Eleven things to know in obtaining a 5-year visa exemption certificate

Overseas Vietnamese and foreigners whose spouses or blood relative of Vietnamese citizens who reside in Vietnam or abroad, are eligible for applying for a 5-year visa exemption certificate. This law is considered a priority policy of the Government of Vietnam, enacted for the benefits to those who have “Lac Hong blood” by marriage or blood relationship with Vietnamese citizens.

1. What is a visa exemption certificate?

A visa exemption certificate is a document issued by the Vietnam Immigration Services, allowing foreigners to enter Vietnam multiple times without having to apply for a visa for each trip. Visa exemption certificates are issued to people entering Vietnam for the purpose of visiting relatives or dealing with personal affairs in Vietnam.

5-year visa exemption certificate

A 5-year visa exemption certificate allows foreigners to enter Vietnam for a period of 6 months for each entry without having to re-apply for a visa to enter the country for the whole 5 years as well as without paying fees related to entry. A visa exemption certificate has a shorter valid period than that of the passport or international travel documents for at least 6 months.

2. Types of 5-year visa exemption certificates

  • Visa exemption document affixed with sticker: The visa exemption certificate is affixed to foreign passports of Vietnamese residing abroad and foreigners entering Vietnam.
  • Certificate of visa exemption as a book type: Visa exemption certificate for overseas Vietnamese who have only permanent residence cards issued by foreign countries and passport holders from countries and territories with which Vietnam has no diplomatic relations.

3. A sample of a 5-year visa exemption certificate

A 5-year visa exemption certificate is printed in two languages: Vietnamese-English.

A 5-year visa exemption certificate specifies the following details:

  • Number of visa exemption certificate
  • Passport number of the person granted with the visa exemption certificate.
  • The date of issuance of the visa exemption certificate and the expiration date of the 5-year visa exemption certificate.
  • Authority to issue the 5-year visa exemption certificate.
  • Entry types: multiple entry, with each entry, temporary residence for no more than 180 days.
  • Passport number of accompanying children (if applicable).

sample of a 5-year visa exemption certificate

Visa exemption is authorized by Decree No. 82/2015/ND-CP dated September 24, 2015 on visa exemption for overseas Vietnamese and foreigners whose spouses or children of overseas Vietnamese or of Vietnamese citizens.

5. The duration or validity of the 5-year visa exemption certificate

Overseas Vietnamese and foreigners whose spouses or are children of Vietnamese citizens residing abroad or of Vietnamese citizens who have a 5-year visa exemption certificate will be exempted from visa for 180 days ( 6 months) during the period of 5 years for each entry to Vietnam.

Here, you need to understand that the Vietnam visa exemption certificate is valid for 5 years. Holders of a visa exemption certificate do not need to apply for a visa or extend a visa for 6 months, at the end of 6 months, just extend their temporary stay in Vietnam or when exiting and re-entering Vietnam, they will continue to be exempted from visa entry for 6 months in Vietnam. After 5 years, the visa exemption certificate expires, the visa exemption certificate must be re-issued.

6. Documents identifying subjects eligible for 5-year visa exemption

  • Birth certificate or its IDs that are accepted by Vietnam.
  • Marriage certificate.
  • Certificate of father, mother and child relationship;
  • A decision on child adoption, etc.
  • Identity card, household registration book of Vietnamese people
  • Certificate of Vietnamese nationality;
  • A copy or extract of the decision to recover Vietnamese nationality;
  • A copy or extract of the decision on renunciation of Vietnamese nationality;
  • Certificate of loss of Vietnamese nationality;
  • Vietnam passport (valid or expired)
  • Latest voter card;
  • Passports issued before 1975;
  • ID card issued before 1975;
  • An extract of the set of birth certificate documents issued before 1975;
  • Documents issued by a competent authority of a foreign country, if it is stated that the person granted the document is of Vietnamese origin or nationality.

7. Conditions for 5-year visa exemption

  • Holder of a passport or a valid international travel document that is valid for at least 1 year.
  • Having evidence that they are Vietnamese residing abroad and foreigners whose spouses or children of overseas Vietnamese or Vietnamese citizens, or having one of the
    documents specified above.
  • Not in the category of cases which are not allowed for entry and suspending exit specified in Articles 21 and 28 of the Law on Entry, Exit, transit and Residency of foreigners in Vietnam 2014.

8. Documents to apply for a new 5-year visa exemption certificate

* Documents needed to apply for a 5-year visa exemption certificate for Vietnamese residing abroad

  • 1 Application Form (according to form NA9 of Circular 04/2015/TT-BCA);
  • 2 photos 4×6 cm (1 photo glued to the Application form, 1 separated photo);
  • Passport or papers with international travel value or permanent residence card issued by a foreign competent authority with a validity of at least 1 year (enclosed with 1 photocopy);
  • One of the documents proving eligibility for a visa exemption certificate (submit a certified copy or attach the original for comparison): Certificate of Vietnamese nationality; A copy or extract of the decision to recover Vietnamese nationality; A copy or extract of the decision on renunciation of Vietnamese nationality; Certificate of loss of Vietnamese nationality; Vietnam passport (valid or expired); Identity card (valid or expired); Birth certificate; Latest voter card; Registration book; Passports issued before 1975; ID cards issued before 1975; The extract of the birth certificate documents issued before 1975; Papers issued by a competent authority of a foreign country, if it is stated that the person granted the document is of Vietnamese origin or nationality.

* Documents to apply for a 5-year visa exemption certificate for foreigners whose spouses or children of Vietnamese citizens or overseas Vietnamese.

  • 1 Application Form (according to form NA9 of Circular 04/2015/TT-BCA);
  • 2 photos 4×6 cm (1 photo glued to the Application, 01 separated photo);
  • Passport or international travel documents (with a photocopy);
  • One of the following documents (submit a copy or attach the original for comparison): Marriage certificate; birth certificate; Certificate of father, mother and child relationship.

9. Application for re-issuance of 5-year visa exemption certificate

* Case of re-issuance of 5-year visa exemption certificate

  • Lost, damaged, expired 5-year visa exemption certificate
  • Needs to adjust the content of the issued 5-year visa exemption certificate.

* Application documents for re-issuance of 5-year visa exemption certificate

  • 1 Application Form (according to form NA9 of Circular 04/2015/TT-BCA);
  • Passport or papers with international travel value or permanent residence permit issued by a foreign competent authority, valid for at least 01 year (attached with a photocopy);
  • 2 photos 4×6 cm (01 photo glued to the Application, 01 separated photo);
  • If the visa exemption certificate is lost, an additional notice of loss must be submitted.
  • If the information in the visa exemption certificate needs to be amended, a certified copy of the document proving the content to be amended must be submitted, or enclosed with the original for comparison.

10. Application form for 5-year visa exemption

The 5-year visa exemption application form is the Application for a visa exemption certificate – form NA9 issued together with the Circular No. 04/2015/TT-BCA of the Ministry of Public Security. See instructions on filling out the application form for a 5-year visa exemption certificate here

11. Issuing authority and re-issuance of a 5-year visa exemption certificate

* Applying for and re-issuance of visa exemption certificates for people currently residing abroad and filing the documents at overseas Vietnamese representative agencies. Below is the specific list:

List of issuing authorities abroad and re-issuance of a 5-year visa exemption certificate

For a fast, reliable and accurate services, please visit at our address or call us at 0977979996 (Mrs Ngọc).

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