Vietnam visa approval letter, for a long time, has become an important paper for those who want to get a visa on arrival or a visa at the Vietnam embassy/consulate.
So now, let’s go in detail about this type of document.
What is the Vietnam visa approval letter?
“Vietnam Visa approval letter” is a document issued by the Vietnam Immigration Department (Vietnam Ministry of Public Security) to travelers to Vietnam. It functions as an official permission allowing its owner(s) to board the flight to Vietnam and get visa stamped onto the passport upon arrival at Vietnam airport.
So, please keep in mind that the Visa approval letter is not a visa. It is considered the “KEY” document for you to check in your international flight to Vietnam. Without the approval letter, you will be denied on Board.
What does a Vietnam visa approval letter look like?
Here is a sample of the latest visa approval letter for Vietnam:
- Number 1: Your Visa reference number in this list of Vietnam Immigration Department. This number and all information provided by you will be transmitted to secure system of Customs Clearance at Vietnam Airports.
- Number 2: Name of agent doing all paper work for you to submit your Visa Application to Vietnam Immigration Department for processing your Visa Approval letter.
- Number 3: Type of Visa (Single/Multiple) and time that you are permitted to stay in Vietnam (1 month or 3 months).
- Number 4: Your information provided when filling in the online application form on the website.
- Number 5: A copy of this document will be sent to Immigration Checking – Point for your Customs Clearance when you arrive Vietnam Airports.
- Number 6: Official Stamp of Vietnam Government and signature of Person in Charge from Vietnam Immigration Department for your Visa Confirmation.
Following is a few mistakes that travellers probably make when applying for the Approval Letter:
- Visa on arrival at the border: Vietnam Visa on Arrival (/vietnam-visa/visaon-arrival/) is just applicable for Air Travel, it means there is NO on arrival visa for overland/border crossing or sea/water entry.
- Spelling/Typo mistakes: Many applicants fill in the Application form with incorrect information: full name on passport, passport number or date of birth. Normally, that may not be a big problem, however, in some cases; they will be refused by the airline at the departure airport since the information on the letter of approval does not match those in the passport. So, make sure you enter everything correctly and carefully.
Vietnam visa approval letter exemption cases
The following travelers to Vietnam will be NOT required to get a visa approval letter:
- Those who enter Vietnam with either of the following papers:
- A valid Vietnam visa, such as eVisa,
- A valid Permanent Residence card for Vietnam,
- A valid Vietnam temporary residence card,
- A valid Vietnam 5-year visa exemption certificate,
- A valid APEC Travel Card which covers Vietnam
- Those entering Vietnam under bilateral or unilateral Vietnam visa exemption
Otherwise, a visa approval letter is required to get a visa for Vietnam.
Conditions to get Visa approval letter for Vietnam
In order to get an approval letter for Vietnam visa, you are required to meet the following conditions:
- Having sponsorship from a company legally established and operating in Vietnam, which can be:
- A foreign-invested company,
- A State-owned company,
- a representative office of a foreign trader,
- a tour company in Vietnam,
- etc.
- Not being listed on Vietnam Immigration Blacklist,
Vietnam visa approval letter types
The Vietnam visa approval letter types may vary depending on the grouping criteria as follows:
- Vietnam visa approval letter types by the purpose of visit:
- Tourist visa approval letter,
- Business visa approval letter,
- Family-visit visa approval letter,
- Vietnam visa approval letter types by place of getting visa stamped:
- Visa on arrival approval letter, and
- Embassy visa approval letter.
Vietnam visa on arrival approval letterVietnam embassy visa approval letter.
How long is Vietnam visa approval letter good for?
A Vietnam visa approval letter can be valid for 10 to up to 90 days, depending on your purpose of visit (tourist or business), and detailed itinerary in Vietnam.
How much does Vietnam visa approval letter cost?
The visa approval letter is issued for free.
However, your sponsoring company in Vietnam will need to cover the charges to:
- Prepare documents to apply for Visa approval letter, and
- Costs to complete the visa approval letter procedure.
In addition, the visa approval letter holders will need to pay for visa stamping fee, which can be:
- US $25 for a single entry visa, or
- US $50 for a multiple entry visa valid for up to 90 days.
Required documents to get visa approval letter for Vietnam
Depending on the purpose of entry, the required documents for visa approval letter for Vietnam will be different, specifically as follows:
1. Required documents for Vietnam business visa approval letter
Those documents will be prepared by the sponsoring company in Vietnam:
- Certified copy of Business Registration Certificate,
- Vietnam entry application form (Form NA2),
- Introduction form of sample signature and seal of the sponsoring company (Form NA16),
- Copy of Foreigner’s Passport,
- Other documents upon request.
2 . Required documents for Vietnam tourist visa approval letter
Those documents will be prepared by the sponsoring company in Vietnam:
- Certified copy of Business Registration Certificate,
- Vietnam entry application form (Form NA2),
- Introduction form of sample signature and seal of the sponsoring company (Form NA16),
- Copy of Passport of the Foreigner who will be visiting Vietnam,
- Copy of Passport of the Foreigner who is family member of the Foreigner who will be visiting Vietnam and has a valid residence paper in Vietnam,
- Other documents upon request.
3. Required documents for Vietnam family visit visa approval letter
- Certified copy of Business Registration Certificate,
- Vietnam entry application form (Form NA2),
- Introduction form of sample signature and seal of the sponsoring company (Form NA16),
- Copy of Foreigner’s Passport,
- Detailed itinerary in Vietnam,
- Other documents upon request.
How long does it take to get an approval letter for a Vietnam visa?
The letter processing time depends on the type of visa you wish to get and how fast you want to get it.
Processing of a Vietnam tourist visa on arrival letter:
- Normally takes 07 – 10 working days;
- Can be faster in 3 – 5 working day or even same day depending on your emergency.
How to get a visa approval letter for Vietnam?
The procedure to get a Vietnam visa approval letter will be done online by your sponsoring company via its account on the Public Service Portal, Ministry of Public Security.
In case you cannot find your sponsor company for your leisure trip to Vietnam, or your sponsor company don’t know how to get started, reach us for assistance.
In case you are not sure whether you need a visa approval letter for your coming Vietnam trip, please feel free to consult us via our Hotline/Whatsapp/Zalo +84.79 666 2638 or email us at info.skyvietnamvisa@gmail.com.