Most updated news about Vietnam visa on arrival 2023
At the old days, travelers always knew Visa on Arrival is a very common and easy-process type of Vietnam visa that are obtainable for every applicants from countries in the world. However, after Covid, Vietnam Immigration put some restriction on this visa options. In this article, we would like to clarify what are changes in Vietnam visa on arrival before and after Covid and detail guidance on how to obtain Vietnam visa on arrival in 2023 with most updated procedure and fees.
How Vietnam visa on arrival works?
For many people who have not used Vietnam visa on arrival, they simply think that they just need to land in Vietnam and get Vietnam visa upon arrival. In fact, Vietnam visa on arrival works differently. To get Vietnam visa approved on arrival, applicants are required to apply for Vietnam visa approval letter in advance. To do this, applicants will work directly with Vietnam visa agencies so that they can submit Vietnam visa on arrival application at Vietnam Immigration Department on your behalf.
TOURIST VIETNAM VISA ON ARRIVAL IN 2023
VOA is for whose?
For those who are not on the list of 80 countries applicable for Vietnam E-visa, your only option is to apply for a Visa on Arrival (VOA) through a reliable travel agent. The agent will work with the Vietnam Immigration Department on your behalf to obtain the VOA. This kind of visa is picked up at arrival airport and is applicable to travelers coming to Vietnam by air only. As that, VOA is a special advantage for those who live far from the Vietnam Embassy/Consulate in their countries. The applicants neither have to go to the Embassy nor have to send out the passport.
Please refer to the list of countries below for nationalities that are not eligible for Vietnam evisa but only for Vietnam visa on arrival (VOA)
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Bangladesh
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Kenya
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Saint Kitts & Nevis
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South Africa
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Turkey
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Jordan
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Bahrain
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Palestine
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Paraguay
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Belize
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Mauritius
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Pakistan
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Iran
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Georgia
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Afghanistan
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El Salvador
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Guatemala
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Bermuda
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Lebanon
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Syria
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Maldives
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Iraq
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Nicaragua
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Panama
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Grenada
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Yemen
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Sri Lanka
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Oman
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Israel
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Antigua & Barbda
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Trinidad & Tobago
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Aruba
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Costa Rica
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Azerbaijian
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Kuwait
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Tajjikistan
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Honduras
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Barbados
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Saint Vincent &Grenadines
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Kyrgyzstan
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Lativia
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Saudi
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Gruzia
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Saint Lucia
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Ecuador
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Bolivia
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Litva
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Turkmenistan
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Qatar
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Saudi Arabia
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Taiwan
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Uzbekistan
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Nepal
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Bahrain
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Bhutan
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Guine-Bissau
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Jamaica
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Guyana
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Egypt
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China
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Marocco
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Tunisia
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Togo
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Algeria
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Lesotho
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Namibia
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Botswana
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Suriname
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Zambia
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Cote d'Ivoire
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Mozambique
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Malawi
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Gabon
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Guinea
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Tchad
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Burkina Faso
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Another group of travelers who may find the VOA option suitable are those who require a multiple-entry visa. As you know, the E-visa option only allows for a single entry of 30 days, so those from the list of 80 eligible countries may want to consider VOA if they require a multiple-entry visa during their trip in Vietnam.
How to apply for Vietnam VOA? What are the requirements, procedure? (MOST UPDATED 2023)
To apply for a Vietnam Visa on Arrival (VOA), you need to follow these steps:
Step 1: Contact a trusted travel agency: You will need to find a reliable travel agency that provides VOA services. You can search for one online, and it is best to choose an agency that has a good reputation and positive reviews.
Note: Travelers cannot apply VOA directly with Vietnam Immigration Dept.
Step 2: Submit documents: Once you have found a trusted travel agency, you will need to submit your personal details, including:
- Passport copy page (with at least 6-month of validity)
- Travel history (Some visa pages/ Resident card of other country) For VOA, we prefer applicants with strong travel history as it is highly possible that your visas will be granted.
- Your flight ticket reservation (booking without payment)
- Hotel reservation
- Travel plan in Vietnam
Step 3: After reviewing all of your details we will inform you with your specific fee in accordingly with your nationality, the processing time and the possible validity of the visa granted.
Step 4: Receive the visa approval letter: After your payment has been confirmed, the travel agency will process your application and send you the visa approval letter via email. This typically takes from 5-12 working days to process depending on specific cases.
Step 5: Print the visa approval letter and prepare necessary documents: Once you receive the visa approval letter, you need to print it out and prepare the necessary documents, including the entry and exit form, 01 passport photos, and the visa stamping fee (in cash).
Step 6: Get the visa stamped upon arrival: Upon arrival at the Vietnam airport, you will need to submit the visa approval letter, entry and exit form, passport photos, and visa stamping fee to the immigration officer, who will then stamp your Vietnam visa sticker into your passport.
What are the fees for VOA?
There are two kinds of fees for applicant to cover when you apply for Vietnam visa on arrival:
1. Visa approval fee: This type of fee is submitted to the travel agent for helping you grant the Visa Approval Letter by Vietnam Immigration. The fee varies depending on the type of visa, your nationality and the agency you choose.
2. Stamping fee: Besides the service fee (visa letter approval fee), upon arrival, you must pay a stamping fee of $25 US for single entry or $50 US for multiple entries in cash to get a Vietnam visa sticker on your passport. This stamping fee is paid directly to Immigration Officer for getting visa sticker on your passport.
What is the validity of a VOA?
The duration of validity for a Visa on Arrival (VOA) can range from 10 to 25 days, depending on the specific request and provided documents. Please contact directly to us (Whatsapp: +84.969.255.515) so as for us to inform you specifically on your case.
Question: Must I book tour package to get my Vietnam visa on arrival granted?
This requirement vary between visa agencies. Some require you to book tour package with them so that they can act as sponsor to submit your visa request at Immigration. Some may not need you to book any tours and still they will get your Vietnam visa arranged. You will need to work with a trustworthy travel agency that can assist you in obtaining the necessary documents and sponsor letters required for your visa application. The travel agency will then submit your application to the Vietnam Immigration Department on your behalf. It is important to note that the process and requirements for obtaining a VOA may vary depending on the agency you choose to work with, so be sure to carefully review their services and fees before submitting your application.
Note: You may find on Immigration Dept.’s website or Vietnam Embassy’s website that tour package is still compulsory.
BUSINESS VIETNAM VISA ON ARRIVAL IN 2023
Not like before Covid, you can easily obtain a business Vietnam visa for 01 month, 3 months, even 6 months, 1 year (US passport) through visa service providers. Nowadays, to obtain a business visa for Vietnam, you need to have a sponsor company in Vietnam. The sponsor company will need to work directly with the Vietnam Immigration Department to obtain the visa approval letter for you. We – travel agencies - do not have the authority to work on business visa. Also, maximum duration for business visa lasts for 3 months only.
Once the sponsor company has obtained the visa approval letter, they will send it to you. You will then need to print out the approval letter and bring it with you to the airport. At the airport, you will need to present the approval letter, your passport, and two passport-sized photos, and pay the stamping fee to get your visa stamped.
The stamping fee for a business visa varies depending on the length of stay and type of visa. It can range from $25 to $135 USD. It's important to note that the stamping fee can only be paid in cash, so make sure to have enough cash on hand before you arrive.
It's also important to note that the process of obtaining a business visa can take upto 2 weeks, so it's recommended to apply well in advance of your travel dates.
Can I get visa at Vietnam Embassy instead?
As of 2023, obtaining a Vietnam visa through an embassy is no longer possible. Instead, travelers have several options available to them. They can apply for an e-visa at Immigration Dept.’s website/through a travel agent or obtain a VOA (getting stamp at airport), or Visa Code (getting the stamp in your country embassy/consulate). However, it's important to keep in mind that the embassy or consulate only provides Vietnam stamp if you have a valid Vietnam visa approval letter. And as mentioned a VOA/ Visa Code for Vietnam can only be arranged through a Vietnamese visa agency.
Can I extend my Vietnam VOA?
As of 2023, it is not possible to extend a visa on arrival (VOA) or e-visa in Vietnam on tourism purpose. Travelers who wish to stay longer than the validity of their visa will need to leave the country and apply for a new visa or enter on a new visa. This process is commonly referred to as a "visa run" and involves leaving the country to a neighboring country such as Cambodia or Laos and re-entering on a new visa. It is important to check the latest regulations and requirements with the relevant authorities before planning a visa run.
In case you enter Vietnam with a business Vietnam visa and you have your legal sponsor company in Vietnam, still your sponsor company can work with Vietnam Immigration to extend your Vietnam visa validity.
Can I apply for a multiple-entry visa on arrival for Vietnam?
Yes, it is possible to apply for a multiple-entry visa on arrival for Vietnam. However, the availability of multiple-entry visas may depend on the traveler's nationality and the specific travel agency used to obtain the visa approval letter. It's best to check with the travel agency beforehand to confirm if they offer multiple-entry visas for your nationality. Additionally, the duration and validity of the visa will depend on the traveler's request and the documents provided.
At the time of writing this post, a multiple Vietnam visa letter on tourism purpose lasts up to 25 days and it is up to 90 day for business purpose.
Do I need to provide a return flight ticket to apply for a Vietnam visa on arrival?
No, you do not need to provide a return flight ticket to apply for a Vietnam visa on arrival. However, you may be asked by the immigration officer upon arrival to show proof of onward travel, such as a return flight ticket or an itinerary showing your travel plans after leaving Vietnam. It is always a good idea to have this documentation available to avoid any potential issues at immigration.
What happens if I overstay my Vietnam visa on arrival?
If you overstay your Vietnam visa on arrival, you may be subject to fines or even deportation. The amount of the fine will depend on the length of your overstay and may range from $25 US to several thousand dollars. In addition to the fine, you may also be detained and barred from entering Vietnam in the future. It's important to make sure you stay within the permitted duration of your visa and plan your travel accordingly. If you need to stay longer than your visa allows, you should make a visa run to leave and re-enter the country with a new Vietnam visa.
Can I get a refund if my Vietnam visa on arrival application is denied?
The refund policy varies among different travel agencies that offer visa on arrival services, so it's important to check the refund policy of the agency you choose before applying.
If you apply through Vietnamvisavoa.com, your full Vietnam visa service will be refunded by us if your visa application is denied.
Is it safe to use a travel agency to apply for Vietnam visa on arrival?
Using a reputable travel agency to apply for a Vietnam visa on arrival is a safe and reliable option for travelers. It is important to do some research and choose a reputable agency with a track record of providing quality service and timely delivery of visa approval letters. You can check online reviews and ratings, or ask for recommendations from other travelers or travel forums.
For comments or reviews for VietnamvisaVOA.com, please visit here
Question: Am I able to get the visa stamped at some border land ports in Vietnam?
There is only one specific case you can get the visa stamped with VOA through land checkpoint. It is the case when you bring the original visa approval letter (not the one that sent through email) but the physical original letter with red stamp of Immigration Department to the exact registered checkpoint that’s on the letter and get the visa stamped. This option is usually be in used of the applicants who are in Vietnam and look for a visa run.
Question: Am I exempted from Visa to Viet Nam?
Vietnam Visa Exemption List stated by Vietnamese Government
Following are cases of Vietnam visa exemption when they travel to Vietnam for a specific amount of time with a valid passport (passport expiration must be at least 06 month from the entry date)
1. A 60-day visa exemption is granted to: APEC Business Travel Card Holders
2. A 30-day visa exemption is granted to:
Citizens of Laos
Citizens of Cambodia
Citizens of Thailand
Citizens of Malaysia
Citizens of Singapore
Citizens of Indonesia
And for anyone (with valid passport) who directly visit Phu Quoc Island and leave Vietnam through Phu Quoc Island. In case you would like to visit other parts of Vietnam during your Phu Quoc trip, you must apply for Vietnam visa in advance and get visa sticker/ visa on arrival at the first entry point.
3. A 21-day visa exemption is granted to: Citizens of Philippines
4. A 15-day visa exemption is granted to:
Citizens of Japan
Citizens of South Korea
Citizens of Sweden
Citizens of Denmark
Citizens of Finland
Citizens of Norway
Citizens of Russia
According to the recently issued Resolution No 46/NQ-CP by Vietnamese Government:
Citizens of United Kingdom
Citizens of France
Citizens of Germany
Citizens of Spain
Citizens of Italy
Citizens of Belarus
Will be able to enjoy Vietnam visa extension for stays of 15 days at maximum.
5. A 14-day visa exemption is granted to: Citizens of Brunei, Citizens of Myanmar
Note: For those who wish to stay in Vietnam longer than the exemption duration, they are advised to apply for a visa by one of two following ways:
* Obtain Vietnam evisa (if they are in Vietnam evisa list)
* Apply for Vietnam visa on arrival through a Vietnam visa agency to get visa stamped at the arrival airport in Vietnam (applicable for air travelers to Vietnam only).
As can be seen that in this article, we have clarified all changes in Vietnam visa on arrival before Covid and after Covid so you can be aware of. Also, we clearly indicate how to get Vietnam visa on business as well as on tourism purpose in 2023. Hopefully you find the post helpful. Do not forget to share this with your friends who may need to know about Vietnam visa. Thanks for reading and feel free to contact our experienced visa consultants for any clarifications.
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