1. Form of official letter of application for entry for foreigners

Pursuant to the Circular No. 04/2015/TT-BCA dated January 05, 2015 of the Ministry of Public Security regulating the form of papers related to the entry, exit and residence of foreigners in Vietnam, the official letter of application for entry for foreigners is form NA2.

  1. Cases in which an official entry letter is not required

Foreigners who have one of the following valid Vietnamese entry papers:

  • Vietnam multiple-time visa is still valid,
  • Valid temporary residence cards,
  • Permanent residence card is still valid,
  • The 5-year visa exemption certificate is valid,
  • The APEC card is still valid and states that Vietnam is one of the countries allowed to enter to work.
  • Foreigners entering Vietnam under unilateral or bilateral visa-free status,
  • Foreigners entering Vietnam with Vietnam e-visa (evisa), or

Other cases include: foreigners who do not have one of the valid Vietnam entry documents, are not exempt from Vietnam visa and are not eligible for Vietnam evisa will have to apply for an entry letter to get a Vietnam visa.

  1. Conditions for making entry documents

There is a guarantor company in Vietnam, legally established and operating in Vietnam. It may refer to:

  • foreign-invested companies,
  • state-owned companies,
  • 100% foreign-owned company,
  • Representative offices of foreign traders
  • Vietnam travel agencies

Not being subject to blacklist, i.e. those who have committed one of the following acts:

  • Forging documents, making false declarations to be granted valid documents for entry, exit and residence.
  • People suffering from mental illness or infectious diseases that endanger public health.
  • Deported from Vietnam and the deportation decision is still in effect.
  • For reasons of national defense, security, social order and safety.
  1. Application for entry letter

According to current laws, individuals and organizations need documents in the application for entry letters, including:

– Entry application letter for foreigners (according to form NA2 in Circular No. 04/2015/TT-BCA dated January 05, 01 of the Ministry of Public Security stipulating the form of documents related to the entry, exit and residence of foreigners in Vietnam);

– Valid passport book or scanned copy of the foreigner’s passport;

– A document introducing the seal and signature of the competent person of the organization (form NA16 in Circular No. 04/2015/TT-BCA dated January 05, 2015 of the Ministry of Public Security regulating the form of papers related to the entry, exit and residence of foreigners in Vietnam);

– The original or a notarized copy of the Official Letter of approval for entry of the People’s Committee of the province/city;

– Letter of introduction/authorization of the person submitting the dossier;

– Legal papers of the applicant.

  1. Procedures for applying for an entry letter

Step 1: Prepare and submit your application

Individuals and organizations wishing to apply for an entry letter need to prepare 01 set of dossier as above and submit it to the Immigration Department.

Step 2: Receive and process the dossier

Within 05-07 working days from the date of receipt of the written request for visa, the immigration authority shall consider, settle and reply to the inviting agency, organization or individual and notify the agency competent to issue visas of Vietnam abroad.

After receiving the written reply from the immigration authority, the agency, organization or individual inviting or sponsoring foreigners to enter Vietnam shall notify the foreigner to carry out visa receipt procedures at the Vietnamese visa-granting agency abroad.

Agencies, organizations and individuals applying for visas for foreigners at agencies competent to issue visas of Vietnam abroad must pay the charges to the immigration authorities.

Step 3: Return Results

After verifying that the dossier fully meets the requirements as prescribed by law, the competent state agency will issue an entry official letter to the foreign individual or organization.

Above is the content of KALF’s consultation on The procedure for applying for an official letter to enter Vietnam for foreign investorsIf you have any questions or requests about legal issues, please contact us for timely answers.