Vietnam Visa Exemption and 5-Year Program Details

Get insights into the Vietnam visa exemption policy for select nationals, along with the 5-Year Visa Exemption program for overseas Vietnamese and their families. This guide emphasizes eligibility, application processes, and essential details for those keen on understanding and navigating Vietnam’s immigration regulations.

Who can get a visa exemption?

1. Vietnamese living abroad.
2. Partners and children of Vietnamese citizens or Vietnamese living abroad.
3. Those with a passport valid for at least 1 year.

Who isn’t eligible for a visa exemption?

• If you don’t fit the criteria mentioned above.
• Some of Vietnam’s rules, like Articles 21 and 28, might affect how you enter and leave as a visitor.

How Vietnamese residents in the US can apply at the embassy

Direct Submission: If you’re Vietnamese living in the US, you can personally submit your application to the Embassy.

Unable to Visit in Person?

• You can send your documents using the ‘Registered Mail Restricted Delivery’ service.
• You can authorize someone else to submit your application for you. Note: Parents can’t use this option when applying for their children.

Children Under 14: If the applicant is a child under 14, they don’t need to visit in person.

Necessary documents

Application form

• Fill out the online application form at [provided link].
• Print and sign the completed form. Ensure it has a visible barcode.
• Ensure you include a barcode on your application and fill it out completely, or we will reject it. You’ll need to re-register.
• If you list your children in your passport, then fill out Item 12 of the form.
• Children with individual passports should have separate forms. Parents or guardians shouldn’t list them on their forms.

Passport photograph

Provide a recent photograph (4×6 size, white background, facing forward, no sunglasses or hats).

US passport

Submit your US passport (with at least 1 year of validity). Include a copy of the personal details page.

Proof of Vietnamese citizenship

Provide the original and a copy of any one of the following:

• Certificate of Vietnamese citizenship
• Decision excerpts for recovery or abandonment of Vietnamese citizenship
• Certificate of lost Vietnamese citizenship
• Vietnamese passport (valid or expired)
• Identity card (valid or expired)
• Birth certificate
• Latest voter’s card
• Family register book
• Any pre-1975 travel document, identity card, or birth register excerpt
• Any document from foreign authorities that prove Vietnamese citizenship or origin

Mailing or using a third party

When sending by mail or through another person, make sure to:

Get the documents certified by a Notary Public if you’re not sending the originals.

For foreigners related to Vietnamese citizens or overseas Vietnamese

If you’re married to a Vietnamese person, their child, or you’re an overseas Vietnamese, here’s what to do:

Submission options

• In Person: Visit the Embassy yourself.
• By Mail: Use Registered Mail Restricted Delivery service.
• You can have someone else submit the application for you, unless it’s parents applying for their children.

Note: Kids under 14 don’t need to come in person.

Required documents

• Application Form: Fill out the online application form, print, and sign. Ensure it has a barcode. If it’s incomplete or lacks a barcode, please refill and reprint.
• Photo Requirement: One recent 4×6 photo with a white background. Look directly at the camera, without sunglasses or headwear.
• US Passport: Must have at least a year’s validity. Also, provide a copy of the page showing personal details.
• Proof of Relationship: Original and copy of either:Birth certificate or
• Marriage certificate.
• Also, provide the Vietnamese passport/birth certificate/ID of the Vietnamese relative. The US must notarize documents issued there.

If your kids have their own passports, make sure they get their own application forms. Don’t just add them to the forms of parents or guardians.

For mail or authorized submissions

Ensure a Notary Public certifies your copies if you don’t submit the original documents.

Payment method

Please make the payment using a money order or a cashier’s check addressed to the Embassy.

Certificate validity

The visa exemption certificate is valid for up to 5 years. Ensure it expires at least 6 months before your passport’s expiry date.

How to apply for a Vietnam visa

In-person application

• Where: Embassy of Vietnam, 1233 20th Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, D.C. 20036
• When: Monday to Friday, 9:00 A.M – 12:00 A.M and 2:00 P.M – 4:30 P.M (except holidays). No appointment needed.

By mail

• Just send your application to the Embassy address listed above. Click here to get more details.

Online (US passport holders only)

• Apply online and get a loose-leaf visa sent to you by mail. Payment via PayPal.

By email

• Just email us your application and we’ll mail you a loose-leaf visa! Click here for details. Payment with credit/debit card.

Good News! If you’re Vietnamese with a US Green Card, you can apply for a special visa known as the ‘Vietnam 5-year visa’.

Processing times

• Once you submit all documents, we process them in 3 business days as standard.
• Expedited Service: 24 hours. An extra fee applies. Please clearly mark “Expedite service” or “URGENT” on your envelope or application for faster processing.

Note: Replace the “Click here” placeholders with actual links as needed.

Important information to know

Check Your Visa Details: After getting your visa from the Embassy, please review all the personal details on it. If anything’s wrong, reach out to the Embassy as soon as possible. (Note: There might be a fee for changes because mistakes on your part).

Diplomatic/Official Passport Holders:

• You can apply in person or by mail. We don’t accept online and email applications.
• Diplomatic and official visas are usually free. Some countries have special deals, so the rules might be different for them.
• Kindly provide us with your visa approval number, a diplomatic note, or the appropriate letter from a US agency.

Visa Costs: Your visa fee will cover approval, processing, handling, and postal services. Costs vary based on visa type and processing speed. Reach out to the Consular Division for specifics.

For group travel: You can pay for everyone at once and send all applications in a single envelope.

Visa Duration: Your visa shows the start date. You can come to Vietnam from this date onwards, but make sure to leave before the date it says it ends. If you have a 12-month visa for Vietnam, the Customs and Border team will let you know your allowed stay length when you arrive.

Beware of Online Visa Scams: The Embassy advises getting your visa before traveling to Vietnam. Some online services might be scams or not connected to the Embassy. If you use an unverified online visa, the Embassy can’t help if you face entry issues.

The Embassy might ask you for a bit more info or some extra documents. They can also turn down a visa application without giving a reason.