Vietnam Immigration declaration to be abolished

In order to create favorable conditions for foreigners travel to Vietnam, the Prime Minister has agreed to abolish the immigration declaration for all passengers when they do procedures of entry and exit at Vietnam’s international airports since September 15, 2010.

The Immigration Department, Ministry of Public Security has officially announced that: from September 15, 2010, all passengers  travel to Vietnam don’t have to fulfill the immigration declaration form when they do procedures of entry and exit at the border gates which have been equipped with reading-passport machines and networked computers. At the rest border gates will clear the immigration declaration when meet the above conditions. Ministry of Public Security has issued new immigration declaration form in order to apply at the border gates which are managed by the Ministry of National Defense but have not been equipped with reading-passport machines, networked computers.

The Prime Minister has also assigned the Ministry of National Defense to preside and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Public Security to urgently equip reading-passport machines, networked computers and so on for the border gates which are managed by the Ministry of National Defense. In addition, Ministry of Finance has issued its own declaration form according to the management requests when the immigration declaration is cleared at the border gates.

Requirements to Work in Vietnam: Work Permit Information

Information on Work permits for Vietnam is now essential because it's illegal to work without one. But I have never met anyone who's had any trouble and NONE of them have ever held a valid work permit.
But I tied to get it. I went through the process and I hope what ever work permit information I know is of help.

There is a grace period that can be up to a year. If anyone asks you, just say:
"It's in Process." And you'll be fine.
If you choose to work in Vietnam then try to find a good source of work permit information.
Most schools will force you through the long, tedious, almost ridiculous process of obtaining a work permit. And yet, they have little to no good work permit information to offer you.
Even if they have any work permit information on Vietnam, it's often flawed.
I went full out to get a work permit and got deep into the process. But, having the work permit information for Vietnam I have now, and looking back, I would never have started the process in the first place.
Changing places of work is common in Vietnam. When I begin a new job with a new school, I now outright refuse to get a work permit.
They always ask and always insist that their work permit information is reliable. But it never is and they always hire me despite my refusal to get a work permit.
So don't be railroaded by them. If they can, they'll have you working for free.


How to get a work permit for Vietnam

You Need:

• Proof that You've been Living in Vietnam for 6 or more Months

You pay a 20% rate of tax on all your income if you have been in the country less than 6 months. More on taxes later.
The work permit information package that you can get at the tax office will give you all the details. But what incentive to report your earnings if you are just going to have to pay the government 20% of it?
So, I never told them I had worked the previous 6 months. I said that I had been touring around Vietnam.
As you can see, you will be on your own in getting the necessary documents for your work permit application. Just writing this page excites me when I think back to the joyous tribulations of getting my own work permit.

• A Health Check performed at a hospital in Vietnam by a pre-approved Doctor

This will cost about $57USD and you should be issued the documents the same day. You will get a list of hospitals and the approved doctors you need to see from your school.
If they don't even have that work permit information, change schools.

• A Criminal Check Done in Vietnam at the Central Police Headquarters

They want to see that you've not committed ANY crimes during your previous 6 months in the country. All the forms you'll have to fill out are only in Vietnamese language.
Take someone with you who speaks the language and is willing to help you. Sometimes the school will send someone along with you. Ask them and if they say no, change schools.
The criminal check will cost you about $10USD. You will be required to produce an original Proof of Residency Document.
This document is held by your landlord or hotel owner and is a record kept with police and recorded in a book held by whoever owns the property you are renting.
All residents; foreign or local, must keep the police apprised of their whereabouts at all times. Photocopies are not accepted. You will have to borrow the original book from your landlord and take it to the central Police Headquarters.
And the landlord won't be happy about that and will outright refuse if he does not have the proper permits to rent to a foreign national. Lots of fun in a barrel of joy!
Sounds complicated? I'm just getting started!

• A Criminal Check done in Your Home Country

For some nationalities this is a long and tedious process. For others it is almost impossible.
If you are a Canadian with the right work permit information then all you have to do is get fingerprinting done and send the application off to the police station nearest your most recent address.
Processing time is 6-8 months and the cost was $70CAN Dollars about 10 months ago or the last time I inquired (Including tax and fingerprinting services).
For Americans, you have to fly back to your home country as they will not issue this document without you personally present!
I've heard recently that the U.S. government has implemented something to make this process easier. I believe that you can now hand over power of attorney to a relative and have them pick it up and forward it to you via the U.S. Embassy in Vietnam.

List of Vietnam embassy worldwide

Vietnam Cheap Visa on Arrival

5-year Vietnam visa exemption for Overseas Vietnamese

In the visit to the US, President Nguyen Minh Triet informed overseas Vietnamese in the US, as well as all overseas Vietnamese in more than 90 countries in the world, that the Vietnamese State has decided to exempt visas for all overseas Vietnamese who meet some conditions. Related agencies in Vietnam are compiling documents to realize this decision since September 1, 2007.

Under the above decision, overseas Vietnamese must fulfill some formalities to be granted a visa exemption verification document, which is valid for many times of traveling and takes effect within five years, not only one time like in the past.

The maximal residency time in Vietnam is 90 days each time. If they want to stay longer, they must ask for visas and fulfill extension formalities in Vietnam.

They have defined three subjects of overseas Vietnamese who will enjoy visa exemption:

- The people who have Vietnamese nationality.
- Vietnamese people who hold foreign nationalities.
- Foreigners who are wives, husbands, children of Vietnamese or Vietnamese who hold foreign nationalities.
A certificate must be obtained by the passport holders for the exemption to be utilized.
In order to be granted visa exemption certificates at Vietnamese representative offices abroad, overseas Vietnamese need to submit one of three following documents:

- A document that proves they are ethnically Vietnamese.

- A guarantee by overseas Vietnamese associations based in the country where they are residents of or by a Vietnamese citizen.

- and a document by authorized foreign agencies certifying that they are ethnically Vietnamese.
Husbands, wives and children of Vietnamese people living abroad will also need to submit documents that prove their relationship to the Vietnamese member of their immediate family.
Expecting a rush on representative offices abroad, the Committee for Overseas Vietnamese has sent 200,000 visa exemption certificates to Vietnamese embassies overseas.

Vietnam visa exemption

Visa exemption:
Vietnamese people that hold foreign passports and foreigners who are their husbands, wives and children are exempt from visa requirements to enter Vietnam and are allowed to stay for not more than 90 days. In order to be granted visa exemption certificates at Vietnamese representative offices abroad, overseas Vietnamese need conditions:

• Foreign-issued permanent residence certificate (PRC) with the validity of at least six months since the date of entrance.
• Visa exemption paper (VEP) is granted by Vietnamese appropriate authorities.

Those who expect to stay more than 90 days must apply for visa according to current stipulations before their entrance.

Bilateral visa exemption agreement

• Citizens of Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Laos holding valid ordinary passports are exempt from visa requirements and are allowed to stay for not more than 30 days.
• Citizens of China, Bulgaria, Kyrgyzstan, North Korea, and Rumania holding valid ordinary passports for official mission and citizens of 52 countries holding valid diplomatic or official passports are exempt from visa requirements. The duration of staying is stipulated in certain cases. For more information, please visit le website of Ministry of Foreign Affaires.

Unilateral visa exemption

• Visa with 30-day validity is exempted for officials from ASEAN secretariat holding different kinds of passports.
• Citizens of Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Japan and South Korea holding different kinds of passports are exempt from visa requirements and are allowed to stay for not more than 15 days.

Others who want to enter Vietnam must be provided with a visa.

• Tourist visa is valid in 30 days.
• Visa is issued at the Vietnamese diplomatic offices or consulates in foreign countries. Visa is possibly issued at the border gates to those who have written invitations by a Vietnamese competent agencies or tourists in the tours organized by Vietnamese international travel companies.
• Application files for visa: the entrance application (printed form); two 4x6 cm photos; passport and fee for the visa issuance.

Visa extension: Served by all international travel companies.

How to apply for a visa to Vietnam?

I. A VISA to Vietnam can be applied for by mail or in person at the Embassy of Vietnam as early as six months prior to the date of travel. The applicant must submit:

1. Original PASSPORT (which requires at least 01 month validity prior the date of exit from Vietnam). In urgent cases, a loose-leaf-visa can be requested, then a copy of passport (photo and personal detail pages) may be submitted instead of the original passport.

2. Application form (PDF Form/Word Form)The form must be completed, signed and attached with 01 original photo (2x 2in). In case of a loose-leaf-visa request, 01 additional photo must be stapled to the form. If the applicant has already got A visa approval she/he may write the reference number on the top right of the form. If the applicant does not have visa approval, just leave "visa approval number" blank. Additional processing fees for visa approval may be required.

3. Visa fees must be in the form of MONEY ORDER, or CASHIER’S CHECK, or CERTIFIED CHECK payable to “THE EMBASSY OF VIETNAM.” Applicants applying together may submit combined payment in one money order”.

4. A prepaid return envelope, if the applicant requests the visa be returned by mail. Please use USPS Express Mail (www.usps.com) or Fedex. Please do not use UPS or DHL. Applicants applying together may provide one envelope for visas to be returned to the same address.

Diplomatic and official visas will be granted GRATIS unless otherwise agreed upon between Vietnam and the applicant’s country. In addition to the documents specified in (I), the applicant must submit a note verbal or an official letter from the relevant agencies of the US Government, Embassies or Consulates accredited to the United States, and international organizations.

II. Processing Time: Five business days are required to process visa applications with approval. Expedited processing requires one to two business days after the Embassy has received the application (additional fee required).

Note: Please keep the tracking numbers of the envelopes to and from the Embassy. When the above deadlines have passed, use the tracking number to check with the mailing service first.

Please do not make telephone inquires on the status of your application (make sure that you keep your passport number for this request) until after the 3rd business day for an expedited case and the 7th business day for a regular case.

The Embassy will be closed on Saturday, Sunday, Vietnamese and US holidays 2009. Please take account of the observed holidays in planning for your visa application and travel.

For further information, please contact the Visa Section of the Embassy:

Opening hours: 9:30 – 12:30 Monday through Friday.
Email: vietnamvisabooking@gmail.com
YM: travelatvietnam
Learn more about visa to Vietnam: http://www.vietnamvisabooking.com

Apply Vietnam visa online to get your visa within 2 working days guaranteed at the lowest cost $15/ 1 month single entry visa.

Vietnam visa - How it works?

After receiving your information and payment (will be advised upon receipt of your information), we will process the visa immediately. You can expect the process to take 2 to 4 working days, and in urgent cases, only 1 to 2 working days.

visa on arrival: After approval, we will fax or email you a copy of the Approval letter as an attachment. Please remember to bring at least 2 photos of passport regulation size (2in x 2in, or 5.08 cm x 5.08 cm)

Approval Code Visa: After approval, we will fax or email you a copy of the Approval letter with code as an attachment. You will then have to proceed to the Vietnam Embassy or Consulate to obtain your visa.

APPLY FOR A VISA AT AN EMBASSY- REQUIREMENTS and PROCEDURE

• Passport with a validity of at least 6 months.
• Visa application form.
• 2 photos of passport regulation size (see above).
• Visa fee: range of US$45 - 85 if application is sent directly to the Embassy or US$25-55 if your visa has been pre-approved. This fee depends on The Embassy and Type of visa required.

The visa application form may vary from Embassy to Embassy, so you need to take the form from the specific Embassy where you will obtain your visa. Submit this form filled with your original passport, 2 or 3 photos, accompanied by the visa fee. If you apply directly to The Embassy, your information will then be sent to Hanoi for approval. Therefore, it will take between 4 to 10 days depending on your country of origin. In case the Visa has already been approved at the Hanoi Immigration Office, this will then take only one day. The tourist visa is for a single entry only and a one-month stay, but it can be extended after you enter Vietnam. Diplomatic, official visas, business and other types of visas should be handled through the official agencies or government or business sponsor of the traveler.

Vietnam visa information

Only citizens of certain countries can visit Vietnam without an entry visa (valid for visit within 30 days). Those countries include: most Asean countries, Korea, Japan & Scandinavians (2005). All other citizens are required to get an entry visa before departure or a pre-approved entry visa (visa is issued on arrival at Vietnam’s International Airports) supplied before arrival in Vietnam.

We recommend that you obtain your entry visa by having a valid passport stamped prior to your departure by applying to any one of the Vietnam Embassies and/or Consulates worldwide. However, if your particular city does not have a Vietnamese embassy, and you wish to avoid procedural delays (anywhere from 4 to 10 days) which sometimes happen with visa approvals at embassies outside Vietnam, VietnamStay.Com can make this requirement a fairly easy exercise. We provide a form below, which you may copy and paste into a word document, fill out and return to us with the required information by fax or email. We will then arrange to obtain the visa approval code service for you. You will subsequently still need to get the official Vietnamese stamp of approval on your passport at any of our Embassies. Following such an approval, we will send you notification (by fax or email) and fax the approval to your desired Embassy or Consulate. You will need to take that approval with your passport to that Embassy or Consulate to get the visa stamp on your passport, which is done on the same day. You are now ready to go Vietnam!

In the event that there is no Vietnam embassy or Consulate in your country, or you just want to make Vietnam part of a multi-destination trip, then we recommend visa on arrival as your best option.

What is a 'visa on arrival ?': this is most likely the easiest way to obtain your visa without having to chase down embassies, consulates and the like prior to your trip, and is a valid alternative when applying for a tourist visa. The entry visa will be stamped on your passport as you pass through our immigration checkpoint. Though valid for thirty days, it can be extended once you enter Viet Nam. With this type of visa, you only can enter the country by air.

How to get a visa on arrival: this is where service at VietnamStay.Com shines over other travel services. We are the first agency to offer this kind of service, whereby we obtain what is called an “Approval Letter” for you from the Viet Nam Immigration Department in Hanoi. After we obtain the approval for you, we will forward you a copy by fax or email. Copies of the same document will be forwarded on your behalf to Vietnam immigration checkpoints at International Airports only, so that when you arrive in Viet Nam, the Immigration officers will have those documents on hand and will be able to issue your entry visa expediently.

Vietnam visa exemption

Visa exemption:
Vietnamese people that hold foreign passports and foreigners who are their husbands, wives and children are exempt from visa requirements to enter Vietnam and are allowed to stay for not more than 90 days. In order to be granted visa exemption certificates at Vietnamese representative offices abroad, overseas Vietnamese need conditions:

• Foreign-issued permanent residence certificate (PRC) with the validity of at least six months since the date of entrance.
• Visa exemption paper (VEP) is granted by Vietnamese appropriate authorities.

Those who expect to stay more than 90 days must apply for visa according to current stipulations before their entrance.

Bilateral visa exemption agreement

• Citizens of Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Laos holding valid ordinary passports are exempt from visa requirements and are allowed to stay for not more than 30 days.
• Citizens of China, Bulgaria, Kyrgyzstan, North Korea, and Rumania holding valid ordinary passports for official mission and citizens of 52 countries holding valid diplomatic or official passports are exempt from visa requirements. The duration of staying is stipulated in certain cases. For more information, please visit le website of Ministry of Foreign Affaires.

Unilateral visa exemption

• Visa with 30-day validity is exempted for officials from ASEAN secretariat holding different kinds of passports.
• Citizens of Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Japan and South Korea holding different kinds of passports are exempt from visa requirements and are allowed to stay for not more than 15 days.

Others who want to enter Vietnam must be provided with a visa.

• Tourist visa is valid in 30 days.
• Visa is issued at the Vietnamese diplomatic offices or consulates in foreign countries. Visa is possibly issued at the border gates to those who have written invitations by a Vietnamese competent agencies or tourists in the tours organized by Vietnamese international travel companies.
• Application files for visa: the entrance application (printed form); two 4x6 cm photos; passport and fee for the visa issuance.

Visa extension: Served by all international travel companies.

Who are eligible for entry visa exemption?

Visa exemption for overseas Vietnamese

Vietnam urgent/ emergency visa at weekend

What would you do when you go to airport and suddenly find out you have no visa in hand and your airlines staff won't let you board your flight?

Simply, we called it emergency visa as you have definitely send urgent email to vietnamvisabooking@gmail.com or call us +84 912685141 to settle the issue the Approval Letter and the most important thing you should be able to be online as we will send you the Approval Letter right away to enable you to board the flight into Vietnam.

Vietnam emergency visa can be arranged in 6 or even 3 hours, in business day or weekend.

Cost will vary on the level of emergency or weekend but it is somewhere from US$150 to US$160 per person.

We normally do not want you, as our customer, to spend so much money to this. We would suggest you delay your flight then you will have time to do normal visa into Vietnam.

In the case where you are in business and/or cannot delay the arrival then we will be happy to help.

Please call us above or email us vietnamvisabooking@gmail.com, we are 24 hour online so this might be useful.

More on normal Vietnam visa...


Basically, you must have a valid Vietnam visa except you are the citizenship of visa exempted countries.

The most convenient and, we can say, easiest way is to do 'Visa - on - Arriva or Visa - at - Airport' (more about Vietnam visa on arrival) ie we send you Approval Letter, you hold it to board your incoming flight and you pay visa stamp fee locally to the Immigration - the stamp fee will depend on what type of visa you would like to have.

This will save your time sending request to Embassies and wait probably long time while the price is certainly more expensive.

http://vietnamvisabooking.com/urgent-processing.html