One of the most fascinating and beautiful countries in Southeast Asia, Vietnam has long held a special place in the American imagination. Unfortunately, it’s not an easy place to live long term.
Temporary Visas
North Americans require a visa to visit Vietnam. One option is to apply for an online E Visa, which allows stays of up to 30 days. The other is to apply for a tourist visa via a Vietnamese embassy or consulate. The duration of such visas is at the discretion of consular officials.
If you wish to apply for a tourist visa, your passport must not expire for at least the next six months. Go to the National Web Portal on Immigration’s official website, upload the data page of your passport that has your passport photo, complete the application, and pay a $25 fee.
Long-Term Visas
Unfortunately, there are no long-term visas available for Vietnam other than for employment or business investment. These are very difficult to get and typically only last for a year without the guarantee of renewal.
Permanent Residency
Permanent residency is available only to people who are deemed to have made a significant contribution to its development. Some people who have managed to get an investor or business visa have been able to get long-term residency cards valid for up to 10 years, but there is no formal way to do this.
Citizenship
Vietnam does not allow dual citizenship. Naturalization is technically possible, but only for people who have lived at least five consecutive years on a long-term residency card. You must be able to speak Vietnamese, have a clean criminal record, and have a stable livelihood.
Requirements and Documentation
Other than the application for the E visa and tourist visa, there are no specific requirements for residency in Vietnam since there are so few ways to achieve it. The process is reportedly variable, and different requirements are applied to different applicants and by different officials.
Processing Time
Though the website states that the application will be processed within three days, it often takes a week or longer.
Cost
A Vietnamese tourist visa costs $25.
Contacts
Vietnamese Embassy in the United States
1233 20th Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, D.C. 20036, USA
+1 (202) 861-0737
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