*This information may have changed since the time of writing.*
Despite being one of the less glamorous aspects of travel, visas are the one thing that you can slip up on and drastically change your travel plans. Vietnam has seen several changes in its Visa on Arrival and visa extension policies in the last few years so it is more important than ever to stay up-to-date with these changes.
Luckily for you, writing from experience Designer Journeys’s Grace Homer has taken the headache out of working out where your country fits into Vietnam’s guidelines and laid out all you need to know in this handy guide.
Post Contents
- What types of Vietnam visa are there?
- How do I know if I need a Vietnam visa or not?
- Visa on Arrival (VOA) for Vietnam
- How to apply for a Visa on Arrival for Vietnam
- E-Visa for Vietnam
- How to apply for an e-Visa
- What if I want to stay longer?
- Important things to bear in mind when seeking a Vietnam visa or VOA
What types of Vietnam visa are there?
There are two main types of visa for Vietnam:
Tourist Visa
- Visa on Arrival (varies from 15 to 30 days)
- 1-month or 3-month Tourist Visa single or multiple entries (can be applied for at a Vietnamese embassy or online before arriving in Vietnam)
Business Visa
- 3-month, 6-month or 12-month Business Visa depending on your nationality (can be applied for in the country on a Tourist Visa or prior to arriving at an embassy)
For the purpose of this guide, we will presume that most reading this are planning to travel to Vietnam for leisure and are therefore looking for a Tourist Visa. If you are looking to apply for a Business Visa, it may be easier for you to enter the country on a Tourist Visa then apply for one once in Vietnam – be aware, to change to a business visa you may have to leave the country and re-enter. You can check out the Vietnam Immigration website for more information.
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How do I know if I need a Vietnam visa or not?
That’s right, not everyone needs to apply for a visa to enter Vietnam.
If you hold a passport from the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Russia or any of these lucky countries then you don’t need to obtain a visa and are free to travel Vietnam for a period of 15-30 days, depending on your nationality. You can check out the Vietnam Visa Exemption List here to see how many days your passport permits you.
If you hold a diplomatic or official passport, you will be granted a 1-month or 3-month visa depending on your nationality.
If you don’t have a diplomatic/official passport and your country’s passport is not on the Vietnam Visa Exemption list then don’t panic, you will just have to apply for a Vietnam visa prior to arriving. This can be done at a Vietnamese embassy in your home country or any other country you are in, or for much less hassle, online!
Visa on Arrival (VOA) for Vietnam
In January 2019, Vietnam extended its online visa eligibility for another two years (2021). Initially, a pilot scheme to make it easier for travellers to come to Vietnam, the authorities have extended it due to success. This way, there is no need for an approval letter or to queue upon arrival to collect your visa, hence, making the process a lot quicker and easier.
If you still wish to apply for a Visa on Arrival (VOA) then read on.
Whilst obtaining a VOA for Vietnam is relatively easy, the process at the visa counter in the international airport can take up to half an hour – sometimes longer – and that’s before you’ve queued up to pass immigration.
How to apply for a Visa on Arrival for Vietnam
You can obtain a VOA by following the signs to the visa counter in any international airport upon arriving in Vietnam.
However, before arriving you will need to have obtained a printed visa approval letter from an agency in Vietnam or online on the Vietnam Immigration Website. It is relatively easy to get one of these from a travel agent specialising in Visas in another country a week or so before you want to arrive in Vietnam. The cost will vary depending on where you get your visa approval letter but it is usually around 20 US dollars.
You will also need to make sure you have two recent passport photos; you usually one need one but it’s wise to make sure you have a back-up. Finally, you will need some US dollars in small denominations to pay for your visa. The price of the VOA varies depending on the length of the visa and whether it is single or multiple entry. You can see the most recent price list for Vietnam visas here.
At the VOA counter in the airport, you will fill out a form – don’t worry, these forms and pens are in plentiful supply – attach your passport photo and visa approval letter and hand it into the desk. You’ll then sit down and wait for your name to be called. Once your name is called, you’ll head back up to the desk, pay the stamping fee – $25 as of 2019 – and your visa fee and you’ll have your shiny new visa ready to go through immigration.
Top Tip: Make sure your visa approval letter is printed and your passport photos are recent.
Recap of what you will need:
- Visa approval letter
- Recent passport photos
- US dollars
E-Visa for Vietnam
The simpler way.
The e-visa is a travel authorisation from the Vietnam Government allowing you to enter Vietnam for up to 30 days, depending on your nationality. E-visas are issued in a PDF which means you do not have to worry about obtaining a visa approval letter and stamp or having to send your passport away.
Not everyone is eligible to apply for an e-Visa, here is the latest list of the countries that are eligible for an e-Visa.
How to apply for an e-Visa
Simply head to this Vietnam goverment website to apply. Upload a copy of your passport, a passport photo, pay the fee and then wait to be approved for your new visa.
Once your visa is sent to you, you are required to have it on your at all times when travelling the country.
Top Tip: To be able to pass through immigration, your passport must be valid for at least one month after arrival and you will need at least two blank pages.
Caution: There are some companies that claim to be able to grant you an e-Visa but they are scams. Make sure to only use the government-approved websites when applying for a Vietnam e-Visa.
What if I want to stay longer?
Vietnam does have a visa extension policy but be prepared for it to pay a high price for the privilege.
In order to gain more time in the country without having to fork out a large sum for it, you will have to leave and re-enter with a new visa. This is very common for those wishing to travel to Vietnam for longer so there are a plethora of agents in almost every hotspot in Vietnam who can assist you with this. When we say assist, whether you are doing a border run to Cambodia or Laos, there are several buses that run to and from the nearest border daily and the bus attendants will do almost everything for you, making it relatively painless.
Important things to bear in mind when seeking a Vietnam visa or VOA
- Passport expiration date
It’s important to note that many airlines will not let you travel to Vietnam if you have 6 months or less before the expiry date on your passport.
- Flight and hotel bookings
You may sometimes be asked to show proof of your hotel bookings in Vietnam or proof of your onward flight booking that will show the authorities you have intentions to leave Vietnam in the time that your visa allows.
- Leaving and re-entering Vietnam
Depending on the length of your visa, you may want to leave Vietnam and then return again. However, this will only be possible if you have a multiple entry visa; if not, you will have to re-enter with a new visa upon your return.
- Vietnamese authorities have the right to refuse you
Even if you have obtained a valid visa and your passport has plenty of time left before its expiration, Vietnamese Immigration still has the right to deny you entry.
Hopefully, this handy blog has taken some of the hassles out of working out which visa you need for Vietnam and how to apply for it. Now there’s only the trip planning left to do! Luckily, Designer Journeys can take the hassle out of that for you too. Chat directly with one of our in-destination Local Designers to design your perfect trip to Vietnam!
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