Which subjects are exempt from visas? How long is the visa exemption certificate valid?
In which cases is the applicant for a visa exemption certificate exempt from the fee?
Based on Article 5 of Decree 82/2015/ND-CP, which stipulates the fee for issuing a visa exemption certificate:
Fee for issuing a visa exemption certificate
Anyone who receives or re-receives a visa exemption certificate must pay a fee in accordance with the legal regulations on fees and charges.
According to Section 2 of the Fee Schedule issued together with Circular 25/2021/TT-BTC, the current fee for issuing a visa exemption certificate is USD 10 per certificate.
However, according to Clause 1, Article 5 of Circular 25/2021/TT-BTC, the applicant for a visa exemption certificate will be exempt from the fee if they fall into one of the following cases:
- Guests (including their spouse or children) invited by the Communist Party, the State, the Government of Vietnam, the National Assembly, or leaders of the Communist Party, the State, the Government of Vietnam, or the National Assembly in their personal capacity.
- Officials and employees of foreign diplomatic missions, consular offices, and representative offices of international organizations in Vietnam, and their family members (spouse and children under 18), regardless of passport type, who are not Vietnamese citizens and do not reside permanently in Vietnam, are exempt from fees on a reciprocity basis.
- Cases exempt from fees according to international treaties that Vietnam has signed or participated in or on the principle of reciprocity.
- Cases exempt from fees according to international treaties that Vietnam has signed or participated in or on the principle of reciprocity.
- Foreigners entering Vietnam to perform relief or humanitarian assistance work for Vietnamese organizations or individuals.
- Exemption from fees for cases of issuing visas, temporary residence for foreigners in Vietnam who violate the law and are treated but do not have financial capacity, and whose representative agencies of countries do not bear the expenses or do not have representative agencies of countries whose citizens violate the law in Vietnam.
Determining foreigners in Vietnam who violate the law and are handled, exempt from fees in these cases, is decided by the fee-collecting organization in specific cases and is responsible according to legal regulations.
Who is exempt from a visa?
Based on Article 3 of Decree 82/2015/ND-CP, which stipulates the conditions for visa exemption:
Conditions for visa exemption
Possess a passport or an international travel document valid for at least 01 year.
Possess documents proving eligibility as specified in Clause 1, Article 2 of this Decree.
Not fall into the categories of individuals restricted from entry or temporary exit as specified in Articles 21 and 28 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam.
Thus, individuals are exempt from a visa when the following conditions are met:
- Possess a passport or an international travel document valid for at least 01 year.
- Possess documents proving eligibility as overseas Vietnamese and foreign nationals who are spouses or children of overseas Vietnamese or Vietnamese citizens.
- Not fall into the categories restricted from entry or temporary exit.
Who is exempt from a visa? How long is a visa exemption certificate valid? (Image from the Internet)
How long is a visa exemption certificate valid?
Based on Clause 1, Article 4 of Decree 82/2015/ND-CP, it is stipulated as follows:
Validity, value, and form of visa exemption certificate
1. A visa exemption certificate has a maximum validity of no more than 05 years and is at least 06 months shorter than the validity of the passport or international travel document of the holder.
A visa exemption certificate is issued to individuals entering Vietnam to visit relatives or handle personal matters.
A visa exemption certificate is issued in the passport; the following cases will receive it separately:
a) The passport is out of visa pages;
b) The passport is issued by a country without diplomatic relations with Vietnam;
c) An internationally recognized travel document;
d) At the request of the certificate holder;
e) For reasons of diplomacy, national defense, security.
...
Thus, a visa exemption certificate has a maximum validity of no more than 05 years and should be at least 06 months shorter than the validity of the holder's passport or international travel document.
