Over the last few years, the procedures for applying for a Vietnamese visa is considered quite accessible and convenient. In November 2019, the Department Immigration has announced some major adjustments in the new policies, which is going to be officially taken into practice since July this year. Would it be a good or a bad sign for tourists? Let’s dive into our post on major adjustments in the new policies of Vietnam visa to keep up with the latest updates and find out the answer.
Regarding the current laws, for some tourists, even when their residence permit has been expired, their Vietnam visas are still valid. This appears significantly inconvenient for the authorities in strictly controlling foreign travelers in Vietnam. Also, some tourists may have to apply for the extension of residence permit. It may force these people to undergo a quite lengthy and complicated process.
However, the concern regarding the length of residence will be entirely removed for tourists from July 01, after the new laws are officially conducted. Tourists then holding a visa should be provided a temporary residence stamp according to the exact days of staying in Vietnam.
Another considerable change is that foreign tourists must obtain a new stamp of residence permit every 30 days, although they can freely apply for a valid 3-month visa as usual. Tourists now have to spend $10 (around VND 230,000) per residence permit stamp.
Regarding the new law, if you plan to stay in Vietnam for 90 days, it will cost you a total of approximately US $30 to get 3 new stamps of residence permit (a single stamp per every 30 days).
You do not need to be too worried about this law adjustment only aim to prevent the issue of foreigners working illegally in Vietnam and you are still allowed to request an extension, either once or several times. Please keep in mind that the maximum length of stay you can have in Vietnam now will be only 90 days. When your day of staying has reached 90 days, you must exit the country. In case you plan to head to Vietnam again, it is obligatory to re-apply for a new visa.
In spite of the advantages of earning more incomes while traveling for certain tourists acquiring the 3-month visa, this considered a violation against Vietnam’s Immigration Laws. Besides, the current laws may create such a legal loophole of the long-term visa to engage in criminal activities.
Thanks to the tireless effort of Vietnam’s government for the development of international tourism, the E-visa is now applicable for citizens more than 80 nations around the globe. Not only can this movement make the visa procedures more accessible and time-saving, but it also indicates such a great welcome for international travelers heading to Vietnam. Along with that, tourists now do not have to struggle with the traditional means of applying for a visa. Instead, with only Internet access and a computer, they can easily obtain a valid visa as the whole process is carried out online, which opens the door for visitors to explore the beautiful S-shaped country in a carefree manner.
By applying for Vietnam E-visa, tourists do not have to spend hours at the airport waiting for obtaining an on-arrival visa stamped upon their passports.
In order to remove such formalities for citizens of countries part of the unilateral visa waiver program, the new Immigration Laws are going to be applied for:
Precisely, citizens of these mentioned countries have to wait for a minimum of 30 days before they can re-enter Vietnam when their visa expired. However, after the conduction of new law, the requirement on time waiting will no longer exist. This means that citizens of the above 13 countries can travel back to Vietnam at any time they want, as long as they successfully obtain a new visa.
Tourists from countries like the United Kingdom, Italy, Japan, Korea, and so forth now can enjoy such visa advantages from the new law.
Another positive news for these travelers is that you do not need to travel back to your home country to re-apply for a new Vietnam visa. You can get rid of this troublesome problem by applying to change your visa status right in Vietnam from July 1.
To completely withdraw overlapped or unclear statements in the existing laws, the Immigration Department is going to restrict the foreign investor with less than VND 3,000,000,000 (3 billion Vietnam Dong, around US 130,000$) can only apply for a 1-year visa. Those who owning investment capital more than 100,000,000,000 (100 billion Vietnam Dong) can obtain a temporary residence permit for up to 10 years. This is a significant change in comparison with the current law, in which any international investor can apply for a 5-year Vietnam visa regardless of their total investment in the country.
All of these aforementioned changes are parts of the amendments to Vietnam’s Immigration Laws on Entry, Exit, or Transit, including Foreign Residences. Moreover, these changes also have been approved by the Vietnam National Assembly in November 2019.
These changes inevitably affect many tourists’ plans for traveling to Vietnam after July this year. Some may find it superbly great, others have to handle certain difficulties. Hope the article has offered you the needed overview of the new laws for your best preparation. In case you have any queries regarding the new laws when applying for a Vietnam visa, do not hesitate to contact the local Vietnam Embassy or Consulate and your visa agency to ensure you have the most updated as well as correct answer.
