As many as 490 foreigners have registered for electronic visas to enter Việt Nam, 210 of whom have been issued with their visas, after the first week of the e-visa pilot scheme. – Photo vov.vn

HÀ NỘI – As many as 490 foreigners have registered for electronic visas to enter Việt Nam, 210 of whom have been issued with their visas, after the first week of the e-visa pilot scheme, the Ministry of Public Security’s Department of Immigration has said.

Major General Lê Xuân Viên, head of the department said that decree 07/2017/NĐ-CP, which allowed visitors from 40 countries to apply and receive Vietnamese visas online, took effect earlier this month.

Foreigners could apply for visas and pay fees through the website. The process takes only three days for an e-visa valid for 30 days without requiring letters of guarantee or invitation.

The first foreigner to receive an e-visa was a British tourist. Britain was among the countries subject to visa exemption for stays of less than 15 days in Việt Nam, he added.

Viên said the move was an effort by the Government to boost socio-economic development, making it more convenient for foreigners to enter the country without being guaranteed by certain organisations or individuals.

It also aimed to contribute to the development of the tourism industry, which hopes to attract between 15 and 20 million tourists in the next two years.

Foreigners can apply for e-visas via https://www.immigration.gov.vn.

Visitors from the following 40 countries can apply for Việt Nam’s e-visas during the course of the pilot programme: Azerbaijan, Argentina, Armenia, Ireland, Poland, Belarus, Bulgaria, Brunei, South Korea, Germany, Chile, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Cuba, Denmark, Timor Leste, the United States, Hungary, Greece, Italy, Kazakhstan, Russia, United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Myanmar, Mongolia, Japan, Panama, Peru, Finland, France, the Philippines, Romania, Spain, Sweden, China (not applicable for Chinese e-passport holders), Uruguay, Venezuela, Norway, and Slovakia.

Currently, about 30 nations issue e-visas. The Vietnamese procedures seem to be simpler than most other nations, as foreigners did not have to be fingerprinted, photographed, or interviewed, Viên said.

Visitors could conduct temporary residence declarations online when travelling with e-visas.

"E-visas can be accepted at most international airports and 28 border gates in Việt Nam," he said.

In reply to questions on the management of e-visa holders, Viên said the issuance of e-visas only simplifies procedures for foreigners. The process of approving visas remained the same as before.

So far, the Vietnamese Government has signed more than 80 agreements on visa exemption for 13 nations, including Russia, Denmark, South Korea, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Belarus, Britain, France, Spain and Italy. – VNS