Complete Guideline about Vietnam Visa Policy

Several questions raised about Vietnam visa policy includingVietnam visa process, visa requirements, application form, Vietnam visa fee,Vietnam letter of approval, Vietnam visa extension... So, with this article we will provide you a full and up-to-date guideline about Vietnam visa policy that you should get noticed deliberately before coming to the country.

VIETNAM VISA

Vietnam visa is travel document which is issued by one of the Vietnamese diplomatic missions and placed in the traveler’s passport. It provides foreigners permission to enter or exit Vietnam for a given period of time.

VIETNAM VISA CATEGORIES

In accordance with the Vietnam Immigration Law 2015 issued by the Diplomatic and Public Security Ministry of Vietnam issued on 16^th June 2014, Vietnam visa is categorized and symbolized into 20 main types depending on the nature of your journey to apply for a correct visa category.

► According the new regulation since 2020, a change of visa category is applicable for cases as stipulated as bellows:

1) Having Vietnamese parent/husband/wife/child

2) Acquiring a work permit or investment certificate

Business visa (DN) and tourist visa (DL) are two most popular types of visa applied by travelers to Vietnam. Depending on frequency of travel to Vietnam, you can opt for either single or multiple one. For those who are travelling forth and back Vietnam, multiple entry is always the best thing to go with. See more details: the difference between single and multiple entry visa for Vietnam

VIETNAM VISA VALIDITY/DURATION

► Latest update: Since 2^nd July 2020, tourist visa is only valid up to 30 days per each single entry.

Short term visa: 1 month and 3 months are available for both tourism and business intention. Regardless of how long you wish to stay in Vietnam, 3 months is the longest duration you can get.

Long term visa: the validity of 6 months or 1 year is issued for working purpose, providing that you get a work permit

Exclusively, USA citizen are granted with 6 month or 1 year for both tourist and business purpose.

The period of validity starts from proposed date of arrival provided in your visa application until the exit date stated in thevisa approval letter.

VIETNAM E-VISA – WHO ARE ELIGIBLE?

Vietnam electronic visa was officially implemented on 1^st February 2017 by the Government of Vietnam. The new online process simplifies the procedures to enter Vietnam by allowing travelers to apply directly online for a Vietnam visa. This visa is SINGLE ENTRY, TOURIST PURPOSE ONLY and valid for 30 days’ maximum stay, from the proposed date of entry indicated during the application.

Who are eligible? According to the most updated lists, Vietnam E-visa is currently available for citizens of 80 countries and 2 territories (Hong Kong and Macau)

The E-visa holders can enter into Vietnam through totally 33 entry ports including: 8 international airports, 9 sea ports, 16 border crossings).

Source: Wikipedia- The eligible countries for e-Visa

This is a quite new procedure that can make you confused. So, you can read hereif you want to get closer look at the proper information about Vietnam E-visa.

VIETNAM VISA FREE-ENTRY

According to an visa free entry policy, certain citizens of countries are eligible to enter Vietnam without a visa for a period of time if they meet the requirements for visa-free travel. However, there is a difference on their duration of stay, which is based on the diplomatic relations between Vietnam and those countries. Visa Waiver Program is issued for TOURIST PURPOSES ONLY and your passport has at least 6 months validity from the entry date of Vietnam.

Case 1: Bilateral or Unilateral Visa Exemption Policy

Vietnam signed bilateral visa-free entry agreements with 9 countries in ASEAN, that allow citizens from these countries to travel to Vietnam without a Vietnam visa in a period of time as follows: Brunei and Myanmar (no more than 14 days); Philippines (no more than 21 days); Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand (no more than 30 days).

Vietnam granted unilaterally visa exemption with staying duration of not more than 15 days for citizens of 13 countries: Russia, Japan, Korea, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, England, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Belarus and for the ASEAN Secretariat officials. (Applying for all types of passports and destination entries)

Case 2: 5 year Vietnam visa exemption policy

Since 24th September 2015, Vietnam has provided5-year visa free certificate for or oversea Vietnamese of foreigner who has Vietnamese wife, husband or children. With this exemption certificate, you are allowed to stay in Vietnam continuously in 180 days for each entry.

5 year visa exemption

Case 3: Visa exemption policy for diplomatic or official passport holders

The citizens holding diplomatic or official passports are granted visa free with different staying duration ranging from 30 to 90 days depending on your countries. Click here to see the list of diplomatic or official passports holders exempted from Vietnam visa.

Case 4: APEC Card holder

The holders of APEC Business Card (ABTC) are granted visa free to enter and stay Vietnam from 60 to 90 days without a Vietnam visa. The Cards are only issued by the Governments of participating economies. Once issued, the card remains valid for THREE YEARS before they have to be renewed.

Case 5: Vietnam visa exemption in Phu Quoc Island

Visitors from all countries visiting Phu Quoc Island are allowed to stay within 30 days here without a Vietnam visa. This visa waiver program is applicable to those traveling directly to the island through ports of entry by air or sea.

Case 6: Vietnam visa exemption policyfor flight crew members

Vietnam visa exemption is granted for the flight crew members of foreign airlines operating in Vietnam of 12 countries on the basic principle of reciprocity. Crew members under the resolution will be allowed to enter Vietnam without visa and reside temporarily and travel freely on Vietnam’s territory, except for restricted areas regulated in Vietnamese laws, until they take the next flights.

METHODS TO GET A VISA FOR VIETNAM

At this present, there are 3 methods available to obtain a visa for Vietnam. Regardless of the method you use, your passport at least 6 months of validity from your entry date.

Method 1: Pick up visa from Vietnamese Embassy

This is the traditional way that you can get Vietnam visa through the nearest Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate in your home country or where you are staying. Find the detailed contact of Vietnam Embassy/Consulate

The processing time and procedures vary inconsistently depending upon which the embassy handles your application. Following is the basic procedure you need to do:

• Download the visa form from the local Vietnam Embassy’s website and fill it up
• Contact the Embassy directly to ask about the required documents
• Bring the required documents with you to Vietnamese Embassy and follow its guideline

Method 2: Apply Vietnam visa at the airport (Vietnam visa on arrival)

This is a legitimate alternative to obtain a full visa stamp once you are landing at the Vietnam airport. By doing this method, prior to travelling, the applicant has to apply online for a visa approval letter- legal document issued by the Vietnamese Immigration Department. This letter permits applicants to collect visa stamp at Vietnam airport. This method is ONLY applicable for those who travel to Vietnam BY AIR.

Vietnam Approval letter

To get Vietnam visa by applying for Vietnam visa on arrival, you can follow the below process:

Step 1: Send the visa request to Vietnamvisavoa.com

You can fill out the online application form hereor send your passport copy to the email support@vietnamvisavoa.com.

Step 2: Pay visa service fee

You also make the payment online via one of ways: Paypal, Western Union, Bank Transfer.

Step 3: Get the visa approval letter

The visa approval letterwill be sent to your email as soon as it is processed by the Vietnam Immigration Department.

Step 4: Get the visa stamped at Vietnam international airport

Print and bring your visa approval letter, then get Visa Stamped on your passports at Vietnam Airports upon arrival.

Method 3: Get Vietnam E-visa (Electronic visa)

To be known as the newest method of getting visa forVietnam, E-visa scheme was initially launched in 1^st February 2017 with the aim of boosting up Vietnam tourism sector. Unfortunately, there are only 80 countries (as of 2019) entitled to enjoy this scheme.

Following is the procedure to get E-visa:

• Fill up your visa application and upload a scanned image of your passport photo
• Pay 25 USD for visa service fee
• Receive an Electronic Visa Confirmation by email
• Print out and bring it with you to Vietnam.

COST FOR VIETNAM VISA APPLICATION

As mentioned above, there are 3 official ways get Vietnam visa. Accordingly, the cost of visa application is different according to what method you choose:

Firstly, the fee for obtaining visa directly from Vietnamese Embassy is changeable depending on which embassy handles your application. So, you can contact the Embassy for more detailed about this fee.

Secondly, there are 2 kind of visa fees you must pay: service fee and stamping fee if you apply Vietnam visa by Vietnam visa on arrival:

Service fee: the visa letter service fee varies depending on the type of visa you want to obtain and how fast you want to get a service delivered.

Stamping fee: the applicants have to pay directly at Immigration Counter in every international airport. Payment must be made in cash in USD or VN (credit card might not be acceptable and there is no ATM at the airport). Check details about how much Vietnam visa on arrival costs

Thirdly, E-visa fee paid via electronic payment gateway, costs 25 USD for every application. Remember this fee is non-refundable, so do not make any mistake during your application process.

FORM OF VISA

There are 2 exiting forms ofvisa to Vietnam: Sticker and Loose leaf Visa

Sticker: It is glued directly in your passport. This type is granted for those who are foreigners or Vietnamese settling down abroad and having foreign passport.

Loose-leaf visa: It is issued separately from a passport while visa on arrival is stamped on the passport at Vietnam airport. Some specific cases that are allowed to get loose-leaf visa are:

• A passport with no blank page to stamp a visa
• A passport issued by a country that has not established diplomatic relations with Vietnam
• Documents valid for international travel
• For reasons of diplomacy, national defense and security

Source: The Mad Traveler - Vietnam Loose-leaf visa

VIETNAM VISA EXTENSION

For those who wish to stay in Vietnam longer than your granted staying duration while remaining in Vietnam, extending your Vietnam visa is a convenient option that allows you stay longer without leaving Vietnam. The maximum duration of extension is 3 months per each time for SINGLE ENTRY ONLY. You should get noticed that Vietnam visa extension must be applied 3-5 days before your visa is expired.

Go to this link to see full guides about Vietnam visa extension.

TIMELINES OF VIETNAM VISA POLICY

2008: Vietnam Visa on arrival officially introduced and to be considered as 2^nd method of getting Vietnam visa, besides Vietnam Embassy.

1^st July 2015: Visa waiver program came into force, which was only applied for 5 European countries including United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain and Italy.

11^thApril 2016: Vietnam Government approved to offerone year Vietnam visa for only USA citizens it has been effective since 25^thAugust 2016. This type of visa allows USA passport holders to enter multiple times and stay in Vietnam up to 1 year, with tourist purpose or business purpose.

25^th January 2017: Vietnamese Government approved the pilot program for eligible citizens for 40 countries to obtain E-visa before entering Vietnam. Then, 6 countries were added to the list on 29^th November 2017, granting 46 countries in total the eligibility to apply for E-visa.

3^rd May 2018: Visa exemption for citizens of 5 European countries was extended until 30^th June 2021.

1^stFebruary 2019: the list of Vietnam E-visa was expanded with 34 eligible countries and 2 territories.

This articleis a complete guideline about Vietnam visapolicy that wehope you find useful forobtaining a visa to Vietnam. If you still have any questions about Vietnam visa policy or any troubles during your applying Vietnam visa process, please leave the comment below orcontact us via:

• Email: support@vietnamvisavoa.com
• Phone: +84 969 255 515

We are always willing to support you at any time!