Procedures for granting visa exemption certificate at Vietnamese representative agencies abroad

Visa exemption certificate at Vietnamese representative agencies abroad is a legal document that allows certain people to enter Vietnam without needing a visa. This process applies to certain subjects according to the law. The following article by Long Phan will analyze in detail visa exemption cases, conditions and procedures for granting visa exemption certificate at representative agencies.

Visa exemption cases

To be granted a visa exemption certificate in Vietnam, the requester must fall into the cases specified in Article 12 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam 2014 (amended, added in 2019).

For Vietnamese residing abroad, there must be:

• Foreign passport or foreign passport replacement document valid for at least 1 year.
• In case you do not have a passport/passport replacement documents, you must have a permanent residence document issued by a foreign country (also known as a green card) that is valid for at least 01 year from the expected date of entry.

For foreigners

• Must be the spouse or child of a Vietnamese citizen or Vietnamese residing abroad.
• Have a foreign passport or a foreign passport replacement document that is valid for at least 1 year.

Some other cases are exempted under unilateral visa exemption, foreigners entering border gate economic zones or coastal economic zones to other locations in Vietnam.

Conditions for granting visa exemption certificate at Vietnamese representative agencies abroad

According to Article 3 of Decree 82/2015/ND-CP, in addition to being granted a visa exemption certificate as above, the requester needs to meet the conditions of not being in the case of not being allowed to enter the country and Temporarily postpone exit according to regulations.

Procedures for granting visa exemption certificate at Vietnamese representative agencies abroad

Application for visa exemption certificate

For Vietnamese people residing abroad:

• Application form for visa exemption certificate (according to form NA9 issued with Circular No. 04/2015/TT-BCA dated January 5, 2015);
• 02 recent photos, size 4 x 6 cm, straight face, bare head, white background, no colored glasses: 01 photo pasted to the declaration, 01 photo pinned or attached to the declaration.
• Passport or foreign passport replacement document or residence document issued by a foreign country with at least 01 year validity: Submit the original, and 01 copy (if applying directly at the Embassy), or Send the original with a copy (if sending by post).
• Documents proving that you are a Vietnamese residing abroad: Present the original, submit 01 copy for records (if applying directly at the Embassy), or send the original with a copy (if applying directly at the Embassy). If sent by post), the Embassy will return the original after comparison, and retain the copy for records. Proof documents can be one of the following documents: Birth certificate; Decision to renounce Vietnamese nationality; Certificate of loss of Vietnamese nationality; Vietnamese passport has expired; Identity card (still or no longer valid); Household registration book; Extract of birth certificate, ID card, Vietnamese driver’s license issued before 1975 or Documents issued by a competent foreign agency if it states that the person to whom the document is issued has original nationality or Vietnamese origin. .

For foreigners who are spouses and children of Vietnamese people residing abroad or of Vietnamese citizens:

• Application form for visa exemption certificate (according to Form NA9 Issued together with Circular No. 04/2015/TT-BCA dated January 5, 2015);
• 02 recent photos, size 4 x 6 cm, straight face, bare head, white background, no colored glasses: 01 photo pasted to the declaration, 01 photo pinned or attached to the declaration.
• Passport or foreign passport replacement document or residence document issued by a foreign country with at least 01 year validity: Submit the original, and 01 copy (if applying directly at the Embassy), or Send the original with a copy (if sending by post).
• Present the original of one of the following documents: submit 01 copy for records (if applying directly at the Embassy), or send the original with a copy (if sending by post), one of the following documents to prove the relationship as a spouse or child of a Vietnamese citizen or a Vietnamese residing abroad: Marriage certificate; Birth certificate; Certificate of father, mother and child relationship; Valuable documents proving the relationship between spouses and other children according to the provisions of law.
• Present original documents proving that husband, wife, father, mother are of Vietnamese origin.

Procedure for granting a visa exemption certificate at Vietnamese representative agencies abroad

The procedure for granting a visa exemption certificate at Vietnamese representative agencies abroad goes through the steps specified in Article 7 of Decree 82/2015/ND-CP. Include:

Step 1: The requesting person prepares complete documents and submits them to the Vietnamese Embassy, ​​Consulate, or diplomatic representative agency located in the host country.

Step 2: After receiving the application, the agency will check the legality and content of the application. If the application is complete and valid, the application will be received, printed and returned. In case the dossier is incomplete or invalid, additional instructions will be provided to make it complete.

Step 3: Processing documents

• Within 01 working day from the date of receiving complete documents, the Vietnamese visa-issuing authority abroad shall send a list of applicants for visa exemption certificate to the Immigration Department.
• Within 03 working days, the Immigration Department will consider and respond to Vietnamese visa-issuing agencies abroad.
• Within 01 working days from receipt of notification from the Immigration Department, the Vietnamese visa-issuing authority abroad will issue a visa exemption certificate.

Step 4: Receive results directly at the representative agency’s headquarters or by mail. If you choose to receive results by post, prepare an envelope clearly stating the recipient’s full name and address, stamped or with registered postage.

Consulting services for granting visa exemption certificate to Vietnamese representative agencies abroad

Long Phan’s consulting service for granting visa exemption certificate at Vietnamese representative agencies abroad provides professional support for visa exemption procedures and applications. Our services include the following scopes of work:

• Consulting on preparing documents to prove that you are a Vietnamese residing abroad.
• Instructions for completing an application for a visa exemption certificate at Vietnamese representative agencies abroad
• Instructions for applying for a visa exemption certificate at Vietnamese diplomatic missions abroad.
• Answer questions related to visas, naturalization, and confirmation of Vietnamese nationality.

Procedures for granting visa exemption certificate at Vietnamese representative agencies abroad are necessary procedures for customers who frequently travel abroad. To ensure the process goes smoothly, customers can consider using professional consulting services. If you need support or have questions, please contact Long Phan immediately via hotline 0906735386 for detailed advice and timely support.