(Image: Wikipedia)

What is visa exemption? How many countries can a Vietnamese passport travel without a visa? In case of temporary visa exemption, conditional visa exemption, visa issuance at the arrival airport.

What is a visa exemption?

Visa exemption (visa exemption) is the fact that a certain country allows a foreigner to enter and stay in that country for a certain period of time without having to go through visa procedures.

 Currently, there are 54 countries and territories that exempt visas for Vietnamese citizens or just need to apply for a visa on arrival or an electronic travel permit (eTA), Anpha will share details below.

How many Countries can a Vietnamese Passport travel without a Visa?

For many reasons such as diplomatic relations, economic cooperation or attracting tourists... that many countries have policies:

• Visa exemption for a certain period of time;

• Conditional visa exemption or issuance of visa on arrival for Vietnamese citizens.

1. Countries exempt visas for a period of time for Vietnamese citizens

There are 21 countries that exempt visas for Vietnamese citizens for a certain period of time, specifically:

Countries in Asia:

• Brunei: Temporary stay less than 14 days;

• Myanmar: Duration of stay less than 14 days;

• Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia: Temporary stay less than 30 days;

• Kyrgyzstan: Irrespective of the purpose of entry;

• Kyrgyzstan (former Soviet Union): No length of stay;

• Singapore: The temporary stay is less than 30 days provided that there is a return ticket or a ticket to another country;

• Indonesia: The period of temporary stay does not exceed 30 days and extension of temporary stay is not allowed;

• Philippines: Temporary stay of less than 21 days, conditions for return air tickets or air tickets to other countries.

Countries of the Americas region:

Visa-free countries for Vietnamese citizens in the Americas region usually stipulate longer stays. Concrete:

• Panama: Temporary stay less than 180 days;

• Haiti, Ecuador: Maximum stay of 90 days;

• Dominican Republic: Maximum stay of 21 days;

• Turks and Caicos (a territory of the United Kingdom): Duration of stay for 30 days and condition that Vietnamese citizens have return air tickets;

• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: To be admitted, Vietnamese citizens must present a valid passport, return air tickets and prove that they have enough money to pay for the trip.

Countries Of the Oceania region:

• Cook Island: 60-day stay;

• Niue: 60-day stay;

• Republic of Barbados: 90-day stay;

• Federated States of Micronesia: The duration of stay is less than 30 days.

Countries of the African region:

• Togo: 7-day stay;

• Zambia: 90-day stay;

• Madagascar: 90-day stay;

• Confederation of Comoros: Duration of stay 30 days.

2. Countries accepting electronic eTA issuance

In some cases, eTA is misunderstood as an eVisa. But in fact, an eTA is an electronic travel permit usually issued to citizens of visa-exempt countries as a type of travel document, which will link electronically to the passport of the visa exemption..

There are 2 countries that accept electronic travel permits (eTAs) for Vietnamese passports:

➤ Taiwan:

• Vietnamese citizens (who have not yet exported foreign workers) with valid visas of: Japan, UK, USA, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and European Schengen (including immigration cards) will be exempt from Taiwan visa for a maximum period of 30 days;

• Need to register online to be considered for Taiwan eTA.

➤ Sri Lanka: 

• Duration of stay 30 days;

• eTA Sri Lanka is issued for tourism or business purposes only, except in the following cases, eTA will not be issued:

• Participation in conferences and seminars on media/journalists;

• Participate in activities carried out by NGOs (non-governmental organizations) or INGOs (international non-governmental organizations);

• Participation in meetings, conferences related to political parties or groups.

3. Countries that exempt visas conditionally or issue visas at border gates

In addition to visa-free countries (visa exemption) for Vietnamese citizens as mentioned above, there are also other countries and territories that exempt visas for Vietnamese people but must have conditions to accompany or issue visas right 

at the arrival airport without applying in advance.

Specifically, there are 31 countries that exempt visa conditionally or issue visas at arrival airports for Vietnamese citizens. Details of visa-free countries with conditions or issuance of visa on arrival for Vietnamese people by region are as follows:

Countriesin Asia:

➤ East Timor:

• The visa issuance fee is 30 USD, the visa exemption period is 30 days;

• Customs will issue entry visas to Vietnamese citizens right at East Timor airport;

• To be granted a visa, Vietnamese citizens must present a round-trip air ticket to East Timor and a full cash amount of USD 100 (only need to be presented without submitting) for each entry.

➤ Japan:

• Currently, Japan only exempts visas conditionally for Vietnamese tourists participating in tours of travel companies designated by Japan;

• The procedure for applying for a 1-time visa in this case will be simplified and valid for up to 5 years.

➤ Republic of Maldives:

• Issuance of visa at the airport upon arrival, the visa exemption period is 30 days;

• Vietnamese citizens only need to show the return air ticket and proof 

  • of hotel reservation, the immigration officer will stamp the visa exemption stamp on the passport;

  • The visa will be stamped "Employment Prohibited" with the aim of preventing illegal workers from entering this form of tourism.

  ➤ Nepal:

  • Issuance of visas at the border with a stay of 15-90 days;

  • At Kathmandu airport, Vietnamese citizens need to present 2 card photos (the same size as the one on the passport) and 1 blank page on the passport.

  ➤ India:

  • The cost of making an Indian visa is 60 USD, the validity is 30 days;

  • Vietnamese citizens are granted visas at 4 airports: Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata.

  ➤ Iran:

  • The cost of an Iranian visa is 40 Euros, the stay period is 17 days;

  • Issuance of visas to Vietnamese citizens at Iranian border gates;

  ➤ Korea:

  • Visa exemption when flying directly from Vietnam to Jeju Island, 30-day stay period;

  • In case they want to travel to places other than Jeju, Vietnamese citizens need to apply for a visa at the Korean embassy in Vietnam.

  ➤ United Arab Emirates (UAE):

  • The maximum stay is 30 days;

• Vietnamese citizens are exempt from UAE visa if:

• Buy an Etihad or Emirates flight ticket to fly from Vietnam to Dubai or Abu Dhabi;

• Or buy a stopover package (*) not older than 96 hours.

(*) Stopover: Short-term travel package for Vietnamese citizens with transit time in UAE.

➤ Tajikistan: 

• Visa issued at Dushanbe International Airport;

• The maximum period of stay in the country is 45 days.

European Zone countries:

➤ Serbia is the only country in Europe that exempts Vietnamese citizens with visas from European Union countries and the US with a maximum stay of 90 days.

Countries of the Oceania region:

➤ Samoa:

• Duration of stay 60 days;

• Issue an entry visa at the airport.

➤ Tuvalu (small island nation located between Australia and Hawaii):

• Duration of stay 1 month;

• Issuance of visa at the border or visa exemption if Vietnamese citizens have arrived in the Schengen area.

➤ Tanzania:

• Duration of stay 30 days;

• Visa exemption if Vietnamese citizens have been granted/exempted visas in nearby countries.

➤ Palace:

• Duration of stay 30 days;

• Vietnamese citizens must prove their finances upon arrival at the airport.

➤ Marshall Islands: Issuance of visa at the border, maximum stay period of 90 days.

➤ Papua New Guinea: Visa issuance at the border, 60-day stay period.

Countries of the Americas region:

➤ Saint Lucia: Granted visa at the border, 6-week stay.

➤ Costa Rica:

• The duration of stay is 30 days;

• Visa exemption for Vietnamese citizens who have obtained visas to Japan, Korea, Canada, USA, Schengen area for the purpose of residence, work, study abroad or are residing in these areas.

Countries of the African region:

➤ Kenya: Visa issuance at the border, 3-month stay period;

➤ Mali: Issuance of visa at the border, maximum stay of 90 days;

➤ Djibouti: Visa issuance at the border, maximum stay of 30 days;

➤ Guinea-Bissau: Issuance of visa at the border, 90-day stay period;

➤ Somalia: Visa issuance at Somali airport, 30-day stay period;

➤ Mauritania: Issuance of visa at the border, maximum stay of 30 days;

➤ Cape Verde: Issuance of visa at the border, unlimited length of stay;

➤ Republic of Seychelles: Issuance of visa at the border, maximum stay of 60 days;

➤ Burundi: Issue visa at the border gate at Bujumbura airport and have a stay of 30 days.

What Documents do Vietnamese Citizens need when entering and exiting?

In addition to air tickets, the required documents for immigration procedures are passports and visas. However, Vietnamese citizens will be exempted or granted visas right at the airport until they arrive in the 51 countries that Anpha shared above.

Regarding passports, depending on the subjects and purposes of entry, Vietnamese citizens are required to have 1 of the passports such as: diplomatic passport, official passport, ordinary passport or travel document.

Note: The information on the passport must ensure the following:

• Portraits;

• Full name of the passport holder;

• Date of birth of the passport holder;

• Gender, nationality;

• Symbol and number of entry documents;

• Date, month and year of issue, passport issuing authority;

• Date, month and year of passport expiry;

• Personal identification number or ID number;

• Titles and positions for diplomatic and official passports in accordance with foreign relations requirements;

• Other information prescribed by the Government.

Source: nhandan.vn