Visa Types - How to live legally in Vietnam

Legal Frameworks:

LAW No. 47/2014/QH13: LAW ON ENTRY, EXIT, TRANSIT, AND RESIDENCE OF FOREIGNERS IN VIETNAM

LAW No. 51/2019/QH14: AMENDMENTS TO A NUMBER OF ARTICLES OF LAW ON ENTRY, EXIT, TRANSIT, AND RESIDENCE OF FOREIGNERS IN VIETNAM

1. NG1 - Issued to members of delegations invited by the Secretary General of Vietnam’s Communist Party, the President of Vietnam, the President of the National Assembly, and the Prime Minister.

2. NG2 - issued to members of delegations invited by standing members of the Secretariat of Vietnam’s Communist Party, Deputy President of Vietnam, Deputy President of the National Assembly, Deputy Prime Minister, President of Vietnamese Fatherland Front, Executive Judge of The Supreme Court, Chief Procurator of the Supreme Procuracy, State Auditor General; members of delegations at the same levels of Ministers, Secretary Generals of Provincial Communist Authorities, President of the People’s Committees of provinces.

3. NG3 - Issued to members of diplomatic missions, consular offices, representatives of international organizations affiliated with the United Nations, representatives of intergovernmental organizations and their spouses, children under 18 years of age, and housemaids during their term of office.

4. NG4 – Issued to persons who come to work with diplomatic missions, consular missions, representative offices of international organizations affiliated with the United Nations, intergovernmental representative offices and accompanying spouses, children under 18 years of age; visitors of diplomatic missions, consular missions, representative offices of international organizations affiliated to United Nations and intergovernmental representative offices.”;.

5. LV1 - Issued to people who come to work with units affiliated with Vietnam’s Communist Party; the National Assembly, the government, the Central Committee of Vietnamese Fatherland Front, the People’s Supreme Court, the People’s Supreme Procuracy, State Audit Agency, Ministries, ministerial agencies, Governmental agencies, the People’s Councils, the People’s Committees of provinces.

6. LV2 - Issued to people who come to work with socio-political organizations, social organizations, Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

7. LS – Issued to foreign lawyers practicing in Vietnam.”;

7a. DT1 - Issued to foreign investors in Vietnam and representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam and contributing capital of VND 100 billion or more or investing in business lines benefitting from investment incentives, in administrative divisions benefitting from investment incentives decided by the Government.

7b. DT2 - Issued to foreign investors in Vietnam and representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam and contributing capital of VND 50 billion to less than VND 100 billion or investing in business lines benefitting from investment incentives treatment decided by the Government.

7c. DT3 - Issued to foreign investors in Vietnam and representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam and contributing capital of VND 3 billion to less than VND 50 billion.

7d. DT4 - Issued to foreign investors in Vietnam and representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam and contributing capital of less than VND 3 billion.”;

8. DN1 – Issued to foreigners working with other enterprises and organizations that are juridical persons as per the law of Vietnam.”;

8a. DN2 – Issued to foreigners making entry to promote services, establish the commercial presence, or conduct other activities according to international agreements to which Vietnam is a signatory.”

9. NN1 - Issued to Managers of representative offices or projects of international organizations and foreign non-governmental organizations in Vietnam.

10. NN2 - Issued to heads of representative offices, branches of foreign traders, and representative offices of other foreign economic, cultural, and professional organizations in Vietnam.

11. NN3 - Issued to people who work with foreign non-governmental organizations, representative offices, branches of foreign traders, and representatives of other foreign economic, cultural, and professional organizations in Vietnam.

12. DH - Issued to people who come to study or serve an internship.

13. HN - Issued to people who come to attend conventions or conferences.

14. PV1 - Issued to journalists who have permanent residences in Vietnam.

15. PV2 - Issued to journalists who come to work for a short period in Vietnam.

16. LD1 – Issued to foreigners working in Vietnam and certified of eligibility for work permit exemption unless otherwise specified by international agreements to which Vietnam is a signatory.

16a. LD2 – Issued to foreigners working in Vietnam requiring a work permit.

17. DL - Issued to tourists.

18. TT – Issued to foreigners that are spouses or children under 18 years of age of foreigners issued with LV1, LV2, LS, DT1, DT2, DT3, NN1, NN2, DH, PV1, LD1 or LD2 visas or foreigners that are parents, spouses or children of Vietnamese citizens.

19. VR - Issued to people who visit their relatives or for other purposes.

20. SQ - Issued to people in the cases mentioned in Clause 3 Article 17 of Law on entry, exit, transit, and residence of Foreigners in Viet Nam).

21. EV - Electronic visas

The duration of Visas is as follows:

1. A SQ and EV visa duration is not longer than 30 days.

2. A HN or DL visa duration is not longer than 03 months.

3. The duration of a VR visa is not longer than 06 months.

4. Time limits of NG1, NG2, NG3, NG4, LV1, LV2, DT4, DN1, DN2, NN1, NN1, NN3, DH, PV1, PV2, and TT visas do not exceed 12 months.

5. Time limits of LD1 and LD2 visas do not exceed two years.

5a. Time limit of the DT3 visas does not exceed three years

6. Time limits of LS, DT1, and DT2 visas do not exceed five years.

7. When a visa is expired, its issuance shall be considered.

8. The duration of a visa shall be at least 30 days shorter than that of a passport or international laissez-passer.

Conditions for visa issuance

A person shall be issued a visa when they:

1. Has a passport or laissez-passer.

2. Is invited or sponsored by an organization or individual in Vietnam, except for the cases mentioned in Clause 3 Article 17 of the Law on entry, exit, transit, and residence of Foreigners in Viet Nam.

3. Not suspended from entry in the cases mentioned in Article 21 of the Law on entry, exit, transit, and residence of Foreigners in Viet Nam.

4. Proof of entry purposes must be provided when applying for a visa in the following cases:

a) Any foreigner who comes to invest must have papers proving the investment in Vietnam by the Law on Investment;

b) Any foreigner who works as a lawyer in Vietnam must have a practice license by the Law of Lawyers;

c) Any foreigner who comes to work in Vietnam must have work permits by the Labor Code;

d) Any foreigner who comes to study in Vietnam must have written acceptance of a school or an educational institution in Vietnam.

Cases of suspension from entry

1. Any of the conditions in Clause 1 Article 20 of the Law on Foreigners' entry, exit, transit, and residence in Viet Nam is not satisfied.

2. Children under 14 years of age without parents, guardians, or authorized custodians.

3. Forging papers or providing false information to obtain entry/exit/residence permits.

4. Any person with a mental disease or infectious disease that threatens public health.

5. Any person deported from Vietnam within the last 03 years.

6. Any person compelled to leave Vietnam within the last 06 months.

7. For reasons of epidemic prevention.

8. For reasons of natural disasters.

9. For reasons of national defense, national security, social order, and social safety.

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