Vietnam
Most nationalities require a visa to enter Vietnam (please check with the embassy of your specific country).
There are two methods for obtaining a visa to Vietnam:
1.) Apply through a Vietnamese Embassy
2.) Apply on arrival. Obtaining a visa upon arrival is only suggested at International Airports (Hanoi, Danang, Saigon) or major entry ports.
Requirements for Obtaining a Visa Upon Arrival:
1. Invitation letter from the Vietnam authorities (see procedure below)
2. Passport (must be valid for at least six months, and have one full page for the visa stamp)
3. Two recent passport photos
4. USD 25 in cash (USD 50 for multiple entry)
5. Visa application form (available at the airport)
Procedure and Processing Time for Obtaining an Invitation Letter
Indochina Services can apply for an invitation letter for any clients with a roundtrip booking with us in Vietnam. An application fee will apply: please see current tariff for rates. To apply, submit the following details to visa@is-intl.com:
- Passport details (full name, date of birth, gender, nationality, passport number, date of issue, date of expiry)
- Dates of travel
- Port of entry
- Specify single or multiple entry
Please allow for at least 7-10 days to process the invitation letter. Urgent visa approvals are available within 5-7 working days, with additional surcharges
Procedure and Processing Time on Arrival in Vietnam
Hand over the passport, invitation letter, application form, passport photos and fee to the visa counter at the airport. Average processing time is 30 minutes, but this may vary.
NOTE: during the annual TET Festival in late January/early February, Immigrations offices are closed. No applications for invitation letters or approval numbers can be processed during this time. Before and after the holiday, approvals are often delayed due to the volume of applications. All travellers planning to come to Vietnam in this period should submit their applications well in advance.
Applying For a Visa From a Vietnamese Embassy
Requirements
1. Visa approval number from the Vietnamese authorities (see procedure below)
2. Passport (must be valid for at least six months, and have one full page for the visa stamp)
3. Two recent passport photos
4. Visa application fee (please contact embassy for current fees)
5. Two visa application forms
Procedure and Processing Time for Obtaining a Visa Approval Number
1) Applying directly from the embassy. Please contact your nearest Vietnamese Embassy for procedures and processing times, as they may vary from embassy to embassy.
2) Applying from the embassy with a visa approval number obtained from Indochina Services. Indochina Services can apply for visa approval numbers for clients who have roundtrip bookings with us. Applying with a visa approval number can mean lower visa fees from the embassy and expedited service.
Step 1: Apply for an approval number from Indochina Services
* Please sumbit the following details;
- Passport details (full name, date of birth, gender, nationality, passport number, date of issue, date of expiry)
- Dates of travel
- Port of entry
- Please specify single or multiple entry
* Processing time: please allow 7-10 days for processing. Urgent visa approvals are available in 5-6 days, with additional surcharges
* Fees: this service is free of charge for clients with roundtrip bookings, but service fees apply for hotel-only bookings, and for urgent visa approvals.
Step 2: Apply for the visa from the Embassy. After receiving your visa approval number, please submit the following documents and information to your nearest Vietnamese embassy. Please check for fees and processing time with the embassy nearest you;
- Visa approval number
- Passport (must be valid for at least six months, and have one full page for the visa stamp)
- Two recent passport photos
- Visa application fee (please contact embassy for current fees)
- Two visa application forms
Procedure and Processing Time for Obtaining a Visa
Please contact the Vietnamese Embassy nearest you for procedures and processing time, as they may vary.
Procedure and Processing Time on Arrival in Vietnam
Hand over the passport with visa to the visa counter at the airport. Average processing time is 30 minutes.
Important Notes:
Please recheck the dates noted on the visa stamp to make sure that they match the dates of travel, and that it is the correct type of visa (single-entry or multiple-entry). If the wrong date or type is stamped, travellers may be refused entry into the country.
TET Festival: during the annual TET Festival in late January/early February, Immigrations offices are closed. No applications for invitation letters or approval number can be processed during this time. Before and after the holiday, approvals are often delayed due to the volume of applications. All travellers planning to come to Vietnam in this period should submit their applications well in advance.
