If you are planning a trip to Vietnam, then surely the visa requirements are the very first thing you have to figure out. We know this can be scary and time-consuming, but we promise it will all be worth it in the end. In this article, we are going to give you some practical advice you should use when it comes to obtaining a tourist visa.
The very first thing you should be aware of is that there are various types of visa depending on your passport. Some nationalities don’t even need to apply for the visa and can get the immigration stamp for free. If you are not sure whether or not you need this permission, go to the website of the Vietnamese embassy where you will find this information.
When it comes to the application process, you have two choices. You can apply for it at the Vietnamese embassy or start an online process for the Vietnam Visa on Arrival (VOA). Keep in mind that you can get this type of visa only if you are going to travel by plane. If you want to travel by bus, then you have to contact the embassy and start the process there.
If you want to apply for the visa online, firstly, you have to find a reputable online company (like e-visa-vietnam.com) that will deal with all the paperwork and give you all the information you need. You have to be careful when making this choice if you want this whole process to be quick and easy.
The first step is to fill the form which will be provided by the chosen company. You have to write all your personal data as well as the information regarding the trip (the duration of the visit, travel dates, etc.). Once you have sent this form back, the company will forward it to the Vietnam Immigration Department and they will respond with a letter stating that your VOA process is open. In addition, you will have to pay a fee to the company. The price varies between them, and you can pay this expense online, by credit card or PayPal.
Secondly, the company will send you a copy of the immigration letter as well as another form that you must fill by hand. Passport and these two documents are all you need. Keep in mind that some airline company might require you these papers before boarding the plane, so you should always keep them somewhere nearby, in a purse or hand luggage.
Thirdly, when you arrive in Vietnam, the first thing you have to do, as soon as your foot touches the ground, is to find the Landing Visa counter. You will provide them with the abovementioned documents, passport, and two passport photos. You will have to wait a little bit, but once the officer hands you back your documents with the Vietnam tourist visa, you have to pay the visa fee. After this, you are allowed to go by passport control and get the welcoming stamp.
To sum up, as you can see, getting Visa on Arrival online is a fairly easy process. Our advice is to further investigate different types of visas and how to obtain them. You should double-check all information on the embassy’s website.
Nina Smith 