To be visa-exempt in Vietnam (mien thi thuc), the first application should be submitted directly to the Vietnam Embassy at home. The visa waiver certificate will be valid for a maximum of 5 years and expire 6 months before the expiration of the passport.
Visa exemption in Vietnam, who benefits?
For those whose stay of less than 15 days
First of all, the most frequent example will be the tourist traveler who wishes to visit the country for a period of less than 15 days. On June 18, 2015, the Vietnamese Government adopted a resolution on visa exemption for citizens of 5 countries: France, Spain, England, Germany and Italy. The visa remains compulsory for travelers whose stay in Vietnam exceeds 15 days. The visa waiver period is extended until June 30, 2021. So if you are in this case, you are exempt from procedures and expected to show your valid passport at the border post as well as proof of your return ticket.
For Vietnamese people who settled abroad:
It is necessary to prepare the application file for visa exemption (mien thi thuc):
+ Duly complete a single copy of Form N19.
+ Prepare 02 identity photos (4×6 format): one to stick on the N19 form and the other to attach to the file.
+ Possess original or any title that serves as a foreign passport.
+ Have one of the following documents (documents proving the status of Vietnamese nationals residing abroad): the original or the certified copy and delivery of your photocopies to the Vietnamese authorities for archiving.
- Vietnamese nationality certificate;
- Copy or extract of the Decision authorizing the restoration of Vietnamese nationality;
- Copy or extract of the Decision authorizing the repudiation of Vietnamese nationality;
- Certificate of loss of Vietnamese nationality;
- Vietnamese passport (still valid or expired);
- Vietnamese identity card (still valid or expired);
- Vietnamese birth certificate (or full copy of the certificate);
- Most recent voter card;
- Vietnamese family record book;
- Pass issued before 1975;
- Identity card issued before 1975;
- Birth certificate extract issued before 1975;
- Any document issued by a foreign competent authority stating the origin or nationality of Vietnamese origin of the applicant.
- In the absence of these supporting documents, he asks himself to present:
- Certificate produced by an Association of Vietnamese present in the country where the applicant resides
- Certificate produced by a Vietnamese citizen
+ Pay visa fees: in cash
3. For foreigners, holding a foreign passport, are the spouse, child of a Vietnamese citizen or a person of Vietnamese origin residing abroad:
Prepare the application file:
+ Duly complete a single copy of Form N19
+ Prepare 02 identity photos (4×6 format): one to stick on the N19 form and the other to attach to the file.
+ Possess original or any title that serves as a foreign passport.
+ Have one of the following documents (proof of marital or family ties with the Vietnamese person residing abroad)
- Marriage certificate;
- Birth certificate;
- Proof of family ties;
- Other valid paper compliance with Vietnamese law;
- Plenary adoption judgment.
With one of the documents supporting the status of Vietnamese national residing abroad mentioned above of the applicant’s spouse or parents.
+Pay visa fees: in cash
The time required to obtain the visa exemption certificate is at least 1 month.
Note: It is strongly recommended to keep a photocopy of the visa exemption certificate for possible renewal of this certificate in the future.
Opening hours of these services at the Vietnamese Embassy in France: 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Monday to Friday (for submitting the application); 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday to Friday (for the collection of certificates).
For more information, please contact 01.44.14.64.17 (2 p.m. to 5 p.m.)
