Vietnam Visa
Vietnam has been named as one of ten best countries for expats to live and work for the first time, according to HSBC's Expat 2019 Global Report released in July 2019. What makes Vietnam an attractive destination for foreigners?
Vietnam is rated as the greatest place to start a new life for its stable economy, good opportunities for career advancement, especially a good life balance and, ultimately, the rich cultural quintessence of Vietnamese people. Accordingly, the demand of expatriates on entry and different staying duration permission in Vietnam has been increasing more rapidly.
According to the No. 51/2019/QH14 of the National Assembly that takes effect on July 01, 2020, Vietnam visa is classified into up to 21 main types and symbolized as: DL, DN1, DN2, NG, DH, LV, HN, PV, VR, TT, LĐ 1, LĐ2, ĐT1, ĐT2, ĐT3, ĐT4, SQ, etc.
THE MOST COMMON TYPES OF VIETNAM VISAS
• Tourist visa (symbol DL)
• Visitor Visa (symbol TT)
• Business Visa (symbol DN1 – DN2)
• Working Visa (symbol LĐ1 – LĐ2)
• Investor Visa (symbol ĐT1, ĐT2, ĐT3, ĐT4)
VIETNAM VISA CATEGORIES (BY CLASSIFICATION SYMBOLS)
• DL: To be granted to foreigners entering Vietnam for tourism purposes;
• DH: To be granted to foreigners who come to practice as probationers or study;
• TT: To be granted to foreigners who are parents, spouses, under-18 children of foreigners holding LV1, LV2, ĐT, NN1, NN2, DH, PV1 or LĐ visas, or foreigners who are parents, spouses or children of Vietnamese citizens;
• VR: To be granted to people who come to visit their relatives or for other purposes;
• ĐT1, ĐT2, ĐT3, ĐT4: To be granted to foreign investors in Vietnam and foreign lawyers practicing in Vietnam;
• LĐ1, LĐ2: To be granted to foreigners who come to work;
• LV1: To be granted to people who come to work with departments, agencies and units under the Communist Party of Vietnam’s Central Committee; the National Assembly, the Government, the Central Committee of Vietnam Fatherland Front, the Supreme People’s Court, the Supreme People’s Procuracy, the State Audit of Vietnam, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-attached agencies, People’s Councils and People’s Committees of provinces and centrally run cities;
• LV2: To be granted to foreigners who come to work with socio-political organizations, social organizations and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry;
• DN1: To be granted to foreigners working with enterprises and other entities having legal persons in accordance with Vietnamese laws;
• DN2: To be granted to foreigners who offer to sell services, establish commercial presence and render other services under international treaties of which Vietnam is a member state;
• NN1: To be granted to heads of representative offices or projects of international organizations and foreign non-governmental organizations in Vietnam;
• NN2: To be granted to heads of representative offices or branches of foreign traders, representative offices of other foreign economic, cultural, professional organizations in Vietnam;
• NN3: To be granted to foreigners who come to work with foreign non-governmental organizations, representative offices or branches of foreign traders, representative offices of other foreign economic, cultural, professional organizations in Vietnam;
• SQ: To be granted to the head of Viet Nam’s mission abroad is eligible to issue up-to-30-day visa for foreigners who enter Vietnam for the purpose of market survey, tourism, visiting relatives, or medical treatment in following cases:
+ A person who has working relations with the Viet Nam’s visa granting agency abroad and his/her spouse and children; or a person who applies for Viet Nam visa with a request (in written form) of a competent agency under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the host country;
+ A person who holds a guarantee diplomatic note issued by the diplomatic missions or consular agencies based in the host country.
• NG1: To be granted to members of delegations invited by the Secretary General of the Communist Party of Vietnam’s Central Committee, the President, the Chairperson of the National Assembly or the Prime Minister;
• NG2: To be granted to members of delegations invited by the Standing Body of the Communist Party of Vietnam’s Secretariat, Vice Presidents, National Assembly Vice Chairpersons, Deputy Prime Ministers, the President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front’s Central Committee, the Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court, the Procurator General of the Supreme People’s Procuracy, or the State Auditor General; members of delegations invited by ministers and the equivalent post holders, secretaries of Party Committees of provinces and centrally run cities or chairpersons of People’s Councils and People’s Committees of provinces and centrally run cities;
• NG3: To be granted to members of diplomatic missions, consular offices and representative offices of international organizations affiliated to the United Nations, representative offices of intergovernmental organizations and their spouses, under-18 children and housemaids who live with them during their terms of office;
• NG4: To be granted to people who come to work with diplomatic missions, consular offices, representative offices of international organizations affiliated to the United Nations and representative offices of intergovernmental organizations; visitors of members of diplomatic missions, consular offices, representative offices of international organizations affiliated to the United Nations and representative offices of intergovernmental organizations;
• HN: To be granted to people who come to attend conferences or workshops;
• PV1: To be granted to permanent correspondents and journalists in Vietnam;
• PV2: To be granted to correspondents and journalists who come to work for a short term in Vietnam;
• LS: To be granted to foreign lawyers practicing in Vietnam;
• EV: one of visa types issued to foreigners (via electronic system) entering Vietnam through 33 regulated border gates.
Mokrica will keep you updated immediately upon the latest regulations on Vietnam visas for expats living in Vietnam to provide the best, most efficient visa services available!
Realistically, Vietnam Visa Application Procedure is still considered complicated administrative and legal stages by most of foreigners. Language barriers are the root causes of many obstacles between foreigners and indigenous peoples in Vietnam, that makes it harder to carry out the procedures.
In order to obtain your visa quickly and inexpensively, it is necessary to contact an immigration consultant and visa agent in Vietnam to assist with the necessary processes.
According to the Law on Entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam, the conditions and requirements for being granted a Vietnam visa are as follows:
• Vietnamese holding foreign passports have already had a document proving their legal person status at the Immigration Department of the Ministry of Public Security in accordance with the Law No. 47/2014/QH13, dated June 16, 2014.
• Foreigners or Vietnamese nationals holding foreign passports with valid passports, visas (except for cases of visa exemption), temporary residence certifications issued by competent Vietnamese agencies, currently residing at Vietnam and is not in the category of “not yet allowed to enter Vietnam” or not subject to “suspension from exit”.
• Vietnamese citizens applying for supplementing, amending visas or extending temporary residence for foreigners, Vietnamese holding foreign passports must be the people who are parents, spouses, or children of foreigners or Vietnamese holding foreign passports (through presenting proof of relationship).
VIETNAM VISA APPLICATION AT A VIETNAMESE EMBASSY
Foreign tourists need to enter Vietnam should provide the following documents to the Vietnamese Embassies located in the host country:
• Visa application form and a photo (3.5cm x 4.5cm);
• Passport or a legitimate document in lieu of a passport (valid for at least 06 months);
• An approval document issued by the Immigration Department (Ministry of Public Security) or the Consular Department, the Department of External Relations of the Ho Chi Minh city (Approval letter on arrival);
• NG3, NG4 visa applicants can submit a Diplomatic note/Official note of Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the diplomatic and consular missions in the host country.
FOREIGNERS' ENTRY THROUGH PUBLIC ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE
1. In case of direct submission
Foreigners wishing to register for entry can directly submit their documents at one of the two head offices of the Immigration Department - Ministry of Public Security:
• No. 44-46, Tran Phu St., Ba Dinh District, Hanoi City
• No. 333-335-337, Nguyen Trai St., District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
2. In case of registration through the public administrative service portal of the Ministry of Public Security
Foreigners who register for entry by automated control gate can access the website of the Ministry of Public Security at http://bocongan.gov.vn
Select the category “Public services”, select the administrative procedures named “Immigration management”, select the appropriate registration procedure and follow the steps below:
• Fill out the declaration form completely and schedule an appointment at the dossier-receiving agency to finish the registration procedure;
• Bring the declaration and other necessary documents as prescribed to complete the procedures at the dossier-receiving agency.
VIETNAM ENTRY THROUGH AUTOMATED SECURITY CONTROL GATES
1. Groups of passengers to be eligible for entry/exit through automated security control gates:
• Vietnamese citizens using biometric passports to enter countries where they are exempted from entry visa requirements;
• Vietnamese citizens using biometric passports to enter countries where they are not exempted from entry visa requirements;
• Vietnamese citizens using traditional passports without embedded electronic microprocessor chips;
• Vietnamese citizens using laissez-passers agreed upon between Vietnam and countries sharing land border lines;
• Aliens holding permanent/temporary residence permit cards issued by competent regulatory authorities of Vietnam.
4. Documents required for entry/exit through automated control gates:
• Vietnam autogate declaration form (Form M01 for Vietnamese citizens use form M01; Form M02 for foreigners);
• Photo 4cm x 6cm (bare head, straight eyes, no glasses).
• Present passport, immigration documents;
• For Vietnamese citizens using passport holders of visa-free countries, they must present visas or documents proving that they are eligible to enter the country of destination;
• Present permanent residence card or temporary residence card;
• Provide fingerprints in accordance with the regulations of the Minister of Public Security;
GUIDE ENTRY AND EXIT PROCEDURES AT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS
When entering Vietnam through an international border gate (Noi Bai International Airport, Tan Son Nhat Airport, or Da Nang Airport), foreign travelers seeking for a Vietnam visa must complete the following steps:
• Present your passport;
• Present the Approval letter on arrival;
• Fill in the form according to the instructions of the Customs and Border Protection officers at the airport;
• Pay visa fees at the airport as regulated.
Mokrica can fully assist you/your friends and family/expats in preparing for the processes and determining your chances of success while seeking for Vietnam entry. Should you need any further assistance, please don't hesitate to contact us!
Visa extension means a certain period of time that a foreigner is permitted to reside in Vietnam without exiting and re-entering Vietnam. Following the submission of the required documentation to the Immigration Department, the foreigners’ passports will be stamped with a new stay duration extension on it.
PREREQUISITES OF VIETNAM VISA EXTENSION/RENEWAL
For expatriates who is eligible to extend Vietnam visa:
• Already had a valid Vietnam visa and wish to extend their visa;
• Meet the requirements for a certificate or book of temporary residence book certified by the public security department or being guaranteed by the agency or organization in Vietnam;
• Have a valid passport and particularly, the type of visa issued (Attention: not all visa types can be extended or renewed)
• Depending on different entry requirements and duration of stay, Vietnam Visas are divided into 2 categories: Single entry visa and Multiple entry visa;
• State the purposes and reasons for your visa renewal to the Vietnam Immigration Department.
Note: The visa extension is only valid for a single entry. Your extended visa will automatically expire if you depart Vietnam.
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR VIETNAM VISA RENEWAL
Foreigners attempt to enter Vietnam for a variety of purposes: tourism, employment, investment, study, etc. When it comes to renewing Vietnam visa, it will have its own set of application requirements for each different type.
The most common is extension of Travel visa, Visitor visa, (designation abbreviated to "DL", "TT"), Business visa, working visa and investment visa guaranteed by a company or an enterprise in Vietnam (designation abbreviated to "DN, LĐ, ĐT").
1. Travel and Visitor Visa Renewal Document Checklist ("DL", "TT")
• Valid original passport;
• Valid Vietnam visa;
• Temporary residence certificate/Temporary residence book in Vietnam.
* Additional documents required for foreigners’ family members (if any)
• For foreigner’s spouse, a Marriage Registration Certificate is required;
• For foreigner’s children, a Birth Certificate is required.
Note: Consular legalization and notarized Vietnamese translation are required in accordance with the laws.
2. Business, Labor and Investment Visa Renewal Document Checklist
("DN, LĐ, ĐT")
Legal documents required of the guarantee company in Vietnam include:
• A renewal/extension application (form NA5) for foreigners with certification of the legal representative of the company;
• A notarized copy of the Business Registration Certificate; Investment Certificate, or Establishment License of a representative office; Work Permit in Vietnam (if any);
• A Notarized copy of Seal Registration Certificate, Certificate of registration tax code;
• Original Passport and valid Vietnam visa;
• Temporary residence certificate/Temporary residence book in Vietnam.
MOKRICA’S VISA EXTENSION/RENEWAL SERVICES
Choosing our visa extension services, customers just need to complete the following three steps:
Step 1: Send us a soft copy of your passport including the page containing your current Vietnam visa, we will notify you whether or not your visa may be renewed;
Step 2: Send your original passport to our address and pay the extension fee;
Step 3: Receive your passport with new extension of stay within 7 working days at the quickest time possible for urgent situations.
We undertake to:
• Deliver desired results reliably;
• Transparent pricing, no hidden fees;
• Specializing in difficult and urgent immigration cases;
• Process applications and receive results within 1-3 working days;
• Constantly monitor, update the status of applications until you get the result;
• 100% refund if the application is not approved;
• Door-to-door delivery is offered free of charge.
If you have a question or issue with Vietnam visa exemption and renewal procedures, our customer service team is happy to provide you with timely assistance. Please do not hesitate to contact us and we’ll be in touch with you soon.
The overseas Vietnamese community is an indispensable part of the Vietnamese nation and an important resource for the cause of national defense, construction and development.
The Vietnamese government constantly supports and facilitates tight relationships between abroad Vietnamese and their families and motherland, accordingly, the visa exemption policy establishes clear guidelines for overseas Vietnamese and their relatives.
5-YEAR VISA EXEMPTION CERTIFICATE
According to the Law No. 47/2014/QH13 on entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam and the Circular No. 04/2015/TT/BCA of the Ministry of Public Security on entry, exit, transit and residence of foreigners, overseas Vietnamese consistently have the same privileges as Vietnamese citizens when entering and exiting Vietnam.
The validity of a visa exemption certificate is 05 years, which is less than the 06 month-validity of a passport or foreign resident document. The recipients are not required to have a visa to enter Vietnam, as long as the visa exemption certificate is valid.
VIETNAM VISA EXEMPTION CONDITIONS
Vietnamese nationals living abroad, as well as overseas spouses and children of Vietnamese citizens, are eligible for a visa exemption if they satisfy the following requirements:
• A foreign passport or foreign passport substitute valid for at least 06 months from the date of entry is required. In the absence of a passport, you should submit a permanent residence permit issued by competent foreign authorities with validity for at least 06 months from the date of entry;
• Visa exemption certificate cannot be granted in case applicant falls into the cases of suspension from entry as prescribed in Vietnamese law;
• Vietnamese visa exemption certificates are not issued for Vietnamese people residing overseas and their relatives if they fall into the cases of suspension from exit.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR VISA EXEMPTION CERTIFICATE
1. For Vietnamese residing abroad:
Required documents:
• 01 online application form for Visa Exemption Certificate (Form NA9);
• The original and 01 copy of the passport or equivalent travel document (i.e.: Re-entry Permit or Green Card) with validity of at least 1 year up to the date of entry into Viet Nam;
• 02 recent color photos (2 x 2 inches, white background), of which 01 photo is glued on the form and 01 photo is stapled with it;
• Vietnamese people residing overseas submit an authenticated copy of the original documents or enclosed with original documents for reference of one of the following papers: Birth certificate, Decision for renunciation of Vietnamese citizenship or certificate of loss of Vietnamese citizenship, other papers indicating Vietnamese citizenship (ID Card/Family Registration Book, etc.) or valid for proof of previous Vietnamese citizenship of the applicant (Excerpt from the Ministry of birth/Vietnamese driver's license issued before 1975, etc.);
• A guarantee letter from the association of Vietnamese in the country the applicant lives or from a Vietnamese citizen confirming that the applicant is a Vietnamese living abroad.
2. For spouses or children of Vietnamese residing abroad:
Required documents:
• 01 online application form for Visa Exemption Certificate (Form NA9);
• The original and 01 copy of the passport or equivalent travel document (i.e.: Re-entry Permit or Green Card) with validity of at least 1 year up to the date of entry into Viet Nam;
• 02 recent color photos (2 x 2 inches, white background), of which 01 photo is glued on the form and 01 photo is stapled with it;
• The original and copy of documents proving relationship between wives/husbands/children and the Vietnamese residing abroad (Marriage registration certificate, Birth certificate, A Certificate of relationship with farther/mother/children).
Note: These documents should be submitted to the Agencies competent to grant visa exemption certificates, which is the Vietnam Immigration Department under the Ministry of Public Security (if you are living in Vietnam) or the Vietnamese Consulate/Embassies (if you are living overseas).
VISA EXEMPTION PRIORITIZATION
From July 01, 2020, the following cases are eligible for Vietnam visa exemption:
1. 30-day visa exemption shall be granted for foreigners entering Vietnam according to International treaties of which Vietnam is a member;
2. 60-day visa exemption shall be granted for holders of APEC business card (ABTC) with a valid passport;
3. 30-day visa exemption shall be foreigners entering coastal economic zones decided by the Government when fully meeting the following conditions: having an international airport; have separate spaces; have definite geographical boundaries, separate from the mainland.
Pursuing the prestige and quality, Mokrica's experienced specialists are always available to help you with entry procedures including unique and urgent cases!
Depending on the types of visa, the staying length of the Vietnam visa will be clearly mentioned on the visa or on the residency stamp issued at the airport, the Vietnamese Embassy, or the local Immigration Agency.
VIETNAM VISA CATEGORIES (BY VALIDITY PERIODS)
• TT (Up to 12 months): To be granted to foreigners who are parents, spouses, under-18 children of foreigners holding LV1, LV2, ĐT, NN1, NN2, DH, PV1 or LĐ visas, or foreigners who are parents, spouses or children of Vietnamese citizens;
• VR (Up to 06 months): To be granted to people who come to visit their relatives or for other purposes;
• DL (Up to 03 months): To be granted to foreigners entering Vietnam for tourism purposes;
• DH (Up to 12 months): To be granted to foreigners who come to practice as probationers or study;
• LĐ1, LĐ2 (Up to 2 years): To be granted to foreigners who come to work;
• LV1, LV2 (Up to 12 months): To be granted to foreigners who come to work with socio-political organizations, social organizations and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry;
• NG1, NG4 (Up to 12 months): To be granted to people who come to work with diplomatic missions, consular offices, representative offices of international organizations affiliated to the United Nations and representative offices of intergovernmental organizations, etc.
• DN1, DN2 (Up to 12 months): To be granted to foreigners working with enterprises and other entities having legal persons in accordance with Vietnamese laws; or who offer to sell services, establish commercial presence and render other services under international treaties of which Vietnam is a member state;
• ĐT1 (Up to 10 years): To be granted to foreign investors in Vietnam and representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam with capital contribution of at least VND100 billion, or investing in the business fields and areas of investment incentives;
• ĐT2 (Up to 05 years): To be granted to foreign investors in Vietnam and representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam with capital contribution from VND50 to VND100 billion, or investing in the business fields of investment encouragement;
• ĐT3 (Up to 03 years): To be granted to foreign investors in Vietnam and representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam with capital contribution of VND3 to VND50 billion;
• ĐT4 (Up to 12 months): To be granted to foreign investors in Vietnam and representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam with capital contribution of less than VND3 billion;
• NN1, NN2 (Up to 12 months): To be granted to heads of representative offices or branches of foreign traders, representative offices of other foreign economic, cultural, professional organizations in Vietnam;
• NN3 (Up to 12 months): To be granted to foreigners who come to work with foreign non-governmental organizations, representative offices or branches of foreign traders, representative offices of other foreign economic, cultural, professional organizations in Vietnam;
VIETNAM VISA CATEGORIES (BY NUMBER OF ENTRIES)
• 1 month single entry visa
• 1 month multiple entry visa
• 3 months single entry visa
• 3 months multiple entry visa
• 6 months multiple entry visa
• 1 year multiple entry visa
CONSEQUENCES OF OVERSTAYING ON A VIETNAM VISA
Foreigners living and working in Vietnam will be deemed in breach of the immigration rules if their visa expires without being able to renew it. According to Decree 167/2013/ND-CP, the time and severity of breaches are controlled as follows:
1. A warning or a fine of between VND 100,000 and VND 300,000 shall be imposed on foreigners traveling in the Vietnamese territory without carrying a passport or having no other valid papers in lieu of a passport.
2. A fine of between VND 500,000 - VND 2,000,000 if the time limit is 1-15 days or less without the permission of the competent authority.
3. A fine of from VND 3,000,000 to VND 5,000,000 if the time limit is 16 or more days past the time limit without the permission of the competent authority;
4. A fine ranging from VND 5,000,000 to VND 10,000,000 shall be imposed for one of the following acts: using fake passports, fake visas, fake temporary residence cards, fake permanent resident cards, valuable papers in lieu of passports. fake, fake check mark for exit, entry, transit, residence.
5. A fine of between VND 30,000,000 - VND 40,000,000 shall be imposed for one of the following acts:
• Hiding into the Embassy, Consulate or headquarters of international agencies and organizations located in Vietnam;
• Foreigners residing in Vietnam without permission of competent authorities;
• Organizing, leading or brokering for others to illegally exit or enter Vietnam;
• Forging dossiers and papers to be issued with passports or other valuable papers in lieu of passports, visas, temporary residence cards, permanent residence cards;
• Forging passports or other valid documents in lieu of passports, visas, temporary residence cards, permanent residence cards or verification stamps.
Mokrica always updates the the latest visa policies for foreigners living and working in Vietnam to provide our customers with timely and comprehensive advice!
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