National Assembly agrees to extend e-visa validity to 90 days
VOV.VN - Lawmakers on June 24 approved the Government’s proposals to increase the validity of electronic visas for foreigners to 90 days from the current 30 days.
During their visa validity, foreigners can enter and exit Vietnam multiple times, without having to go through new visa procedures.
The Government has been assigned to decide on the list of countries and territories, and the list of international border gates allowing foreigners to enter and exit by e-visas.
The National Assembly also allowed citizens of countries that are unilaterally exempted from visas by Vietnam to be granted temporary residence for 45 days as opposed to the current 15 day regulations and be considered for visa issuance and temporary residence extension according to regulations.
The proposals were included in amendments and supplements to the Law on exit and entry of Vietnamese citizens and the Law on entry, exit, transit and residence of foreigners in Vietnam, which were approved by the lawmakers at the fifth National Assembly session on June 23.
Under the current law, a foreigner can apply for an e-visa which is valid for a single entry and up to 30 days. It also allows citizens of 80 countries and territories applying for an e-visa to enter Vietnam.
As of 2023, citizens of 25 countries can travel to Vietnam without having to apply for a visa, with visitors allowed to stay between 14 and 30 days on average. Meanwhile, some other countries in Southeast Asia such as Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand allow citizens from 158, 166, 169, 157 and 70 countries and territories, respectively, to enjoy their visa exemption policy when entering their territories.
The National Defense and Security Committee of the National Assembly that oversees the bill said the current regulations have yet to meet the needs of foreign tourists and investors in Vietnam.
The extension of the e-visa validity is said to create favourable conditions for foreigners when they enter and exit the country, contributing to reducing administrative procedures, and saving time and costs. It will meet the needs of international travelers and foreigners entering Vietnam to explore business and investment opportunities.
The new amendments and supplements will take effect as from August 15, 2023.
