Vietnam expands Autogate access for citizens with non‑chip passports

The Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security has issued detailed guidance for travelers holding old passports that lack an electronic chip. To reduce processing time at immigration checkpoints, eligible individuals—such as Vietnamese citizens with non‑chip ordinary passports, diplomatic or service passports, airline crew members, and foreign residents with residence permits—can register for the Autogate automatic control system.

Applicants must submit a registration form, a valid passport (at least six months before expiration), and any required residency documents. Registration can be completed in person at an Autogate Manual Registration Counter, where fingerprints and a facial photograph are captured, or online through the Ministry’s e‑government portal. The entire process takes roughly two to five minutes, after which users can use the Autogate for faster entry and exit at airports.

The guidance aims to streamline border procedures, lower passenger wait times, and support Vietnam’s broader digital transformation of public services.