Foreigners who will enter Vietnam for business purposes have to apply for a Vietnam Business Visa ( also known as a Vietnam DN Visa).
The Business Visa for Vietnam is a short-term visa, issued to foreigners who will be working with a company in Vietnam, attending a meeting/negotiation, signing a contract, etc but who do not have a work permit.
This type of visa is issued for a maximum of 12 months, for single or multiple entries.
Am I Exempt From Holding a Vietnam Business Visa?
Citizens of the following countries do not need to apply for a Vietnam Visa if they will only be in the country for a short period of time (14 – 90 depending on the country):
- Belarus* (up to 15 days)
- Brunei (up to 14 days)
- Cambodia (up to 30 days)
- Chile (up to 90 days)
- Denmark* (up to 15 days)
- Finland* (up to 15 days)
- France* (15 days)
- Germany* (up to 15 days)
- Indonesia (up to 30 days)
- Italy* (up to 15 days)
- Japan* (up to 15 days)
- Kyrgyzstan (up to 30 days)
- Laos (up to 30 days)
- Malaysia (up to 30 days)
- Myanmar (up to 14 days)
- Norway* (up to 15 days)
- Philippines (up to 21 days)
- Russia* (up to 15 days)
- Singapore (up to 30 days)
- South Korea* (up to 15 days)
- Spain* (up to 15 days)
- Sweden* (up to 15 days)
- Thailand (up to 30 days)
- United Kingdom* (up to 15 days)
*Citizens of these countries must wait at least 30 days between visits if they want to re-enter Vietnam.
Can I work with a Vietnam Business Visa?
Yes, you can work in Vietnam while you hold a Business Visa, as long as the duration of work does not exceed 90 days per year.
If you’re going to be working for longer than three months, you have to apply for a Vietnam Work Permit (Work Visa).
What are the requirements for a Vietnam Business Visa?
- Your travel document. Vietnam applies the six month passport validity rule, so in order for you to enter this country, your must have a valid passport with a period of at least 6 months upon arrival.
- If you are applying for an eVisa or the Letter of Approval online, you have to send a scan of your passport’s personal information and picture page.
- Passport-size picture(s) with the following specifications:
- Size: 4 cm x 6 cm
- Taken recently
- White background
- You must be centered in the picture, staring ahead with a neutral facial expression
- If you wear headgear for religious purposes or you have a wig, you may keep it in the picture but must also be wearing on arrival
- You must not be wearing any glasses
- Proof you have paid the Vietnam Visa fee
- If you are applying at an Embassy/Consulate:
- The Vietnam Visa Application Form. Depending on which country you are applying from, you can either download it or get the Vietnam Visa Application Form at the Embassy/Consulate.
- Letter of Sponsorship/Entry Clearance
- Any other additional documents that the Vietnam Embassy/Consulate may require, such as a Letter of Invitation.
- If you are applying for Vietnam Visa On Arrival:
- Pre-obtained Letter of Approval
- Entry and Exit Form. You will receive this on the airplane and you have to complete it before handing it in at the Immigration Officers at the port of entry
- Cash to pay the Vietnam visa stamping fee
How can I get a Business Visa for Vietnam?
You can apply for your Business Visa for Vietnam through one of the following ways:
- At an Embassy or Consulate of Vietnam in your country
- On arrival, at one of the eligible international airports in Vietnam
- Online, through the Vietnam Immigration Portal
Getting a Vietnam Business Visa at an Embassy/Consulate
If you want to apply for a Vietnam Business Visa, you have to approach the nearest Vietnam Embassy or Consulate. You can find a list of the Vietnamese Embassies and Consulates here.
The application process when you apply at an Embassy/Consulate is:
- Your sponsor applies for a Letter of Sponsorship or Letter of Entry Clearance from the Immigration Services in Vietnam after you send them the following information:
- Your full name
- Your nationality (or nationalities, if you have double citizenship)
- The dates exact in which you will enter and depart
- Tye type of visa you need (single or multiple-entry)
- The Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate where you will apply for the Business Visa
- The application for the Letter of Sponsorship/Letter of Entry Clearance takes about 5 days to process. After it is issued, your sponsor has to send it to you.
- You submit the application for a Vietnam Business Visa along with the Letter of Sponsorship/Letter of Entry Clearance at the Embassy or Consulate.
- Depending on the specific Embassy/Consulate, you can submit the documents by mail or in person.
Once your Business Visa has been approved, it will be affixed on your passport and you can use it to enter the country.
Getting a Vietnam Business Visa On Arrival
Applying for a Vietnam Business Visa On Arrival is a faster and easier option than applying at an Embassy. However, you can only get a VOA at one of the following ports of entry:
- Tan Son Nhat in Ho Chi Minh City.
- Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi.
- Danang Airport in Da Nang.
- Cat Bi Airport in Hai Phong.
- Cam Ranh Airport in Nha Trang.
To apply for a Vietnam Business Visa On Arrival, you first have to get a Letter of Approval from the Vietnamese Immigration Department. You can get the Letter of Approval online, by contacting one of the private travel agencies or companies that are authorized by the Immigration Department to request Letters of Approval on behalf of the applicants.
Once you have your Letter of Approval, you can travel to Vietnam, where you have to line up at the visa-issuing counters at the airport and wait to get your visa stamped on your passport.
You do not need a Sponsorship or Invitation letter to apply for the Vietnam Business Visa On Arrival.
Getting a Vietnam Business Visa online
Citizens of certain countries may be able to get a Vietnam Business Visa online, through the Vietnam Immigration Portal. However, the validity of an eVisa is only 30 days for a single-entry. If you want to stay longer, you will have to apply for your Business Visa through one of the other two options.
You can apply for a Business eVisa for Vietnam personally or the inviting organization/company can apply on your behalf.
Applying for a Vietnam Business eVisa personally
To apply for a Business Visa online, as you are completing the online application form at the Vietnam Immigration Portal, simply select “Business Activities” as the purpose of your travel on the dropdown menu.
Then, upload a picture of yourself, a scanned picture of your passport, pay the visa fee, and wait for the visa to be processed.
If your Vietnam Business eVisa application is approved, you can download the electronic visa and present it at the Immigration officers. You can check on the status of your visa here.
The inviting organization/company applies for your Vietnam Business eVisa
If the company you will join is going to apply for your Business Visa, they have to register on the Vietnam Immigration Portal (here), where they will be provided with an account and an electronic signature.
They have to upload a scanned picture of your passport, your pictures, and pay the visa fee.
If your application is approved, they have to send you the registration code so that you can print out your eVisa and enter Vietnam.
What is the duration of a Vietnam Business Visa?
Business Visas for Vietnam can be issued for 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, or one year and for single-, or multiple entries.
Can I extend a Vietnam Business Visa?
You can apply to extend your Vietnam Business Visa at the nearest Immigration Office in Vietnam. You will need a letter of invitation or sponsorship from the inviting company.
How much is the fee for a Vietnam Business Visa?
The fee for a Vietnam Business Visa depends on the method through which you’re applying:
- If you are applying for a Vietnam Business Visa On Arrival:
- Single-entry, 1 month: USD 25 *
- Multiple-entry, 1 month USD 50 *
- Single-entry, 3 months USD 25 *
- Multiple-entry, 3 months USD 50 *
- Multiple-entry, 6 months USD 95 *
- Multiple-entry, 12 months USD 135 *
- If you are applying for a Vietnam Business eVisa: USD 25
- If you are applying for a Vietnam Business Visa at an Embassy/Consulate: It depends on the specific Embassy or Consulate.
*In addition to the visa fee (which you pay when you arrive at the airport), you also have to pay a fee to the agency handling your application for a Letter of Approval. The fee for this depends on the specific company.