First, what is a visa?
“A visa is a document issued by a competent authority of Vietnam, permitting a foreigner to enter Vietnam.”
Visas may be issued in a passport, separately, or electronically (e-visas).
Validity of visas: Short-term visas are valid for up to 30 days, while long-term visas may be valid for up to 5 years.
Symbols and types of visas:
- NG: Valid for up to 1 year.
- NG1: Issued to members of delegations invited by the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the President, the Chairperson of the National Assembly, or the Prime Minister.
- NG2: Issued to members of delegations invited by the Standing Secretariat of the Communist Party, Vice President, Vice Chairperson of the National Assembly, Deputy Prime Minister, President of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court, Procurator General of the Supreme People’s Procuracy, State Auditor General, and equivalent positions; also provincial Party Secretaries, city Party Secretaries, Chairpersons of People’s Councils, and People’s Committees of centrally run provinces and cities.
- NG3: Issued to members of diplomatic missions, consular offices, UN agencies, intergovernmental organizations, and their spouses, children under 18, and domestic helpers accompanying them during their tenure.
- NG4: Issued to those entering Vietnam to work with diplomatic missions, consular offices, UN agencies, intergovernmental organizations, and their family members; or those visiting members of such missions.
- LV: Valid for up to 1 year.
- LV1: For individuals working with agencies under the Communist Party of Vietnam, the National Assembly, the Government, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, the Supreme People’s Court, the Supreme People’s Procuracy, the State Audit, ministries, and equivalent bodies, as well as provincial and municipal People’s Councils and Committees.
- LV2: For individuals working with socio-political organizations, social organizations, or the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
- ĐT (Investor visas):
- ĐT1: Valid up to 5 years. Issued to foreign investors and representatives of organizations investing in Vietnam with capital contributions of VND 100 billion or more, or investing in priority sectors/locations determined by the Government.
- ĐT2: Valid up to 5 years. Issued to investors with capital contributions from VND 50 billion to under VND 100 billion, or investing in encouraged sectors.
- ĐT3: Valid up to 3 years. Issued to investors with contributions from VND 3 billion to under VND 50 billion.
- ĐT4: Valid up to 1 year. Issued to investors with contributions under VND 3 billion.
- DN (Business visas): Valid up to 1 year.
- DN1: For foreigners working with enterprises or organizations with legal status in Vietnam.
- DN2: For foreigners entering to offer services, establish commercial presence, or conduct other activities under international treaties to which Vietnam is a party.
- LĐ (Work visas): Valid up to 2 years.
- LĐ1: For foreigners working in Vietnam exempt from work permit requirements, except where international treaties state otherwise.
- LĐ2: For foreigners required to obtain a work permit.
- LS: For foreign lawyers practicing in Vietnam, valid up to 5 years.
- NN (Foreign NGO / Organization visas): Valid up to 1 year.
- NN1: For heads of representative offices or projects of international organizations and foreign NGOs in Vietnam.
- NN2: For heads of representative offices, branches of foreign traders, and offices of foreign economic, cultural, or professional organizations in Vietnam.
- NN3: For individuals working with foreign NGOs, representative offices, branches of foreign traders, or foreign organizations in Vietnam.
- DH: For interns or students, valid up to 1 year.
- HN: For participants in conferences or seminars, valid up to 90 days.
- PV (Press visas): Valid up to 1 year.
- PV1: For resident foreign journalists.
- PV2: For short-term foreign journalists.
- DL: For tourists, valid up to 90 days.
- VR: For visiting relatives or other purposes, valid up to 180 days.
- SQ: Valid up to 30 days. For those entering Vietnam to survey markets, travel, visit relatives, or seek medical treatment, under certain conditions (e.g., invited by a competent visa-issuing authority or guaranteed by a diplomatic/consular mission).
- TT (Dependent visas): Valid up to 1 year. Issued to foreigners who are spouses, children under 18 of Vietnamese citizens or foreigners holding certain visa categories (NN1, NN2, ĐT1–3, LV1–2, LS, DH, PV1–2, LĐ1–2).
- EV: Electronic visa, valid up to 90 days.
(Legal basis: Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, 2014)
