Vietnam Flag and Map

Visa to Vietnam

Due to the mild climate and exotic nature, Vietnam is considered one of the most beloved Asian countries among Russians. Many choose it for their holidays because of visa-free entry and the possibility of obtaining a document at the airport. In addition, Russian citizens are exempt from the consular fee, they only need to pay for the preparation of an invitation letter, which significantly saves the travel budget. According to COUNTRYAAH, Vietnam is a country that starts with letter V.

Types of visas

  • visa-free entry;
  • single or multiple entry visa obtained at the border;
  • single or multiple entry visa issued at the consulate.

Tourist visa to Vietnam: general information

Do they give multivisa? give for a month
Term of receipt 2 working days;
Validity limit 6 months from the end of the trip
  • The cost of a regular visa: 25USD
  • Express visa: ~57USD
  • Visa fees: Visa-free entry to Vietnam

In order to enter the country without a visa, the following conditions must be met:

  • the trip lasts no more than 15 days;
  • a month has passed since the last departure from Vietnam;
  • the purpose is tourism, visiting relatives, solving business issues or transit;
  • the passport is valid for at least another six months;
  • the traveler is not included in the list of persons who are prohibited from entering the country.

If all these conditions are met, you do not need to pay a consular fee; at the border, a stamp with the date of arrival will be put in your passport (it will be checked on the way back). When passing through control, be sure to take a return ticket and hotel reservation with you.

The visa-free entry rule applies only to one visit to the country during the month. That is, a tourist who wants to travel to neighboring states, for example, to Cambodia or Laos for a week, and then return to Vietnam, must obtain a visa.

In the event of a serious illness of a traveler or other serious reasons, a visa-free stay can be extended upon application to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but this cannot be done without good reason.

Visiting Phu Quoc Island

If a tourist goes to Phu Quoc island, a visa-free stay there can last not more than two weeks, but a month, subject to the following conditions:

  • the trip lasts no more than 30 days;
  • the passport is valid for at least another six months;
  • the traveler does not leave the island;
  • a return ticket is available;
  • the guest arrives by international air or water transport from another country.

If the visa-free visit rules are violated, a fine will be issued – 16-20 USD for each day of delay. The prices on the page are for October 2022.

Applying for a visa on arrival

If you need to re-enter the country within a month, or the trip lasts more than 15 days, you can get a visa on arrival at the country’s international airports. When crossing a land or sea border, this cannot be done.

In order to apply for a visa, you must fill out an online application, where you indicate the name, passport number, travel dates, preferred payment method (bank card, PayPal, etc.). Then pay for the paper: from 15 to 25 USD, depending on the duration of the visa and the number of entries. Within two days, an invitation letter will be sent to your email, you need to print it on a color printer and take two photos 4×6 cm in size.

Upon arrival, you must provide an invitation letter, photo and return tickets at the border, as well as fill out a small form. Those who are not citizens of the Russian Federation must also pay a fee of 25 USD for a single entry visa or 50 USD for a multiple entry visa, for Russians this fee has been canceled. The entire procedure at the border lasts from 15 minutes to an hour.

Vietnam visa documents

Required documents for Vietnam visa on arrival:

  1. Invitation letter

Read above how to get it;

  1. international passport

The validity period must exceed 6 months from the date of departure from Vietnam;

  1. Photo

Two photographs (see photo requirements below);

  1. Insurance policy

Medical insurance, which can be taken out online, you should choose the type based on the perceived risks;

  1. Return air ticket

Fully redeemed;

  1. Booking a hotel

They accept both prepaid reservations and simply completed applications for accommodation;

  1. Cash

Only for those who are not citizens of Russia, the fee is accepted both in USD and VND;

Visa processing for children

The visa is placed in a separate passport for children. In addition to all the documents listed above, a birth certificate is required. Those who travel with one of the parents (and also if one of them is absent – died, deprived of the rights, etc.) need a notarized permission to leave from the second parent. Travelers with third parties obtain permission from both.

Applying for a visa at the consulate

In some cases, travelers prefer to apply for a visa in advance at the Consulate of Vietnam. This is done in a similar way, only the letter of invitation is replaced by the so-called visa support (Visa Approval Code). To get it, you need to fill out a questionnaire, in return they will give you a form with a code. The cost of services is the same, but you will have to appear in person at the consulate. In practice, tourists rarely use this opportunity.

Photo Requirements

You must provide two color photographs 4×6 cm in size. The pictures must be clear, without glare and shadows, taken no earlier than six months ago. The background is white. The distance from the top of the photo to the crown is 6 mm. From chin to crown – approximately 3.5 cm (70-80% of the area). The photo is taken from the front, the gaze is directed to the camera, you can smile a little. The frame should show the neck and shoulders. It is desirable that the ears are open.

Hats must be removed, except for those worn for religious reasons and if they do not cover the face.

Complex hairstyles, large hair accessories and extravagant glasses are not allowed. A simple frame that does not cover the eyes can be left on.

In the picture, all colors (skin and hair tone, natural eye tone, etc.) must correspond to reality. Foreign people and objects cannot be present in the frame: for example, children’s toys, bags, etc.

Consular fee

Issuing an invitation letter for a single visa for a period of 1 month costs 15 USD per person, the same document for a quarter of a year will cost 25 USD. For 20-30 USD you can apply for a multivisa for 30 days. This payment is made when filling out an application on the site, you can pay with bank cards or online payment systems.

If you apply in groups of 3 or more, the cost is reduced to 13, 11 and 10 USD, depending on the number of applicants. For urgent registration take an additional 15 USD.

In addition, Russian citizens do not need to pay anything, and other travelers pay a fee upon entry: 25 USD for a single visa and 50 USD for a multiple entry one.

Visa processing time

An online application is processed within two business days. The beginning of this period is the morning of the day following the date of payment. In practice, the invitation letter often arrives within a few hours.

Visa validity periods

A visa is issued for a period of 1 or 3 months from the moment of the first border crossing. You can stay in the country for the entire duration of the document, the number of entries is determined by the type of visa – single or “cartoon”.

You can return to Vietnam within 30 days only if you have a multiple-entry visa, a single-entry visa does not give such a right, it will not work to visit neighboring states on it.

If necessary, the visa can be extended on the spot – about 10 USD. This is done through local travel agencies. The application must be submitted in advance, until the previous permit has expired, otherwise there will be a fine.

Those who plan to stay in Vietnam for a longer time need to travel to any neighboring country and apply for a new visa there. The same should be done if the extension was refused on the spot.

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