HOW TO APPLY FOR A VISA TO VIETNAM

PROCEDURE
A VISA to Vietnam can be applied in person at the Embassy of Vietnam in Pyongyang, DPRK. The applicant must submit:
1. Original PASSPORT (which requires at least 03 month validity since your proposed date of exit from Vietnam) and a copy of passport (photo and personal detail pages).
2. One completed and signed application form (Please download and print) with 01 passport-size photo glued.
3. If you cannot come in person, whoever comes in for you must bring along an original letter written and signed by you stating that you are applying for a visa.

TYPES OF VISA AND PROCEDURES
1. Tourist or Market Survey Visa: If you have NO counterpart or contact in Vietnam and you wish to visit as an independent tourist or to explore the Vietnamese market and look for business prospective partners, you are entitled to what we call Tourist or Market Survey Visa. And you may apply for a 15-Days Visa (single entry) or a One-Month Tourist Visa (single or multiple entries). The validity indicated in your visa is for entry (you have to enter Vietnam no later than the last date). And you can stay in Vietnam up to 15 days counted from the date of your entry. Requirements for application are the same, return tickets and hotel booking are required.

2. If you are invited by a Vietnamese host to go to Vietnam for business, conference, training, working, investment, etc. Your visa should be applied by your Vietnamese host organization. We can issue visa only upon receiving official approval from the Vietnam Immigration Authorities. Other types of documents (invitation letter, information note, etc) are for reference only. Your type and duration of visa will be decided by the nature of your work with the Vietnamese counterpart, and it could be single or multiple entries with a maximum duration of 01 year.

3. If you are a diplomat or member of a governmental or international organization, your host should apply for your entry clearance with the Consular Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam (Authorization number ends with LS-XNC.kv).

4. If you ARE NOT a diplomat or member of a governmental or international organization, your host should apply for your entry clearance with the Immigration Department at the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam (Authorization number begins with A-(number) or B-(number) or C-(number). Requirements for application are the same; in addition, a verbal note or invitation letter is required.

5. Diplomatic or Official Passports: If you carry a DPRK Diplomatic, Official Passport, or Ordinary Passports on Official Missions, you are exempted from entry visa according to the Consular Agreement signed between Vietnam and DPRK. If you carry a Diplomatic or Official Passport from other countries which have not yet signed a Consular Agreement with Vietnam, you are still required to have a visa to enter Vietnam. However, your visa is free of charge.

PAYMENT
For the time being, the fee is accepted in cash.

PROCESSING TIME
Five business days are required to process visa applications. Expedited processing requires one to two business days after the Embassy has received the application (additional fee applied).

The Embassy is closed on Saturday, Sunday, Vietnamese and DPRK holidays as follows:
Vietnamese holidays: New Year holiday: 01 January; Victory holiday: 30 April; International Laborers’ holiday: 1 May; National Day: 2 September. Lunar Calendar holidays: Lunar New Year holidays (4 days) and King Hung Day: lunar 10 March.

DPRK holidays: National Day & others.
Please take account of the observed holidays in planning for your visa application and travel.
For further information, please contact the Visa Section of the Embassy: Telephone: Local Pyongyang: 382-7111; International: (00-86-10) 6544 2323.
Working hours: 9:00am – 5:00pm, Monday through Friday.
Website: http://www.vietnamembassy-pyongyang.org/en