TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. WHAT IS A VIETNAM BUSINESS VISA?
A Vietnam Business visa (DN) is a type of visa for foreigners coming to Vietnam with the intention of investing, expanding businesses or participating in trade cooperation events in Vietnam.
A business visa is divided into 2 types:
- Visa DN1: For individuals working directly with businesses or organizations with proper legal status under Vietnam law.
- Visa DN2: For individuals coming to Vietnam to offer services, establish a commercial presence and other activities according to international treaties in which Vietnam is a member of.
According to Vietnam Law a business Visa can last from 30 days, 90 days and up to a year. Additionally, it can be a single entry visa or multiple entry visa depending on the usage and intent of the visa holder. Upon entry into Vietnam the maximum duration you can stay with a multiple entry visa is 90 days.
2. DOCUMENT NEEDED TO APPLY FOR VIETNAM BUSINESS VISA
To get a Business Visa, foreigners need to meet the following requirements:
- Isn’t in the blacklist that bans entry into Vietnam according to Article 21 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam 2014.
- Must be insured by a company lawfully operating in Vietnam.
- Have a valid passport, at least 6 months from the date of entry and 2 blank pages.
- Prepare required papers which include: Visa application form supplied by Vietnam Embassies, clear portrait picture 4x6cm on white background no later than 6 months from the date of application.
All of the information provided must be true and follow the procedures to ensure a smooth visa application process.
3. LIST OF COUNTRIES EXEMPT FROM VIETNAM BUSINESS VISA
According to Resolution No 32/NQ-CP, Vietnam has applied for Visa exemptions for citizens of 13 countries when entering Vietnam for business reasons. This allows individuals from these countries to stay in Vietnam no longer than 45 days.
The list includes:
Europe: Germany, France, UK and Northern Ireland, Spain, Russia, Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Norway and Belarus.
Asia: Korea, Japan.
The list applied until 14/3/2025 and can apply for visa extension according to Vietnam regulations.
There are also some countries get business visa exempt with a short temporary residence time:
- 14 days for Brunei and Myanmar
- 21 days for Philippines
- 30 days for Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan and Singapore
- 90 days for: Panama, Chile and travelers with APEC card.
4. HOW TO APPLY FOR VIETNAM BUSINESS VISA
Currently there are 3 different ways to apply for a business visa in Vietnam which meet the demand and situations of foreigners.
The 3 options are:
- Apply for an electronic visa (E-Visa), this is a modern option that allows you to complete the application through the internet, flexible and fast.
- Apply for a business visa right at the airport (visa on arrival VOA), which is the best for short and abrupt trips.
- Apply directly to your local Vietnamese embassy or consulate.
Each of the 3 options has its own respective requirements and processes to quickly accommodate individuals applying for a visa.
4.1 Acquiring an eVisa
Vietnam eVisa allows all citizens of all countries and territories to enter Vietnam one or multiple times and stay no longer than 90 days.
Be aware that an eVisa can not be extended while you are in Vietnam, which means you will have to go to a different country (Laos, Cambodia etc) and apply for an eVisa there before reentering Vietnam
This process will take some time and effort while also incurring some extra fees. Furthermore, this type of visa can not be transformed into temporary resident papers in Vietnam.
If you want to stay and work in Vietnam for an extended period of time, a work permit and a temporary residence permit are encouraged and advised rather than using an eVisa.
Find more information in this article: Vietnam eVisa
4.2 Getting a Vietnam Business Visa On Arrival (VOA)
It shares many similarities with applying for a visa directly at a consulate/embassy but you will have your visa stamped at the airport when you arrive.
This process also consists of 3 steps:
Step 1: Getting Approval Letter on Arrival
Your sponsor company/business in Vietnam will apply for an entry sponsor letter at the Vietnam immigration department and send it to you in a PDF file which is the basis for entering the country.
Step 2: Preparing the documents to have your visa stamped
Foreigners need to prepare these documents in order to smoothly enter the country after landing:
- A copy of your sponsor letter
- A visa application form filled with detailed information, signed and have your portrait photos (4×6 cm).
- Your original passport
- Visa fees, $25 for single entry visa and $50 for multiple entry visa, maximum duration is 90 days.
Step 3: Having your visa stamped at the airport
After landing at the airport, bring your papers to the visa approving station and turn it in with your fees.
Vietnam business stamp DN1 or DN2 will be stamped directly at the station and afterward, you can enter Vietnam and work according to the time in your paper.
Find more information in this article: Vietnam Visa Embassy
4.3 Applying Directly At A Vietnam Embassy Or Consulate
The sponsor company/business in Vietnam would be the applier for the visa, the process consists of 3 steps:
Step 1: Acquiring entry documents
The sponsor company/business will need to prepare and apply these documents:
- A copy of the foreigner’s passport.
- A copy of the Sponsor company/business’s business registration certificate.
- Form NA2 for foreigners asking for entry into Vietnam and form NA16
- Other documents as required by the Vietnam Immigration Department
The process will take around 05-07 working days.
After approving the application, the Vietnam immigration department will issue the immigration paper to your sponsor company and will fax it to your registered Consulate or Embassy to get it stamped.
Step 2: Preparations to have your business visa stamped
After receiving the entry paper from your sponsor company/business in Vietnam, foreigners will need to prepare the following documents: Visa application form, original passport, portrait photos and visa fees which depend on Consulate and Embassy.
Be aware that there can be other documents required that are not listed here.
Step 3: Stamping your business visa
Submit your documents to the Embassy or Consulate registered either by mail or in person.
Your visa will be stamped after the approval process, you can now enter Vietnam legally and work for the sponsor company/business.
Find more information in this article: Vietnam Visa On Arrival
5. EXTENDING VIETNAM BUSINESS VISA
If your work requires more time to stay in Vietnam, your business visa can be extended.
But as we shared above, if your visa is stamped at the Embassy/Consulate or at the airport when you arrive, it can be extended while your E-Visa can not.
Conditions to extend your stay with the business visa:
- Passport duration: The passport needs to be valid at least 06 months from the time you want to extend your stay or reissue the visa.
- Blank pages: Your passport needs at least 2 blank pages.
- Type of visa extended: Business visa stamped at immigration gate and hasn’t been extended before. And the valid 5 years visa but overstayed the legal duration in the country.
Extension fees depend on the type of visa you have, the duration you want to stay and the urgency of your extension.
6. FEES FOR VIETNAM BUSINESS VISA
When applying for entry into Vietnam, depending on your type of visa there will be different amounts of fees required:
- E-Visa: you will need to pay the fees directly online, 25$ for single entry visa and 50$ for multiple entry visa and no other payment is needed when you enter Vietnam.
- Visa on arrival (VOA): pay the fees for the visa at the airport depending on the type of visa and your stay duration. Single entry for 01 and 03 months is $25 while multiple entry with the same duration is $50. Multiple entry visa for 1 year is $135.
Applying directly at an Embassy/Consulate: pay the fees required by the embassy/consulate.
7. TYPICAL ERRORS WHEN APPLYING FOR A VIETNAM BUSINESS VISA
When applying for a visa, there are some common errors that affect the time needed to process or even lead to a denial of entry.
Below are some of the most common errors:
- Wrong or missing information: Filling out the wrong personal information like your name, address, passport number or information on the purposes of your trip makes the process take longer and can even lead to a denial of your visa.
- Not enough time on your passport: At least 6 months is required on your passport from the day of entry. This is usually the reason most applications are denied.
- Not enough documents: Depending on which type of visa you need (DN1 or DN2), applicants also need to provide some extra documents like investment certificates, business registration certificates… Missing these documents can affect your chances of being accepted.
- Portrait photos don’t meet the requirements: Your photos must be white background, no glasses, look straight and up to date (no further than 6 months ago).
- Late on your application: Applying your documents too late compared to your travel schedule could lead to unnecessary delays, leading to your visa not being issued on time.
- Doesn’t track your visa process: Not tracking your application could lead to delays when further documents are required.
- Misunderstanding the scope of your visa: Sometimes foreigners apply for a type of visa while misunderstanding their scope. For example: some types of visa doesn’t allow transformation into a temporary resident paper or allow extension.
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