Vietnam’s online visa program gains popularity with tourists

The trialing of online visas by Vietnam carried out over the last 10 months has been classified a success, as the visitors’ numbers applying for it grew steadily, Vietnam’s Department of Immigration said on 12 December.

Major General Lê Xuân Viên, director of the Department, addressing a press conference, said that about 96,478 foreign nationals were issued e-visas since the scheme started on 2 February.

Of all the successful visa applicants, 93,266 people had applied themselves for e-visas while 3,212 availed services of organisations in this Southeast Asian country.

Currently, Vietnam is granting single entry e-visa to citizens of 46 countries, with India, the UAE, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the Netherlands being the latest nations to be added to this list.

Viên was quoted by Viet Nam News as saying that the granting of e-visas is easy, simple and ensures transparency.

According to him, the majority of the e-visa applications were taken care of inside one or two working days, quicker than the three-day time frame needed as per the rules.

Viên said no incidents were reported concerning e-visa checks at 28 ports from which they were allowed because of smooth data connection, which also protected them against hackers.

On the other hand, foreign nationals who arrive in Vietnam by e-visa and want their stays to be extended or intend to transfer to multiple entry visas would be able to apply for a new visa at the Department of Immigration so long as they have a guarantor in Vietnam.

People who want to know more about e-visas can pose questions at the immigration department’s website in English, Spanish and French.

If you are looking to visit Vietnam, get in touch with Y-Axis, a leading immigration services consultant, to apply for a tourist visa.