Vietnam's new-style passports that have been issued since July 1
In a letter sent to the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on July 27, the German Embassy said that Vietnam's new-style passports that have been issued since July 1, would not be recognised in Germany as they lack information about the place of birth, and so their holders cannot apply for visas.
"Information about the place of birth can only be verified through personal identification numbers, which have 12 digits, and have to be cross-checked with a list spanning seven pages," the embassy said. "The identity of a passport holder cannot be properly identified without their places of birth, especially for people with the same names."
German authorities cannot find information regarding places of birth based solely on a person's personal identification numbers as shown on their passports, it added. It means German authorities would need to verify one's identity manually with a list, and not everyone has the list.
"Therefore, holders of these new passports won't be allowed to arrive in Germany for short-term residence," the embassy noted.
A representative of the immigration department under the Ministry of Public Security on Thursday said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would discuss the issue further with German representatives.
