What is the 5-Year Visa Exemption Certificate?
The 5-Year Visa Exemption Certificate (Giấy miễn thị thực 5 năm), commonly known as the "Việt Kiều Visa", is an official travel document granted by the Vietnamese Government that allows eligible individuals to enter and stay in Vietnam without applying for tourist visas or doing monthly border runs.
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1. Who is Eligible?
- Overseas Vietnamese (Người Việt Nam định cư ở nước ngoài): Individuals holding foreign citizenship who were formerly Vietnamese citizens, or whose parents or grandparents were Vietnamese citizens.
- Foreign Spouses and Children: Foreign spouses and children of Vietnamese citizens or overseas Vietnamese.
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2. Key Benefits
- Validity: Valid for up to 5 years (or 6 months shorter than the remaining validity of your foreign passport).
- Multiple Entries: Unlimited entries and exits throughout the 5-year validity period.
- Extended Stay Duration: Each entry grants a legal stay of up to 180 days (6 months) without needing to leave the country!
- Domestic Extension: If you wish to stay longer than 180 days, you can apply for an in-country extension of up to 180 additional days at the provincial Immigration Department without doing a border run.
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3. Required Application Documents
To apply at the Vietnam Immigration Department (Cục Quản lý xuất nhập cảnh) or a Vietnamese embassy abroad:
- Application Form NA9: Duly completed and signed.
- Original Foreign Passport: Valid for at least 1 year + copies.
- 2 Passport Photos (4x6 cm): White background, taken within 6 months.
- Proof of Vietnamese Heritage or Relationship:
- For Việt Kiều: Birth certificate, old Vietnamese passport, citizen ID card (CMND/CCCD), or family register (Hộ khẩu).
- For Spouses / Children: Official Marriage Certificate (Giấy đăng ký kết hôn) or Birth Certificate legalized and translated into Vietnamese.
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