[Guidelines] How To Apply For A Vietnam 5 Year Visa Exemption

• September 14,2023
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How to apply for a Vietnam 5 year visa exemption? Foreigners are allowed to travel to Vietnam without conducting a new visa procedure for a maximum of five years. When applying for and renewing a visa to Vietnam, this visa option saves a significant amount of time and energy. Focus on this article to learn more about this visa type.

WHAT IS A 5 YEAR VISA EXEMPTION?

This visa exemption has the longest validity period of 5 years. However, the certificate must expire six months before the passport or foreign residency document. As a result, if foreigners wish to obtain a full 5-year visa exemption, an original passport or foreign resident card valid for at least 5 years and 6 months is essential.

The 5-year visa exemption is the longest-term valid entry and exit document that functions as a visa for grantees to enter and exit Vietnam at any time during the validity period. However, foreigners can stay in Vietnam for a maximum of 6 months per entry and can extend their temporary residence if they desire to stay longer. In additional detail:

• If your visa exemption is valid for longer than 6 months, you may extend your temporary stay for another 180 days.

• If the visa exemption validity is less than 6 months, the temporary stay term will be equivalent to the remaining validity of the visa exemption.

Who is eligible?

A 5-year visa exemption (also known as a spouse visa) is a certificate provided by a Vietnamese competent body for many applicable objects: 

• Vietnamese citizens residing abroad who do not have a Vietnamese passport 

• Foreigners who are spouses or children of Vietnamese citizens

• Vietnamese residing abroad

Vietnam’s 5-year visa exemption in brief

Visa types for Vietnam’s 5-year exemption

There are two types of 5-year visas for Vietnam:

• Vietnam visa sticker for five years: This type of 5-year Vietnam visa is a convenient and adaptable option for both overseas Vietnamese and international individuals looking to visit Vietnam.

• Vietnam visa book for five years: This 5-year Vietnam visa is only available to overseas Vietnamese who have permanent residence cards issued by other countries. Also, passport holders from countries and territories with whom Vietnam has no diplomatic relations can get this visa category.

CONDITIONS/REQUIREMENTS

To get a certificate of 5-year visa exemption, you must complete the following requirements:

• Having a passport that is valid for at least a year.

• Having documentation demonstrating your eligibility for visa exemption.

• Not if you are barred from entering Vietnam.

Before learning about how to apply for a Vietnam 5 year visa exemption, check out the full details about the document requirements:

Requirements for obtaining a Vietnam 5 year visa exemption

For overseas Vietnamese

• A completed application for a 5-year Vietnam visa exemption: The applicant must complete the online form, print it, and attach photographs.
• An original passport or residence permit issued by a competent government: This certificate should have a minimum of one year of validity.
• Two current passport photographs: The images must be taken against a white background, with the applicant's face straight and without any headgear or tinted glasses.
• Documents showing eligibility for the Vietnam 5-year visa include many documents: a birth certificate, a decision to renounce Vietnamese citizenship, a certificate of loss of Vietnamese citizenship, an expired Vietnamese passport, and an identity card.

For foreign wives and children of Vietnamese citizens or Vietnamese living abroad

• A completed application for a 5-year Vietnam visa exemption: The applicant must complete the online form, print it, and attach photographs.
• A passport or other kind of identification: The certificate should remain valid for at least one year.
• Two current passport photographs: The images must be taken against a white background, with the applicant's face straight and without any headgear or tinted glasses.
• Documents showing marriage or parental relationship: marriage certificate, birth certificate, certificate of parental relationship, or adoption decision.

HOW TO APPLY

As a part of how to apply for a Vietnam 5 year visa exemption, visitors need to focus on the document requirements:

How to apply for a Vietnam 5 year visa exemption

Dossiers

• A valid passport or comparable foreign travel document, as well as a permanent residency permit.

• An application form.

• Two (2) passport-sized pictures (one incorporated into the application form, one placed separately).

Other documents confirming applicants are eligible for the 5-year visa exemption:

• For overseas Vietnamese: a notarized copy of one of the original documents, such as a birth certificate; papers indicating renunciation of Vietnamese citizenship or loss of Vietnamese citizenship; and other documents proving Vietnamese citizenship or previous Vietnamese citizenship (passport, identity card, voter card, and so on).

• For foreigners: a notarized copy of the original document confirming they are the spouses or children of overseas Vietnamese or Vietnamese citizens.

Procedures

Step 1: Prepare the dossier

Step 2: Submit a dossier to the Vietnam Embassy or Consulate in a foreign country or the Vietnam Immigration Department in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. Applicants will receive a receipt if their dossier is complete and meets the standards. If not, additional documentation will be requested for the approval procedure.

Step 3: Get the outcome

Applicants wait for the receipt and are granted visa exemption.

HOW TO EXTEND

Despite having a 5-year visa exemption, you can only stay in Vietnam for 6 months per entrance. A visa extension is strongly advised if you do not intend to exit and re-enter the country. With a 5-year visa, foreigners can stay for an additional 6 months, complying with the Vietnam visa regulations.

To extend your stay, you must prepare and submit all of the following paperwork to the Vietnam Immigration Department:

• A current passport

• A visa application and stay extension (form NA5)

• Documents showing your visa exemption eligibility

• A notarized copy of the Vietnamese sponsor's current passport or identity card

• Certificate of Temporary Residency

PROCESSING TIME & FEE

All the information in previous sections might clarify your query: “How to apply for a Vietnam 5 year visa exemption”. The next part will show you the standard time that visa processing will take:

Processing time

The overseas visa-issuing authority of Vietnam, or Vietnamese Embassy, will submit the applicant's details to the Immigration Department in Vietnam within one working day of receiving a complete application.

The Immigration Department will assess the application and respond to Vietnam's foreign visa-issuing body within three working days.

The overseas visa-issuing body of Vietnam will issue the visa exemption certificate within one working day of receiving the Immigration Department's response.

Since the dossiers are fully submitted, the processing time for applications is generally 5 to 7 working days. The period will be extended if your dossiers need to be supplemented or are insufficient.

5-year visa fees

The fee for applying for a 5-year visa exemption varies based on the issuing body (the Vietnam Embassy or Consulate overseas or the Vietnam Immigration Department).

Embassy or Consulate of Vietnam: More information can be obtained directly from the official website of this entity.

Immigration Department of Vietnam:

• The first issuance costs US$20.

• US$10 from the second issuance.

The charge for a 5-year visa exemption in Vietnam is $10 USD. Please note that these processing times and fees are subject to change, and it is always preferable to confirm the most innovative information with the Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate or the relevant immigration office.

Our in-depth guide on how to apply for a Vietnam 5 year visa exemption is a must-read for anyone planning an adventurous trip to this interesting Southeast Asian destination. It is now easier to navigate the complexities of Vietnam travel and visa requirements. Whether you're a seasoned traveler or a first-time tourist, let's dive into the world of Vietnam visas and unpack the crucial procedures for a smooth application process. Contact us at +1 315 715 8498 or email support@e-visa-gov.com for more details about the Vietnam 5 year visa exemption.

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