Conditions and Procedures for Applying for Vietnam Business Visa (DN01 Visa)

Vietnam Business Visa is one of the entry visas to Vietnam that is being accepted and processed with results provided by the Vietnam Immigration Department.

This type of visa is popular for those who enter Vietnam for work-related purposes such as technical support, technology transfer, investment, meetings, etc., and is guaranteed by a Vietnamese company. So what is a Vietnam Business Visa? What are the conditions for applying for a business visa? What are the procedures and required documents for applying for a business visa? In today’s sharing video, let’s explore these regulations together with Quan Lieu Service!

1. What is Vietnam Business Visa?

Vietnam Business Visa, also known as a business visa or commercial visa with the symbols DN1 and DN2 (formerly DN), is granted to the following subjects:

• DN1 visa – granted to foreign individuals working with companies or organizations with legal status under the laws of Vietnam
• DN2 visa – granted to foreign individuals entering Vietnam to sell services, establish a commercial presence, and carry out other activities according to international agreements of which Vietnam is a member.

Vietnam Business Visa allows foreign individuals to come to Vietnam to work at companies or organizations established under the laws of Vietnam.

2. Which group is exempted from the Vietnam Business Visa?

Currently, Vietnam exempts visas for 26 countries/objects (ordinary passports), including:

3. Conditions for applying for a Vietnam business visa:

To apply for a Vietnam business visa (DN visa), foreigners must meet all of the following conditions:

• Have a complete application dossier according to regulations, including:
  • Application for Vietnam business visa with full information as required.
  • Passport-size photo (4x6cm), white background, clear face visible with no obstruction, no glasses, taken within 6 months from the date of application submission.
• Not be banned from entering Vietnam (also known as being blacklisted), which means that the person has committed one of the following actions:

• • Falsifying documents or providing false information to obtain valid entry or exit papers, or residence papers.
  • Having a mental illness or infectious disease that poses a danger to public health.
  • Being deported from Vietnam and the deportation decision is still in effect.
  • For reasons of national defense, security, public order, and safety.
  • Have a company to sponsor them that is established and operating legally in Vietnam (including Vietnamese enterprises, foreign-invested enterprises, and representative offices of foreign traders).
  • Have a valid passport, with at least 6 months validity remaining from the date of entry into Vietnam and at least 2 blank pages.

4. How long is the Vietnam business visa valid?

Based on the duration and number of entries, the Vietnam business visa is divided into 6 types, including:

• 1-month single-entry visa
• 1-month multiple-entry visa
• 3-month single-entry visa
• 3-month multiple-entry visa

5. What are the procedures for applying for a Vietnam business visa?

  Based on the methods/procedures for applying, there are currently 3 common ways to apply for a Vietnam business visa:

• Applying for a Vietnam business visa at the Embassy/Consulate General of Vietnam abroad
• Applying for a Vietnam business visa upon arrival at the airport/land border
• Applying for an e-visa

   Let’s explore the detailed steps for each of these 3 methods with Quan Lieu Service.

5.1. Procedures for Applying for a Vietnam Business Visa at the    Embassy/Consulate General of Vietnam Abroad

To apply for a Vietnam business visa in this way, foreigners need to go to the Embassy/Consulate General of Vietnam to have their visa sticker affixed. The procedure is as follows:

Step 1: Apply for an Entry Permit Letter

The Vietnamese sponsoring company will prepare the following documents and submit them to the Vietnam Immigration Department to apply for an entry permit letter

• Notarized and authenticated business registration certificate
• Form NA2 – Application for entry permit letter for foreigners
• Form NA16 – Introduction of company’s signature and seal samples
• Copy of foreigner’s passport
• Introduction letter of the applicant
• Other required documents

The processing time for approval and issuance of an entry permit letter is about 5-7 working days from the date the Vietnam Immigration Department receives a complete and valid application.

If the entry permit letter application is approved, the Vietnam Immigration       Department will:

• Issue an entry permit letter to the sponsoring company, and
• Fax a request for visa sticker placement to the registered Embassy/Consulate General office.

Step 2: Prepare Documents for Affixing the Vietnam Business Visa Sticker

The sponsoring company will send the entry permit letter to the foreigner. Then, the foreigner will print out the entry permit letter and prepare the following documents to apply for the visa sticker:

• Visa application form as required;
• Original passport
• Passport-size photo
• Visa stamping fee (depending on each Embassy/Consulate General),
• Other documents as required by the Embassy/Consulate General.

Step 3: Affix the Vietnam Business Visa Sticker

The foreigner will submit the required documents directly or by postal service to the registered office of the Embassy/Consulate General, depending on their regulations.

Once the visa is issued, the foreigner will have the visa sticker affixed on their passport and can use it to enter and work at the sponsoring company in Vietnam.

The visa fee for the business visa application at the Embassy/Consulate General includes the fee as regulated by the Vietnam Embassy/Consulate General.

5.2. Procedure for Applying for a Business Visa in Vietnam at the Airport/Border Gate

Step 1: Apply for an Entry Permit

Follow the same procedure as Step 1 of the Work Visa application at the Vietnamese Embassy/Consulate abroad.

If the entry permit application is approved, the Vietnam Immigration Department will:

• Issue an Entry Permit to the sponsoring company.

Step 2: Prepare documents for Visa Stamping

Foreigners to need to prepare the following documents:

• The approved Entry Permit mentioned above;
• A completed Visa application form with personal information, signature, and photo according to regulations (The Visa application form will be available at the airport/border gate, and foreigners only need to bring a photo to paste on the visa);
• Visa stamping fee;
• Original passport.

Step 3: Visa sticker placement

Upon arriving at the airport/border checkpoint in Vietnam, foreign nationals need to proceed to the immigration control area, present the required documents to the Immigration Officer, pay the visa sticker fee for DN1/DN2 visa stickers to be placed in their passports, and complete the necessary procedures for entering Vietnam.

5.3. Procedure for applying for eVisa

This type of visa is only available for citizens of 80 countries. You can view the full list here.

Step 1: Enter information for eVisa application on the website of the Immigration Department – Ministry of Public Security.

Upload a scanned copy of the passport information page and a passport-size photo (with no glasses and a straight face).

After completing this step, the applicant will receive an electronic application code.

Step 2: Pay the visa fee through the designated account on the eVisa website after receiving the electronic application code from the Immigration Department.

The Immigration Department will consider, process, and respond to the eVisa application on the eVisa website within 3 working days from the date of receiving complete information and the visa fee.

Summary table comparing 03 ways to apply for a Vietnam work visa:

6. Visa fees for working in Vietnam

The visa fee for a business visa in Vietnam depends on the type of application. Specifically, they are as follows:

• Working visa issued at the airport:

• • 1-month single entry: 25 USD
  • 1-month multiple entries: 50 USD
  • 3-month single entry: 25 USD
  • 3-month multiple entries: 50 USD
  • E-visa fee: 25 USD
  • Business visa fee issued by the Vietnamese Embassy/Consulate: subject to the regulations of the Vietnamese Embassy/Consulate.