Who Can Apply for a Visa Exemption?
A visa exemption certificate (commonly referred to as a 5-year visa or 5-year visa exemption certificate) is an entry and exit document issued to:
- Overseas Vietnamese who do not hold a Vietnamese passport.
- Foreign spouses, children of Vietnamese citizens.
Validity of the Visa Exemption Certificate for Foreign Nationals
This visa exemption certificate is valid for up to 5 years and is shorter than the validity of the foreign passport or residence document by 6 months. Therefore, if your passport or green card has less than 5 years remaining, the validity of the visa exemption certificate will be less than 5 years.
Temporary Residence Duration with a Visa Exemption
If the Visa Exemption Certificate is Valid for More Than 6 Months: Each entry allows a stay of up to 180 days. If you need to stay longer in Vietnam, there are 2 ways to extend your temporary residence:
- Apply for an extension of temporary residence at the Vietnam Immigration Department with sponsorship and a valid reason. Each extension is valid for up to 180 days (or equal to the remaining validity of the visa exemption certificate).
- Exit to neighboring countries like Singapore, Cambodia, etc., for a few hours and re-enter Vietnam.
If the Visa Exemption Certificate is Valid for Less Than 6 Months: The temporary residence duration will be equal to the remaining validity of the visa exemption certificate and cannot be extended. Check the validity of your visa exemption certificate to plan your stay or exit accordingly.
Procedure for Applying for a Visa Exemption
- Pages 2 & 3 of a foreign passport or a green card valid for at least one year.
- Color passport photo with a white background, facing forward, no glasses.
- Documents proving eligibility for a visa exemption such as a green card, U.S. passport, citizenship certificate, marriage certificate, birth certificate.
Where to Get a Visa Exemption in the USA
You can contact the Vietnamese Consulate in the USA to apply for a visa exemption. However, for a quick and convenient process, you can contact VIET PASSPORT (ViP) for assistance:
- Submit procedures entirely online: Only takes 10 minutes to complete.
- Issue visa exemptions in all 50 states of the USA.
- Receive a visa exemption within 3-5 business days.
Prepare your documents and personal information thoroughly for a smooth and quick visa exemption process. Once completed, please send the documents via email to vietpassport@gmail.com or inbox the Viet Passport (ViP) fanpage.
Why Choose Viet Passport (ViP)?
Viet Passport (ViP) is committed to supporting customers online across all 50 states in the United States, quickly processing and delivering documents to their doorstep within 3-5 days while maximizing cost savings.
With a simple procedure that takes only 10 minutes, we ensure safety and confidentiality. Notably, Professor Nguyen Dinh Phu from UC Irvine is always alongside to provide guidance.
