Visa Exemption for Vietnamese American

Eligibility

Vietnamese expatriates residing in the United States who do not hold a Vietnamese passport are eligible. Additionally, U.S. citizens who are spouses or children of a Vietnamese passport holder or overseas Vietnamese may apply for exemption.

Duration: The maximum period of exemption is 5 years, which must be 6 months shorter than the validity of the current passport. During the exemption period, individuals can travel in and out of Vietnam without a tourist visa.

How to Apply

Applications can be submitted by mail or in person. If applying by mail, please include a pre-paid postage envelope with tracking, such as USPS Priority Mail or FedEx.

Send all relevant documents to:

• Embassy Address: 1233 20th Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036.
• Consulate Address: 1700 California St., Suite 430, San Francisco, CA 94109.

Requirements for Vietnamese Expatriates

• 1 visa exemption application form (available at mienthithucvk.mofa.gov.vn/Đăngký/Khaibáotrựctuyến/tabid/104/VE4NCommand/registration/Default.aspx)
• Current passport, re-entry permit, or green card: submit both the original and a photocopy.
• 2 passport-sized photos (2x2 inches or 4x6 cm).
• Proof of identity as an overseas Vietnamese: provide the original and a photocopy of one of the following documents: Permit to Return to Vietnam, Certification of Vietnamese Nationality, Certification of Loss of Vietnamese Nationality, Birth Certificate, expired Vietnamese passport, or Vietnamese ID card.

If you cannot provide any of the above-mentioned proof of Vietnamese identity, you can submit a Letter of Guarantee from a Vietnamese association abroad or from a relative in Vietnam. This letter must include proof of Vietnamese identity of the issuer.

Requirements for Foreigners

• 1 application form for visa exemption.
• 2 passport-sized photos (4x6 cm or 2x2 inches).
• Foreign passport: submit both the original and a photocopy.
• Proof of ties to Vietnam (submit both the original and a photocopy): marriage certificate, birth certificate, certification of family relationship, or decision regarding the adoption of a Vietnamese child.
• Fee: $20 for the initial application and $10 for subsequent applications, payable by money order to "Embassy of Vietnam." (Please contact the Vietnamese Embassy directly for the most current fee structure before making payment).
• Processing time: approximately 7 days.