A Guide to Vietnam Visa Requirements

Are You Eligible to Apply for a Vietnam E-Visa?

Vietnam will grant e-visa to citizens of 80 countries from July 1, 2020 as per Resolution No. 79/NQ-CP. Details on the list of countries can be accessed here Vietnam Evisa Eligible Countries.

For e-Visa, citizens of 80 eligible countries are able to apply for Vietnam visa online. Check out the list of countries eligible to apply for e-Visa online.

If you belong to any of the following countries, you do not need a visa to enter Vietnam. Citizens of these countries can stay in Vietnam without a visa for 14 to 90 days. Check out the list of countries eligible for a visa-free stay.

Documents Required for a Vietnam e-Visa:

For a Vietnam e-visa and visa on arrival, several documents are required, including the following:

Applicants Passport:

To obtain a visa online, the applicant is required to provide his/her valid passport. Remember that your passport must be valid for at least another 6 months.

The scanned copy of the passport you uploaded on your application for Vietnam Visa Online (Vietnam e-Visa) must meet certain specifications that Vietnam Visa passport requirements are met. These are:

• Your passport will be valid for at least 6 months from the date of your entry into Vietnam.
• You must upload your passport scan in the following file formats: PDF, PNG, and JPG.
• Passport photo/scan should be clear and of good quality and high resolution.
• The default size for the scan of your passport required for Vietnam visa application is 1 MB or 10 MB. Shouldn't be bigger than this. You can check the size of the scan by right-clicking on the file on your PC and clicking on Properties and in the window that opens you will be able to see the size in the General tab.
• Passport scan should not be blurry.
• The passport scan should be in colour, not black and white or mono.

Applicants Passport-size photographs:

The traveler will provide passport-sized photos. Make sure the image is recent and features your current appearance. Here are other passport-size photograph specifications:

• Photo Size: 4 x 6 cm.
• Background: Plain White.
• Image: The traveler’s face should be centered with full head/face visible, and facial expressions must be neutral.
• Attire: Headgear is allowed strictly for religious reasons. If you usually wear a wig, you can wear it for the photo and when entering Vietnam.
• Spectacles: Do not wear glasses.

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Application Process Details:

There are three ways of applying for a Vietnam visa, which include:

• Through this Website- Only if you are eligible for an online e Visa
• A Visa on Arrival
• Through an Embassy or Consulate of Vietnam

How to Apply for Vietnam e Visa Online?

If you are from an eligible country, you are entitled to apply for a Vietnam electronic visa or e-Visa. Here are the details of how to apply for the visa online.

• Step 1: Fill out the Vietnam e visa application form available on this website
• Step 2: Upload a scan of your passport and your passport-size photograph
• Step 3: Pay the Vietnam e-Visa fee
• Step 4: Provide a valid email ID

You have to wait for up to 3-5 business days to receive the visa. After the approved visa is sent to your email inbox, please get its printout and take it along when you depart for Vietnam.

Remember that an e-Visa is valid for a single entry, and you can stay for a maximum of 30 days starting from the date of your arrival in the country.

How to Apply for Vietnam Visa On Arrival?

If you are eligible for a visa on arrival, you can enter Vietnam through any designated ports of entry mentioned below and obtain the visa accordingly.

• Tan Son Nhat in Ho Chi Minh City
• Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi
• Danang Airport in Da Nang
• Cat Bi Airport in Hai Phong
• Cam Ranh Airport in Nha Trang

But, you have to meet certain conditions before applying for the visa on arrival formally. Firstly, you must obtain an approval letter issued by the Vietnamese Immigration Department. You may apply for this letter through your travel agent, visa application agencies, or this website.

Here’s how you can obtain a visa on arrival online:

Fill out the Vietnam visa application form, providing the following information:

• Passport details
• Your date of birth: in Vietnam, the date format will be DD/MM/YY;
• Intended port of entry
• Visa service fee payment

Apply and wait for the approval of the visa. It may take between 2 and 4 business days. Your visa will be sent to your email inbox. One copy will be sent to the Immigration Officer at your desired port of entry as mentioned in the application.

What to do After Receiving Visa on Arrival Approval Letter?

Please take a printout of the visa approval letter before traveling to Vietnam. You will also need four passport-sized photographs of yourself (size- 4cmx6cm), your passport, and sufficient cash to pay the visa stamping fee.

When you reach the airport, queue up at the dedicated Visa on Arrival counter and get your visa stamp on your passport. You will have to pay the visa on arrival fee of USD$$ for a single-entry and USD$$ for a multiple-entry visa.

Vietnam visa on arrival Application Form:

Depending on the country you are applying from, it is possible to download the application form from this website or get it from a Vietnam embassy or consulate.

• Visa Fees: It is necessary to pay the Vietnam e-Visa fees before submitting the application form online.
• Other Requirements: If you are applying through an embassy or consulate, you may have to provide additional documents, such as a Letter of Invitation/Sponsorship from your relative or acquaintance in Vietnam.

you are applying for a visa on arrival, here are the criteria:

• A Letter of Approval
• Entry and Exit Form: You can consider this the visa application form. Travelers receive this when boarding the airplane, and they must complete it and hand it over to the immigration official after landing at a Vietnamese port of entry.
• Payment: You will have to pay the visa stamping fee at the airport after landing.

Types of Vietnam Visas on Arrival:

The following types of Vietnam visas are issued by the Immigration Department:

• Tourist Visa: Foreigners who need to visit Vietnam for tourism/recreational purposes should apply for a tourist visa.
• Business Visa: It is a short-term visa offered to entrepreneurs for attending/holding a meeting, conference, or any other business-related events in Vietnam.
• Work Visa: It is issued to foreigners and allows them to work/do business with any Vietnam-based firm/business.
• Student or Internship Visa: Issued to foreigners wanting to enter Vietnam to study in a local educational institution or participate in an internship.
• Diplomatic Visa: This visa is issued only to foreign government officials, diplomats, and family members visiting Vietnam or accompanying them.
• Investor Visa: It is issued to foreigners to visit Vietnam and invest in a Vietnamese business.
• Transit Visa: Issued to travelers who need to change planes or catch a connecting flight at a Vietnamese airport and may need to leave the airport’s transit lounge.

How to Apply for Vietnam Visa Through an Embassy/Consulate?

You can easily apply for a Vietnam visa through a diplomatic mission like an Embassy or Consulate.

Here is what you need to do to apply for a Vietnam visa through an embassy or consulate.

Step 1: Make an appointment by contacting the embassy/consulate. Take the information about the required documents.

Step 2: Visit the embassy/consulate with the required documents. Pay the visa fee, fill out the application form, and submit all the documents.

Step 3: Wait for notification from the embassy/consulate regarding your visa.

Step 4: When you receive a call from the embassy/consulate, please visit the facility, and collect your passport and visa (if approved).

Points to be Noted:

• Confirm from the embassy/consulate if you can submit the required documents by mail.
• Confirm from the embassy/consulate if you are required to submit a Letter of Approval from the Vietnam Immigration Department, depending on your travel purpose.

Vietnam Visa Processing:

A Vietnam electronic visa is generally processed within 3 -5 business days.

The Visa on Arrival processing takes 2 to 4 business days for the Letter of Approval. However, the time may exceed this depending on the company you used to make the request.

For a Vietnam Paper Visa through an Embassy or Consulate, the concerned agency will inform about the expected date of visa approval.

Vietnam Visa Duration/Validity:

Vietnam visas are issued for the following durations:

The visa validity depends on several factors, the most important being your purpose of travel. A tourist visa is usually a single-entry travel permit. On the other hand, a business visa is a multiple-entry travel permit issued for up to a year. If you have a work visa, you can also receive a Temporary Residence Card valid for up to two years. The investor visa is valid for up to five years.

Vietnam Visa Cost:

E-Visa:

The cost of a Vietnam e-visa depends on the applicant's country and the type of visa. and it takes 3-5 business days to process. p>

Visa on Arrival Cost:

• Single-entry, 1 month: USD $$
• Multiple-entry, 1-month USD $$
• Single-entry, 3 months USD $$
• Multiple-entry, 3 months USD $$
• Multiple-entry, 6 months USD $$
• Multiple-entry, 12 months USD $$

Vietnam Visa Application at an Embassy/Consulate Cost:

The cost of this visa varies as per the Embassy or Consulate policy.

Vietnam Visa Expiration:

If you are worried about the expiry of your Vietnam visa and want to extend your stay in the country, you need to apply at one of the immigration offices. Here are your options:

Vietnam Visa Extension:

For a visa extension, please specify how long you can stay in Vietnam on your existing visa because the extension depends on your visa type. This means that holders of a one-month Vietnam visa can seek an extension in visa validity for another month. However, certain nationalities or visas cannot receive an extension. Please confirm from the Immigration Office in Vietnam about your visa extension possibilities.

Vietnam Visa Renewal:

This should be your preferred option if you want your visa category to be changed or if you entered the country under the visa exemption scheme.

Please note that the visa extension policy is subject to change without prior notice. Therefore, contact the local Immigration Department in the Vietnam office.

However, the rules for visa extensions change constantly, and as such, you should always contact the local office of the Immigration Department in Vietnam. Sometimes, they will not issue extensions for certain visa types or certain nationals.