Regulations on Travel documents for passengers

Pursuant to Circular No. 14/2026/TT-BCA and its attached Appendix issued by the Ministry of Public Security, updating regulations on identification documents for air travel and effective from February 3, 2026, passengers traveling by air should note the following requirements regarding identification documents:

1.
International Flights:
Passengers completing check-in procedures for international flights must present one of the following documents:
- Passport; laissez-passer; or other documents valid for exit and entry in accordance with the law, such as a separate visa, permanent residence card, temporary residence card, or citizen identification card (if Vietnam and the relevant country have signed a treaty or international agreement allowing citizens of the contracting parties to use citizen identification cards in lieu of passports within each other’s territories), or other documents valid for exit and entry as prescribed by law.
- In cases where a child does not have an individual passport, the child’s full name, date of birth, and photograph must be included and affixed in the passport of their legal representative, including biological father, biological mother, adoptive father, adoptive mother, or legal guardian.

2. Domestic Flights (Passengers Aged 14 and Above):
Passengers aged 14 years and above traveling on domestic flights must present one of the following valid documents or legally equivalent electronic data:

a) Foreign Nationals:
- Passport (bearing the most recent entry verification stamp) or an international travel document (bearing the most recent entry verification stamp), together with documents related to residence in Vietnam (visa, permanent residence card, temporary residence card, APEC Business Travel Card), except in cases of visa exemption;
- Diplomatic identity card issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to members of diplomatic missions, consular offices, or representative offices of international organizations;
- Long-term airport security control card;
- Identification card issued by Vietnamese airlines;
- Level 2 electronic identification account of the passenger (new regulation).

In case of a lost passport, passengers must present a diplomatic note from the diplomatic or consular authority of their nationality, or an official letter from the Department of Foreign Affairs (certified by the local police authority where the passport was lost) confirming the passenger’s identity and the loss of passport, with photo attached and sealed across the photo. Such confirmation is valid for 30 days from the date of certification.

b) Vietnamese Nationals:
- Passport or laissez-passer; separate visa; permanent residence card; temporary residence card; Citizen Identity Card/Identity Card; Certificate or identification issued by the People’s Public Security or the People’s Army; National Assembly Deputy Card; Party Membership Card; Journalist Card; Card issued by the National Civil Aviation Security Committee; Long-term airport security control card; Identification card issued by Vietnamese airlines; Level 2 electronic identification account of the passenger; Certificate of identity issued by the police authority; Certificate issued by a competent authority confirming that the passenger has recently completed serving a criminal sentence.

3. Domestic Flights (Passengers Under 14 Years Old)
- Passengers under 14 years old must present one of the following documents: Birth certificate; civil status extract; birth registration extract; document confirming civil status information;
- In case of infants under 2 months old without a birth certificate, a birth certification is required;
- Level 2 electronic identification account of the passenger (new regulation);
- Personal information of the passenger displayed in the Level 2 electronic identification account of the accompanying parent or legal guardian.

4. Special Cases:
- Passengers who are inmates, defendants, persons under escort, extradition, or deportation procedures are only required to present documents issued by a competent authority confirming the escort. Escorting officers must present documents as prescribed in Sections (1) and (2) above.

5. Travel document requirements for passengers must meet the following conditions:
- Be original and valid; or electronic versions with legal validity as prescribed copies;
- For birth certificates, civil status extracts, birth registration extracts, civil status confirmation documents, and birth certifications: must be original or certified true copies in accordance with the law; or legally valid electronic versions;
- Documents listed in sections 1, 2, 3, and 4 above are not accepted if they lack a photograph or if the photograph does not comply with legal regulations, except for birth certificates, birth certifications, civil status extracts, birth registration extracts, civil status confirmation documents, and documents issued by competent authorities confirming escort;
- For Level 2 electronic identification accounts and electronic birth certificates, the account must be active and functioning properly at the time of presentation.