Posted 24.11. 2018 by Cekindo / Last update on 2.12. 2020
When it comes to getting a suitable visa to do business and work legally in Vietnam, you will often come across “a business visa”.
In this article, Cekindo will walk through the purpose, requirements, limits and sponsorship for getting a business visa in Vietnam. In the end, you will be sure if you really need a business visa when coming to Vietnam for business and what the restrictions are.
To be able to specify a term of “a business visa” in Vietnam, a short introduction to various visas in the country is needed.
Vietnam offers around 20 different kinds of visas with several types of permits that might be used for various business purposes such as being employed in Vietnam, attending conferences or seminars, or starting a company.
The popular visas for business purposes are:
Following the Immigration Law from 2015, visas in Vietnam are categorised as follows:
| Visa Category | Description and Information | Maximum Visa Validity |
| NG1 – NG4 | Diplomatic visas | 12 months |
| LV1 – LV2 | Working with Vietnamese authorities or parties | 12 months |
| ĐT | Investors and foreign lawyers | 5 years |
| DN | Working with Vietnamese enterprises | 12 months |
| NN1 – NN2 | Chief Representative Office, Head of Project Office of foreign NGO in Vietnam | 12 months |
| NN3 | Staff of NGO, Representative offices in Vietnam | 12 months |
| DH | Students and interns | 12 months |
| HN | Meetings and conferences | 3 months |
| PV1 | Journalists with permanent residence in Vietnam | 12 months |
| PV2 | Journalists with short-term residence in Vietnam | 12 months |
| LĐ | Foreign workers / Working visa | 2 years |
| DL | Tourist visa | 3 months |
| TT | Dependents of LV1, LV2, ĐT, NN1, NN2, DH, PV1, LĐ | 12 months |
| VR | Relative visits, other purposes | 6 months |
| SQ | Related to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Consulate with the purpose of market research, diplomacy, visiting relatives, tourist, medical treatment | 30 days |
Noticeably, holders of Vietnamese visas cannot convert their visa purposes to other types.
Previously known as B3 visa, DN business visa enables foreign workers who work with Vietnamese enterprises to stay in the country short-term. Even though its maximum validity is limited by 12 months, it is frequently issued for one month, three months or six months only.
Furthermore, a business visa can be both multiple and single-entry.
Foreigners who are running out of their business visas can apply for their extensions in Vietnam. In order to provide you with valid information, send an email and scans of your visas at vietnam@cekindo.com. We will get back to you with the specific information and a step-by-step guide on how to extend your visa in Vietnam.
The process of extension usually takes from five to seven working days.
Foreigners are required to have an invitation letter to prove you are under the sponsorship from a local business partner in Vietnam. This sponsorship with invitation letter can be done with the assistance from Cekindo.
Since the business visa in Vietnam needs to be certified by Vietnam’s Immigration Bureau in advance, and the documents required for submission are relatively stringent, it is crucial for foreigners to meet all the compliance requirements.
As long as you meet all the requirements, you can get or renew your business visa in Vietnam.
Cekindo is ready to assist you with your business visa in Vietnam. Contact us today and we will outline the process as well as provide you with all the required information.
