On behalf of the Government, General To Lam, Minister of Public Security, has submitted a report to the National Assembly explaining the proposal to revise immigration procedures, e-visa issuance, and visa exemption for foreign visitors.

The current 30-day validity period of e-visas is short, making it hard to bring more foreign travelers to the country. Extending the e-visa validity to three months with single or multiple entries would attract tourists who want to spend more time in Vietnam and create favorable conditions for foreigners to conduct research, and market or investment surveys, according to the Government.

The e-visa validity extension would make it easy for those foreign individuals responsible for establishing a commercial presence, service providers, and service suppliers to have enough time to stay in Vietnam, as outlined in the country’s commitments under Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).

Regarding the proposal to lengthen the visa-free stay for foreign tourists to 45 days from the current 15, the Government explained that visitors from international markets such as Europe often prefer vacations that last 15 days or longer.

According to the Ministry of Public Security, the number of foreign nationals applying for e-visas has steadily increased since 2017. Since the Government resumed the pre-pandemic immigration policy, the issuance of e-visas has surged by 46.6 times.

Currently, single-entry e-visas are issued by the Immigration Department, with a maximum duration of 30 days. Vietnam currently grants e-visas to citizens of 80 countries.

The proposal will be presented to the National Assembly session, expected to begin on May 22.

Source: Saigon Times