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Viet Kieu Visa Waiver
5 year Vietnam visa exemption for overseas Vietnamese and foreign spouses.
If you're an overseas Vietnamese (Việt Kiều) with a foreign passport, or the foreign spouse of a Vietnamese citizen, you can enter Vietnam visa-free for up to 180 days at a time — for 5 years. We handle the entire application so you don't have to deal with the paperwork.
Our service
NamVisa handles your 5 year exemption — start to finish.
No embassy visits, no form confusion, no translation headaches. We review your documents, prepare the application package, submit to the Immigration Department, and follow up until your exemption certificate is ready.
Service fee
Full processing
6,500,000 VND All-inclusive service feeDocument review, form preparation, submission, follow-up, and delivery of your exemption certificate.
Processing
3 weeks
Standard timeline From submission to certificateAfter your complete document package is submitted to the Immigration Department. Some cases may vary.
Validity
5 years
Multiple entries Up to 180 days per visitCome and go freely for 5 years. No need to apply for a visa each time you visit Vietnam.
⚠️ Government stamp fees (single entry ~$25, multiple entry ~$50) are paid separately at the border when you enter Vietnam. The 6,500,000 VND covers our full service — document handling, submission, and follow-up.
What it is
What is the Vietnam 5 year visa exemption?
The Vietnam 5 year visa exemption (also called the 5-year visa waiver or miễn thị thực 5 năm) is a special immigration permit for overseas Vietnamese (Việt Kiều) and their foreign family members. It allows you to:
- Enter Vietnam without a visa for 5 years from the issue date
- Stay up to 180 days per entry — no need to leave every 30 or 90 days
- Multiple entries — leave and re-enter as many times as you want
- No visa applications for each trip — saves time, money, and paperwork
This is not a permanent residence permit. It is a visa waiver that makes travel to Vietnam significantly easier for eligible individuals.
Key facts at a glance
Validity5 years from issue date
Max stay per entry180 days
EntriesUnlimited (multiple)
Who it's forViet Kieu + foreign spouses & children
Service fee6,500,000 VND
Processing time~3 weeks
Stamp fee on entry$25–$50 (government fee)
Who qualifies
Who is eligible for the 5 year visa exemption?
Eligibility is based on your Vietnamese origin or family relationship with a Vietnamese citizen. If any of these apply, you likely qualify.
Overseas Vietnamese (Việt Kiều)
You hold a foreign passport but can prove Vietnamese origin — born in Vietnam, or have Vietnamese parents, grandparents, or siblings.
Foreign spouse of a Vietnamese citizen
You are legally married to a Vietnamese citizen (living in Vietnam or abroad). Your spouse's Vietnamese citizenship qualifies you for the exemption.
Children under 18
Your child (under 18) of an eligible individual is covered. If one parent qualifies, dependent children qualify too.
Former Vietnamese citizens
You previously held Vietnamese citizenship but renounced it after naturalizing in another country. You can still apply as an overseas Vietnamese.
Spouse of an exemption holder
Your spouse holds a 5-year visa exemption. You can apply as a dependent if you are legally married and can prove the relationship.
Not eligible?
Standard travelers without Vietnamese origin or a Vietnamese spouse cannot use this exemption. Check our 90-day e-visa or urgent visa pages instead.
Documents needed
What documents do you need to apply?
We'll confirm your specific document requirements during intake, but here's what's generally needed:
Valid passport
At least 6 months validity from the date of application. Must be a foreign passport (not Vietnamese).
PassportPassport photos
Two recent 4x6 cm photos with white background. Professional quality recommended.
PhotosProof of Vietnamese origin
Old Vietnamese passport, Vietnamese birth certificate, certificate of Vietnamese citizenship, or family registration book.
Origin proofMarriage certificate
If applying as the spouse of a Vietnamese citizen. Must be officially registered with Vietnamese authorities or legalized.
MarriageChildren's birth certificates
If including dependent children under 18. Shows parent-child relationship and proves eligibility.
ChildrenApplication form (NA5/NA6)
We prepare and complete these forms for you. The NA5 form is for overseas Vietnamese, NA6 for foreign spouses and children.
FormsDocuments not in Vietnamese or English must be translated and notarized. We can help arrange this if needed.
How it works
How NamVisa processes your 5 year exemption.
We've broken down the process into clear steps so you know exactly what to expect.
Document review & gathering
We send you a custom document checklist based on your specific case. You send us scans/photos of your documents. We review everything for completeness and accuracy, and flag any issues before submission.
Form preparation & translation
We complete the NA5 or NA6 application form, translate any documents that need translation, and prepare the full submission package. You review and approve before we submit.
Submission to Immigration Department
We submit your complete application package to the Vietnam Immigration Department. We handle the submission fee and track the application through processing.
Processing & follow-up
Standard processing takes approximately 3 weeks from submission. We follow up regularly with the Immigration Department and update you on the status.
Certificate delivery
Once approved, your 5-year visa exemption certificate is issued. We arrange delivery to you — either in Vietnam or to your overseas address. You're all set for 5 years of hassle-free travel to Vietnam.
FAQ
Common questions about the 5 year visa exemption.
Overseas Vietnamese (Việt Kiều) who hold foreign passports and can prove Vietnamese origin qualify. Foreign spouses of Vietnamese citizens and their children under 18 also qualify. If you're unsure about your specific situation, contact us and we'll check for free.
Each entry allows a stay of up to 180 days (approximately 6 months). After that, you must exit Vietnam and re-enter to reset the stay period. You can return immediately — there is no mandatory wait time between entries.
No. The exemption is for short-term stays including tourism, family visits, business meetings, and personal travel. If you want to work or do business in Vietnam, you need a separate work permit and appropriate visa. The exemption does not authorize employment.
The fee covers our full service: eligibility assessment, document checklist and review, form preparation (NA5 or NA6), translation of documents if needed, submission to the Immigration Department, follow-up throughout processing, and delivery of your exemption certificate. Government stamp fees ($25-50 per entry) are separate and paid at the border.
The 3-week estimate starts after your complete document package is submitted to the Immigration Department. Time before submission (document gathering, review, translation) depends on your case. Most applications are processed within 3 weeks, though some cases may take longer depending on the Immigration Department's current workload.
The NA5 and NA6 are the official Vietnam Immigration Department application forms for the 5-year visa exemption. NA5 is for overseas Vietnamese applicants. NA6 is for foreign spouses and children of Vietnamese citizens. We complete these forms for you as part of our service.
Yes. We recommend applying for renewal 1-3 months before your current exemption expires. The renewal process requires a new application with updated documents. Contact us when you're ready to renew and we'll handle it.
Yes, you can apply for the exemption while inside Vietnam. The process is handled through the Immigration Department in Vietnam. However, you will need to leave and re-enter after the exemption is issued to activate your first 180-day stay under the new waiver. We can advise on the best approach for your situation.
Documents in other languages must be translated into Vietnamese or English and notarized. We can coordinate this for you as part of our service. The cost of official translation is included in the 6,500,000 VND fee for standard documents.
Related services
More options for your stay in Vietnam.
Visa Extension
Extend your stay in Vietnam without leaving the country if you still have time on your current visa.
90 Day E-Visa
Apply for the Vietnam 90-day e-visa — suitable for travelers from 80+ eligible countries.
Urgent Vietnam Visa
Need a visa fast? We can help with urgent visa processing for last-minute travel.
Read the Full Guide →
For a detailed deep dive into the 5-year visa exemption, including comparison tables and application tips.
Start your application
Ready to get your 5 year visa exemption?
Contact us on WhatsApp or email — we'll confirm your eligibility and guide you through the first steps. No commitment required.