From 15/8/2023: Which nationals shall be applied with visa waiver by Vietnam?

From 15/8/2023: Which nationals shall be applied with visa waiver by Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 1 of the Resolution 128/NQ-CP in 2023 amending regulations on visa waiver as follows:

Amendments to Article 1 of Resolution No. 32/NQ-CP dated March 15, 2022:

Visa waiver will be applicable to nationals of the Federal Republic of Germany, The French Republic, Italian Republic, Kingdom of Spain, The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Russian Federation, Japan, Republic of Korea, Kingdom of Denmark, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Norway, Republic of Finland, and the Republic of Belarus with a maximum temporary residence period of 45 days from the date of entry, no matter what visa types they currently hold or their purposes of entry, on the basis of eligibility for entry in accordance with laws in Vietnam.

As regulations above, visa waiver in Vietnam will be applicable to 13 nationals:

(1) Federal Republic of Germany

(2) The French Republic

(3) Italian Republic

(4) Kingdom of Spain

(5) The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

(6) Russian Federation

(7) Japan

(8) Republic of Korea

(9) Kingdom of Denmark

(10) Kingdom of Sweden

(11) Kingdom of Norway

(12) Republic of Finland

(13) The Republic of Belarus

Visa waiver will be applicable to citizens from above countries with a maximum temporary residence period of 45 days from the date of entry.

05 cases of visa-free entry in Vietnam

Pursuant to Article 12 of the Law on Entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam in 2014 (amended by Clause 7 Article 1 of the Law on amendments to a number of Articles of Law on entry, exit, transit and residence of foreigners in Vietnam in 2019) stipulating 05 cases of visa-free entry in Vietnam as follows:

1. The cases prescribed in international agreements to which Vietnam is a signatory.

2. Permanent residence cards and temporary residence cards are used in accordance this Law.

3. Entry to checkpoint economic zones, special administrative - economic units.

Entering coastal economic zones decided by the Government if fully satisfying following conditions: having international airports; having private space; having defined geographical border and separate from inland; in conformity with socio-economic development policies and not harming national defense and security, social safety and order of Vietnam.

4. A decision to unilaterally grant visa-free entry to citizens of a country must satisfy the following conditions:

+ The country has a diplomatic relation with Vietnam;

+ The decision is conformable with the policies on socio-economic development and diplomacy of Vietnam in each period;

+ The decision does not threaten national defense, national security, social safety and social order of Vietnam.

5. Vietnamese people residing overseas who have passports or laissez-passers issued by foreign authorities, foreigners being their spouses or children;

Foreigners being spouses and children of Vietnamese citizens shall be granted visa-free entry as prescribed by the government.

What are cases in which visas are issued separately in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 11 of the Law on Entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam in 2014 (amended by Clause 6 Article 1 of the Law on amendments to a number of Articles of Law on entry, exit, transit and residence of foreigners in Vietnam in 2019) stipulating cases in which visas are issued separately in Vietnam as follows:

Cases in which visas are issued separately

1. The passport has no more blank pages to issue visa.

2. The passport is issued by a government that has not had a diplomatic relation with Vietnam.

3. Laissez-passer.

4. For reasons of diplomacy, or national defense and national security.

5. Visas shall be issued as specified in Point b Clause 2 Article 7 of this Law.

Pursuant to Article 7 of the Law on Entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam in 2014 (amended by Clause 2 Article 1 of the Law on amendments to a number of Articles of Law on entry, exit, transit and residence of foreigners in Vietnam in 2019) stipulating uses and formats of visa as follows:

Uses and formats of visa

1. Visa shall be issued and attached to passport, issued separately or issued via electronic transaction. Visas issued via electronic transaction are called electronic visas.

2. Visas shall be issued individually for each person, except for cases bellow:

a) Visas for children under 14 years of age travelling on passports of their parents or guardians shall be issued together with visas thereof;

b) Visas shall be issued according to lists issued by immigration authorities with respect to foreigners visiting and travelling or transiting by sea who have the need to enter inland for visiting and tourism purposes according to programs organized by international tourism enterprises in Vietnam; members of foreign military ships travelling under official programs of tours outside of central-affiliated cities and provinces where their ships anchor.

...

As regulations above, visas are issued separately for foreigners in Vietnam in following cases:

1. The passport has no more blank pages to issue visa.

2. The passport is issued by a government that has not had a diplomatic relation with Vietnam.

3. Laissez-passer.

4. For reasons of diplomacy, or national defense and national security.

5. Visas shall be issued according to lists issued by immigration authorities with respect to foreigners visiting and travelling or transiting by sea who have the need to enter inland for visiting and tourism purposes according to programs organized by international tourism enterprises in Vietnam;

Members of foreign military ships travelling under official programs of tours outside of central-affiliated cities and provinces where their ships anchor.

Best regards!