Procedures for granting Vietnam Visa Exemption Certificate at Vietnam representative offices abroad

Vietnam visa exemption refers to the situation in which a foreign national is permitted to enter and remain in Vietnam for a specific amount of time without having to go through any Vietnam visa application. It is because the Vietnamese government has signed a bilateral or unilateral visa exemption agreement or they may be granted in the form of Vietnamese people residing overseas and their family (Vietnam 5 years visa).

In this post, we talk specifically about how to get a certificate for Vietnamese people residing overseas and their family from Vietnamese representative offices abroad.

Here’s the detailed guide.

1. About the process:

You must follow this four steps to get a certificate:

Step 1: Submit documents at Vietnamese representative offices abroad or via the Post office.

Step 2: The officer receiving the dossier checks the legality and content of the dossier: 

• If complete and valid, receive the dossier, print and return the receipt. 
• If not valid, instruct the submitter to supplement the application to make it complete.

Step 3: The representative office sends the list of applicants for visa exemption certificate to the Immigration Department, Ministry of Public Security within 01 working day.

Step 4: Receive results directly at the representative officer's headquarters or by mail within 01 working day.

2. Required documents:

• Passport/Valid international travel document/Permanent residence permit issued by a foreign competent authority to Vietnamese residing abroad;
• An application form for issuance/reissuance of a visa exemption certificate (NA9) enclosed with 02 photos (one photo attached in the application form);
• Papers proves that the applicant is the subjects eligible for visa exemption:
  • Vietnamese people residing overseas submit an authenticated copy of the original documents or enclosed with original documents for reference of one of the following papers: Birth certificate, Decision for renunciation of Vietnamese citizenship or certificate of loss of  Vietnamese citizenship, other papers indicating Vietnamese citizenship or valid for proof of previous Vietnamese citizenship of the applicant;
  • Foreigners submit an authenticated copy of the original documents or enclosed with original documents for reference of papers proving that they are spouse or children of Vietnamese citizens or Vietnamese people residing overseas.

3. Authorities in charge:

You can choose to visit one of these places at your convenience to get a Vietnam 5-year visa exemption certificate.

• The Vietnam Immigration Office if you are temporarily residing in Vietnam.
  • Ha Noi address: 44-46 Tran Phu Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi City. 
  • Ho Chi Minh City address: 333-335-337 Nguyen Trai Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. 
• Vietnam Embassy or Consulate in a foreign country if you are residing overseas.

4. Processing time:

The processing of a Vietnam 5-year visa exemption certificate usually lasts 5-7 working days from the time the authorities receive the application. 

5. Result of administrative procedures: 

Visa exemption certificate may be placed in passport or separate pieces of paper in some special cases.

6. Fees:

According to Circular No. 219/2016/TT-BTC of the Ministry of Finance stipulating collection, payment, management and use of fees in the field of exit, entry transit, residence in Vietnam. 

So, that’s it. 

The procedures for granting Vietnam visa exemption certificate at Vietnam representative offices abroad are straightforward and can be completed quickly. It does not require any special documents or fees, but this process does require the applicant to provide accurate information and to submit their application in a timely manner.

With these procedures in place, it is now possible for travelers to easily obtain a visa exemption certificate for their trips to Vietnam.

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