Vietnam: Cases of visa-free entry

LawNet would like to answer your question as follows:

Visa is legal proof that allows foreigners to enter and exit the country that issued the visa. And according to Vietnamese law, foreigners who want to enter Vietnam must be granted a visa by a competent authority. However, some cases are exempted from visas to create favorable conditions for people entering the country.

According to Article 12 of the Law on Entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam 2014, cases of visa-free entry include:

- The cases prescribed in international agreements to which Vietnam is a signatory.

- Permanent residence cards and temporary residence cards are used in accordance with this Law.

- Entry to checkpoint economic zones, special administrative - economic units.

- Having a country’s decision on unilaterally grant of visa-free entry.

- Under regulations in Article 13 of this Law.

- Vietnamese people residing overseas who have passports or laissez-passers issued by foreign authorities, foreigners being their spouses or children; foreigners being spouses and children of Vietnamese citizens shall be granted visa-free entry as prescribed by the government.

A decision to unilaterally grant visa-free entry to citizens of a country must satisfy the following conditions (Article 13 of the Law on Entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam 2014):

- The country has a diplomatic relation with Vietnam;

- The decision is conformable with the policies on socio-economic development and diplomacy of Vietnam in each period;

- The decision does not threaten national defense, national security, social safety and social order of Vietnam.

The validity period of a decision to unilaterally grant visa-free entry shall not exceed 05 years and may be extended. The Government shall decide to unilaterally waive visas for a limited period of time for each country. Recently, the Prime Minister of Vietnam issued a resolution to extend visa exemption for a limited time for citizens of five Western European countries including: England, France, Germany, Spain and Italy.

Thus, in her husband's case, he will be exempt from visa issuance according to the above regulations.

>> CLICK HERE TO READ THIS ARTICLE IN VIETNAMESE