Visa Services in Vietnam.

A visa approval letter is an official document issued by the Vietnam Immigration Department authorising the named individual to obtain a visa stamp on arrival at a Vietnamese international airport. It is issued to the inviting company or individual in Vietnam — not directly to the applicant abroad.

On arrival, the individual presents the approval letter (printed) along with their passport, passport photos, and the stamping fee at the visa-on-arrival counter. The actual visa stamp is placed in the passport at the airport. This process is typically faster and more flexible than applying for a visa stamp at a Vietnamese Embassy abroad, as it can be arranged remotely by Forra without the applicant having to visit any office.

Yes — most visa types can be extended from within Vietnam before the current visa expires. The extension application must be submitted to the Immigration Department (or through an authorised agency like Forra) at least 5 business days before the visa's expiry date. Extensions are not guaranteed and are subject to the Immigration Department's discretion.

For DN (business) visas, a single extension of up to 90 days is typically available. For LV (labour) visas, the extension is tied to the validity of the underlying work permit. If the work permit has already been issued but the LV visa expires before the permit does, Forra manages the extension process to maintain continuous legal status.

Do not overstay. Overstaying a visa — even by one day — results in an administrative fine and can result in a re-entry ban. Forra tracks all visa expiry dates and alerts you well in advance.

No. A DN business visa authorises business-related activities — attending meetings, conducting market research, signing contracts, and similar commercial activities. It does not authorise employment or the performance of work under an employment contract. An employee must hold a valid work permit (or confirmed exemption) and an LV visa to work legally in Vietnam.

During the period between a work permit being applied for and being issued, it is common for individuals to be present in Vietnam on a DN visa for preparatory or non-employment activities. Once the work permit is granted, the visa should be updated to LV status before employment commences. Forra manages this transition as part of the work permit process.

A single-entry visa allows one entry into Vietnam during its validity period. Once the holder exits, the visa is considered used and a new visa is required to re-enter — even if the original validity period has not expired.

A multiple-entry visa allows unlimited entries and exits during the validity period without requiring a new visa application for each trip. For employees who travel internationally as part of their role — or individuals who need to leave Vietnam to renew documents — multiple-entry status is strongly recommended. Forra specifies the correct entry type when preparing approval letter applications.

If your employee entered Vietnam under a bilateral visa exemption, they can remain for the exemption period without a visa. However, they cannot work during this period without a work permit and LV visa — the exemption does not authorise employment. Once the exemption period expires, they must either exit Vietnam, apply for a visa before re-entry, or transition to TRC status (if a work permit is in place).

Forra advises on the correct transition pathway based on the individual's circumstances. In many cases, the most efficient approach is to begin the work permit and LV visa process while the individual is present in Vietnam on their exemption period, timing the applications to have the work permit and LV visa ready before the exemption expires.

NA17 is the temporary-residence declaration form that records a foreign national's place of temporary residence in Vietnam. It must be filed with the local ward police station (phường) within 24 to 48 hours of the foreign national's arrival at their residential address. The obligation rests with the accommodation provider — whether that is a hotel, landlord, or employer (if the company provides housing). (CT01 is the equivalent declaration for Vietnamese citizens; foreigners use NA17.)

Hotels typically handle NA17 automatically. For individuals renting private accommodation, the landlord is responsible — but in practice, the employee or employer often needs to prompt or assist with this. Failure to register can result in administrative fines and complications for future visa and TRC applications. Forra advises on NA17 compliance as part of Residency Support services.

Vietnam's e-visa allows citizens of eligible nationalities to apply for a single-entry, 90-day visa entirely online through the Vietnam Immigration Department portal, without visiting an embassy or requiring a sponsoring company in Vietnam. Eligible nationalities include most European, North American, and many Asian nationalities — over 80 countries in total as of 2024.

The application is submitted online with a passport scan, photo, and application fee. Processing typically takes 3–5 business days. The e-visa is suitable for first visits, short-term business trips, or market exploration. For individuals who will be working, or who need to stay longer than 90 days, an LV or DN visa through the approval letter route (or a TRC) is the appropriate next step. Forra can assist with both the e-visa application and any subsequent visa or TRC applications.

Yes. Spouses and dependent children of foreign nationals holding a valid Vietnam visa or work permit can apply for their own visas to enter and reside in Vietnam. The applicable visa type for dependants is typically the VR (visit relative) or TT (family) category, depending on the circumstances.

For longer-term residence, dependent family members of TRC holders can apply for dependent TRCs, which allow them to reside in Vietnam for the same duration as the principal TRC holder. This is generally a better option than renewing visas repeatedly. Forra handles dependent TRC applications as part of our TRC service.