01. What You Need to Know Before You Apply for Your Visa on Arrival for Vietnam?
Here you will find all the answers to frequently asked questions about the process “What You Need to Know Before You Apply for Your Visa on Arrival for Vietnam” with Vietnamism. If you don’t find the question and answer you’re looking for here, please don’t hesitate to contact us!
- Which visas are available? And what kind of visa can I apply for?
Vietnamism only requests tourist VOA (Visa on Arrival) letters. The following visas are available:- 01 month single entry – Allows you to stay in Vietnam for 1 month and enter the country once.
- 01 month multiple entry – Allows you to stay in Vietnam for 1 month and enter and leave the country several times.
- 03 months single entry – Allows you to stay in Vietnam for 3 months and enter the country once.
- 03 months multiple entry – Allows you to stay in Vietnam for 3 months and enter and leave the country several times.
* Please note that requests made in the month of February for March can be counted as 28 or 29 days as an exception!
- Single or multiple entry?
With a single entry you can enter Vietnam once. As soon as you leave the country, the visa expires. With a multiple entry you can enter Vietnam several times within the validity period. This is ideal for travelers who want to do a short visit to a neighboring country, for example. - How long in advance can I apply for my visa (VOA)?
You can start the application 12 months in advance. - Is it possible to arrive before or after the arrival date I applied for on my approval letter?
No, you can’t arrive earlier than the start date mentioned on your letter. It’s no problem to arrive day(s) later than the requested date. Please keep in mind that your visa will start on the requested date anyway! If there is a chance that your flight will be moved forward, make sure that the date on the invitation letter starts 2 days earlier. Keep in mind that your end date is 2 days earlier as well. Arriving later than the start date is possible. - Is it possible to fly to another airport than the one I have filled in on my application form?
Yes. This is not a problem at all. As long as you enter via an international airport, you can apply for your visa. Make sure you have printed out the correct documents. You can enter at the following airports: Noi Bai (Hanoi), Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City), Phu Quoc, Da Nang and Cam Ranh. - I arrive by airplane but want to leave by bus, boat or train. Is that allowed with the VOA procedure?
Yes. With the visa you can leave the country through all borders. With a multiple entry visa, except for the first time (when you need to arrive by plane), you can travel back into Vietnam via the borders as well. - I want to enter and exit from different airports. Is this allowed?
Yes. You can enter and leave through all international airports. - What is a ‘stamping fee’?
This is the amount that you pay to the Vietnamese government for visa processing at the airport. After the payment you get your stamp in your passport and you can enter Vietnam. For single entry the cost is 25 USD per visa and for multiple entry 50 USD per visa. Make sure you have this amount in cash with you (in USD). - Do the passport pictures that I have to take with me for my application form have to be the same as the photo on my passport?
No. They may be different photos. Vietnam is not as strict as the European requirements. Make sure that both photos you submit are the same and in color. Formats accepted: 4×6, 3×5 or 2×4. - Can I apply for a business visa?
No. Vietnamism only requests tourist visas on arrival for its clients. - How do I obtain the visa in Vietnam?
When you arrive at the airport you go to the immigration desk before you go through customs. Hand over the correct forms and wait until the visa is ready. Make sure you have the right papers and hand over the amount in US dollars. - Do I have to apply for a visa for my children?
Yes. Children need a visa just like adults. For this you simply follow the same online procedure. If your child is still in your passport, you only need the authorization letter. With their own passport, you also have to pay a stamp fee for children. - I travel with a group. Do I have to apply for a visa for everyone?
Yes, every traveler must apply for a separate visa for Vietnam, both children and adults. You can’t enter Vietnam without a visa. - Can I fly to Vietnam without a visa and buy my visa at the airport?
No. Your visa has to be applied for before departure using the VOA procedure or through an embassy or consulate. When checking in, the airline will ask you to show your visa or approval letter. If you can’t present it, you can’t board the plane. - Is the visa on arrival the same visa as the one you get at an embassy or consulate?
Yes, both visas are identical. - What’s the convenience when you apply for a VOA procedure compared to the Vietnamese embassy or consulate?
The cost is lower with the VOA procedure. You can apply easily online. You don’t have to send or temporarily give up your passport. You can do the VOA procedure from anywhere in the world. You can contact Vietnamism 24/7 with your questions. - What are the inconveniences?
When arriving at the airport in Vietnam, you will have to wait for your visa to be ready. Waiting time is between 10 and 50 minutes depending on how many co-applicants are there. You can give your documents to the visa officer and wait for your visa to be ready so you don’t have to wait in line. - What exactly is the meaning of a ‘Visa on Arrival Approval Letter’?
The approval letter is a letter issued by the Vietnamese Immigration Department which allows you to get a visa on arrival at an international airport in Vietnam. In this letter you will find some of your personal details and the validity period for your visa.When you fill out the application form with Vietnamism, we send it to the Immigration Department in Hanoi. Make sure that you print the approval letter. You show the letter at the airport (together with the other necessary document