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02 January, 2020
Swallow Travel
Traveling to Vietnam and finding which visa is right for you, figuring out how to apply can be really confusing. Swallow Travel will provide you the information about Vietnam visa exemption, e-Visa, Visa on arrival and Embassy issued Vietnam visa.
Entry Requirements: You must have a valid passport and a visa (or pre-approval for a visa on arrival or E-visa) to enter Vietnam. Your passport must be valid for six months beyond your planned stay, and you must have at least one blank visa page.
1/ Vietnam Visa Exemptions
Nationals of certain countries may visit Vietnam without visa for a period of time, hereunder is the list of countries and regions that have visa exemption arrangements with Vietnam.
- Visa-free for 30 days: Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore
- Visa-free for 21 days: Philippines
- Visa-free for 15 days: Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Russian, Sweden, Norway, Finland, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain (*)
- Visa-free for 14 days: Brunei, Myanmar
Note: If citizens from (*) countries wish to re-enter Vietnam under visa exemption program again, the second visit cannot be earlier 30 days from the first visit. If you are not from any of these countries or you want to visit Vietnam longer than authorized period of stay, please move to part 2 and 3 about Vietnam e-Visa and Visa on arrival.
Exception: The visitors to Phu Quoc Island may stay without a visa for no more than 30 days. This visa waiver program is also applicable to those traveling to the island through any international ports of entry (air and sea). The holders of APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) are granted visa-free access to Vietnam for no more than 60 days. The citizens of Armenia, Algeria, Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, Dominican, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, France, Hungary, India, Iraq, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Myanmar, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Russia, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovak, Slovenia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, UAE, Uruguay, Venezuela holding diplomatic or official passport may stay in Vietnam, visa free, for maximum of 90 days. The citizens of Angola, Azerbaijan, China, Croatia, Kazakhstan, Myanmar holding diplomatic or official passport are granted visa-free entry for 30 days. The citizens of Afghanistan, Albania, Belarus, Cuba, North Korea, Nicaragua, Romania holding diplomatic or official passport are exempted a visa to Vietnam. The citizens of Uzbekistan holding diplomatic passport could stay in Vietnam for free visa for 60 days. · The citizens of Czech, Estonia, Germany, France, Israel, Italy, Poland, Spain, and Switzerland holding diplomatic passport are granted 90 day stay without a visa in Vietnam. The citizens of Uzbekistan holding diplomatic passport are exempted a Vietnam visa for 60 days. The citizens of Iran are allowed to visit Vietnam without a visa for 1 month if holding diplomatic passport.
Note: whether you are required a visa or not, your passport should be valid for no less than 6 months prior to the trip or at least 1 month after visa expiry date and have at least 02 empty page left.
2/ E-Visa What is Vietnam e-visa?
An electronic visa (E-visa) is one of visa types issued to foreigners by Vietnamese Immigration Department via electronic system. It is the equivalent to a visa, but no stamp or label is placed in the passport.
- The e-Visa is a single entry visa.
- The e-Visa is valid for 30 days, from the proposed date of entry indicated during the application.
- e-Visa holders may remain in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam for a maximum of 30 consecutive days after the initial entry date.
- Once the first 30 days have passed, and renewal be needed it, e-Visa holders in Vietnam may be considered to grant new visa if being invited/guaranteed by authority/organization/individual in Vietnam in accordance with Law on foreigners' entry into, exit from, transit through, residence in Vietnam.
- The applicant’s passport must be valid for at least 01 month after arrival to Vietnam and it must have at least two blank pages for the immigration and border control officer.
- Minors with their own passport must complete a full e-Visa application. Minors aged 14 and under included on their parent’s passport will have to be included on their parents e-Visa application.
- Applicants are required to carry a copy of their e-Visa at all times during their stay.
Outside Vietnam foreigners who want to enter Vietnam can personally apply for E-visa or through the inviting/guaranteeing agencies and organizations. How much I have to pay for an e-Visa? The e-Visa costs 25 USD for card payments. It requires three full working days to process. E-visa fee is paid via electronic payment gateway as prescribed by the Immigration Department. The fee will not be refunded if the application is refused.
Who Are Eligible for Vietnam E-visa?
Citizens from 80 countries are eligible to apply online for Vietnam e-Visa. The full list of countries eligible for an e-visa:
(*) Citizens from China must apply with a traditional passport. Chinese e-Passports cannot be used to apply for e-Visa.
What is the requirement for Vietnam e-Visa?
- A passport with six (6) months’ validity
- A photo in .jpg format of your full passport data page
- A passport photo in .jpg format (4×6, white background, without glasses)
- A valid international credit or debit card
- An email address for support purposes
- A temporary address within Vietnam
- Your entry and exit dates and entry and exit points/airports
How to Apply for Vietnam’s e-Visa?
- Open the official website for Vietnam’s e-Visa Application at:
- https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/web/guest/trang-chu-ttdt
- Upload .jpg images of your passport data page and passport photo
- Fill up all required info from your passport data page
- Fill up all required info regarding your trip
- Pay the e-Visa fee using any of the payment methods offered
- Receive your registration code and save the number
How can I check my e-Visa result?
To check an e-Visa result, follow these steps:
- Vist the page: https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/tra-cuu-ho-so
- Provide the required information, including registration code, email and date of birth, to check and print your e-Visa result.
Please be noted that, (i) Registration code must be saved in order to check and print e-Visa; and (ii) No email will be sent regarding e-Visa results.
After applying for your e-Visa online, you’ll need to wait three working days for your visa to be released. After three days, you may search for your visa at this link.
Here is the list of border gates, those you can get into Vietnam by road, by air and by water ways.
08 Air ways
- Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi Capital city
- Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City
- Cam Ranh International Airport in Nha Trang City of Khanh Hoa Province
- Da Nang International Airport in Da Nang city
- Cat Bi International Airport in Hai Phong city
- Can Tho International Airport in Mekong Delta
- Phu Quoc International Airport in Phu Quoc Island of Kien Giang Province
- Phu Bai International Airport in Hue city
16 Road ways
Tay Trang (Dien Bien province); Mong Cai (Quang Ninh province); Huu Nghi/ Friendship (Lang Son province); Lao Cai (Lao Cai province); Na Meo (Thanh Hoa); Nam Can (Nghe An province); Cau Treo (Ha Tinh province), Cha Lo (Quang Binh province); Laban, Lao Bao (Quang Tri province); Bo Y (Kon Tum province); Moc Bai, Xa Mat (Tay Ninh province); Tinh Bien, Song Tien (An Giang province); Ha Tien (Kien Giang province).
13 Water ways
Hon Gai, Cam Pha (Quang Ninh province); Hai Phong (Hai Phong city); Nghi Son (Thanh Hoa); Vung Ang (Ha Tinh province); Chan May Port (Thua Thien Hue province); Da Nang (Da Nang city); Nha Trang (Khanh Hoa province); Quy Nhon (Binh Dinh province); Dung Quat (Quang Ngai province); Vung Tau (Ba Ria-Vung Tau province); Ho Chi Minh city; Duong Dong in Phu Quoc Island (Kien Giang Province).
For questions about the new policy, you should call Vietnam’s Immigration Department at +8424 3938 7320 or visit one of these offices.
- Immigration office in Hanoi: 44-46 Tran Phu, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi
- Immigration office in Da Nang: 78 Lê Lợi, Thạch Thang, Hải Châu, Đà Nẵng 550000
- Immigration office in Ho Chi Minh city: 196 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Ward 6, District 3, Ho Chi Minh city
Working hours: Monday-Friday (Morning: 7am – 11h30am; Afternoon: 1h30pm – 5pm) and Saturday (Morning time only)
3. Visa on arrival
What is visa on arrival?
It is a visa you can pick up at one of three Vietnam international airports (Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat or Da Nang international airport) and you can only obtain it if you enter this country by air.
Step 1: Submit your visa application form to receive your visa approval letter. The Vietnamese Embassy does not issue these approval letters directly, but you can apply for them from a travel agency/visa service online.
Step 2: Get visa approval letter via email (attached with entry and exit form)
• Print out the letter and the entry and exit form
• Fill out the entry and exit form
• Prepare 2 passport sized photos 4x6 cm and an amount of USD for stamping fee ($25 for 1 month or 3 months single entry visa; $50 for 1 month or 3 months multiple entries, $95 for 6 months multiple entries and $135 for 1 year multiple entries Visa)
• Put all above mentioned things along with your passport in a package, then show them to Immigration officer at Vietnam arrival airports. Remember to bring all visa documents with you till you get your passport stamped a visa at Vietnam’s airport.
Step 3: Get your visa stapmed upon arrival.
When your arrive in 1 of 4 internation airports in Vietnam (Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh or Saigon City, Cam Ranh Airport in Nha Trang City, Da Nang Airport in Da Nang City or Noi Bai Airport in Ha Noi Capital of Vietnam), you will go directly to "Vietnam Landing Visa Office" before enter the passport check and stamp. At this place, you will show your passport, photos, form of any and exit, stamp fee to Vietnam Immigration staff. And they will issue you the true Visa sticker into your passport. After that come to the Passport check and get the stamp.
4/ Embassy issued Vietnam visa
If you’ve chosen Embassy issued you need to contact the Vietnam Embassy in your home country to find out exactly what they require and the cost. Obviously, fees vary from country to country. If your residence is not near the Embassy, you have to post your passport to receive visa stamp. Once you have your passport with a Vietnam visa, you are good to go. There will be nothing more to pay on arrival in Vietnam. When you arrive, proceed directly to Immigration/ Passort control. Here is the link to a list Vietnam Embassies: http://embassy.goabroad.com/embassies-of/vietnam
Disclaimes: Whilst every effort is made to ensure the information is correct and up to date, there may be changes which we are not aware of.
