Rules on stamping fees for tourist visa

Question: Mr. M. Krishna, an Indian, plans to spend holidays in Viet Nam. He found some websites like www.vietnamvisa.govt.vn, www.myvietnamvisa.com,www.vietnamvisapro.com, www.vietnamvisa.sg, offer varied stamping fees for tourist visa. He wanted to know about instructions and procedures on visa regulations in Viet Nam.

Answer: The Consular Department under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to the above question as following:  

The Law on entry, exist, transit, and residence of foreigners in Viet Nam, dated June 16, 2014, coming into effect since January 1, 2015 stipulates that there is no discrimination against citizens of other countries.

Under the law, foreigners who apply for visas to Viet Nam have to be invited or guaranteed by Vietnamese agencies, organizations, or individuals. Foreign tourists must be guaranteed by tourist agencies which have international travel licenses and complete procedures on personnel with Viet Nam’s immigration agencies. Viet Nam’s diplomatic representative and consular agencies in foreign countries are competent to issue visas for tourists after getting an approval from immigration agencies in Viet Nam.

Earlier, Circular 200/2013/BTC, dated December 20, 2013 and Circular 190/2012/TT-BTC, dated November 9, 2012 stipulate that stamping fee for a single entry visa is US$45.

However, since November 23, 2015, under Circular 157/2015/TT-BTC, which prescribe the regime on the collection, management, and use of fees for passports, visas, and papers for entry, exist, transit, and residence in Viet Nam, the fee will be only US$25 for a single entry visit and US$50 for a multiple entry visa valid for up to three months instead of the current US$45 and US$49 respectively.

Websites: www.vietnamvisa.govt.vn,www.myvietnamvisa.com, www.vietnamvisapro.com,www.vietnamvisa.sg, www.evisa.com.vn  belong to travel agencies which are not State management agencies and not competent to issue visas.

It is very simple to get a visa on arrival for Viet Nam which supports only air travelers by following 4 steps below:

Step 1: Fill out the secured online application form and submit to Vietnamvisa.sg;

Step 2: Confirm information and make payment of service fee. Vietnamvisa.sg offers a wide range of options for online payment including Credit/ Debit Card via OnePay/PayPal or cash via Western Union);

Step 3: Receive an approval letter issued by the Vietnam Immigration Department from Vietnamvisa.sg together with detailed instruction for preparation to get visa stamped.

Step 4: Get visa stamped at entry point at Viet Nam airport.