Tightening of visa-free entry to Vietnam from 01.01.2015

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Attention! Since 01.01.2015, the conditions for visa-free entry to Vietnam have been tightened for citizens of those countries who were entitled to a visa-free stay of up to 15 days. Of the CIS countries, only citizens of the Russian Federation have this right.

Now, to obtain a stamp for visa-free stay, the passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry (previously it was three months).

But worst of all is the second restriction: at least 30 days must have passed since the last departure from Vietnam. Please note that we are talking about 30 days from the moment of the last departure from Vietnam, and not entry.

With such conditions, previously widely practiced trips to Laos or Cambodia for a short period in order to extend the stay and see neighboring countries, and return entry to Vietnam became impossible without a visa. What is more important, it does not matter how you entered Vietnam for the first time, on a visa or visa-free, only the fact of leaving the country is important, from the date of which the countdown is.

It should be borne in mind that you can enter back to Vietnam by obtaining a visa on arrival with visa support (Approval Letter), but such a visa is issued only at international airports. If you plan to enter back by land through land border crossings, you must have an already issued visa. Even if you have a pre-issued Approval Letter, you will not be allowed back to Vietnam until either the 30-day period after departure expires or you receive a visa at the Vietnamese consulate in any country.

Options for getting out of this situation for those who want to leave Vietnam for a short time to visit neighboring countries, so far we see such:

1. Obtaining a multiple entry visa (Multiply) in advance or upon arrival in Vietnam. Recall that Russian citizens are not charged for visa processing on arrival, you will have to spend only on visa support Approval Letter.
2. Registration of a single-entry visa in advance at home. After that, you should enter Vietnam visa-free, stay there for no more than 15 days, go to a neighboring country, and then enter back on a pre-issued visa. The reverse option, to enter on a visa, leave and re-enter visa-free, will not work.
3. Enter Vietnam visa-free, stay there no more than 15 days, go to a neighboring country and get a visa at the consulate there, and then enter back on a pre-issued visa.
4. Enter Vietnam visa-free, stay there no more than 15 days, go to a neighboring country, and return by plane and get a visa on arrival, of course, if you have an Approval Letter.

Learn more about visa to Vietnam and visa-free entry, What an invitation Letter is, and so on here. The topic of Vietnam visa and visa-free entry is discussed on our forum.