Vietnam has agreed to extend the e-visa period to 90 days with multiple entries, effective August 15.

According to Vietnamese media reports: Congress decided to extend the visa period from 30 days to 90 days, and to extend the temporary stay of unilateral visa-free entry personnel at border ports from 15 days to 45 days. The newly approved law will take effect from August 15, 2023.

On the morning of June 24, the National Assembly passed the law on the entry and exit of Vietnamese citizens and the law on the entry, exit, transit and residence of foreigners in Vietnam by a vote of 470/475. Deputies in favor (95.14 per cent of the total number of deputies).

When reporting on the situation of explaining and collecting opinions from representatives before the press of the button in the parliament, Le Xintai, chairman of the Vietnam National Defense and Security Committee, said that there are opinions to review the regulations on the electronic visa period to ensure compliance with international treaties with other countries and the principle of reciprocity to attract tourists and develop social economy.

The law extends the validity of e-visas to 90 days, which can be valid at one time or multiple times to meet the needs of international tourists, creating favorable conditions for foreigners who want to travel abroad, the Standing Committee of Congress said. If you want to enter Vietnam to study, examine the market, and seek and promote investment, you need to travel to multiple countries in the region and return to Vietnam to evaluate and compare the potential capabilities of expanding investment and business in Vietnam.

The law also allows Vietnamese citizens of countries with unilateral visa exemption to obtain temporary residence for 45 days (previously 15 days), and consider issuing visas and extending the temporary residence period as required.

With the increase of temporary stay of unilateral visa-free entry personnel at ports, some opinions suggest to clarify the basis for the 45-day rule; it is even suggested to increase it to 60 or 90 days to make it most convenient for our country and foreigners to enter Vietnam.

According to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly, countries such as Thailand and Singapore are implementing visa-free policies for temporary stays of up to 45 days and 90 days. The unilateral extension of the visa exemption period to 45 days is the regional average, thereby enhancing Vietnam's regional competitiveness in attracting tourists; creating more favorable conditions for international tourists and helping them take the initiative to arrange the time and arrangement of tourism and long-term stay in Vietnam.

Expanding the issuance of electronic visas to national and regional citizens

Meanwhile, the Standing Committee of the Vietnamese National Assembly has instructed the drafting body to add to the draft resolution to be submitted to the National Assembly on the list of countries and regions for citizens to obtain e-visas.

With regard to expanding the number of countries where citizens can obtain e-visas and international ports that allow foreigners to enter and exit with e-visas, MR. Wang plans to expand the issuance of e-visas to citizens of countries and regions; and request the government to review and supplement the list of countries that grant e-visas to citizens and the list of international border ports that allow foreigners to enter through e-visas.

After receiving the comments, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly instructed the drafting agency to supplement the document and submit to the National Assembly a draft resolution on the list of countries and regions that grant citizens electronic visas; a list of international ports that allow foreigners to enter and exit through electronic visas.

Once the law is passed and comes into force, the government will issue a resolution to implement it quickly in practice.