The Vietnam entry approval letter is an official document issued by Vietnam’s Immigration Department, serving as pre-authorization for foreigners to enter the country. This critical document contains essential information, including sponsor details, applicant information, entry purpose, stay duration, and designated entry points. Without this approval letter, foreign nationals cannot proceed with obtaining their actual visa.
The application process involves document preparation, submission through a Vietnamese sponsor, processing by immigration authorities (typically 3-5 working days) and verification of results online. Let’s explore each aspect in detail to ensure your Vietnam entry goes smoothly.
What is a Vietnam visa entry approval letter?
A Vietnam approval letter (visa permission letter) is an official document issued by the Vietnam Immigration Department that authorizes foreigners to enter Vietnam for various purposes such as tourism, business, investment, work, or family visits. This document, sometimes referred to as a Vietnam invitation letter, contains important information including:
- Personal details: full name, date of birth, nationality of the foreigner
- Sponsoring organization: name and address of the Vietnamese organization sponsoring the foreigner
- Entry duration: the permitted period for entry into Vietnam
- Visa collection location: Vietnamese Embassy/Consulate abroad or international airports in Vietnam
Currently, the Vietnamese government requires all approval letter applications to be submitted online. Therefore, visa permission letters now have digital stamps rather than physical red stamps.
Important note: A Vietnam invitation letter is NOT a visa. To obtain an entry visa for Vietnam, foreigners must present this approval letter (photocopy) at either a Vietnamese Embassy/Consulate abroad or at a Vietnam border checkpoint to receive their visa.
>>> If you’re arriving by air, you may consider using Vietnam visa on arrival service for a more convenient visa collection experience.
Types of Vietnam visa entry approval letters
Vietnam approval letters are classified into two main categories:
Based on entry purpose:
- Tourist approval letter – ideal for those applying for a Vietnam tourist visa application
- Business/work approval letter – required for Vietnam business visa or Vietnam investors visa
- Relative visit approval letter – necessary for family reunions or visits
Based on visa collection location:
- Airport visa approval letter (visa on arrival)
- Embassy/Consulate approval letter
Each type of Vietnam invitation letter serves different needs and follows specific application procedures, so identifying the correct type for your situation is essential for a successful application.
How long is a Vietnam visa entry approval letter valid?
The validity period of a Vietnam visa permission letter depends on the purpose of entry:
- Business/work purpose: Maximum 1 year with a work permit; maximum 90 days without a work permit
- Relative visit/tourism purpose: 3 months to 1 year depending on the sponsor’s documentation
This validity refers to how long you can stay in Vietnam, not when you must enter. You should plan your entry according to the dates specified in your Vietnam invitation letter.
For those seeking longer stays for work-related purposes, understanding the Vietnam work visa cost is essential for proper budgeting and planning.
Planning a long-term stay in Vietnam? Let us help you maximize your visa permission letter validity period – reach out at HOTLINE 1900 63 63 50 for tailored advice.
Requirements for Vietnam visa approval letter application
Foreigners must meet the following conditions to apply for a Vietnam invitation letter.
Have a legitimate sponsoring organization operating legally in Vietnam, such as:
- Foreign investment companies
- State-owned companies
- 100% foreign-owned companies
- Representative offices of foreign businesses
- Vietnamese tourism companies
Not violate any of these rules:
- Falsifying documents or providing false information
- Having a mental illness or contagious disease dangerous to public health
- Having been previously deported from Vietnam with the deportation order still in effect
- Other reasons related to national defense, security, or public safety
Meeting these requirements is crucial for your visa permission letter application to be approved by Vietnamese immigration authorities.
Required documents for Vietnam visa approval letter
The visa permission letter application process has been simplified through the electronic identification account registration on the Ministry of Public Security’s public service portal. This account replaces:
- Certified copy of business registration
- Sample form of company’s signature and seal introduction (NA16 form)
- Tourism purposes
- Business/work purposes
- Relative visit purposes
- Application form for foreigner’s entry (NA2 form)
- Copy of foreigner’s passport
- Travel itinerary in Vietnam
- Introduction letter for the person submitting the application
- Other documents as required
- Application form for foreigner’s entry (NA2 form)
- Copy of foreigner’s passport
- Introduction letter for the person submitting the application
- Work schedule
- Explanation letter for the application
- Commitment letter
- Application form for foreigner’s entry (NA2 form)
- Copy of foreigner’s passport
- Copy of passport and residence documents of the foreigner currently in Vietnam
- Relationship proof documents (consular legalization required if issued abroad)
- Introduction letter for the person submitting the application
- Other documents as required
If you’re planning to visit family members in Vietnam, our specialized Vietnam family visa service can help streamline the application process for visiting relatives.
Step-by-step Vietnam approval letter application procedure
VisaNow will guide your company on how to submit an online entry approval application for foreign personnel.
Step 1. Prepare the entry approval application documents
First, gather all personal documents of the foreigner according to the Immigration Department’s requirements.
Step 2. Log in to the public service portal
Access the service portal to log in and submit your visa permission letter application. If you don’t have a login account, you can register an electronic account for your business/organization on the National Public Service Portal of the Ministry of Public Security.
- Select “Log in with National Public Service Portal account”
Step 3. Fill in information, attach documents and sign the declaration
Upon successful login, the homepage of the Ministry of Public Security’s service portal will appear. Select “Submit application online” to initiate the application process.
- Locate and select “Procedure: Check, review personnel, and grant entry approval for foreign nationals entering Vietnam”. Click “Submit application” to proceed
Applicants must complete all required fields, including information about the sponsoring agency/organization, entry approval details and the list of sponsored individuals. All supporting documents should be prepared in advance and uploaded as specified on the service portal. It is essential to ensure all documentation is complete and meets the portal’s requirements
How to check Vietnam visa approval letter application status online
To check your visa permission letter application status, visit the application tracking page, enter your application code and verification code to view the online approval letter result.
The system will show you the current status of your application, which could be:
- “Processing” – your application is being reviewed
- “Additional documents required” – you need to provide more information
- “Approved” – your Vietnam invitation letter has been issued
- “Rejected” – your application was unsuccessful
Vietnam visa approval letter application fees
The visa permission letter itself is issued completely free of charge. However, foreigners must pay visa stamping fees at Vietnamese Embassies/Consulates abroad or at international airports in Vietnam to enter the country, according to Circular No. 25/2021/TT-BTC of the Ministry of Finance:
| Duration of Stay | Number of Entries | Fee |
| 90 days | Single entry | 25 USD |
| 90 days | Multiple entries | 50 USD |
| 90 – 180 days | Multiple entries | 95 USD |
| 180 days – 1 year | Multiple entries | 135 USD |
>>> To enhance your arrival experience and avoid long immigration queues, consider our fast track service airport option, which provides expedited customs and immigration processing upon your arrival in Vietnam.
Vietnam visa approval letter service process at VisaNow
VisaNow specializes in providing Vietnam visa permission letter services for foreigners. Each year, we complete approval letter applications for over 5,000 foreign personnel and 1,000+ businesses in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Dong Nai, and Long An. Our experienced consultants, fluent in multiple languages, are dedicated to supporting our clients throughout the service.
Why choose VisaNow for Vietnam visa entry approval letter services?
- Dedicated support: With our experienced consulting team knowledgeable about Vietnam’s approval letter procedures, customers always receive thorough guidance and accurate answers to their questions.
- Time-saving: We process and submit your documents through the public service portal quickly. VisaNow ensures that applications meet the Immigration Department’s requirements, maximizing time and effort savings.
- Transparent costs: Customers receive a detailed service price list from the beginning, making it easy to choose a package that fits their budget. VisaNow guarantees no additional costs during the service.
For clients seeking a swift, reliable entry approval service across Vietnam, contact VisaNow at HOTLINE 1900 63 63 50 to know more about our Vietnam visa service. We are a trusted partner, dedicated to ensuring the rights and convenience of our clients.
