In most cases, the Vietnam student visa is arranged upon arrival in the country. Most students will enter the country in a tourist. When they are already in Vietnam, that’s when they can apply for the Vietnam student visa.
Another option is to apply for a Business visa (DN Visa), which is good for a single entry. This allows the person to enter the country and take up internship work. However, this is only valid for 90 days. There is an option to change the visa to multiple entries, which is recommended for students who may need to exit and enter the country within the 90-day period.
The requirements and procedures for the Vietnam student visa will vary, depending on the student’s nationalities. But in general, students will be asked to provide the following requirements, which must be submitted at the embassies or consulates of Vietnam. Here are the requirements:
Take note that for students who will be interning at a non-government organization (NGO) in Vietnam, there are other types of visas that you can apply aside from the student visa. The NGO that will sponsor you can process the visa on your behalf.
Vietnam visas are usually good for single entry or multiple entries and have validities of up to 90 days or 3 months. There are also visas that are good for one year, depending on the embassy or consulate’s approval.
As with any type of visa, there is a visa fee that you need to pay when applying for a Vietnam student visa. You can pay at the Vietnam embassy or consulate in your home country. Take note that the fees will vary but here are some details for your reference:
The standard processing time for the Vietnam student visa is 5 too 14-business days, or up to two weeks. It could take even longer depending on the availability of the Vietnam embassy or consulate where you have applied for the visa. For those who need the visa very urgently, there is an option to pay for the rush or emergency service. It will cost more, but you could get a visa in as fast as 24 hours. This is highly recommended to those who need to live for Vietnam immediately and don’t have time to wait for two weeks.
If you are unable to collect the visa from the embassy or consulate, you can choose to collect it from the Immigration Checkpoint in one of Vietnam’s major airports. You can collect the visa from either the airport of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, or Da Nang. In this case, the embassy will issue a special approval letter so you can collect your visa once you arrive at the airport.
If you were not able to secure a visa that’s valid for the intended duration of your stay in Vietnam, you can request an extension once you arrive in the country. To extend the validity of your visa, you can head to the Vietnam Immigration Departments of Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi, or Da Nang. Remember that you need the assistance and support of your sponsor host to request a visa extension.
Take note that the rules and procedures mentioned above would only apply to foreign students who are interested in moving to Vietnam to further their studies. For Vietnamese citizens who are residing overseas, there is a different procedure that you need to follow when applying for a Vietnam student visa.
Usually, Vietnamese citizens will be given a visa exemption certificate. They no longer need to apply for a Vietnam student visa. The certificate is all they need to show in order to enter Vietnam to study or take internship jobs.
