Vietnam visa in questions and answers, FAQ

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General questions, terms of validity

• Do I need a visa to Vietnam?

  Citizens of most countries visa in Vietnam is needed. However, Russian citizens can come to Vietnam for tourist purposes for a period of no more than 15 days without a visa, having received on arrival a stamp in the passport for a visa-free stay (do not confuse this stamp with a visa on arrival, This is a visa-free stay of up to 15 days).

• Where can I get a visa to Vietnam?

  A visa can be obtained on arrival in Vietnam or at a consulate in any country. Moreover, it does not matter what kind of citizenship you have, you can easily get a visa at the consulate in any country where you apply.

  Is it possible to get a visa while in Vietnam. Yes, such services are offered by travel agencies in resorts. Price from $ 40. They say that this is not entirely legal, and you can not get such a visa yourself while in Vietnam.

• What is the required passport validity period to enter Vietnam?

  The passport must be valid for at least 6 months if you enter without a visa (only for Russians) or plan to issue a visa on arrival.

  If you apply for a visa at the consulate, then you need a passport valid for at least 30 days after the expected end of the trip (checked on your return tickets). At the same time, keep in mind that to apply for a visa at the embassy, you need to provide a passport valid for at least 6 months. The validity period of a passport for visa processing and for entry are different things.

• What is the required passport validity period for a visa to Vietnam?

  As mentioned above, if you apply for a visa at the consulate at home, you must provide a passport valid for at least 6 months. The validity of a passport for visa processing and upon entry are different things.

• Is there a transit visa to Vietnam

  No, what type of visa is not. If you fly in transit through Vietnam without changing the terminal, then there are no problems, because you do not leave the international zone.

Visa-free entry

• Where is the stamp for visa-free entry to Vietnam?

  Such a stamp for citizens of Russia and Belarus is placed at all land border crossings and at international airports in Vietnam.

• How does 15 days of visa-free stay count?

  If strictly official, then from the date of arrival exactly 15 days are counted. But sometimes the border guards put 1-2 days more if your return flight falls on the 16th or 17th day.

• What is the passport validity period required for visa-free entry to Vietnam?

  Since 01.01.2015 this term is increased from 3 months to 6 months.

• Is it possible to extend visa-free 15 days?

  Yes, local travel agencies offer an extension service (make a visa) from $ 40 for 30 days, longer term is more expensive. Since 01.01.2015, the cost of the extension has increased significantly, up to $ 100.

• Can I leave Vietnam and come back to get stamped again for 15 days?

  Until January 01, 2015, this was possible at any time. At the moment, you can enter Vietnam visa-free only more than 30 days after the last departure from it.

• Is it possible to enter Vietnam visa-free earlier than thirty days after the first departure, if I first entered on a visa.

  No, from January 01, 2015, you can get a stamp for 15 days of visa-free stay strictly no earlier than 30 days after the last departure from Vietnam, regardless of how you entered before that.

• Is it possible to exceed the visa-free period of 15 days?

  Officially, according to the law, it is impossible, but in practice it is known that border guards often go to a meeting, and on the basis of the submitted air tickets for departure, they put a stamp in the passport for 16 or 17 days. Nevertheless, we recommend in such cases to obtain a visa on arrival, especially since it is free for citizens of the Russian Federation.

• Did I exceed 15 days of visa-free stay?

  What do I face when leaving? If the excess is small, in 2-3 days, then you will get off by listening to a lecture on the inadmissibility of violating deadlines and a fine of 10-15 dollars for each day of delay.

• Do I need a return ticket for a visa-free stay?

  Need a return ticket or a ticket to any other country. Although its presence is not always checked, but if they ask and you do not have it, they will not be allowed into the country. Then you can quickly buy any ticket for departure to a neighboring country via the internet right at the airport, and enter.

• I want to fly to Vietnam, and fly home from a neighboring country, moving there by land. Will they let me in?

  If strictly according to the law, they may not let you in, since you will not have a ticket for departure/departure from Vietnam. But in most cases, if you explain your route and show a ticket from another country, they will meet you halfway. You can also book a bus ticket from Vietnam in advance via the Internet and present it.

Visa on arrival (Landing Visa)

• What do you need to get a visa on arrival in Vietnam?

  You need a valid passport for at least 6 months, a pre-issued invitation letter( Approval Letter), a 4x6 photo (color or black and white) and a questionnaire. It is better to issue a questionnaire and a photo in advance at home.

  Download Vietnam visa application form in Vietnamese/Russian in two formats: анкета.doc / questionnaire.pdf. Download questionnaire in pdf format in English.

• What is an invitation letter for a visa on arrival (Visa Approval Letter) and where to get it

  An invitation letter is required to obtain a visa on arrival. It is issued through special sites, printed out, and transferred for visa processing on arrival at the airport. You can register here - http://www.vietnamstay.com/service, http://www.vietnamvisapro.net/, http://www.cheapvietnamvisa.net/, http://www.vietnam-visa-service.com, cost from $ 8.

• Is the invitation letter (Visa Approval Letter) and the invitation code (Visa Approval Code) the same thing?

  In fact, they are similar, but they are different things. Visa Approval Letter is the paper for obtaining a visa on arrival at the airport, and Visa Approval Code is the invitation code required to obtain a visa in advance. Both are issued through special sites (see above)

• Where can I get a visa on arrival in Vietnam?

  Visa on arrival is issued only at International airports of Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Danang and Nha Trang. At land crossings, a visa on arrival is not made.

• Can I get a visa on arrival at Phu Quoc Airport?

  Since 2015,Phu Quoc Island has a full-fledged international airport that accepts international flights. Visa on arrival is issued in the same way as at other airports.

• Do Russian citizens have to pay for a visa on arrival?

  Visa on arrival in Vietnam for citizens of the Russian Federation is free.

• How long does it take to get a visa on arrival at the airport?

  Usually visa processing takes 15-20 minutes, and in rare cases, if there is a long queue, this process can take up to 1 hour, but not longer.

• How much does a visa cost on arrival in Vietnam?

  For Russians, a visa on arrival is free, for other citizens:

  • 1 month, Single Entry : $45
  • 1 month, multiple entry : $65
  • up to 6 months, multiple entry : $95
  • over 6 months, multiple entry : $135

  The fee is paid in dollars.

  In practice, only a maximum of three-month multiple-entry visas are issued.

Visa entry and visa processing in advance

• Where can I apply for a visa to Vietnam in advance?

  In any Consulate of Vietnam in any country in the world regardless of citizenship (i.e. a Russian can easily apply for a visa to Vietnam at the embassy Thailand, for example). Of course, you can apply for a visa in Moscow, the consulate in Vladivostok and Yekaterinburg.

• Does the re-entry restriction apply no earlier than 30 days after the last departure if I enter on an existing visa or issue a visa on arrival with an invitation letter?

  The restriction of entry no earlier than 30 days applies only to visa-free entry.

• A visa at the embassy to citizens of the Russian Federation is issued free of charge, as well as a visa on arrival?

  No, for a visa issued in advance, you will have to pay a considerable consular fee, so for tourist purposes in most cases it makes no sense to contact the visa processing at the consulate in advance. It makes sense to apply for a visa in advance only if you enter the country by land, i.e. there will be no opportunity to get a free visa on arrival (for citizens of the Russian Federation).