HOW TO APPLY FOR VIETNAM VISA AT VIETNAM IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT
Individuals traveling to or from Vietnam, irrespective of their nationality (Vietnamese citizen or foreign visitor), should be familiar with the Vietnam Immigration Department. This government agency is responsible for all immigration-related matters. Consequently, understanding its roles, responsibilities, and nationwide branch locations is crucial for an easier entry process.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. ROLES OF THE VIETNAM IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT
The Vietnam Immigration Department (VID) is under the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam. It is responsible for comprehensively directing all aspects of immigration and exit-entry work and is also the leading agency for advising the Central Public Security Party Committee and the Minister of Public Security on the leadership and direction of immigration and exit-entry activities for both Vietnamese citizens and visitors to Vietnam for work, business, family visits, etc.
Specifically, the roles and functions of the Vietnam Immigration Department include:
✅For Vietnamese citizens:
- Issuing new/renewing and extending passports
- Issuing APEC (ABTC) cards to Vietnamese entrepreneurs
- Handling disputes between Vietnamese citizens and foreign visitors regarding immigration and exit-entry activities.
✅For foreign visitors:
- Extending Vietnam visas
- Reviewing and issuing entry documents into Vietnam
- Extending temporary residency for foreigners in Vietnam
- Issuing permanent residency cards for foreigners in Vietnam
✅Other:
- Monitoring, approving, or handling and disciplining cases of violations, including both Vietnamese citizens and foreigners entering and exiting Vietnam.
Note: The Immigration Management Department and the Immigration Management Division are not two different agencies with different roles, functions, and powers.
Accordingly, the Immigration Management Department is the agency in charge of managing exit and entry procedures for both Vietnamese citizens and foreign visitors to Vietnam. It is under the Ministry of Public Security, with the Hanoi Immigration Management Department as the head office and the Immigration Management Departments in Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City as representative offices.
The Immigration Management Division, on the other hand, only handles simple immigration and exit-entry procedures and is located in the provinces, under the provincial
2. VISA APPLICATION PROCESS FOR FOREIGNERS AT THE VIETNAM IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT
2.1. Visa Application Documents for Foreigners
To ensure a smooth visa application process (Vietnam visa), foreign visitors entering Vietnam for any purpose must prepare the following basic documents:
- Valid and unexpired passport: The passport must have at least 6 months of validity remaining and at least 2 blank pages.
- 2 passport-sized photos (4×6): Portrait photos taken against a white background, monochrome, no glare, no sunglasses, jewelry, etc., in accordance with regulations.
- Vietnam Immigration and Exit-Entry Form (Form NA 1)
2.2 Visa Application Procedure for Foreigners
Foreign visitors wishing to enter Vietnam cannot apply for a Vietnam visa directly but must have an organization, agency, or relative sponsor them. Therefore, this procedure will be carried out by the organizations, agencies, or relatives of the foreign visitor.
Direct Vietnam Visa Application Procedure at the Vietnam Immigration Department:
Step 1: Prepare a complete “Application Dossier for Sponsorship of Foreigners Entering Vietnam”. This includes:
- Request for review and verification of foreign entry personnel (Form NA2);
- Notarized copy of the foreign visitor’s passport applying for the visa;
- Notarized copy of the business registration certificate/investment certificate of the sponsoring organization/agency;
- Letter of introduction of the seal and signature of the authorized person of the organization (According to form number NA16);
- Information on the entry flight of the foreign visitor applying for a Vietnam visa, such as flight number, itinerary, and international border gate of entry;
- Letter of introduction attached to the identity document (CMND/CCCD/passport) of the person assigned by the organization/agency to perform the procedure at the immigration office.
Step 2: Go to the Vietnam Immigration Department in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, or Da Nang to submit the application directly and wait for processing. In case of needing to supplement the dossier, the person applying for a Vietnam visa for a foreigner must update and supplement it promptly so that the visa is issued on time.
2.3. Visa Processing and Issuance Time in Vietnam
- For foreign visitors receiving a Vietnam visa at a Vietnamese Embassy/Consulate abroad: No more than 05 working days
- For foreign visitors receiving a Vietnam visa at an international border gate (Visa on arrival – VOA): No more than 3 working days
- For foreign visitors entering Vietnam for the purpose of attending a funeral of a relative/seriously ill relative/using the Urgent Vietnam Visa application service: Within 12 hours or even 01 – 04 hours
Trust Visa provides fast, reliable, and cost-effective Vietnam visa application services. We guarantee to reduce the error rate when submitting applications to 0% and the visa success rate to 99%, saving you time and effort when applying for a Vietnam visa directly at the Vietnam Immigration Department. In addition, we have a team of enthusiastic and professional consultants who are ready to assist you free of charge. We work on weekends and holidays. Contact us now!!!
3. LIST OF IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENTS IN VIETNAM
As mentioned above, you can apply for a Vietnam visa for foreign visitors or handle immigration-related issues at one of the Vietnam Immigration Department addresses at:
📍Northern Region: Vietnam Immigration Department (A18) in Hanoi
Address: 40A, Hang Bai, Hanoi, Vietnam
Website: www.vnimm.gov.vn
Support phone numbers:
- (84)438264026: for immigration and exit-entry of Vietnamese citizens, residence of foreigners in Vietnam, repatriation of Vietnamese citizens living abroad.
- (84)438260922: for exit and entry of Vietnamese citizens
- (84)439345609: administrative procedures
- (84)438257941: for exit and entry at Vietnam’s borders and other related issues.
- Working hours:
- In the morning: 08.00 am – 11.00 am
- In the afternoon: 13.30 pm – 16.00 pm
- Open from Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays according to Vietnamese regulations
📍Central Region: Vietnam Immigration Department (A18) in Da Nang
- Address: No. 7 Tran Quy Cap, Da Nang City
- Phone: + (84)7511-3823383
- Working hours:
- In the morning: 08.00 am – 11.00 am
- In the afternoon: 13.30 pm – 16.00 pm
- Open from Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays according to Vietnamese regulations
📍Southern Region: Vietnam Immigration Department (A18) in Ho Chi Minh City
- Address: No. 161 Nguyen Du, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
- Phone: + (84)838299398
- Fax: + (84)838244075
- Email: phongqlxnc@vnn.vn
- Working hours:
- In the morning: 08.00 am – 11.00 am
- In the afternoon: 13.30 pm – 16.00 pm
- Open from Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays according to Vietnamese regulations