IS IT POSSIBLE TO WORK IN VIETNAM ON TOURIST VISA ?

Vietnam tourist visa (DL) is one of the most popular types of Vietnam Visa, issued to foreigners for the purpose of leisure and tourism. Because of being easy applied, a lot of people may concern about whether the foreigners can work in Vietnam on a tourist visa. Let's find out answer.

Visas in Vietnam: Ultimate Guide on what you should know in 2023 – MOVETOASIA

01. TYPES OF VISA ALLOWED TO WORK IN VIETNAM

There are three main types of visas that allow foreigners to work in Vietnam:

Work visa (LD1-2): This is the most common type of work visa and is issued to foreign workers who have a job offer from a Vietnamese company. Work visas are valid for up to 12 months and can be renewed multiple times.
Investor visa (DT1, DT2, DT3, DT4): This type of visa is issued to foreign investors who are establishing or investing in a Vietnamese company. Investor visas are valid for up to 12 months and can be renewed multiple times.
Expert visa (NN1-2): This type of visa is issued to foreign experts who are coming to Vietnam to provide specialized skills or knowledge. Expert visas are valid for up to 12 months and can be renewed multiple times.

In addition to these three main types of visas, there are a number of other types of visas that may allow foreigners to work in Vietnam, such as:

Business visa (DN1, DN2): This type of visa is issued to foreign business owners who are coming to Vietnam to conduct business activities. Business visas are valid for up to 3 months, no more 1 year and can be renewed multiple times.
Student visa (DH): This type of visa is issued to foreign students who are coming to Vietnam to study at a Vietnamese university or college. Student visas are valid for the duration of the student's studies, plus an additional 3 months.
Diplomatic visa (NG): This type of visa is issued to foreign diplomats and their staff who are coming to Vietnam to work at a foreign embassy or consulate. Diplomatic visas are valid for the duration of the diplomat's assignment.

02. IS IT POSSIBLE TO WORK IN VIETNAM ON A TOURIST VISA ?

The answer is : No.

Based on legal basis as law No.47/QH12/2014 on entry and exit, law No. 51/Qh14/2019 amended and supplemented with the immigration law, it defined that Tourist Visa (symbol as DL) is a type of visa issued to foreigners entering Vietnam only for visiting and traveling with a stay period of 30 days. And the important thing is that visas are not allowed to change purposes. This means that, you cannot legally work in Vietnam on a tourist visa.

The foreigners who work in Vietnam illegally on a tourist visa can be administratively face such serious consequences, including:

A fine of upto 20 million VND (approximately 900$)
Deportation
A ban on re-entering Vietnam for up to 5 years

In some cases, you could even be jailed for up to 3 years. (based on Article 17, Decree 167/2013/ND-CP)

So if you are interested in working in Vietnam, you must first apply for a work visa. This process can be complex and time-consuming, so it is important to start planning well in advance. In case the foreigner is holding a tourist visa and wants to work in Vietnam, you need to convert it into a suitable visa for the purpose of working.

03. APPLY FOR A WORK VISA FOR FOREIGNERS

To apply for a work visa, you will need to have a job offer from a Vietnamese company. Your employer will then need to apply for a work permit on your behalf. Once the work permit is approved, you can then apply for a work visa at a Vietnamese embassy or consulate.

There are a few exceptions to the rule that you cannot work in Vietnam on a tourist visa. For example, if you are a freelance journalist or writer, you may be able to apply for a special visa that allows you to work on short-term projects. However, these exceptions are very rare and it is important to check with the Vietnamese embassy or consulate to see if you are eligible.

Dossier of visa application for foreigners working in Vietnam

Operation license of the enterprise or organization (Business registration, investment license, operation license of brand, representative office,... submit the application at the Immigration Office)
Certificate of use of seal sample or Notice of use of seal of the enterprise or organization with the business registration agency
Document introducing the seal, signature of the authorized person of the porganization (NA16). (Submit this declaration in case the company first submits the application at the Immigration Office)
Declaration of visa application, temporary residence extention (NA5)
The original passport is still valid as prescribed
Certified copy of work permit (for LD2 vis) or Work permit exemption certificate for cases of work permit exemption (for LD1 visa)
Temporary residence book or Certificate of temporary residence of foreigners (In some cases, the Immigration Office will require it)

Note: For foreigners who are Chinese and Taiwanese, they are required to provide an additional 3x4cm photo to be granted a separate visa.

Most popular ways:

Option 1: Submit documents at the Vietnamese embassy or consulate in your country

You can apply for many types of Vietnamese visas, and the visa sticker will be affixed directly to your passport. However, to successfully apply for a visa, you need to prepare all the required documents. The visa application process can be long and complicated, and there is a risk of your visa being denied, especially if you do not submit all the required documents or if you do not meet the visa requirements. If your country does not have a Vietnamese embassy or consulate, you can submit your visa application at the Vietnamese embassy or consulate in a neighboring country.

Option 2: Apply for a visa directly at the international border gate in Vietnam

This visa application is usually used by tourists who are traveling to Vietnam on a package tour organized by a Vietnamese travel company, or by people who are visiting a seriously ill relative or attending a funeral in Vietnam. To apply for this visa, you need to prepare all the required documents and go through a four-step process at the border gate. Once you have submitted your application, you will need to wait for it to be approved by the immigration authorities.

This type of visa is not very popular with foreign visitors, because the chances of getting a visa are not high. The immigration officers at the border gate may also refuse to let you enter Vietnam if they are suspicious of you. If your visa is denied, you will lose time and money on your airfare.

In summary, this type of visa is difficult to obtain and should only be used as a last resort.

Option 3: Apply for an e-visa online

This type of visa application is not available to all citizens of the world. However, as of August 15, 2023, all nationalities are eligible to apply for this e-visa on a pilot basis. For more information on how to apply, please refer to the article below.

If you choose to apply for this type of visa, be sure to prepare all of the required documents and complete the online application form carefully. Please note that this application process has some limitations. For example, it is very easy to be denied a visa if you make any mistakes on your application, and the visa fee is not refundable. Additionally, it may take longer for your visa to be processed through this method than through other methods.

In summary, this type of visa application is a convenient option for citizens of countries that are eligible, but it is important to be aware of the potential drawbacks before applying.

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