From the beginning of July, residents from a number of countries worldwide will be allowed to enter Vietnam using e-visas.
The Government also revealed a list of border gates and airports that will accept electronic entry.
Eighty countries that will benefit include Austria, Poland, Portugal, UAE, Germany, India, the Republic of Korea, Japan, US, Italy, Poland, France, China, Russia and the UK.
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| A customs official conducts immigration procedures for a foreigner at Tan Son Nhat airport in HCM City__Photo: VNA |
Eight airports that will accept e-visas are Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat, Cam Ranh, Da Nang, Cat Bi, Can Tho, Phu Quoc and Phu Bai.
Sixteen road border gates listed in the new Decision include Mong Cai in Quang Ninh Province, Huu Nghi in Lang Son Province, Lao Cai, Nam Can in Nghe An Province, Cau Treo in Ha Tinh Province, La Lay, Lao Bao in Quang Tri Province and Ha Tien in Kien Giang Province.
Thirteen sea border gates in the list are Hon Gai, Cam Pha in Quang Ninh Province, Hai Phong in Hai Phong City, Nghi Son in Thanh Hoa Province, Vung Ang in Ha Tinh Province, Chan May in Thua Thien-Hue Province, Dung Quat in Quang Ngai Province, HCM City sea border gate, among others.
Vietnam started a two-year e-visa pilot program for foreigners from 40 countries on February 1, 2017.
The pilot scheme did not require foreigners to be sponsored or invited by organizations or individuals in Vietnam to be applicable for the e-visas, as long as they have valid passports and are citizens of one of the 40 listed countries.
Foreigners are not required to be present at representative agencies of Vietnam in their countries, get interviewed or scan their fingers to apply for e-visas.
They can go directly to the website https://immigration.gov.vn and apply for e-visas themselves.
Applications are processed within three working days. Each applicant will be provided with a digital code, with which they can check the application progress and print their e-visas once they have been issued.
They can also present the codes at border gates and airports for scanning of their e-visas.
The e-visas are valid for 30 days. Each applicant must pay a non-refundable application fee of USD 25 via bank transfer.- (VNS/VLLF)
