Vietnam records 70% rise in e-visa applications since new policy

The amendments and supplements to several articles of the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens and the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam officially took effect on Aug. 15.

Within the first 15 days of the law being in effect, a total of 112,058 applications for electronic visas have been submitted, marking an increase of over 70% compared to the time before the law came into effect.

Citizens of countries newly eligible for electronic visas under the resolution accounted for 50%, or 56,000 applications, with Chinese citizens using e-passports making up around 10%, or 9,130 applications.

During this period, a total of 337,669 foreigners entered Vietnam under the unilateral visa exemption policy, or 70% of the total, mostly from the Republic of Korea with 155,000 people, Japan 30,000 and the U.K. 8,000.

Vietnam government on Aug. 14 issued a resolution on granting e-visas to citizens of all countries and territories, allowing them to enter and exit the country using e-visas through 13 air, 16 land, and 13 sea border gates.

A Vietnam visa is now valid for 90 days and for multiple entries, instead of 30 days for single entry previously. Temporary stay for visitors from 13 countries that benefit from Vietnam's unilateral visa exemption policy has been extended from 15 to 45 days.

According to the immigration department, the building of the law also suits the practical conditions with an aim to reform administrative procedures in the field of entry and exit of Vietnamese citizens.