VISA ENTRY VIETNAM, TYPES AND TIME LIMITS

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

According to the Law on entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Viet Nam that came into force from July 10, 2020, there are new regulations on types and time limits of visas. We are happy to update you as follows:

VISA ENTERING INTO VIET NAM

1. Visa means a document issued by a competent authority of Viet Nam to a foreigner to grant entry into Viet Nam.
2. A temporary residence card is a document issued by an immigration authority to a foreigner who is permitted to reside in Viet Nam for a certain period of time. This card has the same validity as a visa.
3. A visa may be used once or multiple times and its purpose must not be changed. Visa shall be issued and attached to a passport, issued separately or issued via an electronic transaction or according to lists issued by immigration authorities. Each person shall be issued with a separate visa, except for children under 14 who will be issued with visas in the same passports of their parents or guardians.
4. A visa of an individual cannot be repurposed, except for cases: He/she presents documents proving to be an investor or a representative for a foreign organization investing in Viet Nam; He/she presents document proving his/her relationship with the person inviting or sponsoring his/her entry into Viet Nam such as parents, spouse, children; He/she is invited or sponsored by agencies or organizations and presents work permit or confirmation of eligibility for work permit exemption according to labor laws.

VISA SYMBOLS AND TIME LIMITS

Firstly, there are 05 most popular types of VISA symbols including Investors – Workers – Business – Relatives – Tourists

1. Symbol ĐT – issued to foreign investors in Viet Nam and foreign lawyers practicing in Viet Nam. In which:
   • ĐT1 – means that time limits of visa not exceed 10 years – issued to foreign investors in Viet Nam and representatives of foreign organizations investing in Viet Nam and contributing capital of VND 100 billion or more or investing in business lines benefitting from investment incentives, in administrative divisions benefitting from investment incentives decided by the Government.
   • ĐT2 – has time limits of visa not exceed 5 years – issued to foreign investors in Viet Nam and representatives of foreign organizations investing in Viet Nam and contributing capital of VND 50 billion to less than VND 100 billion or investing in business lines benefitting from investment incentives treatment decided by the Government.
   • ĐT3 – has time limits of visa not exceed 3 years – issued to foreign investors in Viet Nam and representatives of foreign organizations investing in Viet Nam and contributing capital of VND 3 billion to less than VND 50 billion.
   • ĐT4 – has time limits of visa not exceed 12 months – issued to foreign investors in Viet Nam and representatives of foreign organizations investing in Viet Nam and contributing capital of less than VND 3 billion.
2. Symbol LĐ means that time limits of visa not exceed 2 years – issued to people who come to Viet Nam work. In which:
   • LD1 – issued to foreigners working in Viet Nam and certified of eligibility for work permit exemption, unless otherwise specified by international agreements to which Viet Nam is a signatory.
   • LD2 – issued to foreigners working in Viet Nam that are required to have work permit
3. Symbol DN means that time limits of visa not exceed 12 months – issued to people who come to work with companies in Viet Nam. In which:
   • DN1 – issued to foreigners working with other enterprises and organizations that have legal status as per the law of Viet Nam.
   • DN2 – issued to foreigners making entry to promote services, establish a commercial presence, or conduct other activities according to international agreements to which Viet Nam is a signatory.
4. Symbol TT means that time limits of visa not exceed 12 months – issued to foreigners that are parents, spouse, children under 18 years of age of the foreigners issued with LV1, LV2, ĐT, NN1, NN2, UNIVERSITY, PV1, LĐ visas, or foreigners that are parents, spouse, children of Viet Namese citizens.
5. Symbol DL – issued to tourists.

There are 03 types of foreign organizations

1. SYMBOL NN1 – issued to Managers of representative offices or projects of international organizations and foreign non-governmental organizations in Viet Nam.
2. SYMBOL NN2 – issued to heads of representative offices, branches of foreign traders, representative offices of other foreign economic, cultural, professional organizations in Viet Nam.
3. SYMBOL NN3 – issued to people who come to work with foreign non-governmental organizations, representative offices, branches of foreign traders, representative offices of other foreign economic, cultural, professional organizations in Viet Nam.

There are 04 types of diplomatic missions

1. SYMBOL NG1 – issued to members of delegations invited by the President of Viet Nam, the President of the National Assembly and the Prime Minister.
2. SYMBOL NG2 – issued to members of delegations invited by standing members of the Vice chairman of Viet Nam, Deputy President of the National Assembly, Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the People’s Committees of provinces.
3. SYMBOL NG3 – issued to members of diplomatic missions, consular offices, representative offices of international organizations affiliated to the UN, representative offices of intergovernmental organizations and their spouses, children under 18 years of age, and housemaids during their term of office.
4. SYMBOL NG4 – issued to people who come to work with diplomatic missions, consular offices, representative offices of international organizations affiliated to the UN, representative offices of intergovernmental organizations, visitors of members of diplomatic missions, consular offices, representative offices of international organizations affiliated to the UN, and representative offices of intergovernmental organizations.

VALIDITY OF TEMPORARY RESIDENT CARD

Validity of issued temporary resident cards shall be at least 30 days shorter than the remaining validity of passports

1. The duration of DT1 temporary residence card shall not exceed 10 years.
2. The duration of DT2, NG3, LS temporary residence card shall not exceed 5 years.
3. The duration of DT3 and TT temporary residence card shall not exceed 3 years.
4. The duration of LD1, LD2 temporary residence card shall not exceed 2 years
5. An expired temporary residence card shall be considered for the issuance of a new one.

Read more:

• Foreigners in Viet Nam: what you need to know
• Evisa – new regulation on entry and exit for foreigners in Viet Nam
• Full compliance procedures for foreigners
• Work permit in Viet Nam: Regulation and guidance
• Compulsory insurance – What you need to know
• Temporary residence card – What you need to know
• Permanent residence card – What you need to know
• Procedure for consular legalization foreign document
• Legal representative of enterprise – Roles and responsibility
• Personal income tax – methods of declaration and payable amount