Do you need a visa to enter Vietnam? For which countries does Vietnam require a visa for foreign travelers? These are common questions from international visitors planning a trip to Vietnam. Recently, Vietnam has implemented new regulations concerning visa extensions and visa exemptions for certain countries. This article will guide you through the Vietnam visa process, including the different types of visas, the steps for applying, and visa services, ensuring an authentic travel experience in Vietnam.
As of August 15, 2023, Vietnam has introduced significant changes to its Vietnam visa policy for foreigners. The new regulations include:
- Vietnam now issues e-visas to all citizens, regardless of nationality or country of origin.
- The duration of Vietnam e-visa has been extended from 30 days to 3 months (up to 90 days), with the option for single or multiple entries.
- The visa-free stay period for foreign tourists has been extended from 15 days to 45 days for certain countries. Here is the list of countries whose citizens are eligible for this Vietnam tourist visa exemption.
No | Country | Number of days visa exemption |
1 | Brunei | 14 |
2 | Myanmar | 14 |
3 | Philippines | 30 |
4 | Cambodia | 30 |
5 | Thailand | 30 |
6 | Malaysia | 30 |
7 | Singapore | 30 |
8 | Indonesia | 30 |
9 | Laos | 30 |
10 | Russia | 15 |
11 | Japan | 45 |
12 | South Korea | 45 |
13 | Norway | 45 |
14 | Finland | 45 |
15 | Denmark | 45 |
16 | Sweden | 45 |
17 | United Kingdom | 45 |
18 | France | 45 |
19 | Germany | 45 |
20 | Spain | 45 |
21 | Italy | 45 |
22 | Belarus | 45 |
If your country is not listed above, don't worry: you can apply for a Vietnam e-visa, which is valid for up to 90 days to visit the country!
Check the details of the new visa regulations here: New Vietnam Visa Regulations.
Currently, there are a total of 27 types of Vietnam visas for foreigners, categorized based on the purpose of entry and the individuals concerned:
- Tourist Visa (DL): Allows visitors to travel to Vietnam for leisure, typically valid for a period of 30 to 45 days.
- Visa Online / Vietnam E-Visa (EV): An online visa valid for up to 90 days, allowing single or multiple entries for citizens from various countries and territories.
- Business Visa (DN1 - DN2): Intended for foreigners working with companies and organizations in Vietnam, with a validity of up to 12 months.
- Work Visa (LĐ1 - LĐ2): For foreigners working in Vietnam, valid for 1 to 2 years, depending on the employment contract.
- Investment Visa (ĐT1 - ĐT4): Issued to foreigners investing in Vietnam, with a maximum duration of 5 years.
- Diplomatic Visa (NG1 - NG4): For members of diplomatic missions, valid for up to 2 years.
- Lawyer Visa (LS): For foreign lawyers wishing to practice in Vietnam, valid for up to 5 years.
- Visa LV1 - LV2: For foreigners working for government agencies or units in Vietnam, valid for about 1 year.
- Visa NH1 - NH3: For foreigners holding executive positions in representative offices or working with NGOs in Vietnam, valid for up to 12 months.
- Student Visa (DH): For foreigners coming to study or intern in Vietnam, valid for up to 12 months.
- Journalist Visa (PV1 - PV2): For foreign journalists working temporarily in Vietnam, valid for up to 12 months.
- Family Visit Visa (TT): For foreigners with relatives in Vietnam or families of foreign workers in Vietnam, valid for up to 12 months.
- Visa VR: For foreigners visiting relatives or for other reasons, valid for up to 6 months.
- Conference Visa (HN): For foreigners attending conferences or seminars in Vietnam, valid for up to 3 months.
- Visa SQ: For foreigners coming to Vietnam for market research, tourism, family visits, or medical treatment, valid for up to 1 month.
If you are not a citizen of a visa-exempt country, you will need to follow the procedure to apply for a Vietnam visa. There are three ways to obtain a visa to enter Vietnam, with Vietnam e-visa being the most common and cost-effective method for foreigners.
Please note that your passport must be valid for more than 6 months upon entry into Vietnam. Ensure you check your passport's expiration date. If it has less than 6 months left, it is recommended to renew your passport to ensure smooth entry and exit procedures in Vietnam.
Step 1: Enter your information for the e-visa application
- Upload a photo of your passport information page and a portrait photo in 4x6 format (front-facing, no glasses, JPG format).
- After this step, the applicant will receive an electronic application code from the system.
Step 2: Pay the Vietnam e-visa fee: $25 USD/e-visa.
Step 3: Use the electronic application code to check the result.
Step 1: Prepare the necessary documents and schedule an appointment with the Vietnamese embassy or consulate in your country.
Step 2: Submit your application and pay the fees on-site.
Step 3: Wait for your application to be processed.
Step 4: Receive your visa result. Once approved, your visa will be stamped into your passport, allowing you to travel to Vietnam.
For this method, you must enter Vietnam through one of the 8 international airports, such as:
The two busiest airports for international flights in Vietnam are in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. If you have an unexpected trip and haven't had time to apply for a visa in advance, you can obtain a Vietnam visa on arrival. Follow these steps at the mentioned airports:
Step 1: Fill out the visa application online.
Step 2: Receive the approval letter via email from the Vietnam Immigration Department.
Step 3: Prepare the necessary documents: print the approval letter, the entry and exit declaration form, two 4x6 cm photos, and your passport. Also, have cash ready for the visa fee ($25 USD/visa).
Step 4: Present the documents at the Visa on Arrival (VOA) counter upon arrival in Vietnam and pay the visa fee to have the visa sticker placed in your passport.
In case of an emergency, it is advisable to explore the urgent and emergency Vietnam visa service to ensure smooth entry with all necessary documents. You can obtain a Vietnam visa within 4 hours to 1-3 business days, depending on when your application is received. For a tourist visa, the service fees for an urgent Vietnam visa range from 50 to 100 USD, depending on the processing speed: the faster you need the process, the higher the cost.
Here is all the information regarding the Vietnam visa for your reference. If you have any questions about the Vietnam visa procedures or your travel itinerary in Vietnam, please feel free to contact Autour Asia, your travel agency in Vietnam. We will be happy to answer all your inquiries as soon as possible!
For applying for a Vietnam visa, it is not mandatory to provide proof of travel insurance. However, it is strongly recommended to obtain Vietnam travel insurance to cover any potential medical expenses or other unforeseen circumstances during your stay.
Yes, it is possible to extend or renew your Vietnam visa. The procedure must be done before your current visa expires, either through the National Public Service Portal website or the Public Service Portal of the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam.
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