Japanese tourists visiting HCM City's downtown areas on cycle tours. — VNA/VNS Photo Hồng Đạt

HÀ NỘI — The expansion of countries eligible for e-visas and the extension of e-visa validity has simplified the process and saved time for applicants as well as being part of modernisation efforts of administrative procedures, the Immigration Department under the Ministry of Public Security said.

The policy is highly regarded by many agencies and organisations as it creates favourable conditions to attract international tourists to enter Việt Nam, enhancing Việt Nam's tourism competitiveness in the region.

During the 5th session of the 15th National Assembly, amendments were made to the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Việt Nam and the Law on Entry, Exit, and Residence of Vietnamese Citizens. The e-visa validity period will be extended from 30 to 90 days, for multiple entries.

The Government has also allowed citizens from all countries to apply for e-visa issuance as well as made it possible for foreigners to enter and exit through 52 international border gates (including 13 airports, land border gates and seaports) using an e-visa.

The new law allows citizens of 13 countries – Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the UK, Russia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Belarus – to be unilaterally exempted from visa requirements and granted temporary residence for 45 days (previously 15 days).

Regarding the e-visa application process, the Immigration Department stated that foreign individuals who want to travel, explore the market, seek investment opportunities, etc., and do not have the means to contact domestic agencies or organisations can apply for an e-visa without needing invitations or guarantees from persons/organisations within Việt Nam.

"The entire e-visa process from application to processing, approval, and reception and printing of e-visas is conducted electronically. Visa fees are paid through an electronic environment. Foreigners can print their visas themselves through the electronic transaction system, without the need to go through the visa-granting authority of Việt Nam abroad or at international border gates, or any intermediaries," according to the Immigration Department.

Regarding the processing time for e-visas, the Immigration Department will consider, process, and respond to e-visa applications submitted through the Public Services Portal of the Ministry of Public Security (available in both Vietnamese and English) within three working days from the date of receiving completed e-visa application information and fees.

The English page for submitting e-visa applications (on the Public Service Portal, Ministry of Public Security). — VNS Photo

Foreigners holding e-visas are allowed to enter Việt Nam for appropriate purposes in accordance with Vietnamese law and are permitted to change their purposes under certain circumstances, such as having documents proving investment or acting as a representative of a foreign organisation investing in Việt Nam according to Vietnamese law, having documents proving family relationships (father, mother, spouse, child) with the inviting or guaranteeing individual, and having a work permit or a confirmation of being exempt from a work permit according to current labour laws.

Foreigners temporarily residing in Việt Nam must go through the direct managers/operators of the accommodation facility to register their temporary residence with the local police at the commune/ward/town or the police station in the area where the accommodation facility is located.

E-visa applications of foreigners will be rejected if the provided information is incorrect or if they fall under the cases of inadmissible entry specified in Article 21 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Việt Nam. — VNS