Accordingly, the e-visa pilot scheme will last for two years, starting from February 1, 2017. Its results will be reported at the last NA session in 2018.

E-visa will be issued by the immigration authority via digital transactions for foreigners wanting to enter Vietnam. It can be used once and valid for not more than 30 days.

In order to be eligible for the visa, one must be citizen of a country that has diplomatic relations with Vietnam and poses no threat to the nation’s defence-security and social orders. The criteria will be aligned with Vietnam’s socio-economic and diplomatic policies at the time of issuance.

The applicant also must not be included in a list of subjects yet to be allowed to enter Vietnam as regulated on Article 21 of the law on entry, exit, transit and residence of expatriates in Vietnam.

The government was tasked with establishing a list of countries eligible for Vietnamese e-visa registration.

The same day, the NA also adopted the law on amending and supplementing the Investment Law’s Article 6 and Appendix 4 on the list of conditional business . A total of 83.16 percent of deputies approved the change.

The law is set to take effect on January 1, 2017, except for regulations on the trade of disguise devices and software to record image, sound and navigate as well as on auto production, assembly and import, which will come into effect on July 1, 2017.-VNA