Vessels entering Vietnamese marine border areas and crewmembers and passengers onboard these vessels are now required to carry out the entry procedures at the first seaport of arrival.
Such is provided in Government Decree 77 dated July 3, on management and protection of security and order at port border gates.
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| Border guards inspect people and vessels entering and leaving a seaport in Kien Giang province __Photo: Le Sen/VNA |
Accordingly, foreign vessels on exit and crewmembers and passengers onboard these vessels must carry out the exit procedures at the border gate of departure before leaving Vietnam’s national maritime border.
Vietnamese vessels on exit and crewmembers and passengers onboard such vessels are required to do the same before leaving the sea areas of Vietnam.
In addition, vessels in transit are required to immediately carry out the transit procedures upon entering Vietnam’s marine border areas.
Under Decree 77, the border-guard procedures may be carried out either electronically or manually. Manual method of carrying out the procedures is applicable to Vietnamese fishing vessels; foreign vessels seeking storm shelters or emergency aid for their crewmembers and passengers or in distress; vessels unable to carry out the electronic border-guard procedures; Vietnamese crewmembers and Vietnamese and foreign passengers.
Meanwhile, electronic border-guard procedures will apply only to Vietnamese vessels on entry or exit; foreign vessels on entry or exit, in transit or port transfer; vessels licensed or possessing documents issued by competent Vietnamese agencies to arrive at ports; and foreign crewmembers onboard foreign vessels on entry or exit, in transit or port transfer.
Vietnamese fishing vessels and crewmembers may carry out the electronic border-guard procedures when border guards and specialized state management agencies meet the information technology infrastructure and specialized management requirements.
Regarding border-guard check, foreigners entering to work or operate at port border gates must hold passports or international travel documents and submit to inspection and supervision by port border-gate guards, specialized state management agencies at port border gates and related functional forces.
At least 12 hours before a foreigner arrives, the receiving agency or business is required to notify in writing to the port border-gate guard station of his name, nationality, passport number or international travel document, among others.
This Decree takes effect on August 20.- (VLLF)
