How to get a Vietnam visa on arrival

As the name suggests “visa on arrival” is a special category of visa given out to the visitor when he arrives at the airport. This means he will be traveling without a visa but after he reaches Vietnam airport he will be leaving the place with a valid Vietnam visa.

Many people are confused about the term ‘visa on arrival’. This is quite obvious because not many countries offer such privileges to its foreign visitors. One of the most frequently asked questions about Vietnam visa on arrival relates to its legitimacy. Many think that visa on arrival is unauthorized or unauthentic in nature and can put them in trouble. This is not true. Visa on arrival is fully authorized by the Government of Vietnam and it is issued by none other than the Immigration department of Vietnam.

Getting a visa on arrival is not as simple as getting a normal visa. All the formalities involved should be duly completed and the time one gets to go through all the immigration papers and clearance issues are very less. This makes it a bit of a hassle for an inexperienced Vietnam visitor. To get a visa on arrival you must get in touch with your travel agent. If he doesn’t handle Vietnam visa, he will refer you to appropriate visa service professionals who can be in charge of your entire visa processing business.

Initially you will have to go through a list of Visa Vietnam Requirements. This mainly comprises of your passport which should have a minimum of 6 months validity period left. You will be given a Vietnam visa on arrival form which you need to fill out without any errors. If you are applying online then you won’t need any photographs. If you are applying through Embassy, you might need photos. You might also need a valid document proving the urgency of your journey.

When you are applying online you will be required to fill in a form of service agreement in addition to Vietnam visa form. After sending the application it might take 2 to 3 days for the immigration department to get it scanned and processed.  Sometimes the authorities might ask for a scanned copy of your passport. If it is required your visa service will inform you in advance.

You can get on with your flight to Vietnam once you receive your Approval Letter.  Remember that you should land at an International Airport.  Da Nang, Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat are the 3 international airports in Vietnam.  Learn about Vietnam visa on arrival airport procedures before you board the flight. At the airport you will be met with immigration authorities who will verify your Approval Letter. You should carry enough money to pay for the stamping fees. Also, carry 2 passport sized photos and scanned copies of your travel papers. Once you are cleared, you will get your visa within 20 minutes.