Comprehensive Guide to Vietnam 5-Year Visa Exemption: Application, Extension, and Reissuance

Learn about the procedures for extending a Vietnam 5-year visa exemption for foreigners, including requirements for reissuing a lost or damaged visa exemption. Discover essential documents needed for both processes to ensure a smooth stay in Vietnam.

What is the 5-Year Visa Exemption for Foreigners?

The 5-Year Visa Exemption for foreigners is a special policy by the Vietnamese government that allows foreigners, regardless of nationality, who have Vietnamese origins, previously held Vietnamese citizenship, or have Vietnamese parents, spouses, or children to enter Vietnam without a visa.

The visa exemption is valid for a maximum of 5 years, allowing multiple entries with each stay exempt from visa requirements for up to 3 months (180 days). After the temporary residence period expires, foreigners can apply for an extension per regulations on residence extensions for foreigners.

The primary purpose of the visa exemption is to allow foreigners to enter Vietnam for family visits or to resolve personal matters as per their wishes.

Regulations on the Conditions for Applying for the 5-Year Visa Exemption for Foreigners

Foreigners with Vietnamese origins, who previously held Vietnamese citizenship, or have Vietnamese parents, spouses, or children.
Have documents proving Vietnamese origins, previous Vietnamese citizenship, or marriage relationships;
Hold a passport with a minimum validity of 5 years (if the passport has a shorter validity than 5 years, it will be issued for the duration of the passport but must still have a minimum validity of 6 months).

Regulations on the Procedure for Applying for a Visa Exemption for Foreigners According to the Latest Regulations

Step 1: Documents Required for the 5-Year Visa Exemption Application for Foreigners

The original passport of the applicant for the visa exemption, must have a minimum validity of 5 years (if the passport is valid for less than 5 years, the visa exemption will be issued for the duration of the passport).
Documents proving Vietnamese origin for Vietnamese citizens residing abroad (if applicable), such as an old passport, birth certificate, or documents proving family relations with Vietnamese citizens.
A copy of documents proving family relationships, such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, family relationship certificates, or other valid documents for foreigners with Vietnamese parents, spouses, or children.
The application form for the Vietnam Visa Exemption (NA9) with a photo attached.
A 4×6 cm photo (facing forward, with neat hair, and no glasses).

Step 2: Where to Submit the Visa Exemption Application for Foreigners?

Foreigners should submit their applications at the Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate in the country where they are located if they are abroad.
Foreigners currently in Vietnam should submit their applications for the visa exemption at the Vietnam Immigration Department.
Foreigners can also submit their applications for the 5-year visa exemption online at the National Public Service Portal and send them via postal service or express delivery.

Step 3: Issuance of the 5-Year Visa Exemption for Foreigners Entering Vietnam

The authorities will review the application and verify the validity of the information.
If the application meets the conditions and is valid, the visa exemption will be issued for a duration of 5 years, allowing multiple entries into Vietnam without a visa for up to 180 days each time.
The processing time for the visa exemption application is 5 working days.
The fee for applying for the 5-year visa exemption for foreigners is 20 USD (or equivalent in VND based on the current exchange rate).

Note:

The issuance of the visa exemption may take some time for review and processing; therefore, applicants should submit their applications well in advance of their planned entry date.
When entering Vietnam, foreigners must adhere to the 180-day visa exemption duration and are not allowed to stay beyond the specified time to avoid violating Vietnam’s immigration laws.

Visa Extension for Holders of the 5-Year Visa Exemption When Temporary Residence in Vietnam Expires

When holders of the visa exemption enter Vietnam, they are allowed to stay for a period not exceeding 6 months for each entry. If the visa exemption has less than 6 months remaining, they can stay until the visa exemption expires. If there are valid reasons, this visa exemption can be extended for an additional 6 months at a time.

To carry out this procedure, foreigners need to prepare the following documents:

The passport of the person applying for the visa exemption.
A temporary residence extension application form, using form NA5.
Verification documents proving eligibility for the visa exemption.
The passport or ID card of the Vietnamese guarantor is notarized.
A temporary residence declaration for foreigners.

Application Process and Documents for Reissuing the 5-Year Visa Exemption for Foreigners in Case of Loss or Damage

When the 5-year visa exemption is lost, damaged, or requires changes to personal information such as name or date of birth, the holder is entitled to reapply for the visa exemption using the following procedures:

To proceed with the reissuance, you need to prepare a file with the following documents:

Original passport.
Application form for reissuing the visa exemption, using form NA9.
The original visa exemption, and if it is lost, a loss report must be included.
A certified copy of the original visa exemption or the original document for verification if there are changes to the information on the visa exemption.

The application for reissuing the visa exemption can be submitted at the following locations:

The Vietnam Immigration Department.
The Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate in the foreign country where you are located.

This process helps you update personal information or obtain a new visa exemption in case of loss or damage, allowing you to continue legal activities in Vietnam.

For more detailed information, please contact us for a free consultation through our website.

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