Visa Services for Foreign Nationals Entering Vietnam

Fast, accurate visa support in full compliance with legal requirements.

Vietnam continues to be an attractive destination for foreign investors, experts, foreign workers, and international visitors. However, the procedures for obtaining a Vietnam entry visa change frequently under the regulations of the immigration authorities, requiring foreign nationals and their sponsoring companies to prepare complete dossiers and follow the correct process.

With many years of experience in investment, corporate, and immigration advisory, we provide an end-to-end visa service for foreign nationals entering Vietnam, helping clients save time, reduce documentation risks, and ensure compliance with current regulations.

What are a visa and a temporary residence card?

A visa for foreign nationals is a permit issued by the competent Vietnamese authorities allowing entry into, exit from, or stay in Vietnam for a defined period and for a specific purpose, such as tourism, business, investment, employment, family visits, or study.

A visa may be issued as a sticker affixed to the passport or as an electronic visa (E-visa), depending on the case and the provisions of Vietnamese law. Each visa type has its own symbol, validity period, and entitlements corresponding to the purpose of entry; the maximum validity is 5 years, and each visa is affixed to a page of the passport. Foreign nationals may only stay for the period stated on the visa and must extend it or convert their purpose of stay (if eligible) if they wish to remain longer.

A temporary residence card (TRC) is a document issued by Vietnam's immigration authorities to foreign nationals who qualify for long-term residence in Vietnam. The card serves in place of a visa throughout its validity period, allowing multiple entries and exits without applying for a new visa; depending on the case, it is valid from 02 years but must be at least 30 days shorter than the remaining validity of the passport.

Conditions for obtaining a Vietnam entry visa

To be granted a visa to enter Vietnam, a foreign national must meet the conditions prescribed by the immigration laws and prepare a complete dossier appropriate to the purpose of entry:

• A passport valid for at least 06 months from the intended date of entry into Vietnam.
• A lawful purpose of entry: tourism; business trips or trade; employment; business investment; family visits; study or research; diplomatic activities; or other lawful purposes.
• Not falling into the categories of persons banned from entering Vietnam or restricted from exiting.
• Having a sponsoring organization, enterprise, or individual (for certain visa types).
• Meeting the specific conditions of each visa type, which may require additional documents: a work permit or a certificate of work permit exemption (work visa); an Investment Registration Certificate or documents proving investor status (investment visa); documents proving family relationships (family-visit visa); an invitation letter or letter of introduction from an enterprise or organization in Vietnam (business or trade visa); a practicing license under the Law on Lawyers (lawyer practice visa); or a letter of acceptance from a school or educational institution in Vietnam (student visa).

Common visa types in Vietnam

Classified by purpose of entry, some common visa types include:

• Tourist visa (DL): issued to tourists.
• Student visa (DH): issued to foreign nationals entering for study or research purposes.
• Electronic visa (EV): an e-visa available to citizens of eligible countries as prescribed.
• Family-visit visa (VR, TT): issued to relatives of foreign nationals working or investing in Vietnam.
• Diplomatic visa (NG1, NG2, NG3): issued to members of diplomatic missions, consular offices, representative offices of United Nations organizations and intergovernmental organizations in Vietnam, together with their spouses, children under 18, and domestic helpers.
• Investment visa (DT1, DT2, DT3, DT4): issued to foreign investors.
• Work and business visas (LD1, LD2, DN, etc.): issued to foreign workers employed in Vietnam.

Visa application dossier for foreign nationals

Depending on the visa type and purpose of entry, the dossier may include:

• Vietnam visa application form – Form NA1.
• A passport (valid for at least 6 months) or an internationally recognized travel document.
• Photos as prescribed.
• Documents proving the purpose of entry.
• The sponsorship dossier of an enterprise or organization in Vietnam.
• A work permit or work permit exemption documents (if applicable).

Processing time for a Vietnam entry visa

Processing time depends on the visa type, the purpose of entry, and the authority receiving the application. Typically:

• Entry approval letter: 03 – 07 working days from the date a complete, valid dossier is submitted.
• Visa issuance at a Vietnamese Embassy/Consulate abroad: 01 – 05 working days, depending on the issuing authority.
• Visa issuance at an international border checkpoint: the visa is issued on arrival upon presentation of the entry approval letter and a valid passport.