Vietnam Tourist Visa Reopening: What Changed in March 2022

Vietnam tourist visa rules changed on 15 March 2022. The country resumed normal visa issuance and removed the entry approval step that applied during the pandemic. It also gave citizens of 13 countries 15 days of visa-free stay. Travellers and tour buyers should check three things: which visa fits the trip, whether the passport is on the exemption list, and what the booking says if rules change again.

What changed on 15 March 2022

For almost two years, Vietnam let in very few foreigners. Those who came usually needed an entry approval first. On 15 March 2022, the Government Office agreed to resume the immigration procedures used before the pandemic. Entry approval for all travellers was removed. The visa schemes, including the e-visa and the visa exemption schemes, went back to their pre-pandemic form.

Quarantine on arrival was also removed from the same date. This is why the date matters for anyone planning a first trip since 2020. A tourist can again apply for a visa, or enter without one if the passport qualifies.

Sources: KPMG GMS Flash Alert 2022-065, "Vietnam - Immigration and Quarantine Policies Updated 15 March 2022" (21 March 2022); Vietcetera, "Vietnam Border Reopening" (15 March 2022).

Who can enter without a visa

Resolution 32/NQ-CP, signed on 15 March 2022, restored a visa exemption for citizens of 13 countries. They are Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Belarus. One report notes that British Overseas Citizens are not covered.

The stay is limited to 15 days from the date of entry. The rule applies whatever the passport type or the purpose of the visit. The resolution adds that travellers must still meet the other conditions set by Vietnamese law.

The exemption runs for three years from 15 March 2022. The text says the period will be considered for extension. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was told to review the policy and propose to extend, suspend or end it. A buyer planning trips far ahead should treat the three-year limit as real.

Sources: Resolution 32/NQ-CP of 15 March 2022 (English text, LuatVietnam); KPMG GMS Flash Alert 2022-065; Vietcetera, "Vietnam Border Reopening".

What to check if your country is not on the list

Most travellers are not on the list of 13. They need a visa. The Vietnam Immigration Department runs a national e-visa portal, and the March 2022 decision says the e-visa scheme returns to its pre-pandemic form. Visas can also be requested at Vietnamese embassies and consulates.

Before paying for anything, confirm these points with the official portal or the nearest embassy:

• The visa type that matches the trip, such as tourism or business.
• How many entries and how many days the visa allows.
• The fees and the processing time.
• That the passport has enough validity left.

Be careful with websites that look official but are agents. They may charge more than the government portal. Check the address and read the fee page first.

Sources: Vietnam Immigration Department national portal for e-visa and immigration services; KPMG GMS Flash Alert 2022-065.

Health rules still apply

A visa is only one part of entry. On 15 March 2022, the Ministry of Health also issued new rules for people arriving in Vietnam. As summarised by KPMG, travellers by air need a negative COVID-19 test. An RT-PCR or RT-LAMP test taken within 72 hours is accepted, or a rapid antigen test taken within 24 hours before departure.

Arrivals must also complete a medical declaration before they land and use the PC-COVID app during their stay. For the first 10 days, they should watch for symptoms. Children under two years old are exempt from the test and vaccination certificate rules when they travel with family.

KPMG noted that the Ministry guidance did not set a vaccination requirement, but airlines might still check vaccination status. These rules were new and could change, so tour buyers should re-check them close to the travel date.

Sources: KPMG GMS Flash Alert 2022-065, citing Ministry of Health Official Letter 1265/BYT-DP.

Booking terms tour buyers should read

A reopening does not mean the rules are settled. The visa exemption has an end date, and the health rules are new. Buyers who book tours, hotels or flights should look closely at the terms.

• Ask who is responsible for the visa. Some operators handle it, and others leave it to the traveller.
• Ask what happens to the deposit if entry rules change before departure.
• Check whether a test result is needed and who pays for it.
• Keep dates inside the 15-day limit when the group relies on the exemption.
• Get the terms in writing, with the date they were issued.

A short written checklist for each trip is cheap. It also gives the buyer something to point to if a provider changes the terms later.

Sources

• KPMG, GMS Flash Alert 2022-065, "Vietnam - Immigration and Quarantine Policies Updated 15 March 2022," 21 March 2022.
• Government of Vietnam, Resolution 32/NQ-CP on visa exemption, 15 March 2022 (English text on english.luatvietnam.vn).
• Vietcetera, "Vietnam Border Reopening: 15-Day Visa-Free Travel Approved For Citizens From 13 Countries," 15 March 2022.
• Vietnam Immigration Department, national e-visa portal.