How to Apply for a Student Visa to Study in Vietnam
Changing Type of Visa in Vietnam
There will be many cases where individuals enter Vietnam with a tourist visa and then choose to change to another type of visa, such as a work visa, business visa or investment visa. The following article will help you learn specifically about converting visa types.
Tourist visa is a visa issued for foreigners coming to Vietnam for tourism purposes while business/work visa is issued for those coming for business/working purposes. A tourist visa holder must not work or do business-related activities. Depending on the objects and the attached conditions, the tourist visa can be converted into a business or work visa to facilitate work while in Vietnam.
What is the difference between Tourist Visa and Business Visa/Work Visa?
| Business Visa | Work Visa |
|---|---|---|
Symbol | Visa DL | Visa DN (DN1, DN2) |
Purposes | Vacation, leisure, sightseeing | Business (signing a contract, attending a business seminar, researching markets,..) |
Types | - 1 month (single/multiple entries) - 3 months (single/multiple entries) | - 1 month (single/multiple entries) - 3 months (single/multiple entries) - 6 months (multiple entries) - 1 year (for US passport holders, multiple entries) |
Objects | All foreign nationals not listed in 25 Vietnam visa exemption countries (with a given period of time) | - Foreigners coming to Vietnam for business purposes - Representatives of non-government organizations - Foreigners granted a work permit or a certificate proving the work permit exemption in Vietnam - Foreign lawyers licensed by the Ministry of Justice of Vietnam |
Validity | Up to 3 months | Up to 1 year |
Conditions to change
In general, a visa cannot be used to change the intended purpose of entry, except in some special cases as outlined below:
- Foreigners being invited or guaranteed to work by an agency/organization in Vietnam and have a work permit or a work permit exemption in accordance with the Labor Code.
- Foreigners entering Vietnam for tourism purposes with an E-visa and have a work permit or a work permit exemption in accordance with the Labor Code.
How to change
Preparation
Foreigners coming for travel purposes and wishing to convert a tourist visa to a business/work visa must have an inviting/guaranteed company/organization/agency in Vietnam. Here are all documents needed for the conversion process.
- A valid original passport
- A valid tourist visa
- A visa issuance application form (Form NA5)
- Temporary residence registration
- Work permit or work permit exemption certificate (for visa LD1, LD2)
- Documents explaining the need and suitability for visa conversion (for visa DN1 and DN2)
- Introduction letter of a representative applying the visa conversion
Procedures
- Step 1: Prepare all documents as required
- Step 2: Submit documents at Vietnam Immigration Office (Headquarter in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City).
- Step 3: Pay the fee and get the visa conversion
Time and fee
The process of changing a tourist visa to a business/work visa takes around 5 business days.
The fee is varied based on the visa type you expect to change:
| Visa type | Fee |
|---|---|
1 month, single-entry | USD25 |
1 month, multiple-entry | USD50 |
3 months, single-entry | USD25 |
3 months, multiple-entry | USD50 |
6 months, multiple-entry | USD95 |
12 months, multiple-entry | USD135 |
If you still have questions and need to save time, please contact us via Email: info@globalvisavietnam.com
Frequently asked questions
1. Can I apply to change the visa type by myself?
Yes. However, a business visa or work visa requires you to have a sponsor company/agency in Vietnam and some administrative procedures. Hence, you are recommended to work through a visa agency in Vietnam to avoid complicated procedures and save time.
2. What is the validity of the business visa that I change to?
The business visa has a maximum validity of up to 1 year. However, the 1-year visa is currently available for US passport holders. If you have other nationalities, you can have a business visa with a validity of 6 months at maximum.
3. How long does it take to process the change?
You can expect 5 working days for the process (except for holidays).
4. Do I need to submit a copy of my passport or an original passport?
You need to submit your original passport with the validity corresponding to the visa type expected to convert to.
