Why Doesn't the New Vietnamese Passport Have a Signature or Seal?

The short answer: there is nothing wrong with your passport. The Vietnamese passport issued since 2022 is designed without a handwritten signature or round red seal — an official change, and the booklet is fully valid. Here's why the design changed and what to do if someone questions it.

1. A modern design — no signature or red seal needed

The old passport had a handwritten signature and the issuing office's red seal. The new design removes both of these and replaces them with integrated security technologies, in line with the trend toward digitization and modern management.

2. Stronger security — harder to forge

The new passport incorporates many advanced security features, such as:

• Security imagery (hidden images)
• Color-shifting ink
• Microprinting

These features greatly reduce the risk of forgery and protect the holder's personal information.

3. Closer to international standards

Many countries have already moved away from handwritten signatures and red seals on passports, replacing them with electronic authentication and digital data. The new Vietnamese passport is designed along these lines, making immigration procedures more convenient.

4. Still fully legally valid

According to the immigration authorities, the new passport is completely legal and just as valid as the old design for all immigration procedures. There's no need to worry about using the new passport.

What if an office won't accept it?

Rare, but it happens — usually somewhere that doesn't see Vietnamese passports often. If it does:

• Point out that the current design carries no handwritten signature or seal, and that the security features are on the data page itself.
• If they want something to cite, the Vietnamese mission's notice on chip-enabled ordinary passports (linked in the sources below) is the official reference.
• For paperwork filed in the U.S., a second form of ID is often all the receiving office actually needs.

Need to renew a Vietnamese passport while in the U.S.? Every passport issued through renewal today uses the new design. Message VietVisas for a free consultation.