About Visa (the first issue)

1. The Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam 2014, amended and supplemented in 2019, stipulate 27 types of visas for foreigners, specifically as follows:

• Symbol ĐT1 – Granted to foreign investors in Vietnam and representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam with a contributed capital of VND 100 billion or more or investing in industries or professions eligible for investment incentives, investment incentives are decided by the Government. This kind of visa is valid for no more than 2 years.
• Symbol ĐT2 – Granted to foreign investors in Vietnam and representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam with a contributed capital between VND 50 billion and under VND 100 billion or investing in industries and professions that encourage development investment  decided by the Government. This kind of visa is valid for no more than 2 years.
• Symbol ĐT3 – Granted to foreign investors in Vietnam and representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam with contributed capital from 03 billion VND to less than 50 billion VND. This kind of visa is valid for no more than 03 years.
• Symbol ĐT4 – Granted to foreign investors in Vietnam and representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam with a contributed capital of less than VND 03 billion. This kind of visa is valid for no more than 12 months.
• Symbol DN1 – Granted to foreigners working with enterprises and other organizations with legal status in accordance with Vietnamese law. The visa is valid for no more than 12 months.
• Symbol DN2 – Granted to foreigners to offer services, establish a commercial presence, and perform other activities under international treaties to which Vietnam is a signatory. This kind of visa is valid for no more than 12 months.
• Symbol LĐ1 – Granted to foreigners working in Vietnam with confirmation that they are not eligible for a work permit, unless otherwise provided for in an international treaty to which Vietnam is a contracting party. This kind of visa is valid for no more than 2 years.
• Symbol LĐ2 – Granted to foreigners working in Vietnam who are required to have a work permit. This kind of visa is valid for no more than 2 years.
• Symbol LS – Granted to foreign lawyers practicing in Vietnam. This kind of visa is valid for no more than 5 years.
• Symbol NN1 – Granted to the head of a representative office or project of an international organization or a foreign non-governmental organization in Vietnam. This kind of visa is valid for no more than 12 months
• Symbol NN2 – Granted to the head of representative offices, branches of foreign traders, representative offices of foreign economic, cultural and other professional organizations in Vietnam. This kind of visa is valid for no more than 12 months.
• Symbol NN3 – Granted to people entering and working with foreign non-governmental organizations, representative offices, branches of foreign traders, representative offices of economic, cultural and other professional organizations of foreigners in Vietnam. This kind of visa is valid for no more than 12 months.
• Symbol DL – Granted to tourists. This kind of visa is valid for no more than 3 months.
• Symbol TT– Granted to foreigners who are spouses, children under 18 years old of foreigners granted visas with symbols LV1, LV2, LS, ĐT1, ĐT2, ĐT3, NN1, NN2, DH, PV1, LĐ1 , LĐ2 or foreigners who are fathers, mothers, spouses or children of a Vietnamese citizen. This kind of visa is valid for no more than 12 months.
• Symbol VR – Granted to people visiting relatives or for other purposes. This kind of visa is valid for no more than 06 months.
• Symbol NG1 – Granted to the delegations of the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the President of Vietnam, the President of the National Assembly, the Prime Minister. This kind of visa is valid for no more than 12 months.
• Symbol NG2 - Granted to the delegations of standing members of the Secretariat of the Vietnam’s Communist Party, the Vice President of Vietnam, the Vice President of the National Assembly, the Deputy Prime Minister, the Chairman of the Central Committee of the Front Vietnam Fatherland, Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court, Chief Procurator of the Supreme People's Procuracy, State Auditor General; the delegations of the same level of Ministers and equivalents, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Secretary of the Party Committee, President of the People's Council, President of the People's Committee of the province or city directly under the Central Government. This kind of visa is valid for no more than 12 months.
• Symbol NG3 – Granted to members of diplomatic missions, consular offices, representative offices of international organizations of the United Nations, representative offices of intergovernmental organizations and their spouses and children under 18 years old, the servants go along in that term. This kind of visa is valid for no more than 12 months.
• Symbol NG4 – Granted to people entering to work with diplomatic missions, consular offices, representative agencies of international organizations of the United Nations, representative offices of intergovernmental organizations and their spouses, children under 18 years old traveling together; visitors to members
• of diplomatic missions, consular offices, representative offices of international organizations of the United Nations, representative offices of intergovernmental organizations. This kind of visa is valid for no more than 12 months.
• Symbol LV1 – Granted to people entering to work with departments, agencies and units directly under the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam; National Assembly of Vietnam, Government of Vietnam, Central Committee of Vietnam Fatherland Front, Supreme People's Court, Supreme People's Procuracy, State Audit, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, Governmental agencies; Provincial Party Committees, Party Committees, People's Councils, People's Committees of provinces and the country’s direct-controlled municipalities. This kind of visa is valid for no more than 12 months.
• Symbol LV2 – Granted to people entering to work with socio-political organizations, social organizations, Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry. This kind of visa is valid for no more than 12 months.
• Symbol DH - Granted to people entering to practice and study. This kind of visa is valid for no more than 12 months.
• Symbol HN – Granted to attendees of conferences and seminars. This kind of visa is valid for no more than 3 months.
• Symbol PV1 – Granted to reporters and newspapers residing in Vietnam. This kind of visa is valid for no more than 12 months.
• Symbol PV2 – Granted to reporters and journalists for short-term operation in Vietnam. This kind of visa is valid for no more than 12 months.
• Symbol SQ – Granted to persons who have a working relationship with the Vietnamese visa-issuing authority abroad and their spouses, children or the person who has a written request from the competent authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the host country and the person who has a guarantee note from the diplomatic missions and consular offices of countries located in the host country. This kind of visa is valid for no more than 30 days.
• Symbol EV-Electronic Visa. This kind of visa is valid for no more than 30 days.

2. It should be noted that when Visa expires, it is considered for a new visa. However, the visa validity must be at least 30 days shorter than the passport or international travel document.

3. Except for exempted cases, foreigners need to ensure that they meet conditions to be granted a visa as prescribed in Article 10 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam 2014, as amended and supplemented in 2019, specifically:

• Have a passport or valid international travel document.
• There are agencies, organizations and individuals in Vietnam to invite or guarantee, except for some cases specified in Articles 16a, 16b and Clause 3, Article 17 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam 2014, as amended and supplemented in 2019.

4. When applying for a visa, the following cases must need documents proving the purpose of entry:

• Foreign investors must have documents proving their investment in Vietnam, including the Investment Registration Certificate issued by Department of Planning and Investment or other relevant documents such as licenses, certificates, written acceptance, other requirements that individuals, business organizations must meet the requirements to carry out business investment activities without having to be certified in writing by a competent authority;
• Foreigners who practice law in Vietnam must have a law practice license issued by the Ministry of Justice;
• Foreigners working in Vietnam must have a Work Permit issued by the Ministry or Department of Labor, War invalids and Social Affairs;
• Foreigners who come to study must have a written acceptance from the school or educational institution in Vietnam.

5. Foreigners will be exempted from visa if they fall into one of the following cases:

• According to international treaties to which Vietnam is a member.
• Using permanent residence cards, temporary residence cards in accordance with the Law on entry, exit, transit and residence of foreigners in Vietnam.
• Entering border-gate economic zones, special administrative-economic units.
• Unilateral visa exemption. A decision to unilaterally exempt visas for citizens of a country must fully satisfy the following conditions: Having diplomatic relations with Vietnam; In line with Vietnam's socio-economic development and foreign policy policies in each period; Not to be detrimental to Vietnam's national defense, security, and social order and safety. The unilateral decision on visa exemption is valid for no more than 5 years and is considered for extension.
• Overseas Vietnamese who have passports or valid international travel documents Granted by competent foreign agencies and foreigners who are their spouses and children; Foreigners who are spouses and children of Vietnamese citizens are exempt from visas according to the Government's regulations.