Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh signed Decision No. 2109, approved by the Prime Minister, outlining a plan to streamline and reduce administrative procedures related to production and business activities under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the year 2025.
Foreign tourists completing entry procedures at the airport. (Photo: VGP)
The Prime Minister has approved the simplification and reduction of administrative procedures in seven key areas: journalism; privileges and exemptions; international conferences and seminars; activities of bilateral research and cooperation organizations; visa exemptions; immigration; and notarization.
Specifically, the processing time for issuing Visa Exemption Certificates at Vietnamese representative offices abroad has been reduced from 2 working days to 1 working day. Additionally, the option to submit applications via postal services has been introduced for visa issuance to foreigners at authorized Vietnamese visa-granting agencies abroad.
Furthermore, the processing time for notarizing the authenticity and legality of contracts and transactions has been reduced from up to 2 working days to within 24 working hours. For complex contracts and transactions, the notarization time has been shortened from up to 10 working days to 6 working days.
The Prime Minister has also approved the addition of online processing via the National Public Service Portal and reduced processing times for procedures such as establishing permanent offices of foreign press agencies in Vietnam, assigning resident correspondents to other localities in Vietnam, and granting press operation permits to non-resident foreign journalists in Vietnam.
The Prime Minister allows the use of digital signatures and seals when submitting applications for diplomatic and official passports at domestic offices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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