Visa Updates

I now understand the following to be true:

You are able to get a total of THREE multiple entry THREE MONTH visas (presuming the work permit application is underway) on top of what you already have, after which point you must have the work permit. Although what happens when nine months are up is anyone's guess...9 months is a long time in Vietnamese immigration policy. This may also just be an arrangement reached by my school, and not the general policy. More feedback is needed to establish what is happening as people begin applying for their visas.

Below is the three ways in which long-term residency is legit (that I am currently aware of), thanks to all contribtors from comments in the last post. NB: There are some exceptions for NGO/Charity work I think, but I am not clear on that.

1) Work permit and temporary residency card.

This is for foreginers working and living here with no Vietnamese relatives or family. The application process is outlined in the previous post.

2) Permanent Residency Card

From ORDINANCE ON ENTRY, EXIT AND RESIDENCE OF FOREIGNERS IN VIETNAM
No. 24/2000/PL- UBTVQH 10 of April 28,2000)
Chapter III
Article 13

1. Foreigners temporarily residing in Vietnam under one of the following circumstances shall be considered for permanent residence:

a) They are people who have struggled for freedom and national independence, for socialism, for democracy and peace or for the cause of science, but have been subject to suppression.

b) They have meritorious contribution to the cause of building and defending the Vietnamese Fatherland.

c) They are spouses, offspring, parents of Vietnamese citizens residing in Vietnam.

And from DECREE NO 21/2001/ND/CP OF MAY 28, 2001
DETAILING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ORDINANCE ON ENTRY, EXIT AND RESIDENCES IN VIETNAM, the application process:

2. Foreigners applying for permanent residence under the cases specified at Point c, Clause 1, Article 3 of the Ordinance shall submit their dossiers to the Immigration Department of the Ministry of Public Security or the exit

and entry management bodies under the public security offices of the provinces and centrally run cities. Such a dossier comprises:

a. The applicant's photo and application for permanent residence made in accordance with the forms set by the Ministry of Public Security;

b. His/her judicial records certified by the competent agency of the country, of which he/ she is a citizen;

c. Official note of the competent agency of the country, of which he/she is a citizen, requesting the Vietnamese authorities to permit him/her to permanently reside in Vietnam;

d. Papers evidencing that the permanent residence applicant falls under the cases specified at Point c, Clause 1, Article 13 of the ordinance;

e. Copy of the applicant's passport.

See here.

Permanent Residency Cards are valid for three years and can be renewed indefinitely.

3) Visa Exemption

Taken from here.

Visa Exemption is a stamp in your passport which is valid for 5 years and means you don't have to have a visa to enter Vietnam. The catch - you can only stay 90 days at a time (as you can see from the picture). It is avaliable to overseas Vietnamese and also:

holders of foreign passports being wives, husbands, and children of a Vietnamese citizen or Vietnamese residing abroad.

The application consists of :

a. 01 application form for a visa exemption certificate.

b. 02 recent 4 x 6 cm photos with white background, straight face, bare head, without colored glasses. (01 attached to the application form, 01 spare photo).

c. A foreign passport with validity of at least 6 months upto date of entry (a copy attached for competent authority to file)

d. One of documents proving relationship between wives/husbands/children and the Vietnamese residing abroad (a copy attached for competent authority to file)
- Certificate of Marriage
- Certificate of Birth
- A Certificate of relationship with farther, mother, children;
- Other valid documents as regulated by the Vietnamese Law.
- Decision of Adoption