There are two (main) types of visas in Vietnam. There is a tourist visa and a business visa. The one most commonly used by expatriates is the tourist visa. It is not the most ideal situation, but Vietnam does not offer anything permanent to non-citizens. In this chapter, we will detail and summarize each of the major visas, how to obtain them and the process for keeping them up to date.
Tourist Visa
The most widely used visa is the tourist visa. The process to obtain one is very straightforward and expat friendly. The inconvenience for some is when you may need to extend and maintain the tourist visa. Within the tourist visa there are two options. A three month or a five-year long term visa. The catch on the five year visa is that you are still required to check in with local government every three months for a renewal. Either way, you will be checking in at the local offices to keep your visa up to date.
While neither of the tourist visa options are ideal for everyone, they are both relatively inexpensive. The cost for both are approximately thirty-five USD per month. All the paperwork you need to obtain your tourist visa is readily available at any Vietnamese embassy or online.
As the requirements may be different for each passport country of origin, and subject to change, check the official website for the latest 4 Steps to get a Visa by using the country by Country Selector at https://vietnamvisa.org/.
Vietnam has warned expatriates and tourists to be aware of scams surrounding the process of obtaining a visa. It is safest to go to the nearest Vietnamese embassy or directly to their official website for information regarding your visa.
To work in Vietnam, you will also need to obtain a work permit. This is especially important for expatriates because your stay will undoubtedly be longer than three months. Once you have obtained a work permit, you can also apply for a temporary residence card. It is important to note that legislation surrounding visas, work permits and temporary residence cards changes on a regular basis. Once you have established a residence and are working in Vietnam, you will want to frequently check with the local embassy to ensure you are still living in the country legally. The requirement to check in with a local government office every three months, while this may seem to be a hassle, it will actually help form the good habit of checking on and knowing your status as a resident of Vietnam.
Temporary residence card
Once you have a job in Vietnam, you can apply for your temporary residence card. These are valid for one to three years and require the sponsorship of a Vietnamese company, which is generally the company you are employed with. You will only be able to apply for the temporary residence card if the company agrees to sponsor you. The paperwork for this process can be found on the Vietnam Immigration Department website. While the forms can be downloaded from the web, you will need to physically deliver your paperwork to the Immigration Department in Vietnam.
Business Visa
In terms of the business visa, there are two ways to obtain that. The first is by having a Vietnamese business sponsor you. This can be through a company you work for when arriving in Vietnam or an American based company that has a location in Vietnam (transfer). Obtaining a business visa is a little trickier and there are additional hoops to jump through. You will need an entry clearance from the sponsor. It needs to be official and usually comes through your employer. This particular visa will grant multiple entries into the country and will last up to a year. In order to get the business visa, you need approval from the Immigration Department in Vietnam and unlike the tourist visa, this has to be done through your sponsor. If you have not yet gained a sponsor, you can apply for a business visa that will only be good for ninety days. That is usually sufficient time to find a job and therefore a sponsor in Vietnam1111.