View Alerts and Messages Archive. Learn about the U. Entry Requirements: You must have a valid passport and a visa or pre-approval for a visa on arrival to enter Vietnam. Your passport must be valid for six months beyond your planned stay, and you must have at least one blank visa page not including the endorsement page.
If you arrive in Vietnam without an appropriate visa which could be an e-visa or pre-approval for a visa on arrival, you will be denied entry. The U. Mission to Vietnam cannot assist U. You must enter and exit Vietnam on the same passport. A visa sponsor is a local business or travel agent to apply for a pre-approval letter with a Vietnamese Immigration Office in Vietnam on behalf of the traveler.
Only on receipt of the pre-approval letter can a foreigner apply for an appropriate visa at a Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate abroad, or for a visa on arrival. For more information about this process, please visit the website of the Vietnamese Embassy here. When you apply for a visa to enter Vietnam, be sure to request the visa category that corresponds to your purpose of travel. If you plan to work in Vietnam, you must obtain a work permit before applying for your visa.
If you change the purpose of your visit after you have received your visa, you must obtain a new visa outside of Vietnam appropriate for your new activities before beginning those activities. Under local immigration law, employment-based visas are based on a petition from a specific employer, and workers may be unable to switch jobs without securing a new visa. In addition, employers may prevent the departure of contracted employees from Vietnam if they violate contract terms.
Before accepting employment in Vietnam, make sure you understand the conditions of contracts and employment-based visas. Note that travelers with a U. The United States is a transitional member of APEC and does not reciprocate with other economies regarding full pre-clearance benefits to applicants. As such, no countries are listed on the back of U. APEC Business Travel Cards and card holders are required to present any travel or identity documentation, such as a passport and visa where applicable , required by Vietnam.
