5-Years Visa Exemption
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Heidi Phan
What's the Vietnam 5-Year Visa exemption
Vietnam's 5-year visa exemption, also known as the "Vietnam visa exemption certificate," allows eligible foreign nationals to enter and stay in Vietnam without needing to obtain a visa each time they visit. It's important to note that there is a maximum stay of 180 days per visit. If you want to stay longer, you can apply for an extension within Vietnam with help from a relative there. Here's an overview of the key details:
Benefits:
- Multiple visits to Vietnam over 5 years without a visa application for each trip.
- Saves time and money compared to applying for individual visas.
Limitations:
- Maximum stay of 180 days per visit.
- Not eligible for everyone (see below for who qualifies).
- Not permit the holder to work or study in Vietnam without proper authorization. Separate permits and visas are required for employment or educational purposes
If they want to stay longer than 180 days without leaving the country, they can extend visa in Vietnam with support from a relative in Vietnam. The extended duration is up to 6 months.
The Visa exemption certificate shall be valid for up to 05 years and expires at least 6 months before the expiration of the holder’s passport or equivalent paper.
Who is Eligible for the Vietnam 5-year Visa Exemption?
The Vietnam 5-year Visa Exemption is for a specific group of people:
- Vietnamese citizens residing overseas: This applies to Vietnamese people who live in another country but still hold Vietnamese citizenship.
- Spouses and children of Vietnamese citizens or of Vietnamese people residing overseas: This includes foreign spouses and children of Vietnamese citizens, as well as foreign spouses and children of people who are Vietnamese but live overseas.
If you are not part of these categories, then you won't be eligible for the 5-year Visa Exemption and will need to apply for a regular visa to visit Vietnam.
Document requirements
The document requirements for a Vietnam 5-year Visa Exemption depend on whether you're applying as a Vietnamese citizen overseas or a foreign spouse/child of a Vietnamese citizen. Here's a breakdown:
For Vietnamese citizens residing overseas:
- Completed Application Form: Available from the Vietnamese consulate or embassy or their official website.
- Foreign Passport: Original passport with at least six months of validity remaining and a copy of the passport's data page.
- Two recent passport photos: Standard size (typically 4x6 cm) with a white background, facing forward, and no headwear or sunglasses.
- Proof of Vietnamese citizenship: This can be various documents depending on your situation.
Some examples: an old Vietnamese ID card/ Passport, a birth certificate, a decision for renunciation of Vietnamese citizenship, or a certificate of loss of Vietnamese citizenship.
For foreign spouses & children of Vietnamese oversea/Vietnamese citizens:
- Application form: You'll need a completed application form for a visa exemption certificate (form NA9).
- Foreign passport: Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned entry into Vietnam.
- Two passport photos: Same specifications as above.
- Proof of Relationship :Marriage certificate (for spouses); Birth certificate (for children); Other relevant documents proving the relationship to the Vietnamese citizen or Viet Kieu.
- Vietnamese National’s Identification: Proof of the Vietnamese spouse’s or parent's nationality, such as a Vietnamese passport, national ID card, or birth certificate.
The documents might need to be authenticated copies. Check with the Vietnamese embassy or consulate in your country for specific requirements.
In some cases, additional documents may be requested depending on your individual situation.
It's always recommended to consult the official Vietnamese government website or the nearest Vietnamese embassy/consulate for the latest and most accurate information on document requirements for the 5-year Visa Exemption.
How to apply for a 5-year Visa exemption for Vietnam?
STEP 1: PREPARE REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
As mentioned earlier, the documents you need will depend on whether you're applying as a Vietnamese citizen overseas or a foreign spouse/child of a Vietnamese citizen. Make sure to check the official Vietnamese government website or the nearest Vietnamese embassy/consulate for the latest list as requirements might change.
STEP 2: SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION
Agencies competent to grant visa exemption certificates include:
- Overseas Vietnamese diplomatic missions and consulates (see here for their contact details);
- The Vietnam Immigration Department under the Ministry of Public Security (if you are in Vietnam).
STEP 3: RECEIVE YOUR PASSPORT AND 5-YEAR VISA EXEMPTION CERTIFICATE
After the processing time, you will need to go to the Vietnam Embassy/Consulate or Vietnam Immigration department to colect your Passport and Visa exemption certificate.
It can be sent to your house via mail if you apply by mail.
Processing times can vary depending on the embassy/consulate's workload and your individual situation. It's generally recommended to allow at least a few weeks for processing.
