Guidance on getting an express Vietnam visa on arrival for citizens of Zimbabwe
If you’re a Zimbabwean passport holder planning an urgent trip to Vietnam, it’s important to know that the Vietnam e-visa service is currently suspended and cannot process express or expedited applications. However, travelers can still obtain a Vietnam visa on arrival (VOA), with express processing options available. This guide will guide you through how to apply for an express Vietnam visa on arrival, the documents you’ll need, and what to expect upon arrival.
What is Vietnam visa on arrival?
Vietnam Visa on arrival (VOA) can be issued only after the visitor has entered the premises of Vietnam, usually at the airport, preceded by the fact that they have obtained an approval letter arranged through a travel agency prior to their arrival. In the past, Vietnam Visa on Arrival could be issued only if the visitor had entered Vietnam through air route, at any international airports of Vietnam.
These days, Vietnam visa on arrival can be issued for applicants who travel by land or by sea to Vietnam too.
Who needs expedited Vietnam visa-on-arrival service?
Express services or express Vietnam visa are so-called expedited Vietnam visa services; last-minute Vietnam visa service is created for those cases below:
• Those who have just found out they need a valid visa to Vietnam just a very short time before departure.
• Those who have just found out that their current Vietnam visa has certain mistakes.
• Whose Vietnam visa application is still PROCESSING in time, and their flight schedule is coming so close.
How to get the Vietnam express visa on arrival for Zimbabweans?
To quickly get an express visa on arrival for Vietnam, please follow these steps:
Step 1: Contact a reliable Vietnam visa service provider for your visa approval letter
To begin, you'll need to choose a trusted travel agency that offers Vietnam Visa on Arrival (VOA) services. You can find one online, and it’s recommended to select an agency with a strong reputation and positive feedback from customers. Vietnamvisavoa offers a smooth process for express visa approval letters.
Vietnamvisavoa's client's feedback
To apply, you will need to prepare the following documents:
• A copy of your passport (with at least six months of validity)
• Your flight ticket reservation (no payment required) or your entry/exit dates and ports
• Travel history (Some visa pages/ Resident card of other countries)
• Hotel reservation (if available)
• Travel plan in Vietnam (Where are you visiting?)
Then, let’s send a request to Vietnamvisavoa.com. Once your request is received, we will respond as quickly as possible.
Step 2: Pay the visa service fee for the approval letter
After confirming your flight details and processing time, you will need to pay the service fee for your Vietnam visa approval letter. Once the payment is completed, our team will immediately proceed with your visa approval request.
Note: Processing time will be based on the Vietnamese time zone (GMT+7), and you must get your Vietnam visa approval letter ready at the check-in desk at the departure airport.
Step 3: Receive your Vietnam visa approval letter
After your visa application is approved by the Vietnamese immigration authorities, the agency will email you a copy of your visa approval letter. This letter is essential for boarding your flight and collecting your Vietnam visa sticker upon arrival at the airport.
Before you travel, make sure to carefully check all the details in the approval letter to ensure everything is correct, as discrepancies may prevent you from boarding. If possible, it’s also helpful to print the approval letter and the visa application form to save time at the airport. If you can’t print them, showing the documents on your phone is also acceptable.
Additionally, bring one passport-sized photo and the visa stamping fee in cash ($25 for a single entry) to be paid at the Vietnam airport when you arrive.
Step 4: Collect the Vietnam visa sticker upon arrival
Once you land at Vietnam airport, you will head to the landing visa/visa-on-arrival area. You need to submit your Vietnam visa approval letter, the Vietnamese visa application form attached with 01 portrait photo, and the visa stamping fee there to collect the Vietnam visa sticker into your passport.
Express Vietnam visa on arrival processing time
We assure you that your Vietnam visa letter will be ready within 2-3 working days (Vietnam time).
Please note that we are available 24/7 to assist clients; however, it does not mean that your Vietnam visa letter request will be granted 24/7. Currently, Vietnam visa approval letter is issued by Vietnam Immigration during their working hours only.
Vietnam Immigration working hours
From Monday to Friday: 8 a.m- 11 a.m and from 1:30 a.m to 4 p.m
No express/ expedited Vietnam visa-on-arrival service is available during the weekend (Saturday, Sunday, and national holidays).
Also, please be aware of the time zone difference, we are in the Vietnam time zone is GMT +7.
In addition, you will only be allowed to board your flight from departure once your Vietnam visa approval letter is granted.
What is the express Vietnam visa on arrival cost for Zimbabwean passport?
1. Vietnam Visa service fee/ Vietnam visa approval fee
This type of fee is submitted to the travel agent to help you obtain the Visa Approval Letter from Vietnam Immigration. The fee varies depending on the agency that you work with.
At Vietnamvisavoa.com, the service fee for a 1-month single-entry visa approval letter is 135 USD per person for both 2 working days and 3 working days of processing time.
Currently, the validity of a visa letter is only 15 days. If you want a visa with a longer validity, the only option is to apply for a Vietnam e-visa.
You can read more about how to apply for a Vietnam e-visa HERE. However, when applying for an e-visa, your visa application may take more time to process and could be delayed for certain reasons. Let’s follow this article to know some common reasons why your Vietnam e-visa is denied and the way to fix it.
2. Stamping fee for Vietnam visa on arrival
Besides the Vietnam visa service fee (visa letter approval fee), upon arrival, you must pay a stamping fee of $25 US for a single entry IN CASH to get a Vietnam visa sticker on your passport. This stamping fee is paid directly to the Immigration Officer for getting a visa sticker on your passport.
Important note:
- Vietnam visa on arrival is only for ordinary passports, not express or temporary passports.
- The validity of the Vietnam visa on arrival starts from the entry date put on the visa application form, not the actual arrival date you physically visit Vietnam.
- For Vietnam visa on arrival, it is not possible to extend if it expires. Zimbabwean citizens have the option to do a "Vietnam visa run," which involves legally exiting Vietnam to another country and then re-entering with a new visa.
Applying for the express Vietnam visa on arrival for Zimbabwean citizens is no longer impossible with excellent assistance from the Vietnamvisavoa Team. Contact us whenever you need any express Vietnam visa service!
Contact us:
Vietnam Visa VOA
Website: https://vietnamvisavoa.com/
Hotline: +84.969.255.515 (Whatsapp/Viber/Wechat)
Email: support@vietnamvisavoa.com
_thumb.jpg "Common issues with Vietnam evisa applications and solutions")
_thumb.jpg "A complete guide for getting Vietnam visa run to Laos in 2025")
![Vietnam visa on arrival for Pakistani passport [2025]](https://img.vietnamvisavoa.com/uploads/unknown/394/2025/01/08/12/Vietnam visa VOA for Pakistani_thumb.jpg "Vietnam visa on arrival for Pakistani passport [2025]")
