An entry visa is an essential and compulsory document for any traveler wishing to visit Vietnam, Laos, or Cambodia. Visa requirements vary from country to country, and it is important to know the rules and regulations in force to avoid any problems on arrival. In this article, we'll give you useful information on how to quickly obtain a visa.

 

I - VIETNAM

 

1 - Exemption of visa to Vietnam

From 15 August 2023, citizens of these 13 countries* will benefit from visa exemption, with the length of their stay extended from 15 days to 45 days (including entry and exit days).

In addition, according to the Government's decision of 27 December 2013, all foreigners, Vietnamese holding a foreign passport, and all foreign tourists who wish to stay on Phu Quoc Island for less than 30 days do not need a Vietnamese visa, provided they take an international flight from another country to Phu Quoc airport or go there by sea, not by land.

Please note that:

- Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry into Vietnam.

- Once these nationals leave Vietnam and then return, they benefit from a new visa exemption for stays of less than 45 days.

*France, Italy, Spain, Germany, UK, Russia, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, South Korea, Japan, Belarus

 

2 - E-visa (electronic visa)

From 15 August 2023, the validity of e-visas is extended from 30 days to 90 days for single or multiple entries. The granting of electronic visas (e-visas) is applicable to citizens of 80 countries who wish to spend a stay more than 45 days in Vietnam.

If you wish to apply, you should only use this official national portal due to the risk of fraud or delays in the process: 

- Prepare the required documents

- Access this official website 

- Consult the FAQs and their corresponding answers

- Click on the red "Submit application" button and then "Have read, understood, and submitted the application" to go to the form

- Fill in the application details, and upload the portrait photo and the passport biographical data page. After this step, you will receive an electronic file code from the system

- Pay the visa fee on the e-visa web portal, national public service portal, or public service portal of the Ministry of Public Security after receiving the e-file code from the immigration authority.

Once you have received confirmation, you can search for or print your e-visa. Enter your code on one of the 2 sites:

- https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/en_US/tra-cuu-thi-thuc

- https://dichvucong.bocongan.gov.vn/bocongan/tracuu

 

Required documents: 

- 01 e-visa application form (NA1a) (published and downloadable from the website) 

- 01 recently taken portrait photo of the applicant (4 cm x 6 cm, white background, jpeg format)

- A photo of the biographical data page of the passport

 

It is important to note that :

- Once you have completed your e-visa application, you will no longer be able to make any changes or amendments. 

- Working time: 24 hours / 07 days

- Fees: US$25/single-entry visa and US$50/multiple-entry e-visa, paid online by credit card.

- The visa will be ready within 03 working days from the date of receipt of the application and fees.

 

2.1 - Visa before entering Vietnam:

Contact the Vietnam Embassy in your country of residence to obtain information on visas. Please note that the procedures and the processing time of the file may vary depending on the regulations of the Embassy in your country of residence.

Documents required:

1. Passport (original, valid for at least six months from the date of entry into Viet Nam)

3. Two passport photographs

4. Two visa application forms/person Formulaire FN-1a

Useful addresses:

France: Embassy of Vietnam

Address: 61, Miromesnil Street, 75008 Paris. Metro: Miromesnil.

Tel : 01-44-14-64-00, 01-44-14-64-28 (tourist visa, direct deposit)

  01-44-14-64-13 (request by correspondence).

Email: consulaire_vietnam@yahoo.fr

Consular service for visas open on Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 12am and from 2pm to 5pm.

Belgium: Embassy of Vietnam

Address: Général-Jacques Boulevard, 1, Brussels 1050.

Tel. (32-2) 379-27-37 (consular service).

Email: vnemb.brussels@skynet.be

Service for visas open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 2pm to 5pm.

Switzerland: Embassy of Vietnam

Address: 26, Schlösslistrasse, 3008 Bern.

Tel: (41-31) 388-78-78.

Email: vietsuisse@bluewin.ch

Consular Section open on Monday to Friday from 9am to 12pm and from 2pm to 5.30pm

Canada: Embassy of Vietnam

Address: 55 Mackay St, Ottawa (Ontario) K1M 2B2.

Tel : (1-613) 890-0965.

Email: vietnamembassyincanada@gmail.com

Consular service open on Monday from 1pm to 4.30pm and from Thursday to Friday from 9.30am to 12am and 1.30 pm to 4.30 pm.

United States: Embassy of Vietnam

Address: 1233 20th St NW, Suite 400 - Washington, DC 20036

Phone: (202) 861-0737

Consular Emergency: (202) 304-2058 or (202) 716-8666

Fax: (202) 861-0917

Email: info@vietnamembassy.us (for general information)

vnconsular@vietnamembassy.us (Consular Affairs)

Consular service open Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 12pm and 2.30pm to 5.00pm

 

 2-2 Visa on arrival

 

Visa on arrival can be obtained in any of these five Vietnam international airports:

- Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi

- Danang Airport

- Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City

- Cat Bi Airport in Hai Phong

- Cam Ranh Airport in Khanh Hoa

For this visa, you must have in possession a letter of invitation issued by the Vietnamese competent authority. It is a compulsory part to enter Vietnam, according to the Code of immigration of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It allows you to embark on a flight to Vietnam.

 

Option 1: Letter of invitation

To obtain a letter of invitation, you simply send us your scanned passport. Within 2 working days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays in Vietnam), we will send you a scanned letter of invitation.

Upon arrival in Vietnam, you must complete two copies of NA1 form (available at the airport) and then submit the required documents listed below and the cost of visa (click here to see the cost depending on the type of entry) at the counter at the airport. The treatment time is about 30 minutes or more. It depends on the number of passengers at the counter. After treatment, you will get a stamp in your passport.

 

Option 2: All in one

If you are a busy person and you do not want to spend the waiting time, do not worry! With our option "All in one" will take care of you all the steps.

Remaining within 2 working days as option 1, we will send a letter of invitation for you to embark on a flight to Vietnam. Upon arrival in Vietnam, our visa staff will be waiting with a host sign with your name at the airport and will help you to get a stamp in your passport while you do a little rest after a long drive.

Documents required on arrival:

1. Letter of invitation issued by the competent Vietnamese authorities.

2. Passport (valid for at least 06 months from the date of entry into Vietnam).

3. Two passport photographs

4. Visa fee in cash (if you choose the option 1)

5. Visa application form available at the airport (if you choose option 1)

 

II. LAOS

 

1 – Exemption of visa in Laos

To see list of visa exemption in Laos, please visit the Department of Immigration of Laos.

 

2 – Entry Visa to Laos

For the tourist visa, its validity is 30 days. It can be a single entry or multiple entries depending on your request.

Obtaining an entry visa to Laos is simpler than the entry visa to Vietnam. You also have two ways to get an entry visa to Laos.

 

2.1 – Visa before entering Laos

If you are in Vietnam or travel to Vietnam then to Laos, make sure you get an entry visa to Laos on your passport on a business day (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays). If not, you can get the visa at the Laos Embassy in your country of residence.

Documents required:

- Passport (original, valid at least six months after the departure date from Vietnam).

- Two passport photos.

- Completed visa application form

Useful addresses:

France: Embassy of the People's Democratic Republic of Laos

Address: 74, avenue Raymond Poincaré, 75016 Paris.

Metro: Victor Hugo. Tel : 01-45-53-02-98.

Email: ambalaoparis@wanadoo.fr.

Open for visas Monday to Friday from 9am to 12pm (allow 72 hours to get it), and from 2.00pm to 5.00pm for directory inquiries.

Belgium: Embassy of the People's Democratic Republic of Laos

Address: Avenue of Brabant, 19-21, Brussels 1000.

Tel. : (02) 740-09-50.

Email: laoembassy@ambalao.be

Open Monday to Friday from 9am to 12pm and from 2pm to 4pm.

Switzerland: Permanent Mission of Laos to the United Nations

Address: 14a Colovrex drive, 1218 Le Grand-Saconnex, Geneva.

Email: laomission_geneva@bluewin.ch

Tel. : 022-798-24-41.

Open Monday to Friday from 9am to 12pm and from 2pm to 5pm.

Canada and in United States:

Canadian citizens should contact the Laos Embassy in the United States.

Embassy of the People's Democratic Republic of Laos in the United States:

Address: 2222 South St, NW, Washington DC, 2008.

Tel: (00-1) 202-332-64-16 or 202-667-00-76 (consular service).

Email: embasslao@gmail.com

Open Monday to Friday from 9am to 12pm and 1pm to 4.30pm.

 

2.2 - Visa on arrival

Almost all of the Laotian border posts are authorized to issue visas when entering the territory. Obtaining an entry visa to Laos is quite easy.

For more information, see the list of entry points on the website of Lao Embassy in France.

Documents required:

1. Passport (valid at least 6 months after the return date of your trip).

2. Two passport photos

3. Visa fee in cash

4. Visa application form at the airport (available at the airport)

 

III – CAMBODIA

 

1 - Exemption of visa in Cambodia

To see the list of visa exemption in Cambodia, please visit the website of the Cambodia Embassy in the United States.

 

2 - Entry visa to Cambodia

To enter to Cambodia, a visa is required and your passports must be valid at least 6 months after the visa expiration date. The single entry tourist visa for a stay of 30 days in Cambodia maximum; with the validity of  3 months from the date of issue.

Obtaining an entry visa to Cambodia is easier than the entry visa to Vietnam. You also have two ways to get an entry visa to Cambodia.

 

2.1 - Visa before entering Cambodia

If you are in Vietnam or you travel to Vietnam then to Cambodia, make sure to get an entry visa to Cambodia on your passport on a business day (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays). If not, you can make the visa at the Cambodian Embassy in your country of residence.

Documents required:

- Passport (original, valid at least six months after the departure date of Cambodia).

- Two passport photos.

Useful addresses:

France: Embassy and Consulate of Cambodia

Address: No 4, Adolphe Yvon Str, 75116 Paris.

Tel : 01-45-03-47-20.

Visa services open Monday to Friday from 9am to 13pm.

Belgium: Embassy of Cambodia

Address: Avenue de Tervuren, 264A, 1150 Brussels.

Tel : 02-772-03-72.

Email: amcambel@skynet.be

Visa services open Monday to Friday from 9am to 12pm and from 2.30pm to 4pm.

Switzerland: Permanent Mission of Cambodia to the United Nations (consular section):

Address: No 3, Chemin Teverney, PO Box 213, 1218 Grand-Saconnex, Geneva.

Tel : 022-7887-773.

Email: cambodge@bluewin.ch

Visa services open Monday to Friday from 10am to 12pm and from 2pm to 5pm.

Canada: Consulate of Cambodia

Address: 903-168, Chadwick Court, North Vancouver, V7M-3L4.

Tel: 604-980-17-18.

United States: Embassy of Cambodia

Address: 4530 16th Street NW, Washington DC, 20011.

Tel : 001-202-726-77-42.

Email: consular.camemb.usa@gmail.com

Open Monday to Friday from 9am to 12pm and from 14h to 17h.

 

2.2 - Visa on arrival:

The visa on arrival can be obtained at the following border:

- At the Phnom Penh International Airport

- At the Siem Reap (Angkor) international Airport

- At the Poi Pet border post (border crossing between Thailand and Cambodia)

- At the Khoh Kong border post (border crossing between Thailand and Cambodia)

- At the Svay Rieng border post (border crossing between Vietnam and Cambodia)

 

IV - MYANMAR

 

1 - Entry visa exemption in Myanmar

To see the list of visa exemption in Cambodia, please click here

 

2 - Entry visa to Myanmar

To enter to Myanmar, a visa is required and your passports must be valid at least 6 months after the visa expiration date. The single entry tourist visa for a stay in Cambodia thirty (30) days maximum; its duration is 3 months from the date of issue.

Obtaining an entry visa to Myanmar can be done in two ways:

 

2.1 - Visa before entering Myanmar

To obtain an entry visa to Myanmar before you can make the visa after the Myanmar Embassy or consular services of Myanmar in your country of residence.

Documents required:

- Passport (original, valid at least one months after the departure date from Myanmar).

- Two passport photos.

- Completed visa application form.

Useful addresses:

France:

Attention, visa applications for Myanmar are no longer available at the Myanmar Embassy, Courcelles Str., but at the consular services of Myanmar.

Consular services of Myanmar

Address: 73, Boulevard Pereire, 75017 Paris.

Tel: 01 45 75 70 07 and 09 66 86 80 68.

Open Monday to Friday from 9am to 12pm (to file the application), Monday to Friday from 3.30pm to 4.30pm (for withdrawal).

Belgium: Embassy of Myanmar

Address: General Wahis Boulevard 9, 1030 Brussels.

Tel. : 02-701-93-81 (standard) 02-701-93-80 (visa service).

Visa Service: Monday to Friday from 10am to 12pm for the visa; from 14h to 16h to recover.

Switzerland: Consulate of Burma

Address: Avenue Blanc 47, 1202 Geneva.

Tel: (022) 906 98 70.

Open Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 12.30pm.

Canada: Embassy of Myanmar

Address: 336 Island Park Drive (Westboro), Ottawa, Ontario K1Y-0A7.

Tel : 613-232-9990

Open Monday to Friday from 10am to 12pm to deposit passports, from 1pm to 13pm to recover.

 

2.2 - E-visa

Since September 1st , 2014, travelers entering Myanmar from Yangon Airport, Mandalay Airport and Naypyidaw Airport are allowed to request their visa online at the following address: http://evisa.moip.gov.mm. The visa fee is 50 US (payable by credit card).