In order for foreigners to legally enter, transit, or stay in Vietnam, obtaining a visa is a necessary requirement. While the concept isn’t new or strange, not everyone understands it clearly. To clarify any confusion surrounding visa conditions, exemption cases, and durations, please refer to this informative article.
- What is a Vietnam Visa? 1
- Visa Duration: 1
- Visa issuance conditions: 7
- Vietnam Visa Exemption: 8
- FAQ about Vietnam Visa: 10
5.1. The differences between Visa and passport 10
5.2. How long does it take to apply for a visa? 10
5.3. What’s the cost of getting a Vietnamese visa? 10
5.4. Is it easy to apply for a Vietnam Visa? 10
1. What is a Vietnam Visa?
A visa is a document issued by a relevant Vietnamese government agency that allows foreigners to enter Vietnam, as stated in Clause 11, Article 3 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam 2014.
Basically it’s a “passport” which allows foreigners to enter Vietnam with various benefits, including security, healthcare, labor, and education support.
Visas are stamped on passports, indicating the length of time one can stay in Vietnam, ranging from 30 days to 5 years.
2. Visa Duration:
The duration of the visa depends on each case, usually ranging from 1 month to 5 years. Specifically, according to Article 9 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam 2014 (amended 2019), regulations on visa validity are as follows:
| Symbol | Visa duration | Eligible for visa |
| SQ | Within 01 months | Individuals who possess a professional affiliation with an authorized Vietnamese visa-issuing agency, along with their spouses, children, or those who possess written consent from a Ministry of Foreign Affairs agency in the host country, may be eligible.
Additionally, individuals who possess a guarantee note from a foreign consulate or diplomatic mission located in the host country may also be eligible. |
| EV | Within 30 months | EVISA |
| HN | Within 3 months | People attending conferences and seminars. |
| DL | Within 3 months | Tourist |
| VR | Within 6 months | People visiting relatives or for other purposes. |
| NG1 | Within 12 months | Member of the guest delegation of the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, the State President, the Chairman of the National Assembly, and the Prime Minister. |
| NG2 | Within 12 months | Member of the guest delegation of the Executive Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, Vice State President, Vice Chairman of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Deputy Prime Minister, Presidium of VietNam Fatherland Front, Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court, President of Supreme People’s Procuracy, State Audit of Viet Nam.
Members of the guest delegation at the same position as Ministers and equivalent, Provincial Party Secretary, City Party Secretary, Chairman of the People’s Council, Chairman of the People’s Committee of the province or centrally run city. |
| NG3 | Within 12 months | Individuals on diplomatic missions belonging to consular offices, embassies, representative agencies of international organizations under the United Nations, and representative offices of intergovernmental organizations, as well as their spouses, children who are under 18 years old, and domestic workers, are required to adhere to the stipulated terms. |
| NG4 | Within 12 months | Individuals working with consular offices, embassies, representative agencies of international organizations under the United Nations, and representative offices of intergovernmental organizations and their spouses, children under the age of 18.
Individuals visiting consular offices, embassies, representative agencies of international organizations under the United Nations, and representative offices of intergovernmental organizations. |
| LV1 | Within 12 months | Individuals working with departments, offices, and units directly under the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, The National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the Government, The Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, The Supreme People’s Court, The Supreme People’s Procuracy of Vietnam, State Audit of Viet Nam, Ministries and equivalent offices, State sponsored agencies, Provincial party committee, People’s Assembly and Municipal City/Provincial People’s Committees. |
| LV2 | Within 12 months | Individuals working with social and political organizations, Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry. |
| ĐT4 | Within 12 months | International investors and representatives for international investing organizations with capital under 3 billions VND |
| DN1 | Within 12 months | Foreigners working with companies, other organizations have legal status according to Vietnam Laws |
| DN2 | Within 12 months | Foreigners come to offer and sell services, establish a commercial presence and other activities according to international treaties in which Vietnam is a member. |
| NN1 | Within 12 months | Head of representatives offices, head of international organizations, non-governmental organizations projects operating in Vietnam. |
| NN2 | Within 12 months | Head of representative offices, branches of foreign businessmen, representative offices of economic, cultural and other foreign professional organizations in Vietnam. |
| NN3 | Within 12 months | Individuals working with a non-governmental foreign organization, representative offices, branches of foreign businessmen, offices of economic, cultural and other foreign professional organizations in Vietnam. |
| DH | Within 12 months | Students looking for internships and opportunities to study. |
| PV1 | Within 12 months | Reporters, journalists stationed in Vietnam. |
| PV2 | Within 12 months | Reporters, journalists in short-term operations. |
| TT | Within 12 months | Foreigners who are spouses, children under 18 of individuals granted Visa designated as LV1, LV2, LS, ĐT1, ĐT2, ĐT3, NN1, NN2, DH, PV1, LĐ1, LĐ2 or a Vietnamese citizen foreign parents, spouses, children. |
| LĐ1 | Within 02 years | Foreigners working in Vietnam have confirmation not being subjected to a work permit, unless an international treaty in which Vietnam is a part of state otherwise. |
| LĐ2 | Within 02 years | Foreigners working in Vietnam are subject to having a work permit. |
| ĐT3 | Within 03 years | Foreign investors and representatives for foreign investment organizations with total capital from 3 to under 50 Billions VND |
| LS | Within 05 years | Foreign lawyers operating in Vietnam |
| ĐT1 | Within 05 years | Foreign investors and representatives for foreign investment organizations with total capital exceeding 100 Billions VND or investing into preferred sectors, areas encouraged by the government. |
| ĐT2 | Within 05 years | Foreign investors and representatives for foreign investment organizations with total capital from 50 to under 100 Billions VND or investing into preferred sectors, businesses encouraged by the government. |
3. Visa issuance conditions:
Visa conditions are specified in Article 9 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam 2014 (amended 2019):
- You must have a valid passport or international travel document.
- You must have an agency, organization, or individual in Vietnam inviting or sponsoring your stay, except for the cases specified in Article 16a, Article 16b, and Clause 3, Article 17 of the Law on Entry, Exit, and Transit. residence of foreigners. in Vietnam in 2014
- Entry will not be allowed if falling into certain cases according to Article 21 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam 2014,
- In the following cases, visa applications must have documents proving the purpose of entry:
- Foreign investors must have documents proving their investment in Vietnam according to the provisions of the Investment Law;
- Foreigners who practice law in Vietnam must obtain a practice license in accordance with the Law on Lawyers.
- Foreigners must have a work permit as per the Ministry of Labour
- Foreign students who wish to study in Vietnam must obtain a written acceptance letter from a Vietnamese school or educational institution.
- Evisas are issued to foreign passport holders who are not subject to regulations in Clauses 1, 2, 3, and 4 of Article 8 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam (2014, revised 2019).
4. Vietnam Visa Exemption:
Article 12 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam 2014 (amended 2019) specifies cases where visa exemption applies:
- According to international treaties in which Vietnam is a member.
- User of permanent residence cards and temporary residence cards according to the provisions of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam 2014.
- Entering the border gate economic zone, special administrative-economic unit.
- Entering the coastal economic zone designated by the government when all requirements are met: having international airport, separated spaces, definite geographical boundaries, faraway from the mainland, suitable with Viet
- nam’s economic-social development strategies and will not harm national security, defense capability or social order and safety.
- According to the provisions of Article 13 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam 2014.
- Vietnamese nationals who live outside of Vietnam and hold passports or travel documents issued by foreign authorities, along with their foreign spouse and children, are eligible for visa exemption based on the regulations established by the government. Foreign nationals who are married to Vietnamese citizens or their children are also eligible for visa exemption as per government guidelines.
As per the amendment in Article 1 of Resolution No. 32/NQ-CP dated March 15, 2022, stated in No. 128/NQ-CP, citizens of certain countries are exempted from visa requirements in Vietnam. This exemption allows them to temporarily reside in Vietnam for 45 days from the date of entry, regardless of their passport type or purpose of entry, provided they meet all the entry requirements as prescribed by Vietnamese law. This exemption is valid for a duration of 3 years.
Europe:
Federal Republic of Germany
French Republic
Italian Republic
Kingdom of Spain
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Russia
Kingdom of Denmark
Kingdom of Sweden
Kingdom of Norway
Republic of Finland
Republic of Belarus
Asian:
Japan
The Republic of Korea
Citizens of SouthEast Asian (SEA) countries are granted a 30-day visa exemption for any purpose of visit. ( unlimited time)
Brunei, Myanmar (14 days)
Philippines (21 days)
Campuchia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Laos ( 30 days)
North America and South America
Citizens of Chile and Panama are exempt from Vietnam visa for 90 days, excluding income-generating activities.
5. FAQ about Vietnam Visa:
5.1. The differences between Visa and passport
Visa (visa de visite) is a French word, meaning “travel paper”. “Thị thực” is a Vietnamese word to replace “visa”. In Vietnamese “visa” and “thị thực” is interchangeable.
However, in some cases, “visa” is used to indicate the stamp or seal in the passport itself while “passport” is the entire process of applying for a visa.
5.2. How long does it take to apply for a visa?
The average processing time for a Visa is 10 working days. However, by using TrustVisa’s services, this wait time can be reduced to 4-6 working days. We also have a Last Minutes service for under 1 hour completion.
5.3. What’s the cost of getting a Vietnamese visa?
The fees required for a visa changes depending on the time receiving the visa and the entry purpose. Normally a single entry visa costs $25 while a multiple entry visa costs $50.
5.4. Is it easy to apply for a Vietnam Visa?
In present times, applying for a visa has become more convenient with the option to apply for it online. However, not everyone finds it easy to do so. Filling out the form on one’s own can lead to errors, and the process of waiting and checking the visa status can be tiring for the applicant.
To save time and effort, please contact TrustVisa. We will simplify your visa application process with our online 3 step process. You won’t have to fill in the form yourself, don’t waste time on checking the status of your application and with our success rate of 99%. TrustVisa also offers free consultation, answers all your questions and 24/7 support during the entire process of applying for a visa to ensure all your problems are dealt with thoroughly.
Contact us through our hotline: +84.978.121.585