Vietnam’s National Assembly Approves Limited Visa Exemptions for Special Foreign Categories
Hanoi, The Gulf Observer: The 15th National Assembly of Vietnam concluded its 9th session with the adoption of a significant resolution introducing limited visa exemptions for select categories of foreign nationals eligible for preferential treatment, as part of the country’s efforts to boost socio-economic development.
Under the newly adopted policy, visa waivers will apply to specific groups of foreigners considered to require special incentives due to their potential contributions to national progress. These include distinguished tourists, experts, scientists, billionaires, prominent cultural figures, artists, elite athletes, and other influential individuals.
The resolution underlines that the policy will be implemented with careful consideration of national defence, security, and public order. The Government is responsible for detailing the implementation plan and reviewing relevant laws to propose necessary amendments to ensure alignment with current realities and global integration needs.
Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính has directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to work closely with the Ministry of Public Security in urgently identifying and recommending new eligible groups for unilateral visa exemptions, based on the evolving demands of Vietnam’s socio-economic landscape.
Moreover, the ministries have been instructed to accelerate negotiations concerning reciprocal visa waiver agreements that have already been reached with various partner countries.
To enhance the efficiency and accessibility of Vietnam’s visa framework, the Ministry of Public Security has been assigned to review and consolidate existing preferential visa policies by category. This includes provisions related to temporary residence cards, electronic visas (e-visas), and long-term residency card purchases. Additionally, the ministry will undertake substantial efforts to streamline administrative procedures and upgrade the e-visa processing system to improve efficiency and transparency.
Currently, Vietnam extends visa-free entry to citizens of only 25 countries, a number significantly lower than regional peers. By comparison, Thailand has expanded its visa waiver list to 93 countries and visa-on-arrival coverage to 31 countries, while Malaysia offers visa-free entry to citizens of 158 countries.
In terms of visa processing time, Vietnam’s e-visa applications currently take between three to five days to process, whereas other countries in the region complete similar procedures in as little as 14 hours to two days.
The new visa exemption policy is part of Vietnam’s broader strategy to enhance its global competitiveness, attract high-quality human resources, and position itself as an open, dynamic destination for tourism, investment, culture, and innovation.
