HOW TO APPLY A VISA TO VIETNAM
If you are planning a trip to Vietnam, the first thing you have to check “Do I need a visa to Vietnam”. Currently, citizens from some countries can enter Vietnam without applying a visa for a certain staying duration as granted by the Vietnam Government.
If you still need to obtain for a Vietnam visa, please spare your time to read this article which is the ultimate guidance about Vietnam visa application procedure.
1. Thing to do before applying visa for Vietnam
Step 1: Find out whether you need a visa
If you are from Southeast Asia countries or others granted with
visa-free entry, you’ll be allowed to enter Vietnam for a specified period of time without a visa or any document other than your passport. Otherwise, either a visa or a visa pre-approval letter is a compulsory document you must have prior to your departure to Vietnam. So the very first step you need to do before planning to Vietnam is to check if you belong to the list of
Vietnam visa exemption.Step 2: Check out which type of visa you need
The next essential step is to determine which type of visa is suitable for your entry purpose. Currently, there are 20 kinds of visa effective in Vietnam with different purposes of each visa category. You can apply for the following
Vietnam visa types:
Step 3: Prepare required documents
Be sure your following documents meet the requirements for applying any Vietnam visa types:
• Valid passport: Vietnam visa policy requires at least six months validity on your passport beyond your planned stay. Generally, it needs to have 2 vacant pages minimum to affix a stamp.
• Photos: 02 recently taken passport-sized photos
Depending upon your visa types, required documents may be quite changeable. You can also contact directly us via hotline: +84 9694 55515 for more detailed requirements for each visa category.
2. How to apply for Vietnam visa
Apart from applying in person by visiting the closest Vietnam Embassy or Consulate in your home country. From February 2017, foreigners are supplied an electronic visa (E-visa) scheme that permits you to get an inviting letter in advance from Vietnam Immigration website. However, this E-visa scheme is just available only 1 month single entry tourist visa for 80 countries (as of 2019).
In order to overcome drawbacks of both above ways, visa on arrival is chosen by most of travelers thanks to its convenience and quickness. This option is available to all foreign citizens coming to Vietnam regardless of entry purposes. More important, applicants can submit a visa request online by a trusted travel agency in Vietnam, instead of coming directly local Embassy in your homeland. Just follow 4 basic following steps to get a visa approval letter to enter the country:
Step 1: Submit your
application online or send your passport copy to our email address:
support@vietnamvisavoa.com. Contact us to know other papers you need to collect;
Step 2: Pay service fee online through our secure link;
Step 3: Get a visa approval letter delivered to your email after a given processing time (typically, 2 working days for tourist visa and 3-5 working days for business visa)
Step 4: Present your visa approval letter in paper, 2 passport-sized photos to affix a stamp at the Vietnam international airport to enter Vietnam.
3. How much does Vietnam visa cost?
The longer duration of your stay is, the more expensive a visa fee costs. With applying through E-visa scheme (tourist visa only), you just need to pay a fixed price $25 for one month single entry and this fee is non-refundable. If you choose to file application form at Embassy or Consulate in your home country, that fee may be different from place to place.
Visa on arrival requires you to pay 2 kinds of fees:
service fee and
stamping fee. Service fee will be changeable depends on your nationality, your types of visa and your time request. The faster you wish to obtain, the more money you’re required to pay. More extra fee will be demanded if you need to obtain a visa in the last-minutes prior your flight or on the weekends and holidays. For more up-to-date information about
visa fees.
In term of stamping fee, this is fixed price regulated by Immigration Department.
4. Find the most suitable time to apply
Finding the suitable time to apply Vietnam visa is one of the most essential preparations you should bother. Getting a visa in advance early is good, but too early or too late can be troublesome.
Getting through Vietnam Embassy: 15 days before your planned trip is the best time to apply a visa. The Embassy Consulate will reply your request in 10 working days as common (or less as usually occurs).
Getting Vietnam E-visa: it is highly advisable to submit a visa request at least 10 days prior to the planned trip. Generally, it takes 3-4 business days to get an invitation letter delivered your email. However, you should apply earlier some days to avoid unexpected situation.
Getting Visa on arrival: it is recommended that you should apply around 10-12 days before you start to your planned trip. Commonly, tourist visa is approved after 2 working days and 3-5 working days for business visa. However, in case you make a mistake on passport application. You’ll take a similar amount of time to be re-issued an approval letter.
Even if you’re in an emergency situation,
apply an urgent visa. Within a few hours (even
less than 2 working hours) after your request, a visa approval letter is delivered to your email address.
5. Apply for Vietnam tourist visa
Tourist visa (DL visa) is issued for foreigners to enter Vietnam for purposes relating to tourists such as: touring, visiting relatives and going sightseeing. This visa type is generally available for up to 90 days stay per visit (especially 1 year tourist visa for US citizens) for single or multiple entry.
Nowadays, a tourist visa can be applied through three official ways: E-visa, visa through Vietnam Embassy and visa on arrival. However, majority of foreigner people have intention of obtaining a visa approval letter through submitting visa application online. Read our step-by-step guide to know
how to get tourist visa for your planned trip.
6. Apply for Vietnam business visa
Business visas (categorized as DN) are available for foreigners to explore business opportunities in Vietnam. This is a short-term visa with maximum period of stay up to 3 months, single or multiple entry. The visa holders can enter Vietnam for business-related activities such as: signing a commercial contract, attending trading conferences, meeting clients and similar others.
Applying visa upon arrival permits you to receive an invitation letter via email to enter Vietnam legally quickly without experiencing complicated visa process at local Embassy or Consulate. You can check out our suggestion on
how to apply business visa to have the best preparations for your business trip.
7. Apply for Vietnam work visa
If you’re planning to establish your career in Vietnam, a work visa is a necessary document that allows foreign employees work legally in Vietnam. This type of Vietnam visa allow its holders to enter and remain in Vietnam for a
maximum period of 1 year. To attain this type of visa, you need to
get a work permit well in advance thanks to a work contract between you and you sponsor company that hires you officially.
Regulations and required papers for a work visa are generally more complex than those of regular visas such as: tourist or business visa. There has a list of the supporting official documents you need to collect beforehand. So follow our step by step guideline to
get work visa efficiently.
8. How to extend Vietnam visa
Extending a visa allows you remain in Vietnam longer than your current visa validity without leaving and re-entering Vietnam. It is possible to
apply for an extension of Vietnam visa as long as the total time of stay of your current visa type. For instance, if your current visa is 1 month tourist visa, you’re able to extend it for another 1 month.
The duration for a visa extension is less than 3 months for per time. In particular, a visa free entry holders just can ask to extend a visa up to 15 days or 30 days maximum. And, applicants can ask to extend their ongoing visa for 02 times maximum.
More information:
Once you’re in Vietnam, you also can choose to
renew a Vietnam visa instead of extending it. Visa renewal is available for foreigners coming to Vietnam under visa-free entry.
In reality, the fee for visa extension and visa renewal is quite high, then, you’re offered another way called
visa run. In this way you can save more money for your trip.
9. FAQs
Q1: How I can apply Vietnam business visa on the weekends?
A: Yes, you can. Only by applying visa on arrival can you get a business visa on the weekend. You just need to fill up
visa application online and we will assist you submit your request to Immigration Department.
Within 1-2 working days (urgent service), you can get a pre-arranged visa to enter Vietnam on the weekend.
Q2: I’m from Egypt and I want to work in Vietnam. What type of visa do I need to get and what is required documents for it?
A: To work in Vietnam legally, you need to obtain a work visa (LD visa). In order to get this visa type, you are required to provide some essential documents such as: work permit, sponsorship letter, your inviting company license and important others depending on your job. Contact our staffs via hotline: +84969 255 515 to know the exact official papers you need to collect.
Q3: Can Emirati passport holders apply Vietnam tourist visa on arrival from Thailand?
A: Yes, you can. You can apply online for a pre-approved visa letter through local agency in Vietnam. Please spend a couple of minutes to finish this online application form or send us your passport copy to our email address: support@vietnamvisavoa.com.
If you need any other assistance, contact us via this aboveemail.
Q4: Can I extend my Vietnam visa if I’m not arriving in Vietnam yet?
A: No, you cannot. It is not possible to extend the existing visa if you have not arrived in Vietnam. In this case, we advise that you should contact the Vietnam Embassy in your homeland to get a new visa with new validity period before you arrive.
Q5: How can I receive a Vietnam visa approval letter?
A: After finishing your application online and your service fee payment, your visa submission will be processed, you will receive a visa letter via your email within a certain time depending upon your visa type.
Generally, 2-3 working days for a tourist visa, 3-5 working days for business visa and 5-7 business days for a work visa. So, you should consider which suitable time to submit your visa request.
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