, because the subjects granted passports under the simplified procedure under current regulations are still narrow, not covering all practical cases, especially for some subjects without passports who need to return home immediately. Expanding the scope of subjects granted passports under the simplified procedure will contribute to creating favorable conditions and ensuring the rights of Vietnamese citizens.

In addition, amend and supplement Clause 1, Article 27 and Clause 2, Article 28 on cases of revocation and cancellation of passport validity, cancellation of ordinary passport validity; amend and supplement Clause 10, Article 45 and Clause 7, Article 46 on the responsibilities of the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Extend e-visa duration to no more than 3 months

Regarding the amendment and supplementation of a number of articles of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam (Article 2 of the draft Law), the National Defense and Security Committee 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 03 months.

Chairman of the National Defense and Security Committee Le Tan Toi stated that the new regulations will bring special favors to foreign visitors and facilitate the implementation of procedures of management agencies, creating more favorable conditions for foreigners to enter, exit, reside and do business in Vietnam, contributing to the recovery and development of the tourism industry in particular and the socio-economy in general.

In addition, amend and supplement Article 19a on countries whose citizens are granted electronic visas and international border gates that allow foreigners to enter and exit with electronic visas; amend and supplement Point c, Clause 1, Article 31 on temporary residence certificates; amend and supplement Point c, Clause 1, Article 31 on temporary residence certificates; amend and supplement Article 33 on temporary residence declaration and supplement Article 45a.