Vietnam Visa Exemption

The Vietnam visa exemption is a helpful policy. It lets citizens from many countries visit Vietnam without applying for a visa first. But do you know how many countries are currently eligible for this exemption? Let Wexplore Vietnam guide you through the details in the article below!

What is the Vietnam Visa Exemption?

Vietnam visa exemption means that foreign citizens can enter and stay in Vietnam for a set time. They do not need to get a visa for this.

This policy relies on visa exemption agreements. These agreements can be bilateral or unilateral. The Vietnamese government signs agreements with each country.

Vietnam Visa Exemption countries

According to Article 1 of Resolution 128/NQ-CP of 2023, some countries can enter Vietnam without a visa. These countries will have visa-free entry starting on August 15, 2023, are:

Unilateral visa exemption

Vietnam gives visa exemptions to citizens from 26 countries with free 14-90 days stay in Vietnam . These countries are:

No.	Country	Maximum visa-free duration	Applicable purpose of visit (if any)
1	Chile	90 days	Entries that do not include remunerated activities
2	Panama	90 days	Entries that do not include remunerated activities
3	Cambodia	30 days	Not mentioned
4	Indonesia	30 days	Not mentioned
5	Kyrgyzstan	30 days	Not mentioned
6	Laos	30 days	Not mentioned
7	Malaysia	30 days	Tourism, attending press conferences or coverage, official duty, visiting relatives, business negotiation, investment, sports, or attending seminars or conferences
8	Singapore	30 days	Entries that do not include remunerated activities
9	Thailand	30 days	Not mentioned
10	Philippines	21 days	Not mentioned
11	Brunei	14 days	Not mentioned
12	Myanmar	14 days	Visiting only
13	Belarus	45 days	Not mentioned
14	Denmark	45 days	Not mentioned
15	Finland	45 days	Not mentioned
13	France	45 days	Not mentioned
17	Germany	45 days	Not mentioned
18	Italy	45 days	Not mentioned
19	Japan	45 days	Not mentioned
20	Norway	45 days	Not mentioned
21	Russia	45 days	Not mentioned
22	South Korea	45 days	Not mentioned
23	Spain	45 days	Not mentioned
24	Sweden	45 days	Not mentioned
25	United Kingdom (Not applicable to BNO)	45 days	Not mentioned
26	Kazakhstan	30 days	Not exceeding 90 days within 180 continuous days

Bilateral visa exemption

A bilateral visa exemption is an agreement between two countries. It lets citizens of each country enter, stay, and leave the other country without applying for a visa before their trip. The bilateral visa exemption lasts for no more than 30 days.

Order	Country	Date of entry into force	Categories of passports covered
1	Argentina	13/11/1999	Diplomatic passports, official passports
2	Albania	1/10/1956	Diplomatic passports, official passports, and group passports for official mission
3	Algeria	02/01/1995	Diplomatic Passports, Official passports
4	Afghanistan	26/2/1988	Diplomatic Passports, Official passports
5	Bangladesh	10/7/1999	Diplomatic Passports, Official passports for Vietnamese citizens Diplomatic passports and Passports with “official” seal for Bangladesh citizens
6	Belarus	24/11/1993	Diplomatic Passports, Official passports
7	Brazil	12/2/2005	Diplomatic passports
8	Brunei	1/11/1997	Diplomatic Passports, Official passports
9	Bulgaria	1/6/1966	Diplomatic Passports, Official passports; Group Passports or Ordinary Passports for official mission
10	Cambodia	30/11/1979	Diplomatic and Official passports; Diplomatic and Official Lassez-passezs
11	Chile	25/6/2005	Diplomatic Passports, Official passports
12	China	15/3/1992	Diplomatic passports, official passports, and ordinary passports for official mission
13	Cuba	Currently in force	Diplomatic passports, Ordinary passports, ordinary passports for official mission, and seaman’s Passports for Vietnamese citizens Diplomatic passports, official passports, service passports, or Maritime Passports for Cuban citizens
14	Czech	13/2/2000	Diplomatic passports, Official passports
15	Dominica	29/9/2007	Diplomatic passports, Official passports
16	Ecuador	29/9/2007	Diplomatic passports, Official passports
17	France	1/7/2005	Diplomatic passports
18	Hungary	1/8/1993	Diplomatic Passports, Official passports
19	India	23/3/1995	Diplomatic Passports, Official passports
20	Indonesia	19/9/1998 4/12/2003	Diplomatic Passports, Official passports Ordinary Passports with valid periods of at least 6 months
21	Iran	1/6/1994	Diplomatic passports
22	Iraq	1/12/2001	Diplomatic Passports, Official passports
23	Japan	1/5/2005	Diplomatic passports, Official passports
24	Kyrgyzstan	Currently in force	Diplomatic passports, Official passports, and ordinary passports for official mission
25	Laos	17/7/1977 05/3/2004	Diplomatic passports, official passports, ordinary passports for official mission, Ordinary Passports with valid periods of at least 6 months
26	Malaysia	25/11/2001	Diplomatic passports, Official passports, and ordinary passports
27	Mexico	4/2/2002	Diplomatic passports, Official passports
28	Moldova	23/5/2003	Diplomatic passports, Official passports
29	Mongolia	6/2/2000	Diplomatic passports, Official passports
30	Montenegro	1/9/2000	Diplomatic passports, Official passports, and special passports
31	Morocco	19/12/2004	Diplomatic passports, Official passports, and special passports
32	Mozambique	9/2/2009	Diplomatic passports, Official passports
33	Myanmar	11/8/1998	Diplomatic passports, Official passports
34	Nicaragua	Currently in force	Diplomatic passports, Official or Service passports
35	Pakistan	2/3/2007	Diplomatic passports, Official passports
36	Panama	4/11/2002	Diplomatic passports, Official passports for Vietnamese citizens Diplomatic passports, Official passports, Special Passports, and consular passports
37	Democratic People’s Republic of Korea	01/10/1956 01/4/1966	Diplomatic Passports, Official passports; and group passports for official mission Ordinary Passports for official mission
38	Peru	2/6/2006	Diplomatic passports, Official passports for Vietnamese citizens Diplomatic passports, Special passports for Peruvian citizens
39	Philippines	19/02/1997 16/2/1999 1/4/2000	Diplomatic passports Official Passports, Holders of Ordinary Passports having an invitation to join ASEAN activities organized by ASEAN Secretariat or Government agencies Ordinary Passports with valid periods of at least 6 months, together with return air tickets or air tickets for leaving the country
40	Paraguay	26/10/2008	Diplomatic Passports, Official passports
41	Romania	1/12/1956	Diplomatic Passports, Official passports; Group Passports or Ordinary Passports for official mission
42	Russia	20/2/1994	Diplomatic passports, Official passports
43	Serbia	1/9/2000	Diplomatic passports, Official passports
44	Singapore	10/5/1997 01/12/2003	Diplomatic Passports, Official passports Ordinary Passports with valid periods of at least 6 months, together with return air tickets or air tickets for leaving the country
45	Slovakia	10/8/1992	Diplomatic Passports, Official passports
46	South Africa	23/6/2007	Diplomatic Passports, Official passports
47	Republic of Korea	13/1/1999	Diplomatic Passports, Official passports
48	Sri Lanka	19/9/2003	Diplomatic passports, Official passports
49	Thailand	10/5/1997 9/7/2000	Diplomatic Passports, Official passports Ordinary Passports
50	Tunisia	20/1/2009	Diplomatic Passports, Special passports
51	Turkey	1/10/1998	Diplomatic Passports
52	Ukraine	6/12/1993	Diplomatic Passports, Official passports
53	Uruguay	15/6/2008	Diplomatic Passports, Official passports
54	Venezuela	17/11/2006	Diplomatic Passports, Official passports

Other Vietnam Visa Exemption Cases

Foreign citizens of Vietnamese origin or those with family ties to Vietnamese people can get a 5-year visa exemption. This applies to all nationalities.

These citizens must complete an application for the 5-year visa exemption. They will receive a 90-day visa exemption each time they enter Vietnam. After the exemption period expires, they can apply for a renewal of the visa exemption certificate.

Vietnam also provides visa exemptions for foreign visitors entering Phu Quoc from abroad with a 30-day stay duration. This policy applies even if travelers pass through an international gateway in Vietnam. This can be by air or sea before they continue to Phu Quoc Island.

Holders of the APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) with a valid passport do not need a visa for Vietnam. This is true if their stay is 60 days or less. If you wish to extend your stay in Vietnam without leaving the country, please refer to the ABTC exemption for stays in Vietnam.

Conditions for Making Vietnam Visa Exemption

To be eligible for Vietnam visa exemption, travelers must meet the following requirements:

The passport must be valid for at least 6 months.
Maximum stay in Vietnam should not exceed 14-45 days (or as per the regulations of the country).
Have a return ticket or a ticket to another country.

Vietnam Visa Exemption Extension

People who want to stay in Vietnam longer than the current exemption period must go to a nearby country. This can be Thailand, Cambodia, or Laos. After that, they can return to Vietnam with a new visa exemption. People commonly refer to this method of extending the stay as a “visa run.”

When to use the Vietnamese visa exemption policy?

Vietnam’s visa exemption policy is great for people planning a short trip. This includes trips for tourism or business.

If you do not qualify for a visa exemption, you can apply for a visa. You can do this at the Vietnamese embassy or consulate in your home country. Alternatively, you can choose an evissa or a visa on arrival.

How to speed up arrival procedures with Vietnam visa exemption?

Entering Vietnam with a visa exemption is easy. Travelers can enter through international airports, land borders, or seaports. To expedite the entry procedure with visa exemption in Vietnam, you can follow these steps:

Check if your country is eligible for visa exemption.
Ensure your passport is valid for at least six months.
Book a flight to one of Vietnam’s international airports.
Complete the immigration form upon arrival or evisa online form.
Ask the immigration officer to stamp your passport.

Pros and Cons of Using Vietnamese Visa Exemption Policy

Travelers do not need to apply for a visa prior to entry, which simplifies administrative procedures. This is particularly convenient for short-term trips, such as tourism or business, where the stay is not too long. Additionally, the visa exemption policy helps promote tourism and business, creating opportunities for commercial activities and cultural exchange between Vietnam and other countries.

However, the visa exemption policy also has some limitations. The maximum stay is 14-45 days, which may not be suitable for travelers who wish to stay longer. This policy does not apply to citizens of all countries, requiring some travelers to apply for a visa.

Visitors must meet Vietnam’s entry requirements. They cannot extend their stay or change to a different type of visa if they need more time.

Alternatives to Vietnamese Visa Exemption Policy

If you don’t qualify for Vietnam’s visa exemption or want to stay longer than 14-45 days, you have other visa options.

Apply for a visa at the Vietnamese embassy or consulate in your home country.
Obtain a visa on arrival through a travel agent or online service.
Apply for an e-visa online.

Comparison of Vietnam’s Visa Options

This table summarizes the main differences in terms of duration, application method, availability, and fees for each visa option.

Visa Type	Duration	Application	Availability	Fees
Visa Exemption	Up to 14-45 days	No application needed	Only available to citizens of certain countries	Free of charge
Visa on Arrival	Up to 90 days	Can be applied for online or through a travel agent	Available to all nationalities	Varies depending on agent and nationality
E-Visa	Up to 90 days	Must be applied for online	Available to most nationalities	Fixed fee of $25 or $50
Embassy/Consulate Visa	Duration depends on embassy/consulate	Requires in-person application at the embassy or consulate	Available to all nationalities	Varies by embassy or consulate

Tips for Using Vietnamese Visa Exemption Policy

Here are some useful tips to take advantage of Vietnam’s visa exemption policy. This will help you avoid problems during your trip:

Make sure your passport has at least six months of validity remaining from your arrival date.
Prepare a return or onward ticket to demonstrate your plan to depart Vietnam within the allowed period.
Verify the list of eligible countries for visa exemption before finalizing your travel plans.
It’s smart to keep a printed copy of your accommodation and travel itinerary. This way, you can show it if immigration officers ask for proof of your stay.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Here are some frequently asked questions when you are looking to learn about Vietnam’s visa exemption.

Is it possible to enter Vietnam without a visa?

Yes, if you are from a country eligible for visa exemption and fulfill the entry requirements.

Can I stay in Vietnam for more than 14-45 days with a visa exemption?

No, the maximum stay allowed under the visa exemption policy is 14-45 days (or as determined by your nationality).

Is it possible to extend my visa exemption while in Vietnam?

No, you cannot extend the visa exemption or convert it to a different type of visa.

Can I obtain a visa on arrival in Vietnam?

Yes, travelers can apply for a visa on arrival through a travel agent or an online service.

How much does a Vietnamese visa cost?

The cost of a Vietnamese visa depends on factors such as the visa type, nationality, and application process.

Hopefully the above article has helped clarify information related to Vietnam visa exemption. In case you need support for this service, feel free to let us know at our hotline/Zalo/Whatsapp/ +84.904.879.729 or our email [email protected].