Vietnam has added 35 countries to its pilot electronic visa scheme, which already includes 40 nations, as a government decree took effect earlier this month.
The Decree No. 07/2019/ND-CP, effective from February 1, 2019, updated and modified a previous fiat, Decree No. 07/2017/ND-CP, both of which regulate procedures for the pilot implementation of electronic visas for foreign visitors to Vietnam.
According to Decree No. 07/2017/ND-CP, citizens of the following 40 countries can apply for a Vietnamese visa via the Internet: Azerbaijan, Argentina, Armenia, Ireland, Poland, Belarus, Bulgaria, Brunei, South Korea, Germany, Chile, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Cuba, Denmark, Timor-Leste, the United States, Hungary, Greece, Italy, Kazakhstan, Russia, the United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Myanmar, Mongolia, Japan, Panama, Peru, Finland, France, the Philippines, Romania, Spain, Sweden, China (not applicable to Chinese e-passport holders), Uruguay, Venezuela, Norway, and Slovakia.
Decree No. 07/2019/ND-CP added 35 more countries and territories to the list, including Austria, Iceland, Belgium, Portugal, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Qatar, Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Croatia, Estonia, Fiji, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Macedonia, Micronesia, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Marshall Islands, Salomon Islands, San Marino, Cyprus, Switzerland, China (not applicable to Chinese e-passport holders), Vanuatu, Western Samoa, Serbia, Slovenia.
Especially, visitors from two Chinese territories Hong Kong and Macau, which were not included in the former decree, now can be granted Vietnam’s e-visas, in line with the newly-issued decree. This explains why China is mentioned in both decrees.
Before Decree No. 07/2019/ND-CP, the Vietnamese government also issued Resolution 124 in November 2017, expanding e-visa granting to citizens from Australia, United Arab Emirates, Canada, India, Netherland and New Zealand.
This means Vietnam’s pilot e-visa program now includes 80 countries and territories, with the scheme set to end in 2021.
In addition, three new Vietnamese international airports, namely Tay Trang in the northern province of Dien Bien, Na Meo in the north-central province of Thanh Hoa, La Lay in the north-central province of Quang Tri, and two new seaports including Duong Dong in the southern province of Kien Giang and Chan May in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue will also accept e-visas, besides airports, border gates and seaports stipulated in the former decree.
These additional venues bring the total number of foreign border gates for entry to and exit from Vietnam to 33 in total.
The expansion of the e-visa program illustrates the Vietnamese government’s determination in reforming visa administration and creating favorable conditions for foreigners to enter the country to attract investment and promote tourism.
Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!