The country of Vietnam is in the wish list of many travelers. This country, situated on the fertile lands of southeast Asia has a rich culture, a thriving business scene, and rich and interesting history.
Italians are among the top nationalities that came to Vietnam for a holiday in the last few years. In 2019, there were more than 70,000 Italians who visited Vietnam. The increasing number of Italian visitors to Vietnam may have something to do with its easy visa policy. Last February 2017, the Vietnam Immigration Dept. has launched the e-visa program that gives foreign travelers including Italians, an option to apply for their visa online.
With the e-visa program, Italians who wish to visit Vietnam will no longer need to schedule an appointment at a Vietnam embassy. They no longer need to queue at the airport unlike when applying for a Visa on Arrival. The e-visa can be applied online in only a few minutes and you’ll get your e-visa copy in as early as 3 business days!
The Vietnam e-visa is an electronic travel authorization that works just like a regular visa. If you have this document, you will be allowed to enter Vietnam, whether you’re visiting for tourism or business purposes. But unlike the standard visa that you need to acquire from a Vietnam embassy, this visa will simply require you to go online. You just need to access a website and fill out the application form from there.
When your application of the Vietnam e-visa is approved, you will be notified via email. You will then be directed to a link where you can access the e-Visa and download it. Save a copy of the visa on your mobile phone or computer and print one copy. The printed copy is what you will present at the immigration counter upon entering Vietnam.
Take note that the e-visa for Italian citizens is a single-entry visa. Therefore, you can only use it to enter the country once. Also, the visa will only be valid for 30 days. You need to go out of Vietnam before the 30-day period ends to avoid penalties.
If you wanted to extend your vacation beyond the 30-day period, you have the option to request a visa extension. For this to be possible, you will have to look for an organization or an agency that can sponsor your stay in the country. They will apply for a new visa for you.
If you already know ahead of time that you will be staying in Vietnam for more than 30 days, you might as well apply for the Visa on Arrival. Italian citizens are eligible for this visa, which you can apply at the airport when you arrive in the country. This visa will also give you a multiple entry option, which is great. The only catch is that you will have to queue at the visa counter when you arrive in Vietnam, which can be a hassle.
There are other types of visas that you can apply for your trip to Vietnam. As mentioned, Italians are also eligible for the Visa on Arrival. You also have an option to apply for a Vietnam visa from an embassy. But why choose the e-visa? Below are the advantages of Vietnam e-visa over other types of visa:
When applying for the e-visa online, you need to have your passport ready. It must be valid for at least 6 months from your date of entry to Vietnam. You will need to provide some important information from your passport. Carefully review the information you have entered before you proceed to the next page to avoid any problems. Remember, you will be asked to provide a copy of the e-visa along with your passport. If there are discrepancies, you could be denied entry to the country.
You are required to bring a copy of your e-visa with you at all times while in Vietnam. Although the immigration officer at passport control will only require you to provide one copy, it’s a good idea to print two copies so you will have an extra just in case you’ll lose a copy.
The country of Vietnam is in the wish list of many travelers. This country, situated on the fertile lands of southeast Asia has a rich culture, a thriving business scene, and rich and interesting history.
