Vietnam Visa Updates And Important Other Information

Vietnam maintains a tourist-friendly visa policy, making visiting the country easy for many nationals. Generally, the Vietnam visa policy mandates most foreign nationals to obtain a visa to enter the country. Tourists can get the visa through the Vietnamese embassies or consulates abroad or by applying for an e-visa (visa approval) or visa on arrival.

Latest visa updates
The latest visa Vietnam updates are very much encouraging. The new visa changes approved by the Vietnam National Assembly on June 24, 2023, will be effective from August 15, 2023, and will change the tourism industry as well as the economy of Vietnam. When the rule becomes effective, tourists can apply for 90 days e-visa, allowing the tourist multiple entry. That means, during the 90 days validity of the visa, a tourist can exit and re-enter Vietnam multiple times without needing a fresh visa.
The new policy is a clear tangent from the existing visa arrangement, where tourists can stay in the country for 30 days once entered on an e-visa without a renewal option. As per the new visa rule, tourists need not keep an exit gap between the re-entry. Citizens from visa-exempt countries can re-enter Vietnam immediately once they exit.

Expansion of e-visa eligibility country list
The Vietnam Government also submitted a report to the National Assembly to expand the e-Visa eligibility country list from the existing 80 countries. The move will directly benefit tourists as well as the tourism industry. Vietnam introduced the e-visa system in 2017, allowing citizens of 80 countries to apply for a visa online.

Visa-exempt facilities
Presently citizens of the UK, Germany, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Russia, South Korea, Japan, and France will get a visa exemption of 45 days instead of 15 days. Further, from August 15, 2023, a few more countries will get an exemption of visa requirements from 15 days to 45 days. The list pertaining to the visa exemption is yet to be finalized. The new facilities will allow visa exemption countries to opt for a multiple entry visa or go for 45-day extended stay without multiple entry facilities. Tourists must choose the exact Vietnam visa type by paying the required fee when stamping the visa.

Visa fees and required documents
The visa application usually requires a valid passport, a completed visa application form, and payment of the visa fee.
Tourists can also apply for an e-visa or visa on arrival (applicable for certain nationalities) for convenience. To obtain a visa on arrival letter, travelers must submit documents for the visa approval letter through a travel agency like Vietnamvisaprovider.com or directly to the official website before their trip.

Tourists need to submit the color printout of the visa approval letter at the entry port marked on the approval letter, along with a white background passport-size photo, visa stamping fee, and duly filled-up entry/exit form to receive the visa.

Visa cost
What will be the visa cost to travel to Vietnam? As Vietnam revamps its visa policy, it is vital to understand the visa costs better. To receive a Vietnam visa, tourists need to pay a visa processing fee at the time of online visa submission for the visa approval letter. You can make the payment by debit or credit card. Then comes the visa stamping fees, which must be paid at the landing port in fiat currency in US$ or Vietnam Dong.

The e-visa application fee will vary depending on the type and stay duration. Meanwhile, the visa stamping fee will be US$25 for one month or three months per passport and US$50 for a multiple entry visa for one month or three months. For multiple entry visa stamping fee for US passport holders for 12 months will be US$135 per passport.

Tourists can also submit their visa applications at their respective Embassy in their home country. The visa processing will take about five working days. Applicants need to fill up the visa application downloaded from the official website.

While filing a visa application at the Vietnam embassy, the following documents need to submit along with the required visa fee. The visa fee will vary depending on the

type of visa.
•    Passport with minimum 6-month validity.
•    One passport-size photo with white background.
•    Three months bank statement.
•    Confirmed return air ticket
•    Letter confirming the purpose of the visit.
•    Proof of fund.
•    Accommodation details in Vietnam

The visa application fee: Please contact Ms. Duong at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.

It is important to note that visa requirements, fees, and processing times can vary depending on the applicant's nationality and the type of visa being applied for. Therefore, it is always advisable to check with the relevant authorities, consult the official government sources or the Embassy or consulate of Vietnam, or check with a reputed Vietnam travel agent like Vietnamvisaprovider.com for the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding visa requirements and policies.

History and essential facts about Vietnam e-Visa
Vietnam introduced e-Visa (Electronic Visa) service in February 2017 to minimize the hassles of getting a visa from their diplomatic missions abroad. Tourists planning to visit Vietnam must know the process of applying for a visa online or seek the help of a reputed Vietnam tour operator to smoothly sail through the process.

Visa for tourists from non-eligible e-Visa countries
Citizens of non-recognized countries in Vietnam e-visa can apply for a Vietnam visa at their respective countries' Embassy or diplomatic mission along with the required documents and visa processing fee.

How a tourist can enter Vietnam
Tourists with e-Visa approval can enter the designated entry port by air, sea, and land. Altogether there are 33 entry ports, including air, sea, and land. Tourists can get e-Visa services at eight airports, Nine seaports, and sixteen land border crossings. Tourists must keep a color printout of the visa approval letter and hand over the same to the arrival port along with the passport and visa fee for stamping.

Some additional important visa information
You can keep your child/children below 14 years in your passport. Similarly, you can assign a travel agent to process your visa application. Companies or organizations in Thailand can also apply for an e-visa for you if they have invited you to visit Thailand.

Extension of e-visa
Generally, you will not get an e-visa extension, especially if the e-visa has been taken for a short period. However, we recommend you check with the nearest immigration office before the expiry of the visa for clarification. Some nationals will not get a visa extension; in that case, such citizens must exit and apply for a new visa to re-enter. The new visa rules allow tourists to re-enter Vietnam without the mandatory break.

Visa from the Vietnam embassy
Tourists who want to avoid standing in the long queue at the Vietnam entry ports to get their visa stamped can apply for a visa from their country's Vietnam embassy/consulate. Tourists who have their visas stamped by the Embassy can enter Vietnam without stamping the visa at the entry port. Only tourists with visa approval letters must get their visa stamped from the Vietnam entry ports.

When must you apply for a Vietnam visa before your journey?
Getting a Vietnam visa is a hassle-free experience; usually, you can get a visa approval within three business days from the date of your application. However, it would be a good practice to apply for an e-visa minimum of 10 to 14 days in advance before your scheduled departure date so that you will get enough time to meet any challenges if the process takes more than the expected date. Even though the process takes 3 working days, it may take 7-8 if considering the possible holidays if anything falls in between. Applicants can check the e-visa status on the official website by providing the registration code, DOB, and email id.

Conclusion
The new visa policy in Vietnam, which will be effective from August 15, 2023, presents an exceptional opportunity for travelers to experience the beauty of Vietnam. With the introduction of a 90-day e-visa allowing multiple entries, the convenience and flexibility for those wishing to travel to Vietnam are greatly enhanced. Furthermore, the expansion of the e-visa eligibility country list, along with extended visa exemptions for countries like the UK, Germany, and Japan, from 15 to 45 days, demonstrates Vietnam's commitment to welcoming visitors for extended stays. These favorable visa updates undoubtedly make it an ideal time to plan your journey and seize the chance to explore all that Vietnam has to offer.