The online visa application/approval process by Việt Nam’s Immigration Department was halted in early March 2020 when the country sealed the border to most foreign arrivals, in response to the COVID pandemic.

The list of countries where citizens are eligible to apply for e-visa (30 day stay valid) are: Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China (including Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR passport holders, not applicable to Chinese e-passport holders), Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Myanmar, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Panama, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, Salomons Islands, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Timor Leste, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, and Western Samoa.

“The Government of Việt Nam has agreed with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ proposal to reinstate pre-pandemic immigration policies for foreigners and Vietnamese residing overseas, effective from March 15,” Lê Thị Thu Hằng, spokesperson for the foreign ministry said during a press briefing.

“Accordingly, Việt Nam resumes the application of visa granting processes and visa exemption in accordance with the 2014 Law on Foreigners’ Entry into, Exit from, Transit through, and Residence in Việt Nam (amended in 2019) and other relevant documents, including the granting of electronic visas,” Hằng said.

Visa exemption policies for citizens from 13 countries were restored as before the pandemic, specifically for Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the UK, Russia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Belarus. Nationals from these countries can stay in Việt Nam for 15 days from the date of entry, regardless of visa type or purpose of entry.

Việt Nam has also resumed visa exemptions for foreign nationals in accordance with international conventions of which Việt Nam is a member, and visa exemption on a reciprocal basis with countries including Singapore and Thailand, and other visa exemption agreements with Southeast Asian nations, the spokesperson noted.

Other than the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, other ministries have also issued regulations based on their functions with regards to the reopening to foreign visitors from March 15.

According to the new COVID-19 guidelines for foreign entries from the Ministry of Health (Dispatch No 1265), travellers entering Việt Nam by air need to provide proof of negative COVID-19 test results (within 72 hours of departure if using RT-PCR/RT-LAMP diagnostics, or within 24 hours if using rapid antigen diagnostics).

Travellers entering by road, railroad, or sea, can get a COVID-19 test prior to entry similar to travellers by air, if their duration of stay in Việt Nam is short. If the stay is longer, they need to be tested at the border gates.

If the test results are negative, entrants are allowed to travel freely with public health measures in mind.

Entrants must fill in health declaration prior to immigration, self-monitor their health, and install and use Việt Nam’s COVID-19 app (PC-COVID).

The Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism on March 15 released the guidelines for welcoming back international tourists in the new normal, in which tourists would need medical insurance that covers COVID-19 treatment with a minimum liability of US$10,000.

Source: VNS

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