Foreigners who want to visit Vietnam may have to apply for a Vietnam visa unless they come from visa-exempt countries.
All information Vietnam Visa For Traveler
If you need a visa, there are three ways to apply. The Vietnamese government has dramatically facilitated this process by issuing Vietnam visas on arrival and Vietnam e-visa (for some citizens). Those who are not eligible for an e-visa or who want to apply for a visa in their passport before coming to Vietnam can also apply from the embassy of the host country.
This article will introduce in detail about Vietnam visa policy, the visa application process, and the types, and requirements of a Vietnam visa.
How many days for Visa for the traveler
You need a Vietnam visa unless you come from one of the following countries, the citizens of these countries can visit Vietnam visa-free for a short term (14 – 90 days):
- Belarus * (visa-free up to 15 days)
- Brunei (visa-free for up to 14 days)
- Cambodia (visa-free travel for up to 30 days)
- Chile (visa-free travel up to 90 days)
- Denmark * (visa-free up to 15 days)
- Finland* (visa-free travel up to 15 days)
- France* (visa-free up to 15 days)
- Germany* (visa-free up to 15 days)
- Indonesia (visa-free travel up to 30 days)
- Italy* (visa-free travel up to 15 days)
- Japan* (visa-free for up to 15 days)
- Kyrgyzstan (visa-free for up to 30 days)
- Laos (visa-free tourist up to 30 days)
- Malaysia (visa-free tourist up to 30 days)
- Myanmar (visa-free tourist up to 14 days)
- Norway* (visa-free for up to 15 days)
- Philippines (visa-free tourist up to 21 days)
- Russia * (visa-free travel up to 15 days)
- Singapore (visa-free tourist up to 30 days)
- Korea* (Visa-free travel up to 15 days)
- Spain* (visa-free for up to 15 days)
- Sweden* (visa-free for up to 15 days)
- Thailand (visa-free tourist up to 30 days)
- UK* (visa-free up to 15 days)
*Citizens of these countries must wait at least 30 days between entries if they want to re-enter Vietnam.
What types of Vietnam visas are there?
The Vietnam Immigration Department grants the following categories to foreigners who want to enter Vietnam:
- Vietnam tourist visa (DL), issued to foreigners entering Vietnam for tourism and leisure purposes, not related to business/study, etc.
- Vietnam Business (DN) visa, is a short-term visa issued to business people to enter Vietnam for meetings, conferences, or other business-related purposes.
- Vietnam work visa (DN/LD), issued to foreigners entering Vietnam to work or conduct business in a Vietnamese company.
- Vietnamese student or trainee visa (DH), is issued to foreigners entering Vietnam to study or practice at Vietnamese educational institutions.
- Diplomatic visa to Vietnam (NG1 – NG4), issued to foreign diplomats or government officials and their accompanying/visiting family members.
- Vietnam Investor Visa (DT), is issued to foreigners entering Vietnam to invest and do business in Vietnam. Related: Retirement Visa Options for Vietnam.
- Vietnam transit visa, you must apply for this visa if you are transiting at Vietnam airport and intend to leave the international transit area of the airport.
What are Vietnam visa requirements?
When you apply for a Vietnam visa, you must have some documents to support your application. These include:
- Your passport is valid for at least six months.
- Most recently taken a passport-size photo, Vietnam specs as follows:
- Size: 4cm x 6cm
- White background
- You should be in the center of the frame, looking straight ahead with a normal facial expression
- If you wear a headscarf for religious purposes or wear a wig, you can keep it in the photo but must also wear it upon arrival
- you can’t wear glasses
- Vietnam visa application form. Depending on the country you are applying for, you can download or get a Vietnam visa application form at the Embassy/Consulate.
- Proof that you have paid the Vietnam visa fee
- Any other additional documents may be required by the Vietnamese embassy/consulate. This may include an invitation or sponsorship letter from someone in Vietnam, depending on the reason for your trip.
- If you apply for a Vietnam visa on arrival :
- pre-approval
- Immigration declaration (many people also call this declaration for a Vietnam visa). You will receive this document on the plane and must fill it out completely before handing it to the immigration officer at the immigration gate.
- Cash payment for Vietnam visa stamping fee
How to apply for a Vietnam visa?
You can apply for a Vietnam visa in one of the following ways:
- In-person, visit the Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate abroad
- Online, if you are from one of the eligible countries
- Upon arrival, after receiving the online pre-travel approval letter
Apply for a Vietnam visa at the embassy or consulate
You can apply for a Vietnam visa from Vietnamese embassies or consulates abroad.
- Contact the embassy/consulate to make an appointment or for any specific requests. Find a list of Vietnamese Embassies and Consulates here.
- Collect the required documents for a Vietnam visa (see below)
- Apply and pay Vietnam visa fee
- Pending visa processing
- Get your passport and learn about visa decisions.
- If your application is approved, the Vietnam visa will be stamped on your passport and you can use it to enter Vietnam.
Preventive measures:
- Depending on your country of registration, you may be able to send documents by post.
- Depending on the purpose of your visit and the embassy/consulate, you may also need to submit a letter of approval from the Vietnam Immigration Department.
Apply for a Vietnam visa online (Vietnam e-Visa)
You can only apply for a Vietnam visa completely online if you are from one of the countries that are eligible for a Vietnam e-visa. To get a Vietnam visa online, you must:
- Start applying online through Vietnam Immigration Portal
- Attach a scanned copy of your passport along with your passport-size photo
- Enter all required information in the online application form
- Pay the Vietnam e-visa fee (US$25)
- Visa processing (up to three business days)
- Check out this site to see if a decision has been made.
- If you received an e-visa, you must download the PDF file and print two copies.
However, once you get the Vietnam e-Visa, you can only enter the country from the designated entry points. Valid for single entry, up to 30 days from the date you intend to enter Vietnam.
Detailed information about Vietnam e-Visa.
Apply for a Vietnam visa on arrival
You can apply for a Vietnam visa on arrival if you enter Vietnam through one of Vietnam’s international airports (listed below):
- Tan Son Nhat, HCMC
- Noi Bai International Airport Hanoi
- Da Nang Airport Da Nang
- Cat Bi Airport Hai Phong
- Nha Trang Airport Cam Ranh
However, to be able to apply for a visa to enter Vietnam, you must first obtain an approval letter from the Vietnam Immigration Department. You can do it through one of the travel agencies or visa application agencies licensed by the Vietnam Immigration Department.
- Online (through the website of the institution processing your application):
- Enter your passport information and the port you will be passing through
- Service fee payment
- Waiting for request processing (2 – 4 working days)
- You will receive your Vietnam visa approval letter by email
- A copy of it will also be forwarded to the immigration officer at the port you will enter
- Print the approval letter and travel to Vietnam. You will also need at least 4 passport-sized photos of yourself (4cm x 6cm), your passport, and enough cash to pay the visa stamping fee upon arrival in Vietnam.
- Queue at the visa counter at Vietnam airport to get your visa stamped on your passport.
- Pay Vietnam visa fee on arrival (US$25 for a single entry visa; US$50 for a multiple entry visa)
How long does it take to process a Vietnam visa?
Vietnam visa processing time is:
- For Vietnam e-visa: about three working days
- For Vietnam visa on arrival,: Approval letter takes 2-4 working days. Sometimes it can be more, depending on the company you use to get the letter of approval.
- For a Vietnam visa at the embassy/consulate: It depends on the specific embassy/consulate.
How long is a Vietnam visa valid?
The time limit for granting a Vietnam visa is as follows:
- Single entry visa, issued for 1 month or 3 months
- Multiple entry visa valid for 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, or 1 year
Visa validity depends on the purpose of your trip. As a result, tourist visas are usually issued for a single entry, while work or business visas can be issued for multiple entries for up to a year.
However, when you come to Vietnam, you can get a temporary residence card for up to 2 years if you have a Vietnam work visa.
The Vietnam investor visa is valid for a maximum of five years.
Can you extend a Vietnam visa?
If you want to stay in Vietnam after your visa expires, you must apply at one of the immigration authorities in Vietnam. You can register:
- Vietnam visa extension, if you want to extend your existing visa in Vietnam. The extension time you get depends on the type of visa you already have. If you have a one-month visa, the extension period will be extended by one month.
- Vietnam visa extension, if you want to change the visa type or you have entered Vietnam under the visa exemption program.
However, the regulations on visa extension are constantly changing, so you should always contact the local office of the Vietnam Immigration Department. Sometimes they will not grant extensions for certain types of visas or certain nationals.
How much is the Vietnam visa fee?
Vietnam visa fees are as follows:
- Vietnam e-visa: 25 USD
- For Vietnam visa on arrival:
- Single entry, 1 month: $25 stamped fee on arrival (plus additional service fee for approval letter)
- Multiple entry, 1 month $50 arrival stamp fee (plus additional service fee for approval letter)
- Single entry, 3 months $25 arrival stamp fee (plus additional service fee for approval letter)
- Multiple entries, $50 arrival stamp fee for 3 months (plus additional service fee for approval letter)
- Multiple entry, 6 months $95 arrival stamp fee (plus service charge)
- Multiple entry, stamp fee up to $135 for 12 months (plus additional service fee for approval letter)
- For Vietnam visa application at the embassy/consulate: It depends on the specific embassy or consulate.
Do I need travel insurance when visiting Vietnam?
While it is not necessary to purchase travel insurance when visiting Vietnam, authorities generally recommend that you purchase comprehensive travel insurance for your entire stay. If you plan to stay in Vietnam for a long time, such as under a work, student, or spouse visa, you should explore foreign health insurance alternatives.
Vietnam visa for US citizens
If you are from the United States, you must apply for a visa before you fly to Vietnam, or you can apply for a visa on arrival.
As a US citizen, you are eligible to apply for a Vietnam visa:
- At the embassy or consulate. Select the Vietnamese diplomatic representative in charge of your jurisdiction:
- Embassy of Vietnam in Washington DC
- Consulate General of Vietnam in San Francisco
- Consulate General of Vietnam in Houston, Texas
- US citizens are granted Vietnam e-visa.
- On arrival, as long as you have a pre-approval letter
Contact
Business hours: 9:00 A.M – 12:00 P.M and 02:00 P.M – 04:30 P.M from Monday through Friday. The Embassy is closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and during Viet Nam and United States holidays.
- For more information, please contact the Consular Division of the Embassy:
- Address: 1233 20th Street NW, Suite 400, Washington D.C., 20036.
- Telephone: 202-861-0737 ext. 118/121/122/125/129.
- Mailing information: 202-861-0737 ext. 113.
- Fax: 202-861-0917
- Email: vnconsular@vietnamembassy.us
- In case of emergency, you may contact the Embassy’s hotlines at 202-716-8666.
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