• What are the conditions for foreigners to enter Vietnam?

Foreigners shall be permitted entry into Vietnam when they meet all the conditions specified in Article 20 of the Law on entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam 2014 (amended 2019), specifically as follows :

- Have a passport or valid international travel documents and visa, except for cases of visa-free entry according to the Law on entry, exit, transit and residence of foreigners in Vietnam.

The passport of a foreigner wishing to make an entry in the form of unilateral visa-free must be valid for at least another six (06) months;

- Not fall into categories of entry suspension as prescribed in Article 21 of the Law on entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam 2014 (amended 2019).

A foreigner making an entry on an electronic visa must fully satisfy all conditions specified above and make an entry via international border checkpoints decided by the Government.

• What conditions are required for personnel approval procedures for foreigners entering the country?

- There shall be an organisation or individual in Vietnam to sponsor the dossier requesting permission for foreigners to enter the country (except for citizens of countries with which Vietnam has signed a visa exemption agreement or with which Vietnam has unilaterally waived visas) (Article 10 Law on entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam 2014).

- Foreigners and Vietnamese holding foreign passports are not allowed to enter Vietnam if they are "not allowed to enter Vietnam" according to Vietnamese law.

- Before carrying out procedures to welcome guests into Vietnam, agencies and organisations need to submit documents proving their legal status.

• What is the maximum duration of visas issued to foreigners working in Vietnam who require a work permit?

Pursuant to Article 9 of the Law on Entry, exit, transit, and Residence of foreigners in Vietnam 2014, amended and supplemented in 2019, 2023), the maximum duration of each type of visa is as follows:

- The duration of an SQ visa is no longer than 30 days.

- The duration of an HN, DL, or EV visa do not exceed 90 days.

- The duration of a VR visa does not exceed 180 days.

- The duration of a NG1, NG2, NG3, NG4, LV1, LV2, ĐT4, DN1, DN2, NN1, NN2, NN3, DH, PV1, PV2, TT visa do not exceed 01 year.

- The duration of a LĐ1, LĐ2 visa do not exceed 02 years.

- The duration of a ĐT3 visa does not exceed 03 years.

- The duration of a LS, ĐT1, ĐT2 visa do not exceed 05 years.

- When a visa is expired, its reissuance shall be considered.

- The duration of a visa shall be at least 30 days shorter than that of a passport or international laissez-passer.

- International agreements to which Vietnam is a signatory shall prevail in case such international agreements specify otherwise.

• What documents are included in the application for a visa?

Pursuant to Article 19 of the Law on entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam 2014 and Article 2 of Circular No. 04/2015/TT-BCA

- A dossier includes:

+ Application form for Vietnamese visa issuance and temporary residence extension (form NA5). 

+ Original passport + separate visa/old temporary residence card (if any); 01 4x6 photo (if subject to separate visa);

+ Copy or photocopy (attached with the original for comparison) of documents proving the purpose of staying in Vietnam: Certification of exemption from work permit, Work Permit, Investment Registration Certificate, documents proving family relationship...

- Number of dossiers: 01 (one) set

- Competent agency: Danang Immigration Division, Danang city Police

- Time to return results: Within 05 working days from receipt of the valid application. If applying to the Danang Immigration Division, Danang city Police: 04 working days.

Please visit the National Public Service Portal or the Ministry of Public Security's National Web portal on Immigration for more details.

• What documents are included in the dossier requesting an extension of temporary residence?

Pursuant to Article 35 of the Law on entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam 2014, Article 5 of Circular No. 04/2016/TT-BNG and Article 2 of Circular No. 04/2015/TT-BCA

- A dossier includes:

+ Application form for Vietnamese visa issuance, temporary residence extension (form NA5);

+ Original passport + separate visa/old temporary residence card (if any); 01 4x6 photo (if subject to separate visa);

+ Copy or photocopy (attached with the original for comparison) of documents proving the purpose of staying in Vietnam: Certification of exemption from work permit, Investment Registration Certificate, documents proving family relationship...

- Number of dossiers: 01 (one) set

- Competent agency: Danang Immigration Division, Danang city Police

- Time to return results: Within 05 working days from receipt of the valid application. If applying to the Danang Immigration Division, Danang city Police: 04 working days.

Please visit the National Public Service Portal or the Ministry of Public Security's National Web portal on Immigration for more details.

• What are the procedures for applications for temporary residence cards?

Pursuant to clause 1, Article 37 of the Law on entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam 2014 and clause 2, Article 4 of Circular No. 31/2015/TT-BCA:

- A dossier includes:

+ Official letter requesting issuance of temporary residence card (form NA6);

+ Application form for issuance of temporary residence card for foreigners (form NA8);

+ Sponsorship application form for a temporary residence card (form NA7) (if sponsoring a relative)

+ 02 2x3 photos, white background, recently taken, straight face, bare head, no coloured glasses (1 photo stuck to the declaration form and 01 photo left separately).

+ Original passport, separate visa or old temporary residence card (if any).Copy or photocopy (attached with the original for comparison) of documents proving the purpose of staying in Vietnam: Certification of exemption from work permit, Work Permit, Investment Registration Certificate, documents proving family relationship...

- Number of dossiers: 01 (one) set

- Competent agency: Danang Immigration Division, Danang city Police

- Time to return results: Within 05 working days from receipt of the valid application. If applying to the Danang Immigration Division, Danang city Police: 04 working days.

- Procedures for granting Temporary Residence Card:

According to Clause 2, Article 37 of the Law on Entry, exit, transit, and Residence of foreigners in Vietnam 2014, guided by Article 4 of Circular 31/2015/TT-BCA:

+ Step 1: Prepare a set of dossiers as regulated.

+ Step 2: Submit the application at the headquarters of the Immigration Department - Ministry of Public Security or Immigration Management Department - Police of the province or centrally run city where the inviting or sponsoring agency or organisation is headquarters or place where the inviting or sponsoring individual resides.

+ Step 3: The officer receiving the dossier checks the legality and content of the dossier. If the application is complete and valid, the application will be received, printed and issued with an appointment letter to return the results to the applicant, requiring payment of fees to toll collection officers. The fee collection officer collects the money and delivers the receipt to the person requesting a temporary residence card.

+ Step 4: The person requesting a temporary residence card directly receives the results at the place of registration. When receiving the results, please bring the appointment letter, identification documents, and payment receipts for comparison.

Please visit the National Public Service Portal or the Ministry of Public Security's National Web portal on Immigration for more details.

• What are the issues to remember when applying for immigration procedures?

1. Visa purposes cannot be changed except in the following cases:

a. Documents proving that as an investor or representative of a foreign organisation investing in Vietnam in accordance with Vietnamese law, a visa or temporary residence card with the appropriate symbol will be granted.

b. Documents proving relationships, such as father, mother, spouse, or child, to the inviting or sponsoring individual, such as a visa or temporary residence card with the symbol TT, will be granted.

c. Invited and sponsored by an agency or organisation to work and have a work permit or confirmation of exemption from work permit according to labour law provisions, a visa or temporary residence card with the appropriate symbol will be issued.

d. Entering the country with an electronic visa, then having a work permit or confirmation of exemption from a work permit according to the provisions of the labour law will be issued a visa and temporary residence card with the appropriate symbol.2. Foreigners who are temporarily residing in Vietnam and already have a visa or temporary residence card with the symbol TT (visiting relatives). If they need to work or invest, they are not required to reissue the visa or temporary residence card with the symbol LD2 or DT1,2,3,4.

3. The duration of a visa shall be at least 30 days shorter than that of a passport or international laissez-passer.

4. The minimum application period for a temporary residence card is 12 months.

5. Check the guest's temporary residence declaration information before applying.

• What are the responsibilities of the foreign sponsor agency?

Pursuant to Article 45 of the Law on Entry, exit, transit, and Residence of foreigners in Vietnam 2014, the responsibilities of foreign guarantee agencies are as follows:

1. Submit a quarterly report on the list of foreigners invited and sponsored by the organisation to the Immigration Management Division (according to the form).

- Guide and explain to foreigners how to comply with the law and respect Vietnam's cultural traditions, customs and practices.

2. When a foreigner terminates the labour contract or the enterprise is dissolved: The agency, organisation or individual that sponsors the foreigner shall notify in writing the immigration management agency of the cases in which foreigners granted entry, exit or residence permits have not yet expired but inviting or sponsoring agencies, organizations and individuals no longer wish to be sponsored during their temporary residence in Vietnam, and coordinate with functional agencies in requesting such foreigners to leave Vietnam.

3. Coordinate with functional agencies in managing foreigners’ activities in accordance with their entry purposes while they are temporarily residing in Vietnam; coordinate with lodging establishments to declare temporary residence of foreigners; coordinate with Vietnamese authorities to resolve issues related to invited and sponsored foreigners.

4. Agencies, organisations, and individuals are only allowed to employ foreign workers, organise travel programs for foreigners, or allow foreigners to reside temporarily when they reside legally in Vietnam.

5. If dêtcing signs of violating the law on entry, exit, transit, or residence of foreigners in Vietnam, the organisation or individual must immediately notify the nearest police station.

• If an enterprise employs foreign labourers but does not carry out the procedures for inviting or sponsoring the issuance of visas or temporary residence cards, will they be handled for violations?

Pursuant to clause 6, Article 18 of Decree No. 144/2021/ND-CP dated 31/12/2021, regulating violations against regulations on exit, entry, transit, residence and travel, an agency or organisation that uses or employs foreigners fails to follow procedures for inviting or sponsoring them to apply for issuance of visa or temporary resident card will be fined from 15.000.000 to 20.000.000 VND.