A Comprehensive Guide to Vietnam Visa Application & Requirements 2024

Are you ready to embark on an epic motorbike adventure through the stunning landscapes and vibrant culture of Vietnam? Before you hit the road, it’s essential to have your visa sorted. This comprehensive guide to Vietnam visa will provide you with all the information you need to navigate the Vietnam visa requirement, application process and ensure a smooth entry into the country.

Do you need visas to go to Vietnam? 

Vietnam is only accessible without a visa to citizens of a few certain nations. Citizens of these countries can enter Vietnam without a visa, with a maximum stay ranging from 15 days to 45 days depending on the country. The list of visa-exempt countries can change over time, so you should regularly check the latest information from the website of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Vietnamese Embassy/Consulate in your country.

Vietnam’s visa-free countries

Citizens with an ordinary passport from one of the 25 following countries will be waived from a visa to Vietnam. All other nationals must obtain a Vietnam visa before visiting Vietnam.

Best way to apply for Vietnam tourist visa for foreigners 

There are 3 ways to obtain a Vietnamese visa: in-person at an embassy or consulate, online for eligible countries, and on-arrival with an Approval Letter.

Among these, applying for a Vietnam e-Visa online is the most convenient and cost-effective.

You may easily apply Vietnam e-visa online for a maximum of 90-day tourist visa. The cost of an e-visa is US$25 (for single entry) and US$50 (for multiple entry), and processing takes 3-5 working days. The code to print your visa will be sent to you through email.

Any of Vietnam’s 8 international airports, including those in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang, as well as 14 land crossings and 7 seaports, allow entry with the visa that is applied online.

Vietnam visa requirements 

In order to obtain a visa, you need to meet the following Vietnam visa requirements:

• Having a valid passport
• Not falling into the cases of entry suspension under Article 21 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam
• Being a citizen of an eligible country on the list designated by the Vietnamese Government Resolution
• Having a sponsor in Vietnam, or being able to provide documents that show the purpose of your visit

Notably, citizens of the following 80 nations can now obtain Vietnam e-visa online:

Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Australia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Brunei, Canada, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Chile, China (including Hong Kong and Macau), Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, France, Finland, Georgia, Greece, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, India, Italy, Ireland, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Myanmar, Mongolia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Solomon Islands, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Timor Leste, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, United Kingdom, United States of America, Vanuatu, Venezuela, and Western Samoa.

How to apply for Vietnam E-Visa

The Vietnam e-visa is a convenient and efficient way to obtain a visa for your trip to Vietnam. With just a few simple steps, you can complete the application process online and receive your visa electronically.

Step 1: Prepare the necessary materials:

• A 4×6 passport photo without glasses, with a white background, in .jpg format
• A photo of your passport data page, in .jpg format
• A passport which is valid for at least six months
• Your current address in Vietnam as well as your points of arrival and departure
• Payment with a debit or credit card (American Express card is not accepted).

Step2: OpenVietnam Immigration portal website at https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/en_US/web/guest/khai-thi-thuc-dien-tu/cap-thi-thuc-dien-tu or https://immigration.gov.vn/, select “E-visa Issuance” and then select the “Outside Vietnam foreigners” link.

Step 3: Upload your photos in .jpg format (passport data page and passport photo) and complete the required fields of the form. Then hit submit.

Step 4: Pay the e-Visa charge. Note the provided code.

Step 5: You should receive an email notification of the status of your e-Visa application within 3-5 working days. If not, you can use this link (https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/tra-cuu-thi-thuc) to do a search for your e-Visa.

Tips: During public holidays and if applicant volume is high, the processing time may take longer than normal. Thus, it is highly recommended to apply for this type of visa at least 1-2 weeks before your departure to avoid any potential delay.

Step 6: Locate your e-Visa online using the code you were given. For better guarantee, download and print two copies of the e-Visa.

If you prefer a hassle-free approach, contact Vietnam Biker Mates for assistance with your e-visa application and all the Vietnam visa requirements. As a professional travel agency, we offer fast and efficient services to ensure you obtain your e-visa promptly. Let us handle the entire process, allowing you to focus on planning your epic motorbike adventure.

Vietnam e-visa extension

Previously, e-visa extensions were possible in Vietnam. However, this option is currently suspended. If you wish to stay beyond your e-visa’s expiration date, consider a “visa run”, which involves leaving Vietnam for a neighboring country and then re-entering with a new e-visa.

Tips for applying Vietnam e-visa

To ensure that your visa application process goes smoothly, here are some tips to keep in mind:

Pay attention to passport validity

Ensure your passport remains valid for at least six months after your planned entry into Vietnam. If your passport expires soon, renew it before applying for the e-visa.

Provide correct personal information

Filling incorrect personal detail(s) is one of the common mistakes people make when applying for a Vietnam e-Visa.

To our experiences, applicants tend to make mistake(s) in:

• Names: It is crucial to ensure that the spelling and spacing of your full name match the ICAO line exactly.

And you must write your complete full name. Many people just write down their names incompletely and this causes delays in processing Vietnam e-visa. Even if your Vietnam e-visa application is granted, you will be declined to check in the flights or cross the borders to enter Vietnam.

• Date of birth: the correct format is DD/MM/YYYY, not mm/dd/yyyy format as their habit of writing.
• Passport number: the whole passport number appears on the passport should be shown
• Expiry passport date: it requires the exact date to be shown.

Ensure all passport details are accurate, including letters and numbers. Any discrepancies could lead to visa denial. The e-visa fee is non-refundable, so double-check your application for accuracy before submitting.

Check photo requirements

Ensure your passport photo adheres to the specified guidelines. Incorrect photo dimensions, resolution, or background color can result in visa application rejection.

Your Vietnam e-visa portrait photo must meet the following requirements:

• Be 4 x 6 cm (standard size of Vietnamese photography) or 2 x 2 inches in .jpg format with maximum file size of 1024Kb
• Be taken within the last 6 months
• Be clear and in focus, in color and unaltered by computer software
• Contain no other objects or people
• Be taken against a plain light-coloured background
• Be in clear contrast to the background
• Have no ‘red eye’
• Capture your head, shoulders and the upper part of your shoulders
• show you with:
• facing forwards and looking straight at the camera
• a plain expression and your mouth closed
• your eyes open and visible
• no hair in front of your eyes
• no head covering (unless it’s for religious or medical reasons)
• nothing covering your face
• no shadows on your face or behind you

Double check information in e-visa

Although errors in Vietnam e-visa information may occasionally occur, identifying them before departure can help you avoid issues at the airport. If you find any errors in your e-visa, promptly apply for a new visa and adjust your flight plans accordingly. This is often less costly and stressful than being denied entry at the airport.

While rare, errors in e-visa information can sometimes be made by the Vietnamese Immigration Department. Thoroughly review your e-visa upon receipt and contact the department immediately if you find any discrepancies. This proactive approach can help address potential issues before they escalate.

FAQS

Our guide to Vietnam visa can help you find answers to your most frequently asked questions.

Wrong name on Vietnam evisa but it was still approved

In this case you should apply for a new Vietnam evisa. You also contact us to see whether we can help.

How far in advance should I apply for Vietnamese evisa?

It normally takes 3 working days for the Vietnam Immigration Department to process your application for Vietnam e-visa.

However, the processing time may be longer due to the large number of applicants or public holidays. As such, we highly recommend you to start your application for e-visa to Vietnam 1-2 weeks before departure.

Do I need to enter Vietnam on the exact date specified in my e-Visa application?

Please be informed that your Vietnam e-visa validity starts from the date specified in your approved e-Visa document. You can enter Vietnam on any date within this validity.

We hope this comprehensive guide to Vietnam visa has provided you with all the necessary information about Vietnam visa requirements for your motorbike adventure.

By understanding the visa process and preparing your documents in advance, you can ensure a smooth entry into Vietnam and focus on planning your exciting journey. Vietnam e-visa is a simple and convenient process that can be done online to help you save time and effort.

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