An entry visa (also known as an entry permit) is a type of document issued by a competent authority in Vietnam, allowing foreigners to enter Vietnam for purposes such as tourism, investment, visiting relatives, or work.
VinaSC specializes in providing entry visa services for foreigners coming to Vietnam. With many years of experience and a high-quality team, Vinasc Group is confident in offering our customers the most professional, quick, and efficient service.
I. SERVICE PROVISION PROCESS AT VINASC:
Step 1: Vinasc receives information regarding the client’s visa application needs:
- Personal information of the foreigner entering Vietnam: Foreign passport; current residence of the foreigner.
- Information on the location where the foreigner will receive the entry visa for Vietnam: Vietnamese Embassy/Consulate in the home country or international border gate.
- Information on the sponsoring company/individual: Enterprise registration certificate; investment registration certificate; sponsor’s citizen identification card.
Step 2: Depending on the specific case, Vinasc will review and provide consultation and guidance related to the procedures for issuing entry visas for foreigners. Both parties will discuss to finalize the service content. Vinasc will then prepare the necessary documents based on the provided information for the company to verify.
Step 3: Vinasc guides the client in preparing the following documents related to the entry visa application procedure:
- Certified copy of a valid passport (minimum 6 months remaining).
- Certified copy of the business registration certificate.
- Certified copy of the investment registration certificate.
- Value-added tax reports for the last 3 months.
- Certified copy of the sponsor’s citizen identification card/passport/temporary residence card/permanent residence card.
- Documents proving the purpose of the foreigner’s entry, such as:
- For labor entry: Certified copy of the work permit/certificate of exemption from work permit.
- For investor entry: Bank statement with stamp proving the investor’s capital contribution/certificate of capital contribution, shares in the company.
The procedure for obtaining an entry visa involves multiple stages, and the detailed document requirements from the issuing authority can frequently change. Therefore, we guide clients to provide a complete set of documents at once. During the process, clients do NOT need to provide additional documents and there are absolutely NO additional costs incurred.
Step 4: Vinasc prepares the following documents and delivers them to the client for signing:
- Request for electronic visa account (Form 03).
- Seal and signature introduction form (NA16).
- Official letter requesting review and personnel check for foreign entry (NA2)/ Sponsorship application for relatives who are foreigners entering Vietnam (Form NA3) with confirmation from the head of the ward police.
- Personnel introduction letter.
The specific list of documents will be provided based on the actual situation of the client.
Step 5: Receive the signed documents from the client and verify their authenticity.
Step 6: Carry out the procedures for inviting and sponsoring foreigners to enter Vietnam in the following order:
- Register for an electronic access account to invite and sponsor foreigners.
- Submit the “Request/Notification for visa issuance for foreigners” to the Immigration Department.
- Receive the result for the above application.
Step 7: Deliver the official letter responding to the entry visa issuance request to the client.
Step 8: Receive the entry visa and affix it to the passport (the client performs this step).
Result: Entry visa for Vietnam.
Note: For this step, the client receives the visa (entry visa sticker) at the location indicated in the official letter responding to the entry visa request. The client should prepare 2 color photos (4×6 cm, white background); the original passport valid for at least 6 months with at least 2 blank pages (the same passport used to request the entry visa letter).
II. SPECIFIC RESULTS
- Official letter responding to the visa issuance request for foreigners entering Vietnam.
III. ESTIMATED IMPLEMENTATION TIME
- Official letter responding to the visa issuance request for foreigners entering Vietnam: 10 working days.
The estimated time is calculated from the day Vinasc receives the complete required documents from you.
IV. REGULATIONS RELATED TO ENTRY VISA ISSUANCE FOR FOREIGNERS ENTERING VIETNAM
Conditions for Foreigners to Obtain a Vietnamese Visa
According to regulations, to obtain an entry visa for Vietnam, foreign citizens must meet the following conditions:
- Possess a valid passport or an internationally recognized travel document.
- Have a company, organization, or individual in Vietnam to invite or sponsor them, except for cases of electronic visas requested by the foreigner.
- The foreigner must not fall under the categories prohibited from entering the country.
- In the following cases, individuals/organizations applying for a Vietnamese visa for foreigners must provide documents proving the purpose of entry:
- Individuals coming to Vietnam for investment purposes must have documents proving their investment in Vietnam.
- Foreign lawyers practicing in Vietnam must have a practicing certificate.
- Foreigners coming to Vietnam for employment must have a work permit or a certificate of exemption from work permits.
- Foreigners coming to Vietnam for study or research purposes must have a letter of acceptance from the school or educational institution in Vietnam.
Duration of Entry Visas for Foreigners
Depending on the purpose of the foreigner’s visit to Vietnam, different types of entry visas are issued, each with varying durations.
Based on Article 9 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam 2014 (amended and supplemented in 2023), the duration of some common visas is as follows:
- DT Visa – (Subcategories DT1, DT2, DT3, DT4): Maximum validity of 5 years, 3 years, and 1 year respectively, issued to foreign investors in Vietnam and representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam.
- DN Visa – (Subcategories DN1, DN2): Typically valid for 3 months (90 days). Issued to foreigners working with enterprises or organizations with legal status under Vietnamese law, foreign nationals offering services, or conducting activities under international treaties to which Vietnam is a party.
- LD Visa – (Subcategories LD1, LD2): Maximum validity of 2 years. Issued to foreigners working in Vietnam who have a work permit or a certificate of exemption from work permits.
- DL Visa – Maximum validity of 3 months (90 days), but each stay is limited to a maximum of 1 month (30 days), issued to tourists visiting Vietnam.
Penalties for Non-compliance with Vietnamese Regulations on Entry, Exit, Transit, Residence, and Travel
According to the provisions of Article 18 of Decree 144/2021/ND-CP on administrative penalties in the fields of security, order, social safety; prevention of social evils; fire prevention and fighting; rescue; and prevention of domestic violence, foreigners will face the following penalties if they do not comply with regulations on entry, exit, transit, residence, and travel in Vietnam:
“Article 18. Violations against regulations on exit, entry, transit, residence and travel
- A fine of from VND 3.000.000 to VND 5.000.000 shall be imposed for any of the following violations:
- a) Crossing national borders without following immigration procedures as prescribed by law;
…
- A fine of from VND 5.000.000 to VND 10.000.000 shall be imposed for any of the following violations:
- a) Using a fake passport, laissez-passer, international travel document, document issued to a foreigner entering, leaving or residing in Vietnam or ABTC card;
…
- A fine of from VND 10.000.000 to VND 15.000.000 shall be imposed for any of the following violations:
- a) A foreigner enters, works or performs other activities in Vietnam without obtaining permission from a competent authority of Vietnam;
…
- A fine of from VND 15.000.000 to VND 20.000.000 shall be imposed for any of the following violations:
…
- b) A foreigner fails to use his/her visa, temporary resident card or approval of temporary residence extension for the stated purpose or program;
…
- A fine of from VND 30.000.000 to VND 40.000.000 shall be imposed for any of the following violations:
- a) Forging passports, laissez-passers, international travel documents, documents issued to foreigners entering, leaving or residing in Vietnam or ABTC cards;
…
- Additional penalties:
- a) Confiscation of the exhibits and means of administrative violations in case of violations specified in Points b, c, d Clause 3; Point a Clause 4; Point a Clause 5; Point c Clause 6; Points a, d Clause 7 of this Article;
- b) Expulsion of foreigners who commit the violations specified in Clauses 1 through 7 of this Article.”
Therefore, when there is a violation of the regulations on exit, entry, transit, residence, and travel, foreigners will be subject to administrative sanctions. The level of administrative sanctions can be up to 40,000,000 VND and other additional penalties.
*Summary Table of Required Documents
| No. | Required documents | Implementer | ||
| Customer (1) | Vinasc Group (2) | Vinasc Group handles on behalf of our client (3) | ||
| PROCEDURES FOR INVITING, GUARANTEEING ENTRY OF FOREIGNERS AT IMMIGRATION MANAGEMENT AGENCIES (SYMBOLS: DN1, DN2) (Applicable to cases where the foreigner is currently not present in Vietnam) |
||||
| 1 | Certified copy of Enterprise Registration Certificate; | X | X | |
| 2 | Certified copy of Passport valid for at least 6 months; | X | X | |
| 3 | Value Added Tax (VAT) reports for the last 3 months; | X | ||
| 4 | Application for electronic visa account (Form 03); | X | ||
| 5 | Official letter requesting approval and verification of foreign personnel entering the country (NA2); | X | ||
| 6 | Sample of seal and signature introduction (NA16); | X | ||
| 7 | Introduction letter for personnel; | X | ||
| PROCEDURES FOR INVITING AND SPONSORING FOREIGNERS TO ENTER VIETNAM AT THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT (CODE: ĐT1/ ĐT2/ ĐT3/ ĐT4) (Applicable to foreigners who are not currently present in Vietnam) |
||||
| 1 | Certified copy of Enterprise Registration Certificate; | X | X | |
| 2 | Certified copy of Investment Registration Certificate; | X | X | |
| 3 | Certified copy of Passport valid for at least 6 months; | X | X | |
| 4 | Certificate of capital contribution/shareholding in the enterprise; | X | X | |
| 5 | Bank statement with seal proving that the investor has contributed all capital; | X | ||
| 6 | Value Added Tax (VAT) reports for the last 3 months; | X | ||
| 7 | Application for electronic visa account (Form 03); | X | ||
| 8 | Official letter requesting approval and verification of foreign personnel entering the country (NA2); | X | ||
| 9 | Sample of seal and signature introduction (NA16); | X | ||
| 10 | Introduction letter for personnel; | X | ||
| PROCEDURES FOR ORGANIZATIONS TO INVITE AND SPONSOR FOREIGNERS TO ENTER VIETNAM AT THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT (CODE: LĐ1/LĐ2) (Applicable to foreigners who are not currently present in Vietnam) |
||||
| 1 | Certified copy of Enterprise Registration Certificate; | X | X | |
| 2 | Certified copy of Investment Registration Certificate; | X | X | |
| 3 | Certified copy of Passport valid for at least 6 months; | X | X | |
| 4 | Certified copy of Work Permit/ Certificate of Exemption from Work Permit | X | X | |
| 5 | Value Added Tax (VAT) reports for the last 3 months; | X | ||
| 6 | Application for electronic visa account (Form 03); | X | ||
| 7 | Official letter requesting approval and verification of foreign personnel entering the country (NA2); | X | ||
| 8 | Sample of seal and signature introduction (NA16); | X | ||
| 9 | Introduction letter for personnel; | X | ||
| PROCEDURES FOR APPLYING FOR A VISA FOR FOREIGNERS CURRENTLY PRESENT IN VIETNAM | ||||
| 1 | Certified copy of Enterprise Registration Certificate; | X | X | |
| 2 | Certified copy of Investment Registration Certificate; | X | X | |
| 3 | Certified copy of Passport valid for at least 6 months; | X | X | |
| 4 | Certified copy of Work Permit/ Certificate of Exemption from Work Permit/ Bank statement with seal proving that the investor has contributed all capital/ Certificate of capital contribution/shareholding in the enterprise | X | X | |
| 5 | Value Added Tax (VAT) reports for the last 3 months; | X | ||
| 6 | Original passport with remaining validity | X | ||
| 7 | Temporary residence confirmation | X | ||
| 8 | Application for electronic visa account (Form 03); | X | ||
| 9 | Application for visa, temporary residence extension (NA5) | X | ||
| 10 | Sample of seal and signature introduction (NA16); | X | ||
| 11 | Introduction letter for personnel; | X | ||
| PROCEDURES FOR INDIVIDUALS TO INVITE AND SPONSOR FOREIGNERS TO ENTER VIETNAM AT THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT | ||||
| 1 | Certified copy of Passport valid for at least 6 months; | X | X | |
| 2 | Certified copy of Citizen Identity Card/Passport/Temporary Residence Card/Permanent Residence Card | X | X | |
| 3 | Certified copy of documents proving relationship: Marriage Registration Certificate/Birth Certificate/Household Registration Book/Confirmation from local authorities on personal relationship | X | X | |
| 4 | Sponsorship application for relatives who are foreigners entering Vietnam (Form NA3) (with confirmation from the Head of the Ward Police) | X | X | |
| 5 | Application for electronic visa account (Form 03); | X | ||
| 6 | Power of attorney | X | ||
(*) According to the process, the customer is obligated to prepare the documents in column (1) and Vinasc will be obligated to prepare the documents in column (2).
(*) In some cases, if the customer has difficulty in preparing the documents, Vinasc can prepare the documents in column (3) instead. However, in this situation, we have to consider each specific case and the following issues may arise:
- Additional costs for document preparation (these costs will vary depending on the state agency, and the legal regulations in Vietnam also vary from time to time)
- Additional time is required to prepare these documents () During the preparation time, the customer scans all the above documents so that we can prepare the documents in time. () In some special situations, the State agency may request additional information to supplement the application. Such as Tax reports…
For any information about applying for a visa for foreigners to enter Vietnam, please contact Vinasc Group Joint Stock Company for detailed advice.