Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam

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Pursuant to the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam;

The National Assembly promulgates the Law on Entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam¹;

Chapter I General Provisions

Article 1 Scope of regulation

This Law prescribes the principles, conditions, order, procedures, rights, and obligations of foreigners entering, exiting, transiting, and residing in Vietnam; the rights and responsibilities of Vietnamese state management agencies, and of agencies, organizations, and individuals in the entry, exit, transit, and residence activities of foreigners in Vietnam.

Article 2 Subjects of application

This Law applies to foreigners entering, exiting, transiting, and residing in Vietnam, Vietnamese state management agencies, and relevant Vietnamese and foreign agencies, organizations, and individuals.

Article 3 Interpretation of terms

In this Law, the terms below are construed as follows:

1. Foreigner means a person holding papers determining foreign nationality and a stateless person entering, exiting, transiting, and residing in Vietnam.

2. Papers determining foreign nationality mean types of papers issued by competent foreign agencies or the United Nations, including passports or papers valid in lieu of passports (hereinafter collectively referred to as passports).

3. Papers valid for international travel mean types of papers issued by a competent agency of a country to a stateless person residing in that country and accepted by a competent agency of Vietnam.

4. Entry means a foreigner entering the territory of Vietnam through a Vietnamese border gate.

5. Transit means a foreigner passing through or staying in the transit area at a Vietnamese international border gate to go to a third country.

6. Exit means a foreigner leaving the territory of Vietnam through a Vietnamese border gate.

7. Suspension of exit means a competent person of Vietnam deciding to temporarily suspend the exit for a definite period of a foreigner residing in Vietnam.

8. Forced exit means a competent person of Vietnam deciding that a foreigner must leave the territory of Vietnam through a Vietnamese border gate.

9. Residence means a foreigner permanently or temporarily residing in Vietnam.

10. Border gate means a place where a foreigner is permitted to enter, exit, and transit.

11. Visa means a type of paper issued by a competent agency of Vietnam, permitting a foreigner to enter Vietnam.

12. Temporary residence certification means the act by which a competent Vietnamese authority determines the period for which a foreigner is permitted to temporarily reside in Vietnam.

13. Temporary residence card means a type of paper issued by the immigration management agency or a competent agency of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to a foreigner permitted to reside for a definite period in Vietnam and is valid in lieu of a visa.

14. Permanent residence card means a type of paper issued by the immigration management agency to a foreigner permitted to reside indefinitely in Vietnam and is valid in lieu of a visa.

15. Immigration management agency means a specialized agency under the Ministry of Public Security tasked with managing the entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam.

16. Immigration control unit means a specialized unit tasked with controlling the entry, exit, and transit of foreigners at border gates.

17. Competent visa-issuing agencies of Vietnam abroad include representative missions or other agencies of Vietnam abroad authorized to perform consular functions.

18. ² Electronic information portal on immigration means the Information Portal of the immigration management agency, functioning to publish information, provide online public services, support searching, linking, storing information, and guiding procedures, answering queries related to the field of immigration management.

19. ³ Electronic visa information page means an information page under the Electronic information portal on immigration, functioning to receive, process, and provide information related to the issuance of electronic visas.

Article 4 Principles of entry, exit, transit, and residence

1. Complying with the provisions of this Law, other relevant provisions of Vietnamese law, or international treaties to which Vietnam is a member.

2. Respecting the independence, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, ensuring national security and social order and safety, and equality in international relations.

3. Ensuring openness, transparency, and convenience for foreigners; strictness and uniformity in managing the entry, exit, transit, and residence activities of foreigners in Vietnam.

4. Foreigners with multiple passports may only use one passport to enter, exit, transit, and reside in Vietnam.

Article 5 Strictly prohibited acts

1. Obstructing foreigners and relevant agencies, organizations, and individuals in exercising their rights, obligations, and responsibilities in accordance with the law on entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam.

2. Setting out procedures, papers, and charges contrary to the provisions of this Law and other relevant provisions of law; harassing or causing troubles in carrying out procedures for entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam.

3. Illegally entering, exiting, transiting, and residing in Vietnam; forging or using forged papers to enter, exit, transit, and reside in Vietnam.

4. Providing false information and documents to be allowed to enter, exit, transit, and reside in Vietnam.

5. Taking advantage of entry, exit, transit, and residence in Vietnam to oppose the State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; infringing upon the lawful rights and interests of agencies, organizations, and individuals.

6. Buying, selling, hiring, leasing, borrowing, lending, erasing, or altering the contents of papers valid for entry, exit, and residence for foreigners to enter, exit, transit, and reside in Vietnam.

Article 6 Revocation and cancellation of papers valid for entry, exit, and residence issued by competent agencies of Vietnam

Foreigners committing acts of violation specified in Clauses 3, 4, 5, and 6, Article 5; Clause 3, Article 21; Point b, Clause 2, Article 44 of this Law shall have their papers valid for entry, exit, and residence in Vietnam revoked and canceled.

Article 6a Exploitation and use of information in national databases and specialized databases to process administrative procedures

For papers and information belonging to the dossier requesting the processing of administrative procedures in the field of entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam that are already available in national databases or specialized databases and can be exploited and used by the agency receiving and processing the procedures, agencies, organizations, and individuals are not required to provide such papers and information.

Chapter II Visas

Article 7 Forms and validity of visas

1. A visa shall be issued into a passport, issued loosely, or issued via electronic transactions. A visa issued via electronic transactions is an electronic visa.

2. A visa shall be issued individually to each person, except for the following cases:

a) Issuing a visa accompanying a parent or guardian for children under 14 years of age who share a passport with a parent or guardian;

b) Issuing visas according to the personnel approval list of the immigration management authority for foreigners visiting or traveling by sea or transiting by sea who wish to enter the inland for visiting or traveling according to programs organized by international travel enterprises in Vietnam; members of foreign military ships traveling according to the official activity program of the visit outside the province or centrally run city where the ship or boat is anchored.

3. ⁶ A visa is valid for a single entry or multiple entries; a visa issued for the case specified in point b, clause 2 of this Article is valid for a single entry.

4. A visa’s purpose cannot be converted, except for the following cases:

a) Having documents proving to be an investor or a representative of a foreign organization investing in Vietnam in accordance with the laws of Vietnam;

b) Having documents proving the relationship as a parent, spouse, or child to the inviting or sponsoring individual;

c) Being invited or sponsored by an agency or organization to work and having a work permit or a confirmation of exemption from a work permit in accordance with labor laws;

d) Entering with an electronic visa and having a work permit or a confirmation of exemption from a work permit in accordance with labor laws.

5. In case of converting the visa purpose as prescribed in clause 4 of this Article, a new visa shall be issued with a symbol and duration suitable for the converted purpose. The order and procedures for issuing a new visa shall be carried out in accordance with Article 19 of this Law.

Article 8 Visa symbols

1. NG1 - Issued to members of delegations invited by the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist

2. NG2 - Issued to members of delegations invited by the Standing Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the Vice President, the Vice Chairman of the National Assembly, the Deputy Prime Minister, the President of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, the Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court, the Prosecutor General of the Supreme People’s Procuracy, the Auditor General of the State Audit Office; members of delegations invited at the same level by Ministers and equivalents, Provincial Party Secretaries, City Party Secretaries, Chairmen of People’s Councils, Chairmen of People’s Committees of provinces and centrally run cities.

3. NG3 - Issued to members of diplomatic missions, consular offices, representative offices of international organizations under the United Nations, representative offices of intergovernmental organizations and their spouses, children under 18 years of age, and domestic helpers accompanying them on their term of office.

4. ⁷ NG4 - Issued to persons coming to work with diplomatic missions, consular offices, representative offices of international organizations under the United Nations, representative offices of intergovernmental organizations and their accompanying spouses and children under 18 years of age; persons coming to visit members of diplomatic missions, consular offices, representative offices of international organizations under the United Nations, representative offices of intergovernmental organizations.

5. LV1 - Issued to persons coming to work with departments, agencies, and units directly under the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam; the National Assembly, the Government, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, the Supreme People’s Court, the Supreme People’s Procuracy, the State Audit Office, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-attached agencies; provincial party committees, city party committees, People’s Councils, People’s Committees of provinces and centrally run cities.

6. LV2 - Issued to persons coming to work with socio-political organizations, social organizations, the Vietnam Chamber⁸ of Commerce and Industry.

7. ⁹ LS - Issued to foreign lawyers practicing in Vietnam.

7a. ¹⁰ ĐT1 - Issued to foreign investors in Vietnam and representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam with a contributed capital value of VND 100 billion or more or investing in investment-incentive industries, trades, or investment-incentive geographical areas decided by the Government.

7b. ¹¹ ĐT2 - Issued to foreign investors in Vietnam and representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam with a contributed capital value from VND 50 billion to under VND 100 billion or investing in industries and trades encouraging development investment decided by the Government.

7c. ¹² ĐT3 - Issued to foreign investors in Vietnam and representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam with a contributed capital value from VND 03 billion to under VND 50 billion.

7d. ¹³ ĐT4 - Issued to foreign investors in Vietnam and representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam with a contributed capital value of under VND 03 billion.

8. ¹⁴ DN1 - Issued to foreigners working with enterprises and other organizations having legal entity status in accordance with the laws of Vietnam.

8a. ¹⁵ DN2 - Issued to foreigners coming to offer services, establish a commercial presence, or perform other activities under international treaties to which Vietnam is a member.

9. NN1 - Issued to persons who are Heads of representative offices or projects of international organizations or foreign non-governmental organizations in Vietnam.

10. NN2 - Issued to heads of representative offices or branches of foreign traders, representative offices of foreign economic, cultural, and other professional organizations in Vietnam.

11. NN3 - Issued to persons coming to work with foreign non-governmental organizations, representative offices, branches of foreign traders, representative offices of foreign economic, cultural, and other professional organizations in Vietnam.

12. DH - Issued to persons coming to intern or study.

13. HN - Issued to persons coming to attend conferences or seminars.

14. PV1 - Issued to resident reporters and journalists in Vietnam.

15. PV2 - Issued to reporters and journalists coming for short-term activities in Vietnam.

16. ¹⁶ LĐ1 - Issued to foreigners working in Vietnam who have a confirmation of exemption from a work permit, unless otherwise provided for by international treaties to which Vietnam is a member.

16a. ¹⁷ LĐ2 - Issued to foreigners working in Vietnam who are required to have a work permit.

17. DL - Issued to persons coming to travel.

18. ¹⁸ TT - Issued to foreigners who are spouses or children under 18 years of age of foreigners issued visas with symbols LV1, LV2, LS, ĐT1, ĐT2, ĐT3, NN1, NN2, DH, PV1, LĐ1, LĐ2 or foreigners who are parents, spouses, or children of Vietnamese citizens.

19. VR - Issued to persons coming to visit relatives or for other purposes.

20. SQ - Issued for the cases specified in clause 3, Article 17 of this Law.

21. ¹⁹ EV - Electronic visa.

22. ²⁰ UĐ1 - Issued to foreigners who are high-quality digital technology industry human resources and cases entitled to incentives in accordance with laws, resolutions of the National Assembly, and resolutions of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly.

23. ²¹ UĐ2 - Issued to foreigners who are spouses or children under 18 years of age of foreigners issued visas with the symbol UĐ1.

Article 9 Visa duration

1. ²² A visa with the symbol SQ has a duration of no more than 30 days.

2. ²³ A visa with the symbol HN, DL, EV has a duration of no more than 90 days.

3. ²⁴ A visa with the symbol VR has a duration of no more than 180 days.

4. ²⁵ A visa with the symbol NG1, NG2, NG3, NG4, LV1, LV2, ĐT4, DN1, DN2, NN1, NN2, NN3, DH, PV1, PV2, TT has a duration of no more than 01 year.

5. ²⁶ A visa with the symbol LĐ1, LĐ2 has a duration of no more than 02 years.

5a. ²⁷ A visa with the symbol ĐT3 has a duration of no more than 03 years.

6. ²⁸ A visa with the symbol LS, ĐT1, ĐT2, UĐ1, UĐ2 has a duration of no more than 05 years.

7. When a visa expires, the issuance of a new visa shall be considered.

8. The visa duration is at least 30 days shorter than the duration of the passport or document valid for international travel.

9. ²⁹ In case an international treaty to which Vietnam is a member provides otherwise, the visa duration shall be issued in accordance with the international treaty.

Article 10 Conditions for visa issuance

1. Having a passport or a document valid for international travel.

2. ³⁰ Having an inviting or sponsoring agency, organization, or individual in Vietnam, except for the cases specified in Article 16a, Article 16b, and clause 3, Article 17 of this Law.

3. Not falling into the cases of suspended entry specified in Article 21 of this Law.

4. The following cases requesting a visa must have documents proving the purpose of entry:

a) Foreigners coming to invest must have documents proving their investment in Vietnam in accordance with the Law on Investment;

b) Foreigners practicing law in Vietnam must have a practicing license in accordance with the Law on Lawyers;

c) Foreigners coming to work must have a work permit in accordance with the Labor Code;

d) Foreigners coming to study must have an acceptance document from a school or educational institution in Vietnam.

đ) ³¹ Foreigners specified in clause 22, Article 8 of this Law must have documents proving they are high-quality digital technology industry human resources in accordance with the Law on Digital Technology Industry or documents proving they are entitled to incentives.

5. ³² Electronic visas are issued to foreigners who have passports and do not fall into the categories specified in clauses 1, 2, 3, and 4, Article 8 of this Law.

Article 11 Cases of issuing loose visas

1. Passports that have run out of visa pages.

2. Passports of countries that do not yet have diplomatic relations with Vietnam.

3. Documents valid for international travel.

4. For reasons of diplomacy, national defense, and security.

5. ³³ Visas issued in accordance with point b, clause 2, Article 7 of this Law.

Article 12 Cases of visa exemption

1. Under international treaties to which Vietnam is a member.

2. Using permanent residence cards or temporary residence cards in accordance with this Law.

3. Entering border gate economic zones, special administrative - economic units.

3a. ³⁴ Entering coastal economic zones decided by the Government when fully meeting the following conditions: having an international airport; having a separate space; having defined geographical boundaries, separated from the mainland; conforming to socio-economic development policies and not harming the national defense, national security, social order, and safety of Vietnam.

4. In accordance with Article 13 of this Law.

5. Overseas Vietnamese having passports or documents valid for international travel issued by competent foreign authorities and foreigners who are their spouses or children; foreigners who are spouses or children of Vietnamese citizens are exempt from visas in accordance with the Government’s regulations.

6. ³⁵ Foreigners falling into the category of special subjects needing incentives to serve socio-economic development are exempt from visas for a definite period on the basis of ensuring national defense, national security, and social order and safety in accordance with the Government’s regulations.

Article 13 Unilateral visa exemption

1. A decision on unilateral visa exemption for citizens of a country must fully meet the following conditions:

a) Having diplomatic relations with Vietnam;

b) Conforming to Vietnam’s socio-economic development and foreign policies in each period;

c) Not harming the national defense, security, and social order and safety of Vietnam.

2. A decision on unilateral visa exemption has a duration of no more than 05 years and is considered for extension. A decision on unilateral visa exemption shall be canceled if it does not fully meet the conditions specified in clause 1 of this Article.

3. Based on the provisions of this Article, the Government decides on unilateral visa exemption for a definite period for each country.

Article 14 Agencies, organizations, and individuals inviting or sponsoring foreigners

1. Agencies, organizations, and individuals inviting or sponsoring foreigners to enter Vietnam in accordance with clause 2, Article 10 of this Law, include:

a) The General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the President, the Chairman of the National Assembly, the Prime Minister;

b) The Standing Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the Vice President, the Vice Chairman of the National Assembly, the Deputy Prime Minister, the President of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, the Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court, the Prosecutor General of the Supreme People’s Procuracy, the Auditor General of the State Audit Office; Ministers and equivalents; Provincial Party Secretaries, City Party Secretaries, Chairmen of People’s Councils, Chairmen of People’s Committees of provinces and centrally run cities;

c) Departments, agencies, and units directly under the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, agencies of the National Assembly, agencies under the Standing Committee of the National Assembly, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, the Supreme People’s Court, the Supreme People’s Procuracy, the State Audit Office, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-attached agencies;

d) Provincial party committees, city party committees, People’s Councils, People’s Committees of provinces and centrally run cities;

đ) Central agencies of socio-political organizations, social organizations, the Vietnam Chamber³⁶ of Commerce and Industry;

e) Enterprises established under the laws of Vietnam;

g) Diplomatic missions, consular offices, representative offices of international organizations under the United Nations, intergovernmental organizations in Vietnam;

h) Representative offices, branches of foreign traders; representative offices of foreign economic, cultural, and other professional organizations in Vietnam;

i) Other organizations having legal entity status in accordance with the laws of Vietnam;

k) Vietnamese citizens permanently residing in the country, foreigners having permanent residence cards or temporary residence cards.

2. Agencies and organizations inviting or sponsoring foreigners must conform to their functions, tasks, and powers prescribed by law or their granted operating licenses. Vietnamese citizens permanently residing in the country, foreigners having permanent residence cards or temporary residence cards are allowed to invite or sponsor foreigners to visit Vietnam and must have documents proving their relationship with the invited or sponsored person.

Article 15 Procedures for inviting and sponsoring foreigners to enter Vietnam at the competent authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

1. Foreigners specified in Clauses 1, 2, 3, and 4, Article 8 of this Law shall, through the inviting or sponsoring agencies or organizations, send a written request for visa issuance to the competent authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

2. The agencies or organizations inviting or sponsoring foreigners specified in Clause 1 and Clause 2, Article 8 of this Law shall notify in writing the competent authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to direct the visa-issuing authority of Vietnam abroad to issue the visa, if a visa is required, and simultaneously notify the immigration authority.

3. The agencies or organizations inviting or sponsoring foreigners specified in Clause 3 and Clause 4, Article 8 of this Law shall directly send a written request for visa issuance to the competent authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The competent authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall notify the immigration authority in writing. After 02 working days, if the immigration authority has no objections, the competent authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall reply to the inviting or sponsoring agency or organization and notify the visa-issuing authority of Vietnam abroad to issue the visa, if a visa is required.

4. In case of requesting a visa issuance at an international border checkpoint, the border checkpoint, time of entry, and reason for requesting the visa at the border checkpoint must be clearly stated.

5. After receiving the written reply from the competent authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the agency or organization inviting or sponsoring the foreigner into Vietnam shall notify the foreigner to carry out the procedures to receive the visa at the visa-issuing authority of Vietnam abroad.

6. The agency or organization requesting a visa for a foreigner at the visa-issuing authority of Vietnam abroad must pay the competent authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs a fee to perform the notification of visa issuance.

Article 16 Procedures for inviting and sponsoring foreigners to enter Vietnam at the immigration authority

1. ³⁷ Foreigners not specified in Clauses 1, 2, 3, and 4, Article 8 of this Law must, through the inviting or sponsoring agencies, organizations, or individuals, carry out procedures at the immigration authority. The agencies, organizations, or individuals inviting or sponsoring foreigners shall directly send a written request for visa issuance to the immigration authority or via public postal service or in an electronic environment for agencies and organizations meeting the conditions specified in Clause 1, Article 16b of this Law and individuals meeting the conditions specified in Point a, Clause 1, Article 16b of this Law.

2. Before carrying out procedures to invite or sponsor a foreigner to enter Vietnam, social organizations, enterprises, other organizations with legal entity status according to the provisions of Vietnamese law, branches of foreign traders, representative offices of foreign economic, cultural, and other professional organizations in Vietnam must send a written notification to the immigration authority enclosed with a dossier, including:

a) A certified copy of the license or decision of the competent authority on the establishment of the organization;

b) A document introducing the seal and signature of the competent person of the organization.

The notification is only made once; when there is a change in the content of the dossier, a supplementary notification must be made.

3. Within 05 working days from the date of receiving the written request for visa issuance, the immigration authority shall consider, resolve, reply to the inviting or sponsoring agency, organization, or individual, and notify the visa-issuing authority of Vietnam abroad.

4. After receiving the written reply from the immigration authority, the agency, organization, or individual inviting or sponsoring the foreigner into Vietnam shall notify the foreigner to carry out the procedures to receive the visa at the visa-issuing authority of Vietnam abroad.

5. In case of requesting a visa issuance at an international border checkpoint, the immigration authority shall consider and resolve it within 03 working days from the date of receiving a complete dossier for the cases specified in Points a, b, c, and d, Clause 1, Article 18 of this Law; within 12 working hours from the time of receiving a complete dossier for the cases specified in Point d and Point e, Clause 1, Article 18 of this Law.

6. ³⁸ (annulled)

7. ³⁹ (annulled)

Article 16a Procedures for issuing electronic visas at the request of foreigners

1. A foreigner requesting an electronic visa shall perform the following:

a) Declare information requesting an electronic visa, upload a photo and the passport data page on the electronic visa information page;

b) Pay the visa fee into the account specified on the electronic visa information page after receiving the electronic dossier code from the immigration authority.

2. The immigration authority shall consider, resolve, and reply to the electronic visa applicant on the electronic visa information page within 03 working days from the date of receiving complete information requesting an electronic visa and the visa fee.

3. A foreigner granted an electronic visa shall use the electronic dossier code to check and print the electronic visa issuance result on the electronic visa information page.

Article 16b Procedures for issuing electronic visas at the request of agencies and organizations

1. Agencies and organizations specified in Clause 2, Article 16 of this Law may request an electronic visa for a foreigner when fully meeting the following conditions:

a) Having an electronic identity account issued by a competent authority in accordance with the law on electronic identification and authentication;

b) Having an electronic signature in accordance with the Law on Electronic Transactions.

2. Agencies and organizations specified in Clause 1 of this Article shall use their electronic identity accounts to access the National Public Service Portal or the electronic visa information page to request an electronic visa for a foreigner; pay the visa fee into the account specified on the National Public Service Portal or the electronic visa information page after receiving the electronic dossier code from the immigration authority.

3. The immigration authority shall consider, resolve, and reply to the agency or organization on the National Public Service Portal or the electronic visa information page within 03 working days from the date of receiving complete information requesting an electronic visa and the visa fee.

4. Agencies and organizations shall access the National Public Service Portal or the electronic visa information page, use the electronic dossier code to receive the reply result from the immigration authority, and notify the foreigner.

5. A foreigner granted an electronic visa shall use the electronic dossier code notified by the agency or organization to print the electronic visa issuance result on the National Public Service Portal or the electronic visa information page.

Article 17 Issuance of visas at the visa-issuing authority of Vietnam abroad

1. Within 01 working day from the date of receiving the direction from the competent authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the passport, the visa application declaration with a photo attached for the case specified in Clause 2, Article 15 of this Law, the visa-issuing authority of Vietnam abroad shall issue the visa.

2. For cases not falling under the provisions of Clause 1 of this Article, after receiving the notification from the inviting or sponsoring agency, organization, or individual, the foreigner required to have a visa shall submit their passport, visa application declaration, and photo at the visa-issuing authority of Vietnam abroad. Children under 14 years old who share a passport with their father, mother, or guardian are not required to fill out a visa application form in case they share a passport with their father, mother, or guardian.

Within 03 working days from the date of receiving the notification from the immigration authority or the competent authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the visa-issuing authority of Vietnam abroad shall carry out the visa issuance.

3. The head of the visa-issuing authority of Vietnam abroad shall issue a visa valid for no more than 30 days to a foreigner who needs to enter Vietnam to survey the market, travel, visit relatives, or receive medical treatment in the following cases:

a) Persons having working relations with the visa-issuing authority of Vietnam abroad and their spouses, children, or persons with a written request from the competent authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the host country;

b) Persons having a diplomatic note of guarantee from diplomatic missions or consular offices of other countries located in the host country.

4. After issuing a visa for the case specified in Clause 3 of this Article, the head of the visa-issuing authority of Vietnam abroad must notify the immigration authority and take responsibility for the visa issuance.

Article 18 Issuance of visas at international border checkpoints

1. A foreigner shall be issued a visa at an international border checkpoint in the following cases:

a) Departing from a country that does not have a visa-issuing authority of Vietnam;

b) Having to transit through many countries before arriving in Vietnam;

c) Entering Vietnam to visit or travel under a program organized by an international travel enterprise in Vietnam;

d) Foreign crew members on board a ship anchored at a Vietnamese seaport who need to exit through another border checkpoint;

đ) Entering to attend the funeral of a relative or visit a seriously ill relative;

e) Entering Vietnam to participate in handling emergency incidents, rescue, disaster and epidemic prevention and control, or for other special reasons at the request of a competent authority of Vietnam.

2. A foreigner issued a visa at an international border checkpoint shall submit their passport or a document valid for international travel, and fill out a visa application declaration with a photo attached at the immigration control unit. Children under 14 years old shall be declared together with the visa application declaration of their father, mother, or guardian in case they share a passport with their father, mother, or guardian.

3. The immigration control unit shall check and compare with the notification of the immigration authority to carry out the visa issuance.

Article 19 Issuance of visas at the immigration authority, the competent authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

1. A foreigner temporarily residing in Vietnam who needs a new visa must request the inviting or sponsoring agency, organization, or individual to carry out procedures at the immigration authority or the competent authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

2. The inviting or sponsoring agency, organization, or individual specified in Clause 1 of this Article shall directly send a written request for visa issuance enclosed with the passport or document valid for international travel of the foreigner at the immigration authority or the competent authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

3. Within 05 working days from the date of receiving a complete dossier, the immigration authority or the competent authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall consider issuing the visa.

Article 19a Countries and territories whose citizens are granted electronic visas and international border checkpoints allowing foreigners to enter and exit with electronic visas[42]

1. The issuance of electronic visas is applied on the basis of ensuring national defense, national security, social order and safety, and in accordance with the foreign policy and socio-economic development of Vietnam.

2. The Government shall decide on the list of countries and territories whose citizens are granted electronic visas; the list of international border checkpoints allowing foreigners to enter and exit with electronic visas.

Chapter III Entry

Article 20 Conditions for entry

1. A foreigner is allowed to enter when fully meeting the following conditions:

a) Having a passport or a document valid for international travel and a visa, except for cases of visa exemption according to the provisions of this Law.

For a foreigner entering under a unilateral visa exemption, the passport must be valid for at least 06 months;

b) Not falling into the cases of suspension from entry specified in Article 21 of this Law.

2. A foreigner using an electronic visa to enter must fully meet the conditions specified in Clause 1 of this Article and enter through international border checkpoints decided by the Government.

Article 21 Cases of suspension from entry

1. Not meeting the conditions specified in Clause 1, Article 20 of this Law.

2. Children under 14 years old without a father, mother, guardian, or authorized person accompanying them.

3. Forging documents or making false declarations to be granted documents valid for entry, exit, or residence.

4. Persons suffering from mental illness or infectious diseases that pose a danger to public health.

5. Being deported from Vietnam for less than 03 years from the effective date of the deportation decision.

6. Being forced to exit Vietnam for less than 06 months from the effective date of the decision on forced exit.

7. For reasons of epidemic prevention and control.

8. For reasons of natural disasters.

9. For reasons of national defense, security, social order, and safety.

Article 22 Competence to decide on suspension from entry

1. The head of the immigration control unit shall decide on suspension from entry for the cases specified in Clauses 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, Article 21 of this Law.

2. The Minister of Health shall decide on suspension from entry for the case specified in Clause 7, Article 21 of this Law.

3. The Minister of Agriculture and Environment⁴⁴ shall decide on suspension from entry for the case specified in Clause 8, Article 21 of this Law.

4. The Minister of Public Security and the Minister of National Defense shall decide on suspension from entry for the case specified in Clause 9, Article 21 of this Law.

5. The competent person who issues the decision on suspension from entry has the competence to lift the suspension from entry and shall be responsible before the law for their decision.

Chapter IV Transit

Article 23 Conditions for transit

A foreigner is allowed to transit when fully meeting the following conditions:

1. A passport or a document valid for international travel;

2. A ticket for a means of transport suitable for the journey to a third country;

3. A visa of the third country, except for cases of visa exemption.

Article 24 Transit areas

1. A transit area is an area within an international border checkpoint where foreigners are allowed to stay to go to a third country.

2. The transit area is decided by the competent authority managing the international border checkpoint.

Article 25 Transit by air

1. A foreigner transiting by air is exempt from a visa and must stay within the transit area at the international airport while waiting for the flight.

2. During the transit period, if a foreigner needs to enter Vietnam to visit or travel under a program organized by an international travel enterprise in Vietnam, they shall be considered for a visa suitable for the transit period.

Article 26 Transit by sea

A foreigner transiting by sea is exempt from a visa and must stay in the transit area at the seaport border checkpoint while the ship or boat is anchored; in case of needing to enter the inland to visit or travel under a program organized by an international travel enterprise in Vietnam, they shall be considered for a visa suitable for the transit period; in case of needing to exit through another border checkpoint, they shall be considered for a VR-symbol visa.

Chapter V Exit

Article 27 Conditions for exit

1. A foreigner may exit when fully meeting the following conditions:

a) Having a passport or an international travel document;

b) Having a valid temporary residence certification, temporary residence card, or permanent residence card;

c) Not falling into the cases of exit suspension prescribed in Article 28 of this Law.

2. Foreigners using electronic visas for exit must meet the conditions prescribed in Clause 1 of this Article and exit through international border gates decided by the Government.

Article 28 Cases of exit suspension and duration of exit suspension

1. A foreigner may be suspended from exit if falling into one of the following cases:

a) Being a suspect, defendant, or person with related obligations in a criminal case; or being a defendant, sued person, or person with related obligations in a civil, commercial, labor, administrative, or marriage and family case;

b) Having the obligation to execute a judgment or decision of a Court, or a decision of the Competition Handling Council;

c) Having not yet fulfilled tax payment obligations;

d) Having the obligation to execute a decision on sanctioning of an administrative violation;

đ) For reasons of national defense and security.

2. ⁴⁶ The cases prescribed in Clause 1 of this Article do not apply to the persons prescribed in Clause 1, Article 35 and Clause 1, Article 37 of the Law on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters.

3. The duration of exit suspension shall not exceed 03 years and may be extended.

Article 29 Competence to decide on exit suspension, extension of exit suspension, and lifting of exit suspension

1. Heads of investigating agencies, Chief Procurators of Procuracies, Chief Justices of Courts, Heads of judgment enforcement agencies, and the Chairperson of the National Competition Commission⁴⁷, within the scope of their duties and powers, shall decide on exit suspension for the cases prescribed in Points a and b, Clause 1, Article 28 of this Law.

2. Heads of tax administration agencies shall decide on exit suspension for the case prescribed in Point c, Clause 1, Article 28 of this Law.

3. The Minister of Public Security shall decide on exit suspension for foreigners prescribed in Point d, Clause 1, Article 28 of this Law in the following cases:

a) Having the obligation to execute a decision on sanctioning of an administrative violation issued by a Public Security agency;

b) At the request of the Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court, Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, or Chairpersons of People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities.

4. The Minister of Public Security and the Minister of National Defense shall decide on exit suspension for the cases prescribed in Point dd, Clause 1, Article 28 of this Law.

5. The person competent to issue an exit suspension decision has the competence to extend the exit suspension, lift the exit suspension, and shall be responsible before the law for their decision.

The person issuing the exit suspension decision is responsible for issuing a decision to lift the exit suspension immediately after the conditions for suspension no longer exist.

6. Decisions on exit suspension, extension of exit suspension, and lifting of exit suspension shall be immediately sent to the immigration administration agency and announced to the person suspended from exit for implementation.

7. After receiving the decision on exit suspension, extension of exit suspension, or lifting of exit suspension, the immigration administration agency is responsible for organizing its implementation.

Article 30 Forced exit

1. A foreigner may be forced to exit in the following cases:

a) The temporary residence duration has expired but they do not exit;

b) For reasons of national defense, security, social order, and safety.

2. The competence to decide on forced exit is as follows:

a) The immigration administration agency shall decide on forced exit for the case prescribed in Point a, Clause 1 of this Article;

b) The Minister of Public Security and the Minister of National Defense shall decide on forced exit for the case prescribed in Point b, Clause 1 of this Article.

Chapter VI Residence

Section 1 Temporary Residence

Article 31 Temporary residence certification

1. ⁴⁸ Foreigners entering the country who do not have a valid permanent residence card or temporary residence card shall be granted a temporary residence certification at the border gate with the following durations:

a) The temporary residence duration granted is equal to the visa duration; in case the visa has the symbol DL with a duration of more than 30 days, a 30-day temporary residence shall be granted and an extension of temporary residence may be considered according to the provisions of Article 35 of this Law;

b) For persons exempted from visas under international treaties to which Vietnam is a member, the temporary residence duration shall be granted according to the provisions of the international treaties; if the international treaty does not specify a temporary residence duration, a 30-day temporary residence shall be granted;

c) ⁴⁹ For citizens of countries unilaterally exempted from visas by Vietnam, a 45-day temporary residence shall be granted and the issuance of a visa or extension of temporary residence may be considered according to the provisions of this Law;

d) ⁵⁰ For persons not falling into the cases prescribed in Points a, b, and c of this Clause entering a border gate economic zone, a 15-day temporary residence shall be granted; entering a special administrative-economic unit or a coastal economic zone prescribed in Clause 3a, Article 12 of this Law, a 30-day temporary residence shall be granted.

đ) ⁵¹ In case an international treaty to which Vietnam is a member provides otherwise, the temporary residence duration shall be granted according to the international treaty.

2. Foreigners are allowed to temporarily reside in Vietnam within the duration of the granted temporary residence certification.

3. The temporary residence duration may be canceled or shortened by the immigration administration agency in case the foreigner violates Vietnamese law.

Article 32 Accommodation establishments

Accommodation establishments are places of temporary residence for foreigners in the territory of Vietnam, including tourist accommodation establishments, guesthouses, housing areas for foreigners working, laboring, studying, or interning, medical examination and treatment establishments, private houses, or other accommodation establishments as prescribed by law.

Article 33 Declaration of temporary residence

1. Foreigners temporarily residing in Vietnam must, through the person directly managing and operating the activities of the accommodation establishment, declare their temporary residence to the Police of the commune, ward, special zone⁵³ or the Police station or post where the accommodation establishment is located. The accommodation establishment is responsible for requesting foreigners to present their passports or international travel documents, and documents related to residence in Vietnam to carry out the temporary residence declaration before agreeing to let the foreigners temporarily reside. In case a Border Guard station or post receives the temporary residence declaration of a foreigner according to the provisions of an international treaty to which Vietnam is a member, the Border Guard station or post is responsible for notifying immediately the Police of the commune, ward, special zone⁵⁴ or the Police station or post where the foreigner temporarily resides.

2. The declaration of temporary residence for foreigners shall be carried out via the electronic environment or temporary residence declaration forms.

In case of declaration via temporary residence declaration forms, the person directly managing and operating the activities of the accommodation establishment is responsible for fully recording the information in the temporary residence declaration form and forwarding it to the Police of the commune, ward, special zone⁵⁵ or the Police station or post where the accommodation establishment is located within 12 hours, or within 24 hours for remote and isolated areas, from the time the foreigner arrives at the accommodation establishment.

3. Foreigners who change their place of temporary residence, or temporarily reside outside the address recorded in their permanent residence card, or when there is a change of information in their passport, must declare their temporary residence according to the provisions of Clause 1 of this Article.

Article 34 Temporary residence in industrial parks, export processing zones, border gate economic zones, coastal economic zones, border areas, and special administrative-economic units

1. Foreigners are allowed to temporarily reside in accommodation establishments in industrial parks, export processing zones, border gate economic zones, and coastal economic zones, and shall carry out the temporary residence declaration according to the provisions of Article 33 of this Law.

2. ⁵⁶ Foreigners are not allowed to temporarily reside in prohibited areas or areas where activities are suspended in land border areas; or prohibited zones or restricted activity zones in maritime border areas. In case of temporary residence in accommodation establishments in border areas or commune-level administrative units⁵⁷, tourism and service areas, special administrative-economic units, or other economic zones related to border areas, the temporary residence declaration shall be carried out according to the provisions of Article 33 of this Law. The agency receiving the temporary residence declaration of the foreigner is responsible for immediately notifying the Border Guard station or post where the accommodation establishment is located.

Article 35 Extension of temporary residence

1. Foreigners temporarily residing in Vietnam who wish to extend their temporary residence must request the inviting or guaranteeing agencies, organizations, or individuals to carry out procedures at the immigration administration agency or the competent agency of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

2. The inviting or guaranteeing agencies, organizations, or individuals prescribed in Clause 1 of this Article shall directly submit a written request for extension of temporary residence, accompanied by the passport or international travel document of the foreigner, to the competent agency of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the cases prescribed in Clauses 1, 2, 3, and 4, Article 8 of this Law, or to the immigration administration agency for the cases prescribed in Clause 1, Article 16 of this Law.

3. Within 05 working days from the date of receiving a complete dossier, the immigration administration agency or the competent agency of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall consider extending the temporary residence.

Article 36 Cases eligible for temporary residence cards and symbols of temporary residence cards

1. Cases eligible for temporary residence cards include:

a) Foreigners who are members of diplomatic missions, consular offices, representative offices of international organizations affiliated with the United Nations, or intergovernmental organizations in Vietnam, and their spouses, children under 18 years of age, and accompanying domestic workers during their term of office;

b) ⁵⁹ Foreigners temporarily residing in Vietnam who are eligible for visas with symbols LV1, LV2, LS, ĐT1, ĐT2, ĐT3, NN1, NN2, DH, PV1, LĐ1, LĐ2, TT, UĐ1, UĐ2.

2. Symbols of temporary residence cards are prescribed as follows:

a) Temporary residence cards prescribed in Point a, Clause 1 of this Article have the symbol NG3;

b) Temporary residence cards prescribed in Point b, Clause 1 of this Article have symbols similar to the visa symbols.

Article 37 Procedures for granting temporary residence cards

1. A dossier requesting the grant of a temporary residence card includes:

a) A written request from the agency, organization, or individual carrying out the inviting or guaranteeing procedures;

b) A declaration form requesting the grant of a temporary residence card with an attached photo;

c) Passport;

d) ⁶⁰ Documents proving eligibility under the cases prescribed in Clause 1, Article 36 of this Law.

2. The processing of granting temporary residence cards is as follows:

a) Diplomatic missions, consular offices, or other authorized foreign agencies in Vietnam shall submit dossiers requesting the grant of temporary residence cards with the symbol NG3 to the competent agency of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;

b) ⁶¹ Inviting or guaranteeing agencies, organizations, or individuals shall directly submit dossiers requesting the grant of temporary residence cards for foreigners falling into the cases prescribed in Point b, Clause 1, Article 36 of this Law to the immigration administration agency where the inviting or guaranteeing agency or organization is headquartered or where the inviting or guaranteeing individual resides;

c) Within 05 working days from the date of receiving a complete dossier, the immigration administration agency or the competent agency of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall consider granting the temporary residence card.

Article 38 Duration of temporary residence cards

1. The duration

2. ⁶³ Temporary residence cards with symbols ĐT1, UĐ1, UĐ2 have a duration of not exceeding 10 years.

3. Temporary residence cards with symbols NG3, LV1, LV2, LS, ĐT2, and DH have a duration of not exceeding 05 years.

4. Temporary residence cards with symbols NN1, NN2, ĐT3, TT have a duration of not exceeding 03 years.

5. Temporary residence cards with symbols LĐ1, LĐ2, and PV1 have a duration of not exceeding 02 years.

6. Expired temporary residence cards may be considered for the grant of new cards.

Section 2 Permanent Residence

Article 39 Cases considered for permanent residence

1. Foreigners who have rendered meritorious services and contributed to the cause of building and defending the Vietnamese Fatherland and are awarded medals or state honorary titles by the Vietnamese State.

2. Foreigners who are scientists or experts temporarily residing in Vietnam.

3. Foreigners who are guaranteed by their parents, spouses, or children who are Vietnamese citizens permanently residing in Vietnam.

4. Stateless persons who have continuously temporarily resided in Vietnam since 2000 or earlier.

Article 40 Conditions for considering permanent residence

1. Foreigners prescribed in Article 39 of this Law shall be considered for permanent residence if they have a lawful place of residence and a stable income to ensure their livelihood in Vietnam.

2. Foreigners prescribed in Clause 2, Article 39 of this Law must be recommended by the Minister, Head of a ministerial-level agency, or Government-attached agency performing state management of their respective professional fields.

3. Foreigners prescribed in Clause 3, Article 39 of this Law must have temporarily resided in Vietnam continuously for 03 years or more.

Article 41 Procedures for granting permanent residence

1. Foreigners applying for permanent residence shall carry out procedures at the immigration management authority. A dossier includes:

a) An application for permanent residence;

b) A criminal record issued by the competent authority of the country of which the person is a citizen;

c) A diplomatic note from the representative mission of the country of which the person is a citizen requesting Vietnam to grant permanent residence to that person;

d) A certified copy of the passport;

đ) Documents proving the fulfillment of conditions for permanent residence consideration as prescribed in Article 40 of this Law;

e) A letter of guarantee for foreigners as prescribed in Clause 3, Article 39 of this Law.

2. Within 04 months from the date of receipt of a complete dossier, the Minister of Public Security shall consider and decide to grant permanent residence; if supplementary verification is deemed necessary, this time limit may be extended but for no more than 02 months.

3. The immigration management authority is responsible for notifying in writing the result of the resolution to the permanent residence applicant and the Public Security Department of the province or centrally run city where the foreigner applies for permanent residence.

4. Within 05 working days from the date of receipt of the notice from the immigration management authority, the Public Security Department of the province or centrally run city where the foreigner applies for permanent residence shall notify the foreigner who is granted permanent residence.

5. Within 03 months from the time of receiving the notice of granting permanent residence, the foreigner must go to the immigration management authority of the Public Security Department of the province or centrally run city where they applied for permanent residence to receive the permanent residence card.

Article 42 Granting permanent residence to stateless persons

1. Stateless persons prescribed in Clause 4, Article 39 of this Law shall submit dossiers at the immigration management authority of the Public Security Department of the province or centrally run city where they temporarily reside. A dossier includes:

a) An application for permanent residence;

b) Documents proving continuous temporary residence in Vietnam since before 2000 and fulfillment of conditions as prescribed in Clause 1, Article 40 of this Law.

2. Procedures for granting permanent residence to stateless persons shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of Clauses 2, 3, 4 and 5, Article 41 of this Law.

Article 43 Renewal and re-issuance of permanent residence cards

1. Permanent residence cards are issued by the Public Security Department of the province or centrally run city. Periodically once every 10 years, foreigners with permanent residence must go to the Public Security Department of the province or centrally run city where they permanently reside to renew their cards. A dossier includes:

a) A declaration form requesting the renewal of the permanent residence card;

b) The permanent residence card;

c) A certified copy of the passport, except for stateless persons.

2. In case a permanent residence card is lost, damaged, or its contents are changed, the foreigner with permanent residence must carry out procedures for re-issuance of the card at the Public Security Department of the province or centrally run city where they permanently reside. A dossier includes:

a) A declaration form requesting the re-issuance of the permanent residence card;

b) ⁶⁴ The permanent residence card; in case the permanent residence card is lost, information must be clearly declared in the declaration form requesting the re-issuance of the permanent residence card;

c) A certified copy of the passport, except for stateless persons;

d) Documents proving the changed contents recorded in the permanent residence card.

3. Within 20 days from the date of receipt of a complete dossier, the Public Security Department of the province or centrally run city where the foreigner permanently resides shall re-issue the card.

4. ⁶⁵ The Minister of Public Security shall decide on cases where foreigners are allowed to carry out procedures for issuance, renewal, or re-issuance of permanent residence cards at the immigration management authority for reasons of diplomacy, national defense, or security.

Chapter VII Rights and Obligations of Foreigners; Rights and Responsibilities of Agencies, Organizations, and Individuals

Article 44 Rights and obligations of foreigners

1. Foreigners entering, exiting, transiting, and residing in Vietnam have the following rights:

a) To have their lives, honor, property, and legitimate rights and interests protected in accordance with Vietnamese law during their residence in the territory of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam;

b) Persons holding temporary residence cards may sponsor their grandparents, parents, spouses, and children to visit Vietnam; may sponsor their spouses and children under 18 years old to live with them during the term of the temporary residence card if agreed by the agency or organization inviting or sponsoring them;

c) Persons holding permanent residence cards may sponsor their grandparents, parents, spouses, and children to visit Vietnam;

d) Persons legally residing in Vietnam may travel within the territory of Vietnam, and may combine tourism, visiting relatives, and medical treatment without having to ask for permission; in case of entering prohibited areas or areas with restricted travel and residence, they shall comply with the provisions of law;

đ) Crew members on ships and boats entering Vietnam may go ashore within the province or centrally run city where the ship or boat is anchored; in case of going outside the above scope or exiting the territory of Vietnam through other border gates, they shall be considered for visa issuance;

e) Spouses and children accompanying members of diplomatic missions, consular offices, representative offices of international organizations under the United Nations, and representative offices of intergovernmental organizations during their term of office may work if they have a work permit, except for cases not subject to work permit issuance; may study if there is a written acceptance from a school or educational institution;

g) Persons studying at schools or educational institutions under international treaties or international agreements may combine working if there is written permission from the school or educational institution;

h) Stateless persons permanently residing abroad may enter Vietnam for tourism or visiting relatives;

i) Stateless persons residing in Vietnam who wish to exit shall be considered by the Ministry of Public Security for the issuance of documents valid for international travel.

2. Foreigners entering, exiting, and residing in Vietnam have the following obligations:

a) To comply with Vietnamese law; to respect the cultural traditions, customs, and practices of Vietnam;

b) Activities in Vietnam must be consistent with the purpose of entry;

c) When traveling, they must carry their passports or documents valid for international travel, and documents related to residence in Vietnam, and must present them when requested by competent authorities;

d) Foreigners with permanent residence, if exiting to permanently reside in another country, must return their permanent residence cards to the immigration control unit at the border gate;

đ) ⁶⁷ To present passports or documents valid for international travel, and documents related to residence in Vietnam to the accommodation establishment to carry out temporary residence declaration as prescribed.

Article 45 Rights and responsibilities of inviting or sponsoring agencies, organizations, and individuals

1. Inviting or sponsoring agencies, organizations, and individuals have the following rights:

a) Agencies and organizations legally established in Vietnam may invite or sponsor foreigners to enter Vietnam in accordance with their functions, tasks, scope, and fields of operation;

b) ⁶⁸ Vietnamese citizens permanently residing in the country may invite or sponsor the grandparents and parents of their spouses; and their foreign spouses, children, and siblings to visit Vietnam. Vietnamese citizens permanently residing in the country who are grandparents may invite or sponsor their foreign grandchildren to visit Vietnam;

c) Vietnamese citizens permanently residing in the country may sponsor their foreign parents, spouses, and children applying for permanent residence or temporary residence cards in Vietnam.

2. Inviting or sponsoring agencies, organizations, and individuals have the following responsibilities:

a) To carry out procedures for inviting or sponsoring foreigners to enter, exit, and reside in accordance with the provisions of this Law;

b) To guide and explain to foreigners to comply with the provisions of law and respect the cultural traditions, customs, and practices of Vietnam;

c) To fulfill sponsorship responsibilities as prescribed by law and coordinate with Vietnamese functional agencies to resolve arising issues related to the invited or sponsored foreigners;

d) To coordinate with functional agencies in managing the activities of foreigners in accordance with the purpose of entry during their temporary residence in Vietnam; to coordinate with accommodation establishments to carry out temporary residence declaration for foreigners;

đ) To carry out procedures with state management agencies regarding industries, trades, and fields that require permission before inviting or sponsoring foreigners to enter Vietnam to operate in those industries, trades, and fields;

e) To notify in writing the immigration management authority that a foreigner who has been issued documents valid for entry, exit, and residence that are still valid but no longer needs sponsorship during their temporary residence in Vietnam, and to coordinate with functional agencies to request the foreigner to exit.

Article 45a Responsibilities of other relevant agencies, organizations, and individuals

1. Agencies, organizations, and individuals may only employ foreign workers, organize tourism programs for foreigners, or provide temporary accommodation for foreigners when the foreigners legally reside in Vietnam.

2. Agencies, organizations, and individuals that detect signs of violation of the law on entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam must immediately notify the nearest Public Security agency; in case of detecting signs of violation in border areas, they must immediately notify the nearest Public Security agency or Border Guard station or post.

Chapter VIII Responsibilities of Agencies and Organizations Regarding the Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam

Article 46 Responsibilities of the Government

1. To perform unified state management over the entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam.

2. ⁷⁰ To prescribe the construction, updating, connection, exploitation, and sharing of information in the database on entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam; the coordination mechanism among ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and People’s Committees of provinces and centrally run cities in the management of entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam.

3. ⁷¹ To prescribe cases where foreigners entering border gate economic zones, special administrative-economic units, and coastal economic zones with visa exemption as prescribed in Clause 3 and Clause 3a, Article 12 of this Law wish to travel to other locations in Vietnam; the issuance of visas to foreigners entering Vietnam under international treaties to which Vietnam is a member but who do not yet have a commercial presence or partner in Vietnam; the forms of granting temporary residence certification to foreigners entering Vietnam; the issuance and use of electronic identity accounts for foreigners; and foreigners entering and exiting through automated control gates.

Article 47 Responsibilities of the Ministry of Public Security

1. To be responsible to the Government for presiding over and coordinating with relevant ministries and ministerial-level agencies in performing state management over the entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam.

2. To preside over the drafting and submission to competent authorities for promulgation, or to promulgate according to its competence, legal documents on the entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam.

3. To organize the implementation of legal documents on the entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam.

4. To issue documents permitting the entry, exit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam.

5. ⁷² To control entry, exit, and transit at border gates managed by the Ministry of Public Security in accordance with the provisions of law.

6. To inspect, examine, resolve complaints and denunciations, and handle violations of the law on entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam.

7. To promulgate forms of documents regarding the entry, exit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam.

8. To conduct state statistics on the entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam.

9. To carry out

10. ⁷³ To build and manage the electronic visa issuance information page; to announce the domain name of the electronic information portal on immigration.

11. ⁷⁴ To guide the issuance of documents valid for entry, exit, and residence in Vietnam and temporary residence declaration for foreigners in the electronic environment in accordance with the provisions of this Law and the law on electronic transactions.

Article 48 Responsibilities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

1. Coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security to carry out management activities regarding the entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam.

2. Issue, amend, supplement, and cancel visas; issue and cancel temporary residence cards; extend temporary residence for foreigners in accordance with this Law.

3. Direct competent visa-issuing authorities of Vietnam abroad to implement legal provisions related to the entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam.

4. Propose to competent authorities the signing of or accession to international treaties on the entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam.

Article 49 Responsibilities of the Ministry of National Defense

1. Coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security to carry out management activities regarding the entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam.

2. ⁷⁵ Control entry, exit, and transit at border gates managed by the Ministry of National Defense in accordance with the law; issue, amend, supplement, and cancel visas, and issue temporary residence certificates in accordance with this Law.

3. Inspect and handle violations of the law on the entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam at border gates managed by the Ministry of National Defense.

Article 50 Responsibilities of ministries and ministerial-level agencies

Ministries and ministerial-level agencies not specified in Article 48 and Article 49 of this Law, within the scope of their duties and powers, are responsible for coordinating with the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of National Defense to carry out management activities regarding the entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam.

Article 51 Responsibilities of People’s Committees at all levels

1. Organize the implementation of the law on the entry, exit, and residence of foreigners locally.

2. ⁷⁶ Provincial-level People’s Committees shall direct specialized agencies to coordinate in managing the residence of foreigners locally in accordance with this Law.

3. Disseminate and educate on the law regarding the entry, exit, and residence of foreigners locally.

4. Inspect, examine, resolve complaints and denunciations, and handle violations of the law on the entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners locally.

5. In addition to the provisions stated in Clauses 1, 3, and 4⁷⁷ of this Article, People’s Committees of communes, wards, and special

Article 52 Responsibilities of the Vietnam Fatherland Front

1. Coordinate with competent state agencies to propagate, educate, and mobilize the people to implement the provisions of this Law.

2. Supervise the implementation of the law on the entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam by agencies, organizations, and individuals.

Chapter IX Implementation Provisions

Article 53 Transitional provisions

Documents valid for entry, exit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam issued before the effective date of this Law that are still valid may continue to be used until the expiration date stated in such documents.

Article 54 Effect

1. This Law takes effect on January 1, 2015.

2. Ordinance No. 24/1999/PL-UBTVQH10 on Entry, Exit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam ceases to be effective from the effective date of this Law.

Article 55 Detailed provisions

The Government shall detail the articles and clauses assigned in the Law.

Amendment notes

↑ 1.
Law No. 51/2019/QH14 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam is promulgated on the following basis:
“Pursuant to the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam;
The National Assembly promulgates the Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam No. 47/2014/QH13.".
Law No. 23/2023/QH15 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens and the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam is promulgated on the following basis:
“Pursuant to the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam;
The National Assembly promulgates the Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens No. 49/2019/QH14 and the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam No. 47/2014/QH13, which was amended and supplemented by Law No. 51/2019/QH14".
Law No. 118/2025/QH15 amending and supplementing a number of articles of 10 laws related to security and order is promulgated on the following basis:
“Pursuant to the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, which was amended and supplemented by Resolution No. 203/2025/QH15;
The National Assembly promulgates the Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Guard Force No. 13/2017/QH14, which was amended and supplemented by Law No. 40/2024/QH15, the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam No. 47/2014/QH13, which was amended and supplemented by Law No. 51/2019/QH14, Law No. 23/2023/QH15, and Law No. 103/2025/QH15, the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens No. 49/2019/QH14, which was amended and supplemented by Law No. 23/2023/QH15, the Law on Residence No. 68/2020/QH14, which was amended and supplemented by Law No. 59/2024/QH15, the Law on Identification No. 26/2023/QH15, the Law on Forces Participating in the Protection of Security and Order at the Grassroots Level No. 30/2023/QH15, which was amended and supplemented by Law No. 51/2024/QH15, the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety No. 36/2024/QH15, the Law on Road Traffic No. 35/2024/QH15, which was amended and supplemented by Law No. 112/2025/QH15, the Law on Management and Use of Weapons, Explosives and Support Tools No. 42/2024/QH15, the Law on Fire Prevention, Fighting and Rescue No. 55/2024/QH15, which was amended and supplemented by Law No. 135/2025/QH15”.
The Law on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters No. 103/2025/QH15 is promulgated on the following basis:
“Pursuant to the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, which was amended and supplemented by Resolution No. 203/2025/QH15;
The National Assembly promulgates the Law on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters.”.
↑ 2.
This clause is added in accordance with the provisions of Clause 1, Article 1 of Law No. 51/2019/QH14 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, which takes effect from July 1, 2020.
↑ 3.
This clause is added in accordance with the provisions of Clause 1, Article 1 of Law No. 51/2019/QH14 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, which takes effect from July 1, 2020.
↑ 4.
This article is added in accordance with the provisions of Clause 1, Article 2 of Law No. 118/2025/QH15 amending and supplementing a number of articles of 10 laws related to security and order, which takes effect from July 1, 2026.
↑ 5.
This article is amended and supplemented in accordance with the provisions of Clause 2, Article 1 of Law No. 51/2019/QH14 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, which takes effect from July 1, 2020.
↑ 6.
This clause is amended and supplemented in accordance with the provisions of Clause 1, Article 2 of Law No. 23/2023/QH15 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens and the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, which takes effect from August 15, 2023.
↑ 7.
This clause is amended and supplemented in accordance with the provisions of Point a, Clause 3, Article 1 of Law No. 51/2019/QH14 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, which takes effect from July 1, 2020.
↑ 8.
The word “Division” is replaced by the word “Federation” in accordance with the provisions of Point a, Clause 16, Article 2 of Law No. 118/2025/QH15 amending and supplementing a number of articles of 10 laws related to security and order, which takes effect from July 1, 2026.
↑ 9.
This clause is amended and supplemented in accordance with the provisions of Point b, Clause 3, Article 1 of Law No. 51/2019/QH14 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, which takes effect from July 1, 2020.
↑ 10.
This clause is added in accordance with the provisions of Point c, Clause 3, Article 1 of Law No. 51/2019/QH14 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, which takes effect from July 1, 2020.
↑ 11.
This clause is added in accordance with the provisions of Point c, Clause 3, Article 1 of Law No. 51/2019/QH14 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, which takes effect from July 1, 2020.
↑ 12.
This clause is added in accordance with the provisions of Point c, Clause 3, Article 1 of Law No. 51/2019/QH14 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, which takes effect from July 1, 2020.
↑ 13.
This clause is added in accordance with the provisions of Point c, Clause 3, Article 1 of Law No. 51/2019/QH14 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, which takes effect from July 1, 2020.
↑ 14.
This clause is amended and supplemented in accordance with the provisions of Point d, Clause 3, Article 1 of Law No. 51/2019/QH14 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, which takes effect from July 1, 2020.
↑ 15.
This clause is added in accordance with the provisions of Point dd, Clause 3, Article 1 of Law No. 51/2019/QH14 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, which takes effect from July 1, 2020.
↑ 16.
This clause is amended and supplemented in accordance with the provisions of Point e, Clause 3, Article 1 of Law No. 51/2019/QH14 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, which takes effect from July 1, 2020.
↑ 17.
This clause is added in accordance with the provisions of Point g, Clause 3, Article 1 of Law No. 51/2019/QH14 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, which takes effect from July 1, 2020.
↑ 18.
This clause is amended and supplemented in accordance with the provisions of Point h, Clause 3, Article 1 of Law No. 51/2019/QH14 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, which takes effect from July 1, 2020.
↑ 19.
This clause is added in accordance with the provisions of Point i, Clause 3, Article 1 of Law No. 51/2019/QH14 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, which takes effect from July 1, 2020.
↑ 20.
This clause is added in accordance with the provisions of Clause 2, Article 2 of Law No. 118/2025/QH15 amending and supplementing a number of articles of 10 laws related to security and order, which takes effect from July 1, 2026.
↑ 21.
This clause is added in accordance with the provisions of Clause 2, Article 2 of Law No. 118/2025/QH15 amending and supplementing a number of articles of 10 laws related to security and order, which takes effect from July 1, 2026.
↑ 22.
This clause is amended and supplemented for the first time in accordance with the provisions of Point a, Clause 4, Article 1 of Law No. 51/2019/QH14 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, which takes effect from July 1, 2020.
This clause is amended and supplemented for the second time in accordance with the provisions of Clause 2, Article 2 of Law No. 23/2023/QH15 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens and the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, which takes effect from August 15, 2023.
↑ 23.
This clause is amended and supplemented in accordance with the provisions of Clause 2, Article 2 of Law No. 23/2023/QH15 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens and the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, which takes effect from August 15, 2023.
↑ 24.
This clause is amended and supplemented in accordance with the provisions of Clause 2, Article 2 of Law No. 23/2023/QH15 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens and the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, which takes effect from August 15, 2023.
↑ 25.
This clause is amended and supplemented for the first time in accordance with the provisions of Point b, Clause 4, Article 1 of Law No. 51/2019/QH14 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, which takes effect from July 1, 2020.
This clause is amended and supplemented for the second time in accordance with the provisions of Clause 2, Article 2 of Law No. 23/2023/QH15 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens and the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, which takes effect from August 15, 2023.
↑ 26.
This clause is amended and supplemented in accordance with the provisions of Point c, Clause 4, Article 1 of Law No. 51/2019/QH14 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, which takes effect from July 1, 2020.
↑ 27.
This clause is added in accordance with the provisions of Point d, Clause 4, Article 1 of Law No. 51/2019/QH14 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, which takes effect from July 1, 2020.
↑ 28.
This clause is amended and supplemented for the first time in accordance with the provisions of Point dd, Clause 4, Article 1 of Law No. 51/2019/QH14 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, which takes effect from July 1, 2020.
This clause is amended and supplemented for the second time in accordance with the provisions of Clause 3, Article 2 of Law No. 118/2025/QH15 amending and supplementing a number of articles of 10 laws related to security and order, which takes effect from July 1, 2026.
↑ 29.
This clause is added in accordance with the provisions of Point e, Clause 4, Article 1 of Law No. 51/2019/QH14 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, which takes effect from July 1, 2020.
↑ 30.
This clause is amended and supplemented in accordance with the provisions of Point a, Clause 5, Article 1 of Law No. 51/2019/QH14 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, which takes effect from July 1, 2020.
↑ 31.
This point is added in accordance with the provisions of Clause 4, Article 2 of Law No. 118/2025/QH15 amending and supplementing a number of articles of 10 laws related to security and order, which takes effect from July 1, 2026.
↑ 32.
This clause is added in accordance with the provisions of Point b, Clause 5, Article 1 of Law No. 51/2019/QH14 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, which takes effect from July 1, 2020.
↑ 33.
This clause is added in accordance with the provisions of Clause 6, Article 1 of Law No. 51/2019/QH14 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, which takes effect from July 1, 2020.
↑ 34.
This clause is added in accordance with the provisions of Clause 7, Article 1 of Law No. 51/2019/QH14 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, which takes effect from July 1, 2020.
↑ 35.
This clause is added in accordance with the provisions of Clause 5, Article 2 of Law No. 118/2025/QH15 amending and supplementing a number of articles of 10 laws related to security and order, which takes effect from July 1, 2026.
↑ 36.
The word “Division” is replaced by the word “Federation” in accordance with the provisions of Point a, Clause 16, Article 2 of Law No. 118/2025/QH15 amending and supplementing a number of articles of 10 laws related to security and order, which takes effect from July 1, 2026.
↑ 37.
This clause is amended and supplemented in accordance with the provisions of Clause 6, Article 2 of Law No. 118/2025/QH15 amending and supplementing a number of articles of 10 laws related to security and order, which takes effect from July 1, 2026.
↑ 38.
This clause is repealed in accordance with the provisions of Clause 17, Article 2 of Law No. 118/2025/QH15 amending and supplementing a number of articles of 10 laws related to security and order, which takes effect from July 1, 2026.
↑ 39.
This clause is repealed in accordance with the provisions of Clause 17, Article 2 of Law No. 118/2025/QH15 amending and supplementing a number of articles of 10 laws related to security and order, which takes effect from July 1, 2026.
↑ 40.
This article is added in accordance with the provisions of Clause 9, Article 1 of Law No. 51/2019/QH14 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, which takes effect from July 1, 2020.
↑ 41.
This article is amended and supplemented in accordance with the provisions of Clause 7, Article 2 of Law No. 118/2025/QH15 amending and supplementing a number of articles of 10 laws related to security and order, which takes effect from July 1, 2026.
↑ 42.
This article is added for the first time in accordance with the provisions of Clause 10, Article 1 of Law No. 51/2019/QH14 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, which takes effect from July 1, 2020.
This Article is amended and supplemented for the second time pursuant to the provisions of Clause 3, Article 2 of Law No. 23/2023/QH15 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens and the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, effective from August 15, 2023.
↑ 43.
This Article is amended and supplemented pursuant to the provisions of Clause 11, Article 1 of Law No. 51/2019/QH14 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, effective from July 1, 2020.
↑ 44.
The phrase “Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development” is replaced by the phrase “Ministry of Agriculture and Environment” pursuant to the provisions of Point b, Clause 16, Article 2 of Law No. 118/2025/QH15 amending and supplementing a number of articles of 10 laws related to security and order, effective from July 1, 2026.
↑ 45.
This Article is amended and supplemented pursuant to the provisions of Clause 12, Article 1 of Law No. 51/2019/QH14 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, effective from July 1, 2020
↑ 46.
This Clause is amended and supplemented pursuant to the provisions of Clause 3, Article 40 of the Law on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters No. 103/2025/QH15, effective from July 1, 2026.
↑ 47.
The phrase “Competition Council” is replaced by the phrase “National Competition Commission” pursuant to the provisions of Point c, Clause 16, Article 2 of Law No. 118/2025/QH15 amending and supplementing a number of articles of 10 laws related to security and order, effective from July 1, 2026.
↑ 48.
This Clause is amended and supplemented pursuant to the provisions of Clause 13, Article 1 of Law No. 51/2019/QH14 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, effective from July 1, 2020.
↑ 49.
This Point is amended and supplemented pursuant to the provisions of Clause 4, Article 2 of Law No. 23/2023/QH15 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens and the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, effective from August 15, 2023.
↑ 50.
This Point is amended and supplemented pursuant to the provisions of Clause 4, Article 2 of Law No. 23/2023/QH15 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens and the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, effective from August 15, 2023.
↑ 51.
This Point is supplemented pursuant to the provisions of Clause 8, Article 2 of Law No. 118/2025/QH15 amending and supplementing a number of articles of 10 laws related to security and order, effective from July 1, 2026.
↑ 52.
This Article is amended and supplemented pursuant to the provisions of Clause 5, Article 2 of Law No. 23/2023/QH15 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens and the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, effective from August 15, 2023.
↑ 53.
The word “town” is replaced by the word “special zone” pursuant to the provisions of Point dd, Clause 16, Article 2 of Law No. 118/2025/QH15 amending and supplementing a number of articles of 10 laws related to security and order, effective from July 1, 2026.
↑ 54.
The word “town” is replaced by the word “special zone” pursuant to the provisions of Point dd, Clause 16, Article 2 of Law No. 118/2025/QH15 amending and supplementing a number of articles of 10 laws related to security and order, effective from July 1, 2026.
↑ 55.
The word “town” is replaced by the word “special zone” pursuant to the provisions of Point dd, Clause 16, Article 2 of Law No. 118/2025/QH15 amending and supplementing a number of articles of 10 laws related to security and order, effective from July 1, 2026.
↑ 56.
This Clause is amended and supplemented pursuant to the provisions of Clause 6, Article 2 of Law No. 23/2023/QH15 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens and the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, effective from August 15, 2023.
↑ 57.
The phrase “town, district-level town, city” is replaced by the phrase “commune-level administrative unit” pursuant to the provisions of Point d, Clause 16, Article 2 of Law No. 118/2025/QH15 amending and supplementing a number of articles of 10 Laws related to security and order, effective from July 1, 2026.
↑ 58.
This Article is amended and supplemented pursuant to the provisions of Clause 14, Article 1 of Law No. 51/2019/QH14 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, effective from July 1, 2020.
↑ 59.
This Point is amended and supplemented pursuant to the provisions of Clause 9, Article 2 of Law No. 118/2025/QH15 amending and supplementing a number of articles of 10 laws related to security and order, effective from July 1, 2026.
↑ 60.
This Point is amended and supplemented pursuant to the provisions of Point a, Clause 15, Article 1 of Law No. 51/2019/QH14 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, effective from July 1, 2020.
↑ 61.
This Point is amended and supplemented pursuant to the provisions of Point b, Clause 15, Article 1 of Law No. 51/2019/QH14 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, effective from July 1, 2020.
↑ 62.
This Article is amended and supplemented pursuant to the provisions of Clause 16, Article 1 of Law No. 51/2019/QH14 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, effective from July 1, 2020.
↑ 63.
This Clause is amended and supplemented pursuant to the provisions of Clause 10, Article 2 of Law No. 118/2025/QH15 amending and supplementing a number of articles of 10 laws related to security and order, effective from July 1, 2026.
↑ 64.
This Point is amended and supplemented pursuant to the provisions of Point a, Clause 11, Article 2 of Law No. 118/2025/QH15 amending and supplementing a number of articles of 10 laws related to security and order, effective from July 1, 2026.
↑ 65.
This Clause is supplemented pursuant to the provisions of Point b, Clause 11, Article 2 of Law No. 118/2025/QH15 amending and supplementing a number of articles of 10 laws related to security and order, effective from July 1, 2026.
↑ 66.
The title of this Chapter is amended and supplemented pursuant to the provisions of Clause 7, Article 2 of Law No. 23/2023/QH15 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens and the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, effective from August 15, 2023.
↑ 67.
This Point is supplemented pursuant to the provisions of Clause 8, Article 2 of Law No. 23/2023/QH15 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens and the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, effective from August 15, 2023.
↑ 68.
This Point is amended and supplemented pursuant to the provisions of Clause 12, Article 2 of Law No. 118/2025/QH15 amending and supplementing a number of articles of 10 laws related to security and order, effective from July 1, 2026.
↑ 69.
This Article is supplemented pursuant to the provisions of Clause 9, Article 2 of Law No. 23/2023/QH15 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens and the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, effective from August 15, 2023.
↑ 70.
This Clause is amended and supplemented pursuant to the provisions of Clause 17, Article 1 of Law No. 51/2019/QH14 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, effective from July 1, 2020.
↑ 71.
This Clause is amended and supplemented pursuant to the provisions of Clause 13, Article 2 of Law No. 118/2025/QH15 amending and supplementing a number of articles of 10 laws related to security and order, effective from July 1, 2026.
↑ 72.
This Clause is amended and supplemented pursuant to the provisions of Point a, Clause 18, Article 1 of Law No. 51/2019/QH14 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, effective from July 1, 2020.
↑ 73.
This Clause is supplemented pursuant to the provisions of Point b, Clause 18, Article 1 of Law No. 51/2019/QH14 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, effective from July 1, 2020.
↑ 74.
This Clause is supplemented pursuant to the provisions of Clause 10, Article 2 of Law No. 23/2023/QH15 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens and the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, effective from August 15, 2023.
↑ 75.
This Clause is amended and supplemented pursuant to the provisions of Clause 19, Article 1 of Law No. 51/2019/QH14 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, effective from July 1, 2020.
↑ 76.
This Clause is amended and supplemented pursuant to the provisions of Clause 14, Article 2 of Law No. 118/2025/QH15 amending and supplementing a number of articles of 10 laws related to security and order, effective from July 1, 2026.
↑ 77.
The phrase “Clauses 1, 2, 3 and 4” is replaced by the phrase “Clauses 1, 3 and 4” pursuant to the provisions of Point e, Clause 16, Article 2 of Law No. 118/2025/QH15 amending and supplementing a number of articles of 10 laws related to security and order, effective from July 1, 2026.
↑ 78.
The word “town” is replaced by the word “special zone” pursuant to the provisions of Point dd, Clause 16, Article 2 of Law No. 118/2025/QH15 amending and supplementing a number of articles of 10 laws related to security and order, effective from July 1, 2026.
↑ 79.
The title of this Article is amended and supplemented pursuant to the provisions of Clause 15, Article 2 of Law No. 118/2025/QH15 amending and supplementing a number of articles of 10 laws related to security and order, effective from July 1, 2026.
↑ 80.
Article 2 of Law No. 51/2019/QH14 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, effective from July 1, 2020, provides as follows:
“Article 2. Effect
This Law takes effect from July 1, 2020.".
Article 3 of Law No. 23/2023/QH15 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens and the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, effective from August 15, 2023, provides as follows:
“Article 3. Implementation provisions
1. This Law takes effect from August 15, 2023.
2. Immigration documents issued to citizens before the effective date of this Law shall remain valid until the expiration date specified in such documents.
3. In cases where citizens have applied for immigration documents but have not yet been issued them when this Law takes effect, the provisions of the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens No. 49/2019/QH14 shall continue to be applied for resolution.
4. In cases where foreigners have been issued electronic visas or entered under unilateral visa exemption or applied for electronic visas but have not yet been issued them when this Law takes effect, the provisions of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam No. 47/2014/QH13, which has been amended and supplemented with a number of articles by Law No. 51/2019/QH14, shall continue to be applied.”.
Clause 1, Article 11 of Law No. 118/2025/QH15 amending and supplementing a number of articles of 10 Laws related to security and order, effective from July 1, 2026, provides as follows:
“Article 11. Implementation provisions
1. This Law takes effect from July 1, 2026, except for the provisions in Clause 2 of this Article.”.
Article 41 of the Law on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters No. 103/2025/QH15, effective from July 1, 2026, provides as follows:
“Article 41. Effect
1. This Law takes effect from July 1, 2026.
2. The Law on Mutual Legal Assistance No. 08/2007/QH12, which has been amended and supplemented with a number of articles by Law No. 81/2025/QH15, ceases to be effective from the effective date of this Law, except for the transitional cases specified in Clause 1, Article 42 of this Law, Article 45 of the Law on Extradition, Article 48 of the Law on the Transfer of Persons Serving Prison Sentences, and Clause 1, Article 38 of the Law on Mutual Legal Assistance in Civil Matters.”.

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Quỳnh Nguyễn

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Ten years in Vietnamese law, including as in-house counsel at real estate developers. Licensed as a lawyer since 2023.

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Chapter I General Provisions

# Article 1 Scope of regulation

# Article 2 Subjects of application

# Article 3 Interpretation of terms

# Article 4 Principles of entry, exit, transit, and residence

# Article 5 Strictly prohibited acts

# Article 6 Revocation and cancellation of papers valid for entry, exit, and residence issued by competent agencies of Vietnam

# Article 6a in force 1 Jul 2026 Exploitation and use of information in national databases and specialized databases to process administrative procedures

Chapter II Visas

# Article 7 Forms and validity of visas

# Article 8 Visa symbols

# Article 9 Visa duration

# Article 10 Conditions for visa issuance

# Article 11 Cases of issuing loose visas

# Article 12 Cases of visa exemption

# Article 13 Unilateral visa exemption

# Article 14 Agencies, organizations, and individuals inviting or sponsoring foreigners

# Article 15 Procedures for inviting and sponsoring foreigners to enter Vietnam at the competent authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

# Article 16 Procedures for inviting and sponsoring foreigners to enter Vietnam at the immigration authority

# Article 16a Procedures for issuing electronic visas at the request of foreigners

# Article 16b in force 1 Jul 2026 Procedures for issuing electronic visas at the request of agencies and organizations

# Article 17 Issuance of visas at the visa-issuing authority of Vietnam abroad

# Article 18 Issuance of visas at international border checkpoints

# Article 19 Issuance of visas at the immigration authority, the competent authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

# Article 19a Countries and territories whose citizens are granted electronic visas and international border checkpoints allowing foreigners to enter and exit with electronic visas[42]

Chapter III Entry

# Article 20 Conditions for entry

# Article 21 Cases of suspension from entry

# Article 22 Competence to decide on suspension from entry

Chapter IV Transit

# Article 23 Conditions for transit

# Article 24 Transit areas

# Article 25 Transit by air

# Article 26 Transit by sea

Chapter V Exit

# Article 27 Conditions for exit

# Article 28 Cases of exit suspension and duration of exit suspension

# Article 29 Competence to decide on exit suspension, extension of exit suspension, and lifting of exit suspension

# Article 30 Forced exit