The National Assembly's Decision to Extend the E-Visa Duration to 3 Months from August 15, 2023, is Correct, Isn't It?
Did the National Assembly decide to extend the validity of e-visas to 03 months from August 15, 2023?
On the morning of June 24, 2023, the National Assembly passed the Law Amending and Supplementing several Articles of the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens 2023.
One of the notable contents of this amended law is that the validity of the e-visa is extended to 03 months (90 days), applicable for both single and multiple entries.
The Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens (amended) takes effect from August 15, 2023.
Thus, officially from August 15, 2023, the validity of the e-visa is extended to 03 months.
Did the National Assembly decide to extend the validity of e-visas to 03 months from August 15, 2023? (Image from the Internet)
What is the current e-visa validity period according to the regulations?
Based on the provisions at point i, clause 3, Article 1 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam (amended) 2019 as follows:
Amend and supplement several articles of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam
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3. Amend and supplement several clauses of Article 8 as follows:
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i) Add clause 21 after clause 20 as follows:
“21. EV-Electronic Visa.”.
The electronic visa is designated by the symbol EV.
Simultaneously, according to the regulations on the validity of visas in Article 9 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam 2014 (amended and supplemented by clause 4, Article 1 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam (amended) 2019) as follows:
Visa Validity
*1. Visas designated with symbols SQ, EV have a validity of no more than 30 days.
2. Visas designated with symbols HN, DL have a validity of no more than 03 months.
3. Visas designated with symbols VR have a validity of no more than 06 months.
4. Visas designated with symbols NG1, NG2, NG3, NG4, LV1, LV2, DT4, DN1, DN2, NN1, NN2, NN3, DH, PV1, PV2, and TT have a validity of no more than 12 months.
5. Visas designated with symbols LD1, LD2 have a validity of no more than 02 years.
5a. Visas designated with symbols DT3 have a validity of no more than 03 years.
6. Visas designated with symbols LS, DT1, DT2 have a validity of no more than 05 years.
7. Expired visas can be considered for the issuance of new visas.
8. The validity of the visa is at least 30 days shorter than the validity of the passport or travel document.
9. In case an international treaty to which Vietnam is a member contains different provisions, the visa validity shall follow the international treaty.
Currently, the validity of the electronic visa is 30 days.
What are the current conditions for obtaining a visa?
Based on the provisions of Article 10 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam 2014 (amended and supplemented by clause 5, Article 1 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam (amended) 2019) as follows:
Conditions for Issuance of Visas
1. Have a passport or an international travel document.
2. Have an agency, organization, or individual in Vietnam inviting or sponsoring, except in cases specified in Articles 16a, 16b, and clause 3 of Article 17 of this Law.
3. Not belong to the cases not allowed to enter as specified in Article 21 of this Law.
4. The following cases requesting for visa issuance must have documents proving the purpose of entry:
a) Foreigners entering for investment must have documents proving the investment in Vietnam according to the Law on Investment;
b) Foreign lawyers practicing in Vietnam must have a practicing license under the provisions of the Law on Lawyers;
c) Foreigners entering for work must have a work permit under the provisions of the Labor Code;
d) Foreigners entering for study must have a document confirming the acceptance of the school or educational institution in Vietnam.
5. Electronic visas are issued to foreigners with passports not under the categories specified in clauses 1, 2, 3 and 4 of Article 8 of this Law.
Currently, visa issuance is carried out according to the above conditions.
Under what circumstances are visas exempted according to current regulations?
According to Article 12 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam 2014 (supplemented by clause 7, Article 1 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam (amended) 2019) as follows:
Visa Exemption Cases
1. According to international treaties to which Vietnam is a member.
2. Using a permanent residence card, temporary residence card as prescribed by this Law.
3. Entering economic zones at border gates, special administrative-economic units.
3a. Entering maritime economic zones decided by the Government of Vietnam when meeting sufficient conditions: having an international airport; having a separate space; having defined geographical boundaries, separate from the mainland; suitable to socio-economic development policies and not harming national defense, national security, social order, and public safety in Vietnam.
4. According to the provisions of Article 13 of this Law.
5. Overseas Vietnamese with passports or international travel documents issued by competent foreign authorities and foreigners who are their spouses, children; foreigners who are spouses, children of Vietnamese citizens are exempt from visas according to government regulations.
Referring to Article 13 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam 2014, the current visa exemption cases include:
- According to international treaties to which Vietnam is a member.- Using a permanent residence card, temporary residence card.- Entering economic zones at border gates, special administrative-economic units.- Entering maritime economic zones decided by the Government of Vietnam when meeting sufficient conditions.- Unilateral visa exemption.- Overseas Vietnamese with passports or international travel documents issued by competent foreign authorities and foreigners who are their spouses, children; foreigners who are spouses, children of Vietnamese citizens are exempt from visas.
The Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens 2023 will take effect from August 15, 2023.
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