Who are eligible for the overseas Vietnamese visa exemption?

A 5-year visa exemption certificate is one of the longest long-term immigration documents in Vietnam.

Who are eligible for entry visa exemption?

According  to Article 1 of the Regulation on visa exemption for overseas  Vietnamese promulgated together with the Prime Minister’s Decision No.  135/2007/QD-TTg of August 17, 2007, overseas Vietnamese, foreign  spouses and children of Vietnamese citizens or overseas Vietnamese are  eligible for entry visa exemption if possessing all the following  papers:

1. Foreign passports or foreign passport substitutes (below collectively referred to as passports) which remain  valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry. An overseas  Vietnamese who has no passport must possess a residence permit granted  by a foreign country which remains valid for at least 6 months from the  date of entry.

2. Visa exemption certificates granted by a competent Vietnamese  agency.

A  visa exemption certificate is granted to each person. For under-14  children sharing passports with their fathers or mothers, visa  exemption certificates will be granted together with passports of their  fathers or mothers.

3. What are dossiers of application for a visa exemption certificate? What   agencies are competent to grant the certificates?

The Regulation stipulates:

Foreign  spouses or children of Vietnamese citizens or overseas Vietnamese who  are eligible for entry visa exemption shall submit dossiers, each  comprising:

  • 01 declaration of application for a visa exemption certificate (made   according to a set form);
  • 02 recent color photos of 4 cm x 6 cm, white background, of the  applicant facing straight bareheaded and wearing no dark glasses (01  photo stuck on the application form and the other enclosed separately);
  • A foreign passport which remains valid for at least 6 months from the  date of entry (enclosed with its copy for archive by a competent  agency);

One of the following papers evidencing marital  or parental relationship with overseas Vietnamese or Vietnamese  citizens (enclosed with its copy for archive by a competent agency):

  • Marriage certificate,
  • Birth certificate,
  • Paper certifying parent-child relationship,
  • Decision on child adoption,
  • Other valid papers as prescribed by Vietnamese law.

For overseas Vietnamese, a dossier consists of:

  • 01 declaration of application for a visa exemption certificate (made   according to a set form),
  • 02 recent color photos of 4 cm x 6 cm, white background, of the  applicant facing straight bareheaded and wearing no dark glasses (01  photo stuck on the application form and the other enclosed separately)
  • A foreign passport or a residence permit granted by a foreign country  for persons having no foreign passports, which remains valid for at  least 6 months from the date of entry (enclosed with its copy for  archive by a competent agency);

One of the following  papers proving that the applicant is an overseas Vietnamese (enclosed  with its copy for archive by a competent agency):

  • A certificate of Vietnamese nationality;
  • A copy or duplicate of the decision on Vietnamese nationality   restoration;
  • A copy or duplicate of the decision on Vietnamese nationality   relinquishment;
  • A certificate of loss of Vietnamese nationality;
  • A Vietnamese passport (which remains valid or has expired);
  • A Vietnamese identity card (which remains valid or has expired);
  • A birth certificate (including copy);
  • A lastest polling card;
  • The household registering book;
  • A laissez-passer granted before 1975;
  • An identity card granted before 1975;
  • A duplicate of the birth certificate granted before 1975 (copy);
  • Papers granted by a foreign competent agency which state that the  applicant has Vietnamese nationality or is a Vietnamese native.

If having none of the above papers, the applicant may submit one of the  following which needs not to be certified or authenticated):

  • A paper of guarantee issued by an overseas Vietnamese association based in   the country where he/she resides;
  • A written affirmation by a Vietnamese citizen.

Agencies competent to grant visa exemption certificates include:

  • Overseas Vietnamese diplomatic missions and consulates;
  • The Immigration Control Department under the Ministry of Public Security.

Please visit the official website: http://mienthithucvk.mofa.gov.vn/ for detailed instructions for the 5-year visa exemption certificates.

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Frequently asked questions

1. How long the visa exemption certificate is valid for?

A  visa exemption certificate has a validity duration of up to 5 years  which must be at least 6 months shorter than the remaining validity  duration of the passport or residence permit granted by a foreign  country. People entering Vietnam with visa exemption certificates may stay in Vietnam for up to 90 days following each  entry. Those who wish to stay longer shall carry out visa application procedures according to current regulations before or after their entry  into Vietnam.

2. How long does it take to get the visa exemption certificate?

A competent agency shall grant a visa exemption certificate within 7 working days after receiving a valid application.

Contact sales if you have additional questions.

Contact support if you already submitted your visa application on our website.

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