Vietnam tourist visa
Based on the purpose of the trip to Vietnam, visa is categorized into tourist and business visa. With a tourist visa, the travelers can stay in Vietnam for maximum 90 days, single or multiple entry for vacation and tourism purposes.
Tourist visa is the most popular type of visa that is being used by the travelers coming Vietnam from more than +200 countries all over the world. Almost the travelers will need a visa for Vietnam except the citizens of the Vietnam visa waiver. Tourist visa can be applied at the Vietnam Embassy in the applicant’s country or applied online for visa on arrival or e-visa.
What is the best way to apply for a tourist visa for Vietnam?
In the past, the foreigners have 2 options to apply for Vietnam visa. From February 1st, 2017 one more option has been added so now the travelers have totally 3 different ways to apply for Vietnam tourist visa:
1. Apply for tourist visa at the Vietnam Embassy:
If you are living in the city which is not very far from the Vietnam Embassy or Vietnam General Consulate, you can choose this way to apply for a visa for Vietnam. This option is the first choice of many tourist as the visa stamp completed and visa sticky glued onto traveler’s passport before their departure. The foreigners then can travel Vietnam with peace of mind that the visa is ready in hand. What make people concerning for this option is the visa cost and the process of visa issuance. It is likely the most lengthy, expensive and complicated way to obtain a visa to Vietnam. You have not only to pay more money than other 2 remaining options but you have to travel several times to get visa done.
Processing time: 3 – 5 working days; 1 day service is available in some Vietnam Embassy.
How to apply for visa at the Vietnam Embassy:
You can apply for visa in person at the Embassy of Vietnam or apply via mail.
What paper documentation required?
Application form (which can be downloaded from the Vietnam Embassy’s website or get it directly at the Embassy of Vietnam);
Two photos (usually 4cm x 6cm or 3cm x 4cm);
Your original valid passport (6 months validity with 1 blank page at least);
Visa fee;
Important notices on applying for visa at the Embassy of Vietnam
Upon receiving your visa, kindly double check all personal information printed on your visa. In case of inaccurate personal information, please contact the Vietnam Embassy immediately for correction or adjustments (fees may be applied for amendments of visas due to applicants’ inadvertent errors).
The visa fee includes visa approval fee, processing and handling fee, postal service and expedite service (if required).
Please travel to the Embassy of Vietnam early in working days to submit your visa application. The late submission will start by the next day.
No visa processed at the weekend or public holiday. Some of Vietnam Embassy offers the urgent 1 day service.
2. Apply for visa on arrival
This is the most advanced, streamlined and preferred way to obtain a visa for Vietnam. The visa on arrival program has come into effect for more than 10 years and it gives much convenience to the foreigners arriving to Vietnam. Now the applicants don’t have to travel a long distance to apply for a visa like the traditional way but they can stay anywhere accessing in authorized visa agency’s website, make an online application and receive a visa approval letter in 2 working days (normal service) or 1 – 2 hours (emergency service). The visa on arrival cost thus is very cheap (from US $6 + stamping fee) and the process is totally secured. The disadvantage of Vietnam visa on arrival is that the travelers have to wait for visa stamp at arrival airport and visa on arrival is available for air entry only. People can skip this process by applying for the visa fast track service along with tourist visa application.
What is Vietnam visa on arrival?
Simple steps to get Vietnam visa on arrival:
– Step 1: Select online application form and fill out with personal information;
– Step 2: Make payment for the processing fee as the guidance;
– Step 3: Receive visa approval letter via email;
– Step 4: Print out visa approval letter, bring along with original passport, recent taken photos, stamping fee and “Entry and exit form” to get on the plane. At visa counter at arrival airport, kindly show all paper documentation and pay the stamping fee to get visa stamped onto passport;
What paper documentation required for visa on arrival?
We don’t need any documents to arrange tourist visa except the citizens of Africa, Western Asia, Middle East and Muslim countries are requested to send passport copy, air ticket as required documentation.
What should be noticed when applying for visa on arrival?
Visa on arrival is available for entry via airport only. Other entries via land border gates or sea ports are not applicable;
As soon as receiving visa approval letter, kindly check against your passport to make sure there is no discrepancies, typos or spelling mistakes. The date of entry on the visa approval letter must be on or before your actual date of arrival.
Visa on arrival can be arranged during the weekend or public holiday. In working days, the emergency visa can be ready in 1-2 hours. Kindly read more Vietnam urgent visa service.
3. Apply for e-visa
The e-visa pilot has just been launched since February, 2017. This is a revolution in Vietnamese administration reform program. At present, all the nationalities are eligible for maximum 90 days, single or multiple entry e-visa. Holding a Vietnam e-visa, the travelers can enter the country via 37 entry gates including 9 international airports, 16 land border gates and 12 seaports across Vietnam.
Processing time: 3 – 5 working days;
How to apply e-visa for Vietnam?
Step 1: Fill the requirement information in the application form.
Step 2: Pay the visa fee and get e-visa in maximum 3 – 5 working days.
Step 3: Receive an email containing e-visa upon successful application. Please print out the e-visa, bring along with your passport to get on the plane.
Step 4: Present your e-visa at the immigration counter to get entry into Vietnam.
How to apply for urgent e-visa for Vietnam in 1 working day or few hours?
Normally, it takes 3 – 5 working days to complete an e-visa and you will receive an email to inform you that the visa is completed. You just need to enter your visa application code, email and date of birth to download your e-visa file.
After downloading your e-visa, you please check the visa information against your passport carefully. Any of spelling mistake, typos, incorrect passport number, date of arrival, entry ports… will not be accepted and it matters as the airlines will NOT let you board the plane with a wrong e-visa. What you should do if your granted visa contains mistakes?
- If you have enough time, you should apply for a new e-visa immediately.
- If there are only a few hours to your flight check-in time you may need our urgent e-visa service.
With the urgent Vietnam visa service, you are guaranteed to receive an e-visa within 1 working day, 4 working hours or even 2 working hours that will help you avoid missing your flight and breaking your whole trip.
What paper documentation required for e-visa?
You will need a passport copy and recent taken photos (in JPG or PNG format) to apply for e-visa.
Important notes on e-visa
Electronic visa validity is 30 days maximum with single entry;
As soon as you received e-visa, kindly double check with your passport to make sure there is no discrepancies, typos or spelling mistake.
Normally e-visa will be delivered within 3 – 5 working days. If you don’t get any news after 5 working days, kindly contact the Vietnam Immigration Department immediately. Sometime your effort is not reciprocated as the online support of Vietnam Immigration Department at first stage is not good enough. In this case, you should think about the alternatives and visa on arrival will be a right choice.
Vietnam tourist visa validity
Each traveler has different time and budget to discover Vietnam, some might have 90 days of travelling whereas the others might be able to visit Vietnam for few days. Decide the right visa validity and visa type will not only save your time and money but also give you more comfort during your stay in Vietnam.
As mentioned above, Vietnam tourist visa validity is not exceed 90 days for almost nationals except United States of America, whose citizens can apply for 1 year tourist visa with 90 days stay each visit. The citizens of several country in Africa, Western Asia, Middle East and Muslim countries may get maximum 25 days visa maximum.
Tourist visa validity varies on each option as below:
– Visa applied at the Vietnam Embassy: 1 month, 3 months (or 1 year for US citizens);
– Visa on arrival: 1 month, 3 months (or 1 year for US citizens);
– Electronic visa: 1 month single entry for all nations;
For US citizens who expect to stay in Vietnam 1 year without leaving the country in the middle, they will need 1 year business visa instead.
Single entry or multiple entry visa?
Single entry visa: This visa allows you to travel Vietnam one time. When you fly out of Vietnam, the visa will be expired;
Multiple entry visa: This visa allows entry to Vietnam many times. The stamping fee (for VOA) will pay once at the first entry only. Please note that at present, e-visa is not applicable for multiple entry.
So if you are going to travel Vietnam and other nations and then return to Vietnam to catch the flight to your home, you will need a multiple entry visa. Please note that you can not convert your visa from single entry to multiple entry when you arrived in Vietnam.
May I have tourist visa converted into business visa?
No, you are not allowed to convert visa purposes inside Vietnamese territory. In this case, you must fly out and come back with new business visa. If your current tourist visa is still valid and you want to enter with new business visa immediately, the Immigration Officers will need to discard the tourist visa and replace it by business visa. The fast track service is very helpful to sort out the problem in this case.