Do you dream of discovering the Land of the Dragon? Before embarking on an unforgettable trip, you will need to obtain a Visa to Vietnam from Australia. Here is an overview of the steps to take!
Vietnam has all the ingredients for an extraordinary trip: from the electric green rice fields to the sublime Halong Bay, via the preserved colonial architecture of Hanoi. The country offers an astonishing diversity of landscapes, to which is added a warm and smiling welcome. A true symbol of eternal Asia, travelling here will allow you to discover unique wonders of the world. But before that, some administrative formalities will be necessary. What type of visa for Vietnam to choose? How long is it valid? We tell you everything!
Or contact me: admin@dulichtute.com. Welcome to Vietnam!
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Do need a Visa to Vietnam from Australia?
All European nationalities or Oceania are required to have a visa to board a plane to Vietnam. Minors, regardless of age, are also required to have a visa.
Only those with a passport issued by an Asian ASEAN country can benefit from a visa exemption. If this is the case for you, please contact the Vietnamese Embassy of the country you are in for more information. If you are travelling to another country and are only stopping over, you do not need to apply for a visa for Vietnam. However, you will not be allowed to leave the international area of the airport.
Where to get a visa for Vietnam?
The visa for Vietnam can be obtained in 3 different ways:
- Applications are generally made directly on site: by submitting your complete file, as well as your passport. You can apply by post.
- By internet: by applying for an electronic visa. In addition to not having to leave your passport behind, this solution has the advantage of being faster and cheaper. All the procedures are done online, from the form to payment.
- On arrival: since the introduction of the e-visa, this option has almost disappeared. However, if you have no other choice, you will need to request written authorisation from the Vietnamese immigration office beforehand.
What are the different types of visas available?
The Vietnamese authorities grant visas for visiting the country or for work. Depending on the purpose of your trip, different durations are possible, usually up to one year. The visa for Vietnam is valid for the dates requested on the form, not from the date the form is completed. In other words, you can apply several months in advance. This will save you the stress of last-minute formalities! On the other hand, the dates chosen must be scrupulously respected and the local authorities are very fussy about the visa expiry date. Thus, a penalty of US$25 is applied for each day the visa is overstayed.
Once in the country, it is possible to request a visa extension. To do this, go to the immigration office in the nearest town or leave your passport with your hotel or a local travel agent who will do the formalities for you. In most cases, you can extend your passport twice, for a period equal to the one you obtained initially. Ideally, you should apply at least a week before your visa expires, as the process can be quite lengthy, especially if there are public holidays. There are three categories of visas, each with different lengths of stay and conditions.
The e-visa
This visa to Vietnam is obtained online in advance, so it is the simplest solution. It is intended for people wishing to visit the country for tourism or business purposes. The eVisa is valid for 1 month (30 days) from the date of entry into Vietnam. With this visa, you will only be allowed one entry into the country. If you wish to leave the country and enter with another e-visa, you will have to respect a delay of one month between the two stays.
To apply for this visa, (Link: evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn) you will need to arrive at an international airport, as your passport will be read electronically. The system is currently being deployed at land and sea border crossings. So be sure to ask if you are planning to enter Vietnam without flying.
The tourist or business visa
These two visas can be obtained from the Vietnamese embassy and are essential if you wish to stay in the country for more than a month or enter and leave as many times as you like.
For a single entry:
- Between 1 and 30 days in the country, the visa costs 60€.
- Between 31 and 90 days (3 months), the fee is 80€.
For a multiple entry visa:
- Between 1 and 30 days, the cost is 80€.
- Between 31 and 90 days on site, the cost is 130€.
If you need to obtain one of these visas urgently, the cost is an additional €60 per person. Business visas are issued for professional reasons. For example, if you need to carry out a mission in the country. In this case, the duration of the visa can be increased by requesting official permission from the embassy. Depending on the amount of time in Vietnam, the visa fee can be as high as €160.
What documents do I need to prepare?
Before applying for a Visa to Vietnam from Australia, remember to check the eligibility of your passport. It must be in good condition, as the embassy reserves the right to refuse any damaged or torn passport. It must also have at least one completely blank page for the visa to be affixed, or the passport stamped on arrival.
Documents required for the e-visa
To apply for an e-visa, go to the national immigration portal. You will need to scan and upload the following documents:
- Passport must still be valid for at least six months.
- A 4x6cm passport photo in JPG format (the background of the photo must be clear; The photo must show the whole face; Hat and glasses are not allowed in the photo)
- A photo of the passport data page (In JPG format)
When filling in the questionnaire, in addition to your identity data you will be asked for:
- Your nationality
- Your profession and the name and contact details of your employer. If you do not work, please indicate “none”,
- Your entry and exit points in Vietnam
- The reason for your stay
- Your local address: indicate the name and address of your hotel on arrival.
Once you have completed your application online, you will receive confirmation by email a few days later. You will then need to follow the link provided, check that all the information is correct, print your e-visa and present it with your passport upon arrival in Vietnam.
Documents to be provided for a visa application at the embassy
Go to the Vietnamese embassy of the country you are in to submit your visa application during opening hours. If you are unable to go there, the papers can be sent by post. You will need to provide the following documents:
- Your passport, valid for 1 month after your return date.
- An original colour passport photo, in accordance with your country standards.
- A completed visa application form. This form can be downloaded from the website and the photo must be stuck in the box provided.
- A means of payment (cash, credit card or cheque).
- If your stay is for business purposes, add a passport photo, as well as a letter from the company that employs you, explaining the nature of the work carried out in the country.
If you are applying by post, you will need to provide the following additional information:
- A cheque made out to the Vietnamese Embassy.
- A stamped registered envelope with acknowledgement of receipt for the return of your papers.
Another type of visa is visa on arrival (or VOA). If you live far away from the embassy or you have to take an urgent flight, you can apply for a VOA at the airport on your arrival day. To apply for a VOA, you will need:
- Access to the link to apply.
- An email will appear in your mailbox to confirm your registration. It is an approval letter. Remember to print it out once you receive it.
- Prepare these documents before you arrive at the airport: The Vietnamese Visa Application Form, the Approval Letter, two 4x6cm photos, your passport, and cash to pay the stamping fee.
- Submit the documents to the counter staff at the airport to have the visa stamped on your passport
Note: This is an alternative way if you cannot visit the embassy. However, there is a slight difference between a VOA and a visa provided at the embassy. With a VOA, the Vietnam Immigration Department will send you a Visa Approval Letter, with your name on it, stating that you are allowed to enter Vietnam on the given date. After that, you will have a visa stamped onto your passport once you arrive at the airport in Vietnam. However, with the visa applied at the embassy, the visa stamp will appear on your passport when they send it back to you.
How long does it take to receive the Visa to Vietnam from Australia?
The time needed to obtain the visa depends on the type of visa requested:
- 4 to 5 working days for the e-visa
- 10 days for the visa at the embassy
- 3 days for an emergency visa.
Now that the formalities have been completed, it’s time to get ready! I hope you will be able to gather the right piece of information for your upcoming trip to Vietnam after reading my guide. Did you like this article? Don’t hesitate to react in the comments!
Or contact me: admin@dulichtute.com. Welcome to Vietnam!
