Visa FAQs
How many types of Vietnam visa?
Regarding traveling purposes, there are 03 types of Vietnam visa that you should know:
- Tourist Visa
- Business visa
- Visa for other purpose such as working, investing,…
But based on length of stay and number of entries, there are 06 types :
- 1 month single entry visa;
- 1 month multiple entry visa;
- 3 months single entry visa;
- 3 months multiple entry visa;
- 6 months multiple entry visa;
- 1 year multiple entry visa.
General FAQs
Do you require a scan of my passport scan?
In most cases, a passport scan is not required for an online visa application. However, if the Immigration office wishes to verify the information you provide, you are required to send them a scan copy of your passport. In such cases, we will notify you by email immediately.
Do I need a photo and if so, what is its size?
Yes, you do. However, photos are required upon arrival Vietnam’s airports only, so please remember to bring at least 2 photos of standard passport size (04*06 cm).
Note: If you do not have time to prepare those photos before your departure, you can also get them taken at a Vietnamese airport for 2 USD or less per photo.
What if my passport has expired?
To apply for a visa to Vietnam, your passport must have at least 6 month’s validity. Therefore, if your passport is about to expire, please get a new one before applying for your visa in order to avoid unwanted problems at the airport.
Should I provide you with the exact date of arrival?
No, not necessarily. The arrival date you provide should be the earliest you plan to arrive, but you can arrive after that date. The departure date is the last day you are permitted to be in the country, unless you get a visa extension.
For example: If you apply for a 1-month visa and submit your arrival date as Jan 1, 2011, the visa letter will be valid from Jan 1, 2011 – Feb 1, 2011. You can arrive anytime between Jan 1 – Feb 1 but must leave the country by Feb 1, 2011.”
What are the procedures at Vietnam airport?
Upon arrival at the airport (See the airport map below), expect to fill in a simple form to fill in. Please remember to bring at least 2 passport-sized photos(04*06cm), 25 USD/person for stamp fee per person (1 month single). You can expect the process to take about 15 minutes total. (See our guide to visa procedure at Vietnam airports)
What is visa on arrival?
This is an alternative way to get your visa for Vietnam. You just need to fill in our “Online Application Form“, pay the service fee, get your “Visa approval letter” within 2 working days and pick up your visa at your destination airport (Hanoi airport, Ho Chi Minh city airport) –
After we obtain the approval letter for you, we will forward you a copy by email. Copies of the same document will be forwarded on your behalf to Vietnam Immigration checkpoints at International Airports only. When you arrive in Vietnam, the Immigration officers will have those documents ready and will be able to issue your entry visa quickly. (See our guide to visa procedure at Vietnam airports)
See Also: You can check out the information below for the detailed airport map where you will pick up your visa when you arrive.
Is the “visa on arrival” legitimate?
Yes it is. visa-on-arrival is an alternative way to get your visa to Vietnam. Also the IATA (International Air Traffic Association) has recognised visa on arrival. Check out the visa information sections on the following airline websites: Sky team, Oneworld and Star Alliance.
Read our customers’ testimonials and real stories to see how visa on arrival worked for others.
What is the “approval letter”?
The “Visa approval letter” is a letter issued by Vietnam Immigration Department that allows you to enter and exit Vietnam for a given time period. With the approval letter, you can pick up your visa upon arrival at one of the three international airports in Vietnam (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong and Da Nang).
At the airport, the corresponding authority will verify the details on the approval letter based on your passport and travel documents. As long as you make sure you input the correct details when applying, you will surely be granted entry upon arrival in Vietnam with the approval letter. However, it is strongly advised that you read our website and follow all the instructions carefully to avoid problems or delays at the airport.
How do I receive my visa approval letter?
A colored scanned copy of the approval letter will be sent to you by email, so please make sure that you have provided us with the correct email address.
You can also request a copy by fax. In this case, please provide us with your fax number and email it to [email protected]
Note: the approval letter is in PDF format, so please make sure you have the latest version of Adobe Acrobat reader in order to open the file.
What does the approval letter look like?
A sample of what the approval letter looks like can be found here.
Are there any exceptions with this type of visa?
Yes, visa on arrival is NOT VALID for OVERLAND ENTRY. The three international airports in Vietnam that you can receive your visa stamp with this approval letter are: Noi Bai International Airport (Hanoi), Tan Son Nhat International Airport (Ho Chi Minh City) and Danang Airport (Da Nang).
Note: If you plan to enter Vietnam by land or cruise, please visit a Vietnamese embassy to get your visa.
Tourist Visa
Who can apply Tourist Visa?
Vietnam Tourist visa (categorized as DL) is one of the most popular types of Vietnamese visa which is for tourism purpose only so people who have passport valid at least 6 months can apply for this type of visa.
How long in advance should I apply for a visa?
A Vietnamese visa application can be applied for 1 day to 6 months in advance. Although it takes only 2-3 working days to get your visa approved, it is strongly advised that you apply for a Vietnamese visa 1 – 2 weeks before your arrival date to avoid any payment or other administrative problems.
Why should you apply online?
For these reasons above you should apply visa online with us:
- No courier fees or mail delivery time – we get your application instantly.
- Online applications may be processed more quickly.
- Avoid processing delays. Incomplete applications are returned to you. Applying online helps ensure your application is complete before you submit it.
- If we need to ask for more documents, you can quickly submit them online.
- Get updates on the status of your application directly in your online account.
How long does it take to get the approval letter?
Normally, the approval letter is processed and emailed to you within two (2) to three (03) business days (excluding Saturday, Sunday and National Holidays). In urgent cases, you are able to have the approval letter within the time frame below.
Same Day Processing (Working day): If you submit your application and pay the fee before 12.00 PM Vietnam time on a Working day (Monday-Friday), we will send you the letter of approval by 18:00 PM on the same working day.
Next Day Processing (Working day): If you submit your application and pay the fee before 12.00 PM Vietnam time on a Working day (Monday-Friday), we will send you the letter of approval by 18:00 PM on the following (next) working day.
Note: The above processing time does not apply for Friday afternoon (after 12.00 PM) + Saturday and Sunday. Please consider the time difference between Vietnam and your country. For current Vietnam time, please click here.
- The visa counter at Vietnam airport is 24/7 open so if you already have the approval letter, you can still pick up your visa at Vietnam airport on weekend.
- 3 month visa: for 3 month visa approval letter, it may take up to 3-5 working days.
Business Visa
Who can apply Business Visa?
Business visa is also known as a DN visa which is issued for those who work or cooperate with Vietnamese enterprises.
How long in advance should I apply for a visa?
Normally, the approval letter is processed and emailed to you within five (05) to seven (07) business days (excluding Saturday, Sunday and National Holidays).
Note: The above processing time does not apply for Friday afternoon (after 12.00 PM) + Saturday and Sunday. Please consider the time difference between Vietnam and your country. For current Vietnam time, please click here.
Note: the visa counter at Vietnam airport is 24/7 open so if you already have the approval letter, you can still pick up your visa at Vietnam airport on weekend.
How many types of Business visa?
Recently, Vietnam visa has 3 types of Business visa as following:
- Business visa (DN visa) which is issued for those who work or cooperate with Vietnamese enterprises. It is valid for 12 months.
- Investor visa (also known as DT visa) which are granted for foreigners who set up or contribute capital to companies in Vietnam and be a lawyers. It is valid for upto 5 years.
- Foreign workers/working visa (also known as LD visa) which is issued to foreigners who come to work in Vietnam and have work permit or have work-permit-free written confirmation in accordance with the Labor Code. It is valid for 2 years.
In order to apply for Investor visa or Foreign workers/ working visa, kindly contact us via email: [email protected] or hotline/whatsapp +84 9 8852 2908 for further information.
Visa Extension
What is visa extension?
Visa extension means that you will have new staying duration permission in Vietnam. Please remember that you are allowed to stay more in Vietnam without re-entering if you exit Vietnam before your visa expired. So it means you must apply for new visa if you wish to come back to Vietnam after leaving.
How long does it take to extend visa?
Basically it will take from 7-10 working days for whole processing.
What requirement to process visa?
The requirements to extend visa as follows:
- Your passport must be valid at least 06 months from the time of extension/renewal;
- Your passport has 02 blank pages in minimum;
Can I extend my visa if I overstay in Vietnam?
Of course, you can; however, the penalty fee is charged and we will send you the official penalty service issued by Vietnam Immigration Department.
When do I need visa extension & how long in advance do I need it?
You will have your Vietnam visa extended in case your visa expires. For example, your visa is a one-month entry visa, but you would like to stay in Vietnam for 45 days in total, you need to get your visa extended 1 month more. Mostly the visa could be extended once. It would be best for visa applicants to have visa extended about 10 days before its expiration. The easiest way is to ask an agent do it for you. Click here for procedures of visa extension.
Where should I come to extend visa if I want to do on my own?
You can come to the Immigration office below:
- Immigration office in Hanoi: 44-46 Tran Phu, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi
- Da Nang: 78 Le Loi, Thach Thang, Hai Chau, Da Nang 550000
- Ho Chi Minh city: 196 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Ward 6, District 3, Ho Chi Minh city
Working hours: Monday-Friday (Morning: 7am – 11h30am; Afternoon: 1h30pm – 5pm) and Saturday (Morning time only)
Price, Payment and Others
How much does it cost?
It depends on the type and length of the visa you are applying for. In general, there are two fees you are required to pay: The stamping fee (paid directly at Vietnam airport) + Our service fee for the approval letter (paid in advance). Our detailed fee schedule can be found here.
Normally, 1 month single entry will cost: 17 USD for our service fee for the letter of approval + 25 USD for the stamping fee at Vietnam airport.
What is stamping fee and how much is it?
The stamping fees is the fee you are required to pay at the Vietnamese airport in order to get the official visa stamped in your passport. The stamp fee must be in cash, no credit cards are accepted.
Arrival in 2020: Stamp fee at the airport (price per person)
- 25 USD for single entry
- 50 USD for multiple entry
Currencies accepted:
The Immigration Officer prefer getting paid by US dollar (in cash). Besides US dollars, you can pay by other strong currencies (RMB, Australian dollars, HongKong dollars, Euros, etc). However, the exchange rate set at Immigration Checking Point is normally 5-10% higher than quotation by banks. Therefore, you should consider which currency suits you most.
What credit/debit cards are accepted?
We currently accept both Debit/Credit cards and PAYPAL for payment of our approval letter service fee. These include: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, JCB andDiners Club. Please click here for payment guidelines.
My credit card number is correct, but it was not accepted. Why?
There are a few possibilities:
- The card expiration date was entered incorrectly.
- You have reached your credit limit.
- There was a computer error.
- Your Visa Verified password / MasterSecure Code was entered incorrectly.
How safe are my credit card details?
For secure online payment, we use Secure Socket Layers (SSL) from Comodo Inc. At no time are your debit/credit card details transmitted unencrypted over the internet. For further information, please refer to our privacy statement.
Is the same rate applied to everyone?
Yes, the same fees are applied to anyone who uses our service.
Can I pay stamp fee in Euro?
The Immigration Officer prefer getting paid by US dollar (in cash). Besides US dollars, you can pay by other strong currencies (RMB, Australian dollars, HongKong dollars, Euros, etc). However, the exchange rate set at Immigration Checking Point is normally 5-10% higher than quotation by banks.