TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. WHAT IS VIETNAM VISA EXEMPTION?
According to regulations, visitors entering Vietnam for any purpose need to present a visa to be able to enter legally. However, there are countries that are exempt from Vietnam visa.
Vietnam has a policy of visa exemption, which allows foreigners to enter and stay in the country for a specific period without having to undergo any visa-related formalities or pay any visa issuance fees.
There are different ways to refer to the exemption of a visa for Vietnam, such as Vietnam visa exemption or visa-free Vietnam.
2. VIETNAM VISA-FREE COUNTRIES LIST
Starting from 2024, Vietnam will exempt 26 countries from visa requirements, with varying lengths of stay.
Specifically, the list of vietnam visa-free countries and residence periods are:
Note:
- Vietnam Visa exemption includes visa exemption for entry, exit, and transit.
- The period of temporary stay without a visa is calculated from the date of entry.
- Regulations regarding unilateral visa exemption for foreigners stipulate that if a foreigner wishes to utilize the visa exemption privilege upon their next entry into Vietnam, they must wait for at least 30 days from the date of departure from their most recent stay in Vietnam under the visa exemption policy, which has been ABOLISHED since July 1, 2020. From now on, Tourists can continuously enter Vietnam with visa exemption.
- Individuals who hold British National (Overseas) passports and are residing abroad are not eligible for Vietnam visa exemption
| Country | Valid time | Note |
| Asia | ||
| Brunei | 14 days | |
| Philippines | 21 days | |
| Myanmar | 14 days | |
| Campuchia | 30 days | |
| Indonesia | 30 days | |
| Kyrgyzstan | 30 days | |
| Lao | 30 days | |
| Malaysia | 30 days | |
| Singapore | 30 days | does not include any activities that generate income |
| Thailand | 30 days | |
| Kazakhstan | 30 days | Do not exceed 90 days in a 180-day period |
| Korea | 45 days | |
| Japan | 45 days | |
| Europe | ||
| Belarus | 15 days | |
| Germany | 45 days | |
| Denmark | 45 days | |
| Norway | 45 days | |
| Russia | 45 days | |
| France | 45 days | |
| Finland | 45 days | |
| Spain | 45 days | |
| Sweden | 45 days | |
| Italy | 45 days | |
| UK | 45 days | does not apply to British National Overseas (BNO) passport holders who hold a British passport while being abroad. |
| Americas | ||
| Chile | 90 days | does not include any activities that generate income |
| Panama | 90 days | does not include any activities that generate income |
3. NEEDED DOCUMENTS TO APPLY FOR VIETNAM VISA EXEMPTION
Visitors can be exempt from Vietnam’s visa by presenting a valid passport at the border gate without the need for complicated paperwork or procedures. The passport needs to meet certain conditions:
- Passport must have at least two blank pages
- Passport is valid for at least six months from the date of entry into Vietnam.
4. VIETNAM VISA EXEMPTION EXTENSION
As per the current Vietnamese visa regulations, there exists no provision for extending visa exemption which implies that individuals entering the country under visa exemption cannot apply for an extension of stay.
In the event that a tourist arrives in Vietnam with a visa exemption and desires to extend their stay beyond the exemption period, they may apply for a “Visa run”. This visa permits tourists to leave Vietnam and travel to neighboring countries such as Cambodia, Laos, Singapore, Thailand, and others. They may then return to Vietnam with a new visa exemption certificate.
In addition to leaving Vietnam and returning, tourists can apply for a 90-day Vietnam eVisa with TRUSTVISA’s service to continue their stay in Vietnam.
We hope that the information provided by TrustVisa has been helpful in clarifying what Vietnam visa exemption entails, as well as the necessary process and documentation required. If you have any further inquiries, please feel free to contact TrustVisa for additional guidance and assistance.
