APPLYING BY POST

A. WARNING

The Vietnamese Embassies and Consular Offices are the only Competent Government Agencies, who are authorised to issue visas abroad.

In order to avoid any risks that may arise when boarding flights or at ports of entry in Viet Nam due to possible miscommunication, travellers are strongly recommended to apply at the Vietnamese Embassy and Consular Offices in Australia to get visas before leaving.

- We have the honour to announce that the following websites are not legitimate:

http://vietnam-embassy.org, http://myvietnamvisa.com, http://vietnamvisacorp.com, http://vietnam-visa.com, http://visavietnam.gov.vn, http://vietnamvisa.gov.vn, http://visatovietnam.gov.vn, http://vietnam-visa.gov.vn, etc.

- The Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam has recently received many feedbacks from foreign nationals on the visa online service provided by above-mentioned websites.

- The Embassy holds no responsibility for any visa application for Viet Nam provided by these services.

B. NOTICE

Visa exemption for holders of passports of UK, Italy, Germany, Spain and France from 01st July 2015 to 30th June 2016

The Vietnamese Government has unilaterally decided that from the 01st July 2015 to 30th June 2016 holders of passports from the UK, Italy, Germany, Spain and France will be waived off Vietnamese visas, if meeting all the following conditions:

- Entering Viet Nam from the 01st July 2015 to 30th June 2016;

- Tentative duration of stay in Viet Nam does not exceed 15 days (If tentative duration of stay is over 15 days, the applicant must apply for visa in advance);

- Passport's validity remains at least 06 months commencing the date of existing Viet Nam;

- For those who visited Viet Nam before, this entry date must be over 30days since the last entry (If this entry is 30days or less since the last entry, the applicant you have to apply for visa in advance).

Note:

- Fee paid for Vietnamese visas issued before the 23rd June 2015 for passport holders of the UK, Italy, Germany, Spain and France are non-refundable.

- Up to now, the Government of Viet Nam has unilaterally waived visas for holders of passports from 12 countries, namely the Republic of Korea, Japan, the Russia Federation, Demark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, the UK, Italy, Germany, Spain and France.

C. The Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam in Australia provides a wide range of consular services to foreigners, the Vietnamese who holds foreign passports and Vietnamese citizens

All FORMS here

- Foreigners applying for a VISA

- Vietnamese citizens holding foreign passports

- Vietnamese citizens living in Australia

- Other consular procedures (Vietnamese Citizenship and Laisser - Passer)

VISA

Vietnamese entry visa is required for all foreigners wishing to visit Viet Nam, except those enjoying visa exemption in bilateral agreements between Viet Nam and country concerned and those enjoying unilateral visa exemption policy by the Vietnamese Government. Visas can be applied by mail or in person at the Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam in Australia.

Tourist visa

Diplomatic/official visas

Other visas (business, education, conference, visiting family, working... etc)

1. TOURIST VISA (category ''DL'', valid up to 03 months)

Entry visas to Vietnam can be applied BY POST or IN PERSON (by the applicant or anyone on his/her behalf) at the Embassy.

APPLYING BY POST: Send by Express Post envelope/satchel to the Embassy (Address: 6 Timbarra Crescent, O'Malley, ACT 2606) the following documents:

a. FULLY FILLED VISA APPLICATION FORM (download the application form here), with one passport-sized photo affixed on the Form.

- Please fill in the form eligibly and accurately to avoid misinterpretation and to facilitate the visa processing (especially the date of arrival and departure because the visa will be valid from the date of arrival put on the Application Form). You will be responsible for the accuracy of the information you provide in the Application Form;

- There is only one visa application form for all types of visas, all nationalities and ages. Other visa application forms of other Vietnamese diplomatic/consular mission/posts are also accepted.

- Visa application for children follow the same procedures if the children hold their own passports. Their parents can sign the Application Form of children under 14 years of age on their behalf.

b. ORIGINAL PASSPORT with at least one-month validity after the expiry of the visa and one blank page left.

- Attention: According to relevant Vietnamese laws, the above one-month passport validity is accepted by the Vietnamese immigration. However, almost airlines require the validity of passport remains 06 months from the date of expire of the visa. Therefore, we highly recommend applicant to check with airline and in case the airline does not accept the passport's less than 06 month validity, applicant has to get new passport before applying Vietnamese visa.

- Please take note of your passport number in case you might need to check your visa application status at our Embassy.

c. FLIGHT BOOKING (one way or returned) required for the length of stay over one month up to three months and multiple entries.

d. A RETURN SELF-ADDRESSED PREPAID ENVELOPE (Express post - platinum or Registered mail is recommended).

Please keep your tracking numbers of both sending and returning envelopes so that you can track your envelopes online at http://auspost.com.au/track/track.html

Note: If you apply for 02 passports or more, you can send all passports in the same envelope and need just one self-addressed prepaid envelope for returning.

e. VISA FEE shall be paid in cash, money order (bought from post office) or bank cheque, payable to "the Embassy of Viet Nam". We accept Australian dollars only. Visa fees are various and depend on the length of stay, visa types and single/multiple entry(ies), please contact the Embassy for further information from 9.30 am to 5.00 pm local time through phone numbers:

+ Direct lines: 02.6286 8465 or 02.6286 5660.

+ General line: 02 6286 6059 (extension 101/102).

Please note that: all payments are non-refundable, even if you want to cancel the visa(s) which have already been issued. Diplomatic and official passports are exempt from visa fee; in case of paying for two applicants or more, payment can be made in the same money order or bank cheque.

f. Foreign passport holders (other than Australia, New Zealand, UK, US and Canada) who may be required additional documents depending on each application should call the Embassy for further instructions.

APPLYING IN PERSON:

- Applying in person at the Embassy (No. 6 Timbarra Crescent, O’Malley, ACT 2606) from 9.00AM to 5.00PM, Monday to Friday (except Vietnamese public holidays as promptly informed in the website from time to time and Australian public holidays).

- Applicants only bring their original passports and 01 passport-sized photo (visa application form can be filled on the spot).

VISA PROCESSING:

§ Normal processing at the Embassy: THREE DAYS from the date of receipt of the sufficient application (not including transportation time by post office).

§ EXPRESS SERVICE for SAME DAY processing is available and incurs extra cost.

§ Foreign passport holders other than Australian ones may take longer time depending on each application.

AFTER VISA STAMPED:

- Please check carefully all the visa details. Should there be any discrepancies or errors, such as the dates of arrival/departure, single/multiple entry(ies) and passport number, etc, please notify the Embassy immediately.

- Applicant shall pay extra fee to issue new visa if: (1) The issued visa details are not correct due to the inaccurate information provided by applicant in the visa Application Form; or (2) The applicant wishes to change the dates of arrival/departure or number of entry and other changes after the visa was issued.

HOW TO CHECK YOUR APPLICATION STATUS AT THE EMBASSY:

- First, track your sending envelope by entering tracking number here at http://auspost.com.au/track/track.html

- Call the Embassy from 9.30 am to 5.00 pm local time through phone numbers: 02.6286 8465 or 02.6286 5660 (Direct Line) to:

+ Provide us with your passport number (if remember) or your full name to check in computerized system.

+ Provide delivery time of your sending envelope at our Embassy and other information as required.

2. DIPLOMATIC VISA (Caterogies "NG1", "NG2", "NG3", "NG4")

Diplomatic visa applies to those who: (1) are members of delegation to visit Viet Nam at the invitation of Vietnamese Ministries/Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee or other high ranking officials at high level; (2) are going to be posted at foreign diplomatic mission or consular posts in Viet Nam; (3) work with diplomatic mission or consular posts for short term or to visit members of those embassies or consulates.

Step 1: Contact with your diplomatic, consular mission/post based in Viet Nam and request them to arrange the letter of entry clearance for the applicant from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam (The Consular Department in Hanoi city or the Foreign Affairs Department in Ho Chi Minh city). To this end, the applicant should provide his/her diplomatic, consular mission/post with the following information:

- Full name, Date and place of birth, Nationality (previous and present)

- Passport number and type (standard/official/diplomatic), dates of issue and expiry of the passport

- Proposed dates of entry into and exit from Vietnam

- Purpose and number of entry (single /multiple)

- Name of the Vietnamese mission/post abroad the applicant wishes to collect the visa from (for example: Embassy of Viet Nam in Canberra, Australia).

Step 2: Obtain the confirmation from your diplomatic, official mission/post about letter of entry clearance from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam.

Attention: Invitation letter/verbal note from your diplomatic/official mission/post in Viet Nam is NOT accepted for issuing visa.

Step 3: Complete the application form with dully-pasted passport-size photo (please see in the above Tourist Visa).

Step 4: Send the completed application form to the Embassy the following documents:

- Visa form, original passport, 01 photo, return envelop, fee (please see in the above Tourist Visa);

- Official Letter/verbal note of concerned Office of the Commonwealth Government of Australia or State Government, foreign missions and posts based in Australia.

- Copy of the letter of entry clearance (if any).

For the processing time and other related information: please see the Tourist visa. Please note that diplomatic and official passports are exempt from visa fee.

For further information, please contact the Embassy by phone during office hours or fax or email.

3. OTHER VISAS (business, education, conference, working, family visiting visas, etc):

Step 1: Contact with your sponsor/business partner based in Viet Nam and request them to arrange the letter of entry clearance for the applicant from the Ministry of Public Security (The Immigration Department in Hanoi and its branches in Ho Chi Minh city and in Da Nang city).

To this end, the applicant should provide their sponsor(s)/Business partner(s) in Viet Nam with the following information:

- Full name, Date and place of birth, Nationality (previous and present)

- Passport number and type (standard/official/diplomatic), dates of issue and expiry of the passport.

- Proposed dates of entry into and exit from Vietnam.

- Purpose and number of entry (single /multiple).

- Name of the Vietnamese diplomatic, official mission/post abroad the applicant wish to collect the visa from (example: Embassy of Viet Nam in Canberra, Australia).

Step 2: Obtain the confirmation from your sponsor/business partner in Viet Nam about letter of entry clearance from the Ministry of Public Security of Viet Nam.

Attention: Invitation letter from your sponsor/business partner in Viet Nam is NOT accepted for issuing visa.

Step 3: Complete the application form with dully-pasted passport-size photo (please see in Tourist visa above).

Step 4: Send the completed visa application form to the Embassy with the following documents:

- Visa application form, original passport, 01 photo, return envelop, fee (please see in Tourist Visa above);

- Copy of the letter of entry clearance (if any).

For the processing time and other related information: please see the Tourist visa. Please note that diplomatic and official passports are exempt from visa fee.

For further information, please contact the Embassy by phone during office hours or fax or email.