HANOI — Vietnam’s National Assembly has approved a new policy allowing limited visa exemptions for select foreign nationals who qualify for preferential treatment.
The visa waiver will apply to foreigners whose contributions are considered important for Vietnam’s socio-economic development. This includes select tourists, billionaires, scientists, experts, prominent public figures, artists, and elite athletes.
The government emphasized that national security, public order, and defence considerations will guide the implementation of this policy. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Public Security have been tasked with identifying additional eligible groups and accelerating agreements for reciprocal visa waivers with partner countries.
Vietnam also plans to simplify administrative procedures, upgrade its e-visa system for greater transparency and efficiency, and review its visa policies, including rules for temporary residence cards and residency options.
Currently, Vietnam offers visa waivers to citizens of just 25 countries — significantly fewer than regional peers. Thailand, for example, has expanded its list to 93 countries, while Malaysia offers visa waivers to 158 countries. Vietnam’s e-visa processing time of 3–5 days also lags behind faster systems in the region.
The government aims to modernize its visa policies to support economic and social development while ensuring national security.
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Source: Vietnam Insider