Long stay Visa for my Vietnamese partner

Hallo landgenoot 

Many questions on several possibilities, so let's answer it one by one.

1. Vietnamese citizens with a passport don't need a visa if their stay is less than 30 days. [Asean]

2. If they want to stay longer the same rules apply as for other foreigners, see later.

3. For yourself: get in on a Ordinary visa on arrival [E], extend it in the next two weeks for a ER [retirement] extension of stay [EOS], for 1, 3, 6 or 12 months [costs of a 1 year EOS is about $290].

4. Your partner should also come in on an ordinary visa and extend it. She can get a EG [general] EOS if she wants to search for a job, the EG extension is for max. 6 months but is multiple entry. In relation to her wish to go back after 6 months this works well, she better leave after 5 months, stay in Vietnam for e.g. one month and come back on the still valid EG extension, so no need for a new visa on arrival.
But once the 6 months of the EG extension are gone she officially has to leave the country, come back on a Ordinary visa on arrival again and apply for one of the extensions. If she has found a job before the EG is invalid, she has to change it to a EB extension, which can be again for 1, 3, 6 or 12 months.
She needs a letter from her employer, which has to be a registered company, with letterhead and an official stamp.
As alternative she could also stay during the whole 6 + 1 months of visa plus extension, then go Vietnam and when coming back get an Ordinary visa again.

5. You are not allowed to work or have a business when you are on a ER extension. You then need to change it for a EB extension, with the same rules as I mentioned before. If you want to start your own business you need to register it, get a taxation number and use that to get an EB extension. You can have a quota of foreign employees, but have to give details from the beginning.

6. Note that this is all about visa and extensions of stay, issued by the Department of Immigration, part of the Interior ministry. Another ministry, the Labour Min., wants you to apply for a work permit, which can be done by yourself on line, after you receive your EB extension. It's not too complicated, but if you like a good agent can do the work for you, against a fee obviously.

These are the answers to your questions. Feel free to ask if something is not clear, we're here to help you.

Good luck.

Joe
Cambodia expert
Expat.com team

Thanks (bedankt  ) Joe for the swift posting with very useful info. 

Leloii

leloii wrote:

Thanks (bedankt  ) Joe for the swift posting with very useful info. 

Leloii