The 2019 Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam

THE 2019 LAW ON ENTRY, EXIT, TRANSIT, AND RESIDENCE OF FOREIGNERS IN VIETNAM

On July 1st, 2020, the 2019 Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam will officially take effect. Some notable changes of this Law are as follows:

I. Add a new VISA form: electronic visa

II. Use value:

1. One or more times

2. Value of 1 time: e-visa and visa for cases specified at Point b, Clause 2, Article 1: “b) Visas shall be issued according to lists issued by immigration authorities with respect to foreigners visiting and travelling or transiting by sea who have the need to enter inland for visiting and tourism purposes according to programs organized by international tourism enterprises in Vietnam; members of foreign military ships travelling under official programs of tours outside of central-affiliated cities and provinces where their ships anchor.”

III. Permission to change visa purposes in the following cases:

“4. A visa of an individual cannot be repurposed, except for cases below:

a) He/she presents document proving to be an investor or a representative for foreign organization investing in Vietnam as per the law of Vietnam;

b) He/she presents document proving his/her relationship with person inviting or sponsoring in terms of parents, spouse, children;

c) He/she is invited or sponsoring by agencies or organizations and presents work permit or confirmation of eligibility for work permit exemption according to labor laws;

d) He/she makes entry by electronic visa and presents work permit or confirmation of eligibility for work permit exemption according to labor laws.”

IV. Electronic visa (EV) valid for not more than 30 days: Clause 4 Article 1 of Law 2019: “SQ, EV visa is valid for not more than 30 days.”

V. Distinguishing between a foreigner with a work permit and a foreigner who is not eligible for a work permit, the Immigration Law 2019 stipulates the symbols for visas issued to foreign workers as follows:

1.LD1 – issued to foreigners working in Vietnam who are not eligible for work permits due to ineligibility, unless otherwise provided for by the international               treaties to which Vietnam is a signatory.

2.LD2 – issued to foreigners working in Vietnam who are required to have a work permit in Vietnam.