Vietnam Business Visa

There are several advantages in having a business visa: such visas are usually valid for more than three months, can be issued for multiple entry journeys and will look more impressive when dealing with bureaucratic authories. Also you are permitted to work if you have a business visa.

Tryng to obtain the visa yourself through a Vietnamese Embassy will probably more trouble than it's worth, you'd better let the travel agent handle it.

- Vietnam has signed agreements on visa exemption with 38 countries, including 10 APEC member economies (Brunei Darussalam, China, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore and Thailand). Business People who are the citizens from all APEC Economies on entering Viet Nam are required to have a valid passport and Viet Nam visa, unless the citizens holding a passport of following Economies are visa exempt:

+ Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia (holders of a diplomatic, service passport or ordinary passport);

+ China (holders of a diplomatic, service passport or ordinary passport on public affairs mission);

+ Korea, Brunei, Russian Federation, Mexico (holders of a diplomatic or service passport);

+ Japan (holders of all types of passport, coming on a tourist or business visit, are visa exempt for a stay of 15 days).

- Business People who should apply for a Viet Nam visa may contact their Business Sponsors (including a legal status Agency or Organization of Viet Nam or a licensed foreign Company, Representative Office, the Branch of an Economical Organization in Viet Nam) for their entry clearance arrangements with the Viet Nam Immigration Department. The Immigration Department will inform the Viet Nam Dilopmatic Representative Missions or Consular Office abroad of approval to issue the visa (if approved).

- In case of having no any inviting, receiving Agency or Organization (the local Business Sponsors) in Viet Nam, the Business People may apply and are issued with a visa for a stay of 15 days.

- The permitted length of stay in Viet Nam is subject to the Immigration Authority upon arrival:

+ Business Visa Holders are granted on their arrival a certificate of permitted stay conforming to their visa validity. In case at the time of entry, the validity of their visa is under 15 days, then they are granted a permission to remain 15 days since the date of arrival.

+ Citizens of Philippines under Viet Nam visa exemption, holding a diplomatic or service passport on their arrival are granted a certificate for a permitted stay not exceeding 30 days and of an ordinary passport for not exceeding 21 days, provided that their passports are still valid at least for 6 months since the date of entry.and holding return/onward ticket for next destination.

+ Citizens of Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore under Viet Nam visa exemption, on their arrival are granted a certificate for permitted stay not exceeding 30 days (the Singaporean passports should be still valid at least for 6 months since the date of entry).

+ Citizens of China, Korea, Russian Federation, Mexico under Viet Nam visa exemption, on their arrival are granted a certificate for a permitted stay not exceeding 90 days.

+ Citizens of Indonesia under Viet Nam visa exemption, holding a diplomatic or service passport, on their arrival are granted a certificate of a permitted stay for not exceeding 15 days and of an ordinary passport for a permitted stay not exceeding 30 days.

+ Citizens of Brunei under Viet Nam visa exemption, on their arrival, are granted a certificate of permitted stay for not exceeding 14 days.

- Business People who are the Citizens of APEC Economies, holding an ordinary passport to enter Viet Nam under Viet Nam visa exemption, if wishing to stay beyond the length of a permitted stay should apply a further visa.

Categories of Permits

- Viet Nam has two Categories of visa: + Single visas are used for one entry within validity not exceeding 12 months + Multiple visas are used for multiple entries within validity not exceeding 12 months - Temporary Business residents staying for 1 year up may apply for a Temporary Residence Card issued by the Immigration Authority under the Ministry of Public Security. - Temporary Residence Card is valid for 1 to 3 years and the holders of the Card are not required a visa to enter, exit Viet Nam within its validity.

- Business Temporary Residents who has already a visa to have business with an Agency/ Organization in Viet Nam may apply to have their registered original purpose of entry changed without departing Viet Nam.

Documentation Required

A valid Passport or travel documents used in lieu of a passport - A completed application form as required - Two recent photos of applicants in 4 x 6 cm

For sponsored case, the Inviting/Receiving Agency or Organization in Viet Nam should send an Official Note (including full name, sex, nationality, passport number, profession or position, purpose of entry, duration of entry and exit, the address of stay in Viet Nam of the applicants) to the Viet Nam Immigration Department - Ministry of Public Security for entry clearance arrangement.

Length of Validity and Stay

- Validity of the mentioned visa categories is from 30 days up to 12 months.
- Visas are not extended. In case the Temporary Business Residents wish to stay longer in Viet Nam, they may apply for a further visa without departing Viet Nam.

- Validity of the visa can be cancelled or shorten in case the holder violates the Viet Nam law.

Rules Relating to Accompanying Dependants

Dependant family members may accompany the principal visa applicants. However, they must complete the same application, unless the case of children under 14 years of age can be included in the same application form, and no separate visa application is required.

Vietnam Embassie and Consulates