Visas To Enter Vietnam

@Lennerd can i have the site url?

    @Lennerd can i have the site url? 
    -@tracydinh1988

Hi there. I believe member Lennerd  used the immigration eVisa portal found here. (Link) Click the "For Foreigners" panel.

Let us know if you have any further questions.

@Aidan in HCMC thank for for the quick reply! quick question do you know the process of what to do as a US citizen who wants to go to vietnam to marry someone there?

    @Aidan in HCMC thank for for the quick reply! quick question do you know the process of what to do as a US citizen who wants to go to vietnam to marry someone there?        -@tracydinh1988

There was recently an excellent post by our member, OceanBeach92107, addressing this very issue, here. (Link)

Also, take a look at this post and other comments in that thread, here. (Link)

Hope this helps.

@Aidan in HCMC

He did indeed use exactly that web page.

@Lennerd

A Vietnam visa application request a new entry date say Nov19 which is before the exit date say Nov21of the current visa, will there be a problem that application be denied? 

    A Vietnam visa application request a new entry date say Nov19 which is before the exit date say Nov21of the current visa, will there be a problem that application be denied?          -@giosamsung2012

Hello giosamsung2012, and welcome to expat.com.

I'm not sure if I quite understand your question.

As I read it, you currently hold an eVisa which is valid until Nov21st, but you wish to exit VN and reenter on Nov19th using a new eVisa which you will apply for. Is this correct? If so, I see no problem with this.

If that interpretation of your question is incorrect, feel free to correct me and we'll try to provide you with a correct response. Lots of friendly folk at expat.com.

    A Vietnam visa application request a new entry date say Nov19 which is before the exit date say Nov21of the current visa, will there be a problem that application be denied? 
   

    -@giosamsung2012

I'm not sure anybody can give you an absolute authoritative answer.

It worked for me in August, 2022 when I needed to adjust my time in country before my extended travels for my marriage license and my TRC application.

Only 30 day tourist visas were available then, but my visa was due to expire on September 2nd (when I would be in Hà Nội during the National Holiday weekend) so I applied for a new evisa starting on August 27th, to allow for a road trip (moving from Vũng Tàu via Mộc Bài & Buôn Ma Thuột to Quảng Ngãi) and a flight (Chu Lai to Hà Nội).

So while I can say it worked for me then, it could possibly become problematic under new immigration scrutiny since August 2023 (anecdotal evidence).

If you are really worried, have an agent do this for you.

If  remember correctly, you can't apply from Vietnam for a new visa if you haven't already left Vietnam. So you have first to leave, then there is no problem for ask a new visa from the place where you are. :-)

    If  remember correctly, you can't apply from Vietnam for a new visa if you haven't already left Vietnam. So you have first to leave, then there is no problem for ask a new visa from the place where you are. :-)
        -@sergefaure

Not absolutely true. See posts #227 and #228, here. Many people's applications can, and have, been approved whilst the applicant is still in VN.

        If  remember correctly, you can't apply from Vietnam for a new visa if you haven't already left Vietnam. So you have first to leave, then there is no problem for ask a new visa from the place where you are. :-)        -@sergefaure

Not absolutely true. See posts #227 and #228, here. Many people's applications can, and have, been approved whilst the applicant is still in VN.
   

    -@Aidan in HCMC

Did the visa require a border run to be activated?

    If  remember correctly, you can't apply from Vietnam for a new visa if you haven't already left Vietnam. So you have first to leave, then there is no problem for ask a new visa from the place where you are. :-)        -@sergefaure

Not absolutely true. See posts #227 and #228, here. Many people's applications can, and have, been approved whilst the applicant is still in VN.        -@Aidan in HCMC

Did the visa require a border run to be activated?        -@THIGV

It will, on Dec4th.

His current eVisa expires Dec4th, when he'll do his border run and reenter with the Dec4th/23 - Mar2nd/24 eVisa

Did the visa require a border run to be activated?

    -@THIGV

All new tourist visas now require activation at an approved  immigration checkpoint (Air, Land or Sea).

There are no renewals or extensions allowed in country.

On the .gov.vn website i see that :

    - e-Visa is issued for foreigners who are currently abroad, wishing to enter into Viet Nam (not to foreigners who are currently temporary resident in Viet Nam).

I remember OceanBeach and his followers, bashing someone who posted a warning about the necessity of leaving Vietnam before reapply for visa,

But now it seems that OceanBeach switched his mind.

  so what is the truth ?

Who else has obtained or had visa refused when applying for it from Vietnam?

Thanks to those who can respond,

Because this situation is full of confusion..

and no one wants to be blacklisted by a moody border guard,

    On the .gov.vn website i see that :    - e-Visa is issued for foreigners who are currently abroad, wishing to enter into Viet Nam (not to foreigners who are currently temporary resident in Viet Nam).

Are you able to provide a link to a .gov.vn site which states this? Are you sure you haven't confused the official eVisa application portal (Link) with that of a travel agency's site?

I remember OceanBeach and his followers, bashing someone who posted a warning about the necessity of leaving Vietnam before reapply for visa,

I see from your profile that you are a French citizen. To use the word "bashing" is quite strong. Might you have meant adamant, or perhaps insistent?

But now it seems that OceanBeach switched his mind.  so what is the truth ?Who else has obtained or had visa refused when applying for it from Vietnam?

To date, of the hundreds (thousands?) of members of expat.com's Vietnam forum we have had, to the best of my knowledge, only one member who has had their eVisa application rejected due to their being in Vietnam at the time their application was submitted. Further, that member's application had been submitted on their behalf by an agent (Link), which itself may  have been a factor in their application being denied.

Thanks to those who can respond, Because this situation is full of confusion..

Members are continuing to submit eVisa applications from within Vietnam and receiving approvals. See post #251 above (Link), in this thread

and no one wants to be blacklisted by a moody border guard,      -@jean louis du 96

Border crossing officials, be they military personnel (land/sea crossings) or immigration officers (int'l airports), are able to deny entry to travellers for any reason. Being blacklisted is a decision made by higher authorities within Vietnam's immigration hierarchy.

evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn

Only U.S.-based government and public sector organizations are eligible to obtain a .gov domain. This includes any federal, state, local, or territorial government entity, or other publicly controlled entity.

for commercial websites (such as travel agency) regular domain name is .com

And if you go to this "travel agency" website and entirely scroll down the oage , you will see this mention :

Copyright by Vietnam Immigration Department

(44 - 46, Tran Phu street, Ba Dinh Dist, Ha Noi).

i let you think whatever you want,

    evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn
Only U.S.-based government and public sector organizations are eligible to obtain a .gov domain. This includes any federal, state, local, or territorial government entity, or other publicly controlled entity.

So, no link to, where you said ..."On the .gov.vn website i see that :    - e-Visa is issued for foreigners who are currently abroad, wishing to enter into Viet Nam (not to foreigners who are currently temporary resident in Viet Nam).

Correct? Nowhere at evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn does it state what you say you saw.

for commercial websites (such as travel agency) regular domain name is .com

You mean like here (Link to travel agency evisa.org.vn), where it states...

• Vietnam E-Visa is issued for foreigners who are currently abroad, wishing to enter into Vietnam (not to foreigners who are currently temporary resident in Vietnam).

Like that sort of commercial website, you mean?

And if you go to this "travel agency" website and entirely scroll down the oage , you will see this mention :
Copyright by Vietnam Immigration Department
(44 - 46, Tran Phu street, Ba Dinh Dist, Ha Noi).

Your English comprehension is lacking.

At no point was there any indication made that evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn was a travel agency.

i let you think whatever you want,
     -@jean louis du 96

Thank you for your permission to think whatever I like, Nz0.

i let you think whatever you want,
 
    -@jean louis du 96

I think I'm tired of telling people that, since new directives only went to effect on August 15th, nobody knows for certain if or when a person applying from within Vietnam will have their application rejected.

Roll the 🎲 🎲

     i let you think whatever you want,      -@jean louis du 96

I think I'm tired of telling people that, since new directives only went to effect on August 15th, nobody knows for certain if or when a person applying from within Vietnam will have their application rejected.

Roll the 🎲 🎲
   

    -@OceanBeach92107

personally I think it is a roll of the dice, if your luck's in you get it & if your luck's out you dont.

    On the .gov.vn website i see that :
    - e-Visa is issued for foreigners who are currently abroad, wishing to enter into Viet Nam (not to foreigners who are currently temporary resident in Viet Nam).


I remember OceanBeach and his followers, bashing someone who posted a warning about the necessity of leaving Vietnam before reapply for visa,

But now it seems that OceanBeach switched his mind.
  so what is the truth ?
Who else has obtained or had visa refused when applying for it from Vietnam?

Thanks to those who can respond,
Because this situation is full of confusion..
and no one wants to be blacklisted by a moody border guard,
   

    -@jean louis du 96

Responding in greater detail, to set the record straight:

PRIOR TO AUGUST 15, 2023, multiple individuals were posting here that foreigners would HAVE to leave Vietnam before applying for a new Evisa when 90 day visas would be approved.

Usually they would refer to the text on the old government website, saying that an Evisa was for foreigners "outside" Vietnam.

While I always acknowledged that wording, I also challenged the poster to provide some source to back up their statements, since immigration had NOT been enforcing that interpretation of the rules, all the way back to early 2022, as well as prior to COVID.

So now the official government website uses the terminology "Outside Vietnam foreigners" more than once, and while there still are only 1 or 2 anecdotal reports of foreigners staying here being denied a new Evisa while in country, I have changed my replies.

Instead of asking people to back up their statements with facts, I've been brainstorming aloud to point out reasons an Evisa application might be rejected, such as choosing "Vietnam" from the drop-down list of nations from which you are applying.

I still maintain that working with a legitimate visa agent who has a long track record of successfully dealing with immigration is the best bet for anyone truly fearful of being stuck outside Vietnam after exiting on a border run, since it's totally possible that immigration is now tightening its enforcement of rules.

     i let you think whatever you want,      -@jean louis du 96 I think I'm tired of telling people that, since new directives only went to effect on August 15th, nobody knows for certain if or when a person applying from within Vietnam will have their application rejected.Roll the 🎲 🎲         -@OceanBeach92107

Huh? More than 3 months passed since that directive and nobody applied from VN for E-visa? Personally I do not see big deal (but who I am)  if somebody with say Chilean passport after 90 days visa free regime just do U-turn at Moc Bai she/he also "applied" from inside Vietnam (my own funny viewpoint) . But look, do not complain before we did visa runs after  every month 😂

        evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vnOnly U.S.-based government and public sector organizations are eligible to obtain a .gov domain. This includes any federal, state, local, or territorial government entity, or other publicly controlled entity.

So, no link to, where you said ..."On the .gov.vn website i see that :    - e-Visa is issued for foreigners who are currently abroad, wishing to enter into Viet Nam (not to foreigners who are currently temporary resident in Viet Nam).
Correct? Nowhere at evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn does it state what you say you saw.
for commercial websites (such as travel agency) regular domain name is .com

You mean like here (Link to travel agency evisa.org.vn), where it states...
Vietnam E-Visa is issued for foreigners who are currently abroad, wishing to enter into Vietnam (not to foreigners who are currently temporary resident in Vietnam).
Like that sort of commercial website, you mean?
And if you go to this "travel agency" website and entirely scroll down the oage , you will see this mention :Copyright by Vietnam Immigration Department(44 - 46, Tran Phu street, Ba Dinh Dist, Ha Noi).

Your English comprehension is lacking.
At no point was there any indication made that evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn was a travel agency.
i let you think whatever you want,     -@jean louis du 96

Thank you for your permission to think whatever I like, Nz0.
   

    -@Aidan in HCMC

Are you lawyer? 😂

    evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn
Only U.S.-based government and public sector organizations are eligible to obtain a .gov domain. This includes any federal, state, local, or territorial government entity, or other publicly controlled entity.

for commercial websites (such as travel agency) regular domain name is .com


And if you go to this "travel agency" website and entirely scroll down the oage , you will see this mention :
Copyright by Vietnam Immigration Department
(44 - 46, Tran Phu street, Ba Dinh Dist, Ha Noi).





i let you think whatever you want,
   

    -@jean louis du 96

Are you sure that domain was not govt.vn ? Because if yes that's rip off operation they stole my 25 USD

            45 DAYS VISA EXEMPT A CAUTIONARY TALEAgainst my better judgement from past experience I booked a business class return flight from SGN to CDG a week ago & planned to re enter Vietnam on the 45 days Visa Waver. Usually I have flown to & from France on Qatar or Emirate's stopping at Doha or Dubai & never been asked at CDG check in for proof onward travel within the 15 days visa free before & now 45 days. However because it was Vietnam Airlines this time I had this niggling feeling & having read some posts on the subject I thought that I had better cover my ass & check.So on the visa run to Moc Bai I mentioned it to Anna our trusted Visa agent my plan & asked her about it & she replied that the Vietnamese Government Official Policy was that no proof of onward travel is required. HOWEVER SHE SAID THAT SOME AIRLINES WERE REQUIRING IT BEFORE THEY WOULD LET YOU BOARD!!So I sent a question to the Vietnam Airlines Help Desk & this is how it went......ME.......................Hello, can you advise please. I am goodolboy traveling to HCMC form Paris CDG on Vietnam Airlines flight VN10 reservation code ************on Wednesday 6th December & I will enter Vietnam on the 45 days visa waver for UK citizenMy question is …………..When I check in for the flight at CDG will I be required to provide proof of onward travel for leaving Vietnam within 45days?  HELP DESK AFTER ABOUT A DAY.........................Dear goodolboy, You should contact to Embassy for checking information about your concern.ME................................................................................No I am asking if Vietnam Airlines check in desk at CDG will ask for proof of onward travel. Please answer my question correctly!HELP DESK AFTER ABOUT HALF A DAY............We regret inform that we can't check please when checkin at the airport check again or contact main office VietnamAirlines at CDG.ME GETTING A BIT FRUSTRATED NOW.............Please provide me contact details for Vietnam Airlines at Paris CDG.  Already I am regretting booking my flights with Vietnam Airlines. I am booked as a Business Class passenger & your replies to my question is disgraceful, un helpful & totally un acceptable. Please also give me the details for your companies complaints department!HELP DESK AFTER 5 MINUTES.........................City OfficeAddress: 5th floor, 5 rue Sextius Michel 75015 Paris, FrancePhone: +33 (0) 1 44 55 39 90Open Hours: 09:00 – 13:00 & 14:00 – 17:30 (From Monday to Friday); closed on public holidaysE-mail: resa.fr@vietnamairlines.comSo I contacted by e mail the Paris office & this was their reply..............Dear Sir/Madam, (goodolboy or goodolgal)Thank you for contacting Vietnam Airlines France ‘office. If you take the flight from Paris to Vietnam with exemption visa 45 days you need to provide proof of onward travel for leaving Vietnam within 45days So now I know & can take the appropriate action!! & this just might just help others traveling with Vietnam Airlines for GDG or even other departure International airports. Best to check!!     -@goodolboyGood report there, GOB! Thank you for that.I'm wondering whether a bus ticket HCMC to Bavet would be accepted as "...proof of onward travel for leaving Vietnam..." ?I'm thinking it would.        -@Aidan in HCMC

Yes mate thats how I am looking to handle it, in fact my well trusted visa agent will sort it out (give me some sort of e mail like a letter head ticket) as I will go with her visa run 20th Jan & will have the Cambodia entry e visa to show as well. Failing that I can get a Vietjet flight ticket one way to KL for 51usd
   

    -@goodolboy

Just arrived back this morning CDG to SGN & entered on the 45 days visa exempt for UK citizens & have an update.

As per my previous post where I had an e mail from Vietnam airlines that I would be required to show proof of onward travel within the 45 days. So I arrived at the check in at CDG yesterday armed with this proof of onward travel etc & you know what??? no one asked for it or even to show an e visa. Don't know if because I was traveling business class had something to do with it as I had to check in at a different gate from economy travelers or the check in girl was not on the ball but thats what happened.

My experience on most travel inspections and requirements depends entirely upon the person doing the said checking and asking? Although carrying the mandatory Covid travel insurance i was not once asked to show it…

Although carrying the mandatory Covid travel insurance i was not once asked to show it…
        -@TaurusTiger

For readers of this forum, it is important to point out that there are absolutely no "covid" restrictions and/or obligations currently in effect in Vietnam (i.e. no insurance required, nor masks, vaccination status, contact apps etc).

Update, specifically concerning English language teachers, on an LD visa which is issued to people who come to work (working visa).

New Foreign English Teachers Requirements Decision 4159/QD-BGDDT (Link separate thread)

Border crossing officials, be they military personnel (land/sea crossings) or immigration officers (int'l airports), are able to deny entry to travellers for any reason. Being blacklisted is a decision made by higher authorities within Vietnam's immigration hierarchy.
   

    -@Aidan in HCMC

What higher authorities within the immigrations hierarchy would these be?

    Border crossing officials, be they military personnel (land/sea crossings) or immigration officers (int'l airports), are able to deny entry to travellers for any reason. Being blacklisted is a decision made by higher authorities within Vietnam's immigration hierarchy.        -@Aidan in HCMC

What higher authorities within the immigrations hierarchy would these be?
        -@hewhocannotbenamed66

Immigration minister's office and immigration's ministerial staff

    Border crossing officials, be they military personnel (land/sea crossings) or immigration officers (int'l airports), are able to deny entry to travellers for any reason. Being blacklisted is a decision made by higher authorities within Vietnam's immigration hierarchy.        -@Aidan in HCMC

What higher authorities within the immigrations hierarchy would these be?
   

    -@hewhocannotbenamed66

They who cannot be named...

@OceanBeach92107 That is the same in any country. Government officials are not named no matter what department.

    @OceanBeach92107 That is the same in any country. Government officials are not named no matter what department.        -@Safepeter

They're granted "Bureaucratic Immunity" only by virtue of their anonymity. Sad, really. Would be nice to name the names.

Just had an update from my friend for many years & trusted Visa Agent that my second tourist e visa has been granted.

As detailed before I came back from France on the 45 days visa exempt for UK citizens so my new 90 days e visa starts when my 45 days finishes so covered up to mid April & this is my second 90 days e visa.

My fellow visa run friend has also had his second tourist e visa applied for & granted while he is still in the country.

As most regulars on here know I try to post actual events in my life & thought this might add to the discussion on applying for & getting e visa's when still being in country.

        @OceanBeach92107 That is the same in any country. Government officials are not named no matter what department.        -@Safepeter

They're granted "Bureaucratic Immunity" only by virtue of their anonymity. Sad, really. Would be nice to name the names.
   

    -@Aidan in HCMC

I doubt that will ever happen.

Even in the USA, if a person applies for SENTRI, TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, NEXUS or some form of visa and has their application rejected, there's zero mechanism for finding out the identity of the specific person who authorized the denial.

Members and casual readers of the forum. Planning to visit Vietnam or renew your eVisa in Feb/Mar 2024?

A reminder of the immigration dept's slowing down during the Tet holidays (lunisolar new year).

See the recently posted thread,

"Tết Warning: 15 WORKING Days for E-visa Processing??".(Link to post)

Thank you to member OceanBeach92107

I doubt that will ever happen.

Even in the USA, if a person applies for SENTRI, TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, NEXUS or some form of visa and has their application rejected, there's zero mechanism for finding out the identity of the specific person who authorized the denial.
   

    -@OceanBeach92107

And many times they refuse these for good and practical reasons.

Hi, we applied for an e-visa last sat and it's still says 'In processing' when we check the status. We paid for a 4 day turn around, does it usually take this long? Unsure what to do. We fly Wed 27th Dec. Cheers, Luke

Hi there luke8, and welcome to expat.com. 

  Hi, we applied for an e-visa last sat and it's still says 'In processing' when we check the status.

Applications made through the official VN immigration eVisa web portal (Link), are typically returning results within their stated 3 day time frame. The day the application is received does not appear, by all reports, to be considered "day 1".

In your situation applying through the official gov't web portal on Sat (Sat 16/12?), the application would have been received on Mon (Mon 18/12?), making Tuesday (Tue 19/12?) "day 1". Receipt of the application's result can reasonably be expected by Fri (Fri 22/12?). You didn't provide dates, so I'm assuming the dates specified above.

We paid for a 4 day turn around, does it usually take this long? Unsure what to do. We fly Wed 27th Dec. Cheers, Luke        -@luke8

It is not possible to pay for a preferred turnaround time on the official site.

If you paid more than $25 USD for a single entry 90-day eVisa, or more than $50 for a multiple entry 90-day eVisa, you have been using the services of a travel agency. Is this the case? We've had posts from other members similar to what you are reporting. If this is the case, would you mind letting us know the cost?

You've still enough time to secure the eVisa. If not received by tomorrow afternoon (Fri 22/12), let us know and we'll try to guide you through it. If it is received (as I suspect it will), we'd certainly appreciate hearing back from you of your successful eVisa application.

Once again, welcome to expat.com

    Hi, we applied for an e-visa last sat and it's still says 'In processing' when we check the status. We paid for a 4 day turn around, does it usually take this long? Unsure what to do. We fly Wed 27th Dec. Cheers, Luke
   

    -@luke8

Nothing yet, since today is day 4: no processing on Saturdays or Sundays (or holidays).

Look for it tomorrow.

Who did you pay "for a 4 day turn around"?

If it was an agent, you need to deal with them directly.

If it was a website you thought to be an official government website, bad news: it wasn't.

It was either an agency or a scam.

The official government website doesn't offer any such thing.