To clarify certain articles of the amended immigration law No.23 (mentioned in GMS Flash Alert 2023-156), the Vietnamese government on 14 August 2023 issued two resolutions. Resolution No. 127/NQ-CP will provide for the granting of electronic visas to citizens of all countries and territories; also, under Resolution No. 128/NQ-CP, nationals of certain foreign countries will be able to visit Vietnam for up to 45 days without a visa.
Why this matters
These new policies aim to modernise Vietnam’s entry/exit system for many foreign nationals and streamline processes that will make it easier and more convenient for travellers entering and exiting Vietnam for work or non-work (e.g., tourism) purposes.
More Details
Following the issuance of Law No.23/2023/QH151 amending several Articles of Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam (amended Law No. 23) (which took effect from 15 August 2023), on 14 August 2023, the Vietnam government issued Resolution No.127/NQ-CP2 and Resolution No.128/NQ-CP3 which will facilitate foreigners entering Vietnam.
Highlighted below are key points to note about the Resolutions:
1. Resolution No.127/NQ-CP dated 14 August 2023 on electronic visas
- According to Resolution No.127, Vietnam will grant an electronic visa to citizens of all countries and territories;
- Foreigners with electronic visas can enter Vietnam through 13 airports, 16 border gates, and 13 sea-gates;
- Resolution No.127 is effective from 15 August 2023.
2. Resolution No.128/NQ-CP dated 14 August 2023 on the unilateral agreement on visa exemptions
- Citizens of the following countries will be allowed to visit Vietnam for up to 45 days without a visa, regardless of passport type and entry purpose:
‒ | Germany | ‒ | Russia |
‒ | France | ‒ | Japan |
‒ | Italy | ‒ | Norway |
‒ | Spain | ‒ | South Korea |
‒ | The United Kingdom and Northern Ireland | ‒ | Sweden |
‒ | Denmark | ‒ | Belarus |
‒ | Finland |
|
|
- Resolution No. 128 is to amend Article No. 1 of Resolution No.32/CQ-CP dated 15 March 2022, and is effective from 15 August 2023 to 14 March 2025.
KPMG Insights
The above resolutions, together with amended Law No. 23, will help inbound travellers to enter and exit Vietnam more easily for business or investment purposes. For businesses and individuals from those countries that plan to travel to Vietnam for cross-border business activities, awareness of these changes is important to help successfully manage mobility plans and budgets related to such travel.
In addition, please note, that as required by Vietnam’s Immigration Department, foreign nationals applying for e-visas to Vietnam must declare their previous trips to Vietnam within one year prior to the application date, in which details on the length of the person’s stay and purpose of entry for each trip will be required (for management purposes). As such, to avoid being challenged by the competent authorities, foreign nationals entering Vietnam for business/working purposes must also be compliant with the country’s labour regulations.
Employers and individuals travelling to Vietnam should consult with their qualified immigration counsel or a member of the Immigration team with KPMG in Vietnam for clarification and guidance.
Contacts
Additional Resources
Footnotes
1 To see the Law (in Vietnamese) on the Vietnam government website, click here.
2 To see the Resolution (in Vietnamese) on the Vietnam government website, click here.
3 To see the government announcement (in Vietnamese) on Resolution No. 128/NQ-CP and other resolutions, see the Ministry of Public Security webpage.
RELATED RESOURCE
This article is excerpted, with permission, from “Alert on Immigration” (August 2023), a publication of the KPMG International member firm in Vietnam.
Disclaimer
* Please note that KPMG LLP (U.S.) does not provide any immigration services. However, KPMG Law LLP in Canada can assist clients with U.S. immigration matters.
The information contained in this newsletter was submitted by the KPMG International member firm in Vietnam.
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