To apply for an entry approval letter into Vietnam for a foreign national, the dossier must include: a passport valid for at least 6 months, Form NA2, a certified copy of the sponsoring company’s Business Registration Certificate and Investment Licence, Form NA16, a USB digital signature token, … and a number of other requirements. Join us at Tân Văn Lang as we explore the full details below.
An entry approval letter is the official document issued by the Cục Quản lý Xuất nhập cảnh under the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam. It permits foreign nationals to enter Vietnam for purposes such as tourism, business, family visit or investment.
To obtain this entry approval letter, the applicant (or the sponsoring entity) must submit a complete dossier to the immigration authority for review. Once approved, the foreign national uses this approval letter to obtain the visa and proceed through immigration at the airport or international border.
>>> Read more:Vietnam E-Visa: Complete Guide to Apply Online for Foreigners 2025
Key Content of the Entry Approval Letter
Typically the letter will contain:
Information about the sponsoring individual/company: name, tax code, address and contact details.
Information about the foreign national: full name, nationality, passport number, date of birth, gender, etc.
Timeframe and purpose of entry: expected entry date, duration of stay, type of visa (1 month or 3 months, single or multiple entry).
Conditions for Applying for the Entry Approval Letter
For the foreign national:
A valid passport: the passport must have at least 6 months validity from the planned entry date.
A sponsorship by a Vietnamese individual or organization: The foreigner must be invited or sponsored by a person or entity in Vietnam (except special cases under Article 16a, 16b and Clause 3 Article 17 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam).
Not subject to entry ban: The foreign national (or Vietnamese national carrying a foreign passport) must not fall under the categories prohibited from entry under Vietnamese law.
For the sponsoring legal entity:
Legal documents of the organization: Certified copy of the business registration certificate or founding decision from the competent authority.
Information of the organization’s legal representative: Document announcing the company’s seal and signature of the authorized representative.
Electronic account: Registration of an electronic account issued by the immigration authority for online procedures.
Digital signature: Use of digital signature (USB token) under the provisions of the Electronic Transactions Law to complete the dossier.
Procedure to Apply for the Vietnam Entry Approval Letter
Access the online portal of the Immigration Department of Vietnam and register an account for the sponsoring agency/organization.
The sponsoring organization submits the foreign national’s information along with required data (via form NA2). After submission, the system provides an electronic dossier code.
The sponsoring organization uses its digital signature to confirm the submission under the Electronic Transactions Law.
Once the information and fee payment (if applicable) are completed and sent to the competent Vietnamese authority (or overseas Vietnamese mission if relevant), the system automatically forwards the data to the Immigration Department of Vietnam for receipt.
To check the result, the sponsoring organization logs into the e-transaction portal of the immigration service or the National Public Service Portal. If the approval is granted, the organization will receive an invitation letter for the foreign national.
Ensure the passport has valid minimum remaining period.
Submit full dossier early so that any issues can be addressed before the planned entry date. Do not wait until the last minute.
The sponsored company must prepare and submit complete dossiers for review by the immigration authority.
Although the approval letter is granted free of charge, the foreigner will still pay the visa stamping fee at the border depending on visa type. For instance: single entry USD 25; multiple entry varying from USD 50 to USD 155 depending on duration.
At Tân Văn Lang, we are proud to be a leading consultancy service for Vietnam entry approval letters. With many years of experience, we commit to providing our clients with:
Professional consultation: A team of experienced consultants with deep understanding of immigration law and procedures; detailed guidance for each purpose of entry.
Full dossier support: Assisting clients in preparing complete and accurate documents; checking and completing applications per government regulations; translation and notarisation of necessary documents.
Efficient working process: Acting on behalf of clients to submit the dossier to the competent authority; closely tracking the processing progress; timely update of results.
Commitment: High success rate; transparent and reasonable fees; supporting online dossier submission.
A foreign national sponsored by an organisation/agency in Vietnam can apply for an entry approval letter.
How long does it take to process the dossier?
Typically about 5 working days for the Immigration Department of Vietnam to process the dossier; however, if documents are incomplete or incorrect, it may take longer.
How much is the fee?
The entry approval letter itself is issued free of charge. However, the foreign national still pays the visa stamping fee according to the visa category (e.g., single entry USD 25; multiple entry higher depending on validity).
Can the foreign national apply by themselves?
No — The entry approval letter must be sponsored or invited by a Vietnamese organisation or individual; the foreigner cannot apply completely independently.
What is the validity period of the entry approval letter?
Under Vietnamese law, the approval letter for foreign nationals can be valid up to about 3 months from the issuance date. However, specific validity may vary depending on visa type and purpose of entry. For tourism, it is often 30 days; for commercial, investment, work or family visit, the letter may be valid longer depending on the travel plan and stay in Vietnam.
Can the entry approval letter be obtained online?
Yes — Foreign nationals can apply for the entry approval letter online via Vietnam’s National Public Service Portal or via the immigration authority’s e-transaction system. The sponsoring individual or business must register an account and log in to submit the dossier.
What additional costs may arise besides the fee for the approval letter?
Service fee for dossier preparation: If you use a third-party service to support drafting, checking and submission of the dossier, fees vary depending on complexity.
Translation and notarisation fee: If your documents are not in Vietnamese, you may need to translate and have them notarised.
Courier/express delivery fee: If you can’t submit or receive the letter in person, you may have to pay for express mailing.
Legalisation/notarial fees: Some documents may require notarial legalisation which adds to cost.
Tôi là Nguyễn Thị Bích Phụng (Hana Nguyen), hiện đang là Sales Manager và biên tập viên tại Công Ty Cổ Phần Dịch Vụ Du Lịch và Thương Mại Tân Văn Lang.
Tôi có 5 năm kinh nghiệm trong lĩnh vực xin visa Việt Nam, xin công văn nhập cảnh, thẻ tạm trú, miễn thị thực... cho người nước ngoài muốn nhập cảnh, lưu trú và làm việc tại Việt Nam. Tôi đã được thành tích Nhân viên xuất sắc tại Tân Văn Lang từ 2021 - 2023.
Tôi hi vọng những kiến thức của mình sẽ giúp được nhiều người nước ngoài có thể nhập cảnh Việt Nam dễ dàng.
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