PM Promulgates Visa Exemption for Overseas Vietnamese
The PM on August 17 signed Decision 135/2007/QĐ-TTg promulgating the regulations on visa exemption for overseas Vietnamese.
Accordingly, beneficiaries of the Decision include Vietnamese nationals residing abroad, foreigners who are Vietnamese citizens' spouses and children, overseas Vietnamese holding foreign passports or a foreign-issued permanent residence certificate (PRC) with the validity of at least six months since the date of entrance.
Visa exemption paper (VEP) has a maximum validity of five years and at least six months shorter than the validity of the passport or PRCs issued by foreign countries. The VEP is issued individually. For children under 14 years old who share their parent's passport, the VEP will be issued attached to their parent's passport.
Those who enter Việt Nam under the VEPs are permitted to stay in Việt Nam within 90 days each entrance. Those who expect to stay more than 90 days must apply for visa according to current stipulations before their entrance.
Apart from foreign passports (or foreign-issued PRCs), the application for VEP must consist of one of three following items: documents proving that the applicant is an overseas Vietnamese; the guarantee by a Vietnamese association in the country where the applicant is residing or by a Vietnamese citizen to declare that the applicant is an overseas Vietnamese; and documents issued by foreign competent agencies declaring that the applicant has the Vietnamese nationality or origin. Foreigners who are spouses or children of an overseas Vietnamese must present documents proving their relationship.
Government Website: www.chinhphu.vn
