Applying for a Vietnam Business Visa: A Complete Guide

What you need to know about the Vietnam business visa

A Vietnam business visa is a short-term visa issued to foreign nationals entering Vietnam for professional purposes, designed for those who do not hold a valid work permit or temporary residence card. Common eligible activities include:

• Contract signings and business negotiations
• Business seminars and conferences
• Collaboration with locally registered enterprises in Vietnam

Under Vietnamese law, the Vietnam business visa is available with validity periods of 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year, applicable for both single and multiple entries. Holders of a 1-month or 3-month visa are not required to obtain a work permit for the duration of their stay.

Which business visa type applies to you? 

Under the revised Immigration Law 2019, the Vietnam business visa is categorized into two types, DN1 and DN2

Unlike a tourist visa, business visa permits holders to combine professional activities with leisure travel during their stay. The following categories of foreign nationals are eligible to apply:

• Foreign investors conducting business activities in Vietnam
• Foreigners entering Vietnam for professional purposes such as information exchange, contract signing, or enterprise cooperation
• Representatives of non-governmental organizations
• Foreign workers holding a valid work permit or work permit exemption certificate in Vietnam
• Foreign lawyers licensed by the Ministry of Justice of Vietnam

Methods to apply for a Vietnam Business Visa 

The Vietnam business visa can be obtained through three different channels depending on your location, travel timeline, and specific business needs.

Vietnam online application (E-visa)

EVisa is one of the fastest and most convenient ways for eligible travelers to enter Vietnam for short‑term business activities, such as meetings, conferences, or trade events. Both foreign applicants and their inviting or guaranteeing enterprises in Vietnam can start the process.

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Step 1: Prepare your required documents

Before you begin the online form, gather the following:

• Valid passport with at least 6 months remaining validity.
• Scanned copy of your passport bio page (clear and legible).
• Passport‑sized portrait photo (4×6 cm or 35×45 mm, white background, no glasses, taken within the last 6 months).
• Temporary residential address in Vietnam (hotel, office, or sponsor’s address).
• Valid international credit or debit card for payment.
• Intended entry and exit dates and designated port of entry (among the 33 ports currently accepting Vietnam eVisa).
• Valid email address for registration and receiving your business eVisa.
• Invitation or sponsor letter from a Vietnamese enterprise confirming your entry is for business purposes (work, conferences, short‑term events, negotiations, etc.).

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Step 2: Submit the application online

• Complete the online application form and select your purpose of visit.
• Fill in all required fields and upload:
  • Passport bio‑page scan.
  • Passport‑style photo.
• After successful submission, you will receive a registration code for your application.

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Step 3: Pay the fee and wait for approval

• Review your information, then pay the online fee (USD 25 for a 1‑month single‑entry business eVisa).
• Processing usually takes about 3 working days.
• You will receive an email confirmation if your Vietnam business eVisa is approved or if any amendment is needed.

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Step 4: Retrieve and print your business eVisa

• Check your registered email regularly for approval updates and download instructions from the Vietnam eVisa system.
• If approved, download the PDF of your business eVisa.
• Print 1–2 copies and bring them with your passport to the entry checkpoint in Vietnam.

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Via Vietnam Embassy/Consulate

This option is ideal if you prefer to get your business visa in advance at a Vietnam Embassy/Consulate or directly at an Immigration office in Vietnam.

Step 1: Gather the required documents

From the applicant:

• A valid passport with at least 6 months remaining validity and one blank visa page.
• One passport‑style photo (4×6 cm, taken within 6 months, white background, no glasses, facing the camera directly).
• Work permit or work permit exemption if you are applying for a business/work visa type (such as DN1, DN2, or LD).
• Invitation or sponsor letter from the Vietnamese company, confirming you are coming to Vietnam for business purposes (working, attending conferences, or short‑term events).

From the sponsoring company in Vietnam:

• Notarized copy of the company’s business registration certificate.
• Entry application for foreigners (Form NA2).
• Vietnam visa application form (Form NA5).
• Sample of the company’s official seal and authorized signature (Form NA16).

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Step 2: Submit your visa file

• Applications submitted abroad are processed at a Vietnam Embassy or Consulate in the applicant’s country of residence.
• Applications submitted within Vietnam are handled at Immigration offices in Hanoi, Da nang or Ho Chi Minh City

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Step 3: Pay the fee, wait for approval, and get the visa in your passport

• A business visa fee (approximately USD 25–50) is paid depending on duration and number of entries.
• Processing typically takes 3–5 working days.
• Upon approval, an entry invitation letter is issued by the Vietnam Immigration Department.
• The visa is then stamped into the passport at one of the following locations:
  • At an airport entry point
  • At a land border gate
  • At the Vietnam Embassy/Consulate

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Via arrival application

Similar to the tourist visa, obtaining a business visa on arrival requires a pre-approved visa letter secured through a licensed Vietnamese agency before departure.

Document requirements

• Pre‑approved business visa letter issued by a Vietnamese agency or sponsor.
• Passport valid for at least 6 months upon arrival, with two blank pages (for visa and immigration stamps).
• Visa application form for business visa on arrival.
• Two passport‑sized photos (4×6 cm, taken within 6 months, identical, white background, no glasses, facing the camera directly).
• Work permit or work permit exemption (for business/work visa types such as DN, LD).
• Invitation or sponsor letter from a Vietnamese enterprise, confirming entry is for business purposes (work, conferences, or short‑term events).
• Visa stamping fee in cash (USD / VND, as required by the airport counter).

Application process

Step 1: Obtain a pre‑approved business visa letter

• A Vietnamese agency or sponsoring company applies for a pre‑approved business visa letter on behalf of the applicant.
• This letter acts as the official approval for a business visa on arrival at the selected airport.

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Step 2: Print and complete the visa documents

• Once the pre‑approved visa letter and visa application form are received, they are printed.
• The applicant fills in all required fields on the form carefully and prepares the supporting documents (passport, photos, invitation letter, work permit/exemption if applicable).

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Step 3: Complete the visa on arrival at the airport

At the designated airport counter, the traveler submits:

• Pre‑approved business visa letter
• Completed visa application form
• Passport with photos and supporting documents
• Visa stamping fee in cash

After verification and payment, the business visa is stamped directly into the passport, allowing entry for business‑related activities in Vietnam.

Vietnam visa entry stamp issued by immigration authorities upon arrival

How quickly to get a Vietnam business visa?

• Business visa at Vietnam Embassy: about 5–7 working days for the sponsor/invitation letter plus extra time for embassy approval.
• Business visa on arrival: 5–7 working days for the pre‑approved letter + 30–60 minutes at the airport.
• Business eVisa (online): 3–5 working days total processing time.

Vietnam Business Visa Fees

Fees vary depending on the application method selected:

• Embassy or Consulate: Fees differ by location. Contact the relevant Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate directly for the most accurate and up-to-date pricing.
• Business E-visa: Currently USD 25 for a 1-month single-entry visa. Fees may vary for longer stays or multiple-entry options.
• Visa on Arrival: Two separate fees apply, a service fee for the approval letter (starting from USD 90, varying by agency) and a government stamping fee as follows:

For immediate assistance with your Vietnam business visa application, contact our team directly via Phone/WhatsApp: (+84) 856 598 868 or info@simplevietnamvisa.com

*Visa requirements and regulations are referenced based on the official guidelines from the Immigration Department of Vietnam

Frequently Asked Questions