Vietnam Visa Guide – 5 Easy Steps to Apply for Vietnamese Tourist Visa, e-Visa, Visa On Arrival

All corners of Vietnam have something wonderful to discover. From dense jungles and forests with exotic wildlife to bustling cities full of delicious food and happy people. There are islands with tropical beaches, caves, and floating villages too, as well as lush rice terraces, waterfalls, and mountains – great for exploring and getting out in the great outdoors! In this article learn more about how to apply for Vietnam Travel Visa at the Vietnamese embassies and consulates worldwide, Vietnam visa appointment booking, Visa on arrival, Vietnam visa online, Vietnam e-visa, Processing time at the Vietnamese visa application center, Vietnam visa application form, apply from USA, India, China, Philippines, Russia, Vietnam visa application requirements, flight itinerary or round trip ticket booking or flight reservation, Vietnam visa types, Hotel reservation or proof of accommodation.

Applying for Vietnam visa

If you have a passport issued from any of the following countries, you do NOT need a visa to enter Vietnam. You are permitted to stay for the maximum number of days mentioned:

If you have a passport of any of the following countries, you are eligible to apply for a single-entry e-visa for a maximum of 30 days:

If you are from any other country, you need to apply for a Vietnam visa from the Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate General in the area where you live.

Types of visas for Vietnam

There are several categories of visa for Vietnam and you need to apply for the correct one. This choice will be based on your reason for traveling to Vietnam, so you must opt for the one that best matches your personal circumstances:

1. NG1, NG2, NG3, NG4 – diplomatic and/or official visits
2. LV1, LV2 – working partners of committees or agencies for state/official visits
3. DT – investment and law in Vietnam
4. DN – partners of Vietnam businesses.
5. NN1, NN2, NN3 – representatives of international organizations and foreign NGOs in Vietnam
6. DH – study or internship
7. HN – conferences or seminars
8. PV1, PV2 – foreign correspondent and reporters in Vietnam
9. LD – work
10. DL – tourism
11. TT – spouse/minors of foreigner granted LV1/LV2/ĐT/NN1/NN2/DH/PV1/LĐ visa, or to a foreigner who is a parent, spouse, child of a Vietnamese citizen
12. VR – family visit for other purposes
13. SQ – market survey, tourism, visiting relatives, or medical treatment for those working at a visa authority or other official agency and for diplomatic purposes

There are 2 types of Vietnam visas:

1. Visa that is stamped/attached into your passport
2. Loose-leaf visa

You can apply for a loose-leaf visa if you meet the following conditions:

1. Holder of a valid passport with no blank pages available
2. Holder of a passport issued by countries that have yet to establish diplomatic/consular relations with Vietnam
3. Holder of valid international travel documents instead of a passport
4. For diplomatic, defense, security purposes

Vietnam visas are usually issued as single or multiple entry which means that visa holders can enter Vietnam once or unlimited times during the validity of the visa.

Vietnam visas are valid for a certain number of days, months, or years depending on the type of visa you are applying for:

1. SQ visa – 30 days
2. HN, DL visa – 3 months
3. VR visa – 6 months
4. NG1, NG2, NG3, NG4, LV1, LV2, DN, NN1, NN2, NN3, DH, PV1, PV2, TT visa – 12 months
5. LD visa – 2 years
6. DT visa – 5 years

The visa validity means that you must enter Vietnam within these timescales, otherwise, you must arrange a new visa prior to your trip.

Where to apply for Vietnam visa

In order to apply for your Vietnam visa, you must find the Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate General in your country. Go to the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam and click on: “Contact”:

You will find a list of all over the Vietnamese missions around the world. All you need to do is click on the link for the one in your location:

For example, if you live in San Francisco, scroll down to find the link for the consulate in San Francisco and you will be directed to their website:

The Vietnam Visa Application Process and Requirements

Turnaround times to obtain Vietnam visas are different depending on the type of visa you are applying for. Generally, it takes around 3 working days, although some visas can take as little as 1 day to be processed. Regardless of this, you should apply well in advance of your trip. If you apply too late, there may not be enough time for your application to be dealt with before you intend to leave for Vietnam.

In addition, some embassies and consulates may offer a rush service for an extra fee, so you should check their website for information regarding this.

If you wish to apply for your Vietnam visa, here are a few steps to help you:

Step 1: Make an appointment

Usually, you don’t need to make an appointment to submit your Vietnam visa application, but it’s worth checking with the particular embassy or consulate you are dealing with as they all have varying procedures.

Step 2: Complete your application form

You need to complete an application form for your Vietnam visa and you can find it by going to the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam and clicking on: “Fill form”:

You will then be able to complete the form online:

Alternatively, you will be able to download the form from the website of the embassy or consulate you are dealing with.

If you are applying for an e-visa, you can complete the form and submit everything online. Further information can be found on the website of the National Web Portal on Immigration:

Step 3: Get your documents ready

Step 3 is to prepare your documents to submit alongside your application. This is very important because if you fail to submit everything that is required, the embassy or consulate will not accept your application and/or it will be rejected. Also, you need to provide original documents as well as photocopies of everything.

Documents required for Vietnam visa

1) Visa application form – completed online or downloaded.

2) Data page of passport – valid for 6 months past trip and have 1 blank page. Original passport is required, unless you are applying for a loose-leaf visa, then a copy will be sufficient

3) Two 2×2 inch color photo taken within the last year

4) Business cover letter from US company

5) Letter of invitation

6) Notarized letter of consent from parents (minors)

7) Proof of travel arrangements and full itinerary

8) Proof of accommodation

9) Self-addressed, pre-paid envelope

It’s a good idea to check the website of the embassy or consulate you are applying through to get a full list of the required documents for your visa application. It’s better to be safe than sorry and this will save you time when you start to get the documents together.

If you’re planning to obtain your flight reservation for visa without paying for the ticket, all you have to do is follow the 3 simple steps below:

1. Visit the Visa Reservation website to choose the right package
2. Submit the travel details and make the payment online
3. Receive flight itinerary in email

Step 4: Submit your application

If you are applying through a Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate, you can submit your file in person, by email, or by mail. Check with the respective office which options are available to you.

The visa staff will look over your application and supporting documents and they if they need to clarify anything they will, either, ask you questions on the spot or call you to attend an interview. If they do this, don’t worry, just answer any questions put to you calmly and confidently. The reason they do this is simply to get all the information about your application in order to make a decision about whether to grant your visa or not. Possible questions may be:

1. What do you know about Vietnam?
2. Have you been to Vietnam before?
3. How much do you earn?
4. Are you meeting anyone in Vietnam?
5. What will you be doing in Vietnam?

You will also pay the fee for your visa. You can usually pay by cash, credit card, money order or cashier’s check payable to Embassy of Vietnam if applying through an embassy, Consulate General of Vietnam in XXXXXX, or Vietnam Consulate if you are applying through a consulate. Check with the embassy or consulate you are dealing with for information on acceptable methods of payment.

Fees for visas are non-refundable, even if your application is rejected.

Vietnam visa fee

The stamping fee is payable on arrival in Vietnam if you are eligible to obtain a visa on arrival. It is paid in cash only, so it’s advisable to have this money on you because there is no ATM at the airport.

Please note, visa fees will be charged in the local currency of the country you are applying from.

You may also have to provide biometric data in the form of a scan of your fingerprints and a digital photo.

Step 5: Receive Vietnam visa

If your visa has been approved, you will receive it by e-mail (if you have applied online) or you will receive it from the embassy or consulate by mail.

Hopefully, your Vietnam visa has been approved and you will find it inside your passport, but applications for visas sometimes get rejected for a variety of reasons:

1. Spelling mistakes
2. Missing paperwork
3. Invalid passport
4. No proof of accommodation in Vietnam

Remember to comply with all the requirements for your visa application, and that includes submitting all the relevant documents such as proof of accommodation. Your passport should be valid for 6 months after your trip. If it isn’t, you should make arrangements to get a new one before you apply for your Vietnam visa. When you complete your paperwork, there should be no spelling mistakes either, so check that everything is in order before you apply.

Here are the links you need to apply for your Vietnam visa:

1. https://visa.mofa.gov.vn/Homepage.aspx
2. https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/trang-chu-ttdt

FAQs

1) I am arriving in Vietnam by land. Can I get a visa on arrival?

No. You are only eligible for a visa on arrival if you arrive by air

2) Do I have to state the exact date I will arrive in Vietnam?

The arrival date you specify will be the date when you can arrive in Vietnam, but you can arrive after this date

3) What is the stamping fee?

If you are obtaining a visa on arrival, the stamping fee is the charge made in order to get a Vietnam stamp in your passport. It must be paid in cash only – either Vietnam dong or US dollars

4) How can I apply for a Vietnam visa?

You can apply for a Vietnam visa through one of the Vietnamese Embassies or Consulates located in your area. You can apply to the one who has jurisdiction over the place where you live. Alternatively, you may be eligible to apply for an e-visa which means that you can apply and receive your visa electronically

5) Should I apply for a single entry or a multiple entry visa?

It really depends on your reason for traveling to Vietnam. A single entry visa is only good for one entry, so if you feel that you wish to return to Vietnam more than once, then you should think about getting a multiple entry. Then, you can enter Vietnam as many times as you like within the validity of your visa

6) Can I extend my visa in Vietnam?

You may apply to the local Vietnam Immigration office for an extension to your visa, but it isn’t guaranteed that it will be accepted

7) My passport has loose pages, is this acceptable?

No. Your passport cannot be damaged in any way. You must get a new one before applying for a visa for Vietnam

8) Will I definitely be allowed to enter Vietnam if I have obtained a visa?

No. Entry is not guaranteed, even with a valid visa. It is up to the immigration authorities when you arrive

Conclusion

To summarize, once you know where to apply for your Vietnam visa, the rest is easy. Just follow these steps one-by-one:

1. Make an appointment (if required)
2. Complete your application form
3. Get your documents ready
4. Submit your application
5. Receive your visa

By the time you get to step 5, you’ll have your visa in your hand, so you can start to think about all the exciting things you will be doing in Vietnam!

At Visa Reservation, we strive to simplify the visa process by providing free visa consultations, cover letter templates and no objection letter templates for our clients from US, UK, Canada, Philippines, India, China, UAE, Europe, Nigeria and globally. We also offer flight itinerary for visa, travel medical insurance, hotel reservations for visa , Book Visa Appointment, Travel Guides, Visa Interview Guides and many more. To learn more about how we can help you with our visa services, please feel free to contact us today.

See Also

Worldwide Visa Requirements