Vietnam – Covid-19 – Immigration update

To check the real time evolutions concerning international mobility all over of the world, discover the GoWork – COVID-19 Digital Card.

Update: November 05th, 2020

Automatic renewal of temporary residence for foreigners affected by COVID-19

What is the change?

Foreigners who are unable to depart from Vietnam due to COVID-19 will be granted an automatic temporary stay extension until 30 November 2020. They will be required to complete a declaration of their temporary residence and health status for this automatic stay extension period.

Update: October 13th, 2020

Automatic temporary stay extension until 31 October 2020

What is the change?

Foreigners who are unable to depart Vietnam due to COVID-19 will be granted an automatic temporary stay extension through 31 October 2020. They will be required to complete a declaration of their temporary residence and health status for this automatic stay extension period.

Update: July 28th, 2020

COVID-19 tests for foreign experts

What is the change?

The Government will require foreign experts coming to Vietnam for work to get COVID-19 tests done three to seven days before they arrive. The testing must be done at a government-approved medical centre or one recognised by the World Health Organisation. Those who bought tickets and are scheduled to arrive in Vietnam before 5 August 2020 are exempt from the requirements.

Update: April 22th, 2020

Automatic extension of stay for certain foreigners

What is the change?

Vietnam recently announced an automatic extension of stay for certain foreigners to provide relief to them during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Key Points

  • An automatic extension of stay will be granted through June 30 to foreign nationals who entered Vietnam on or after March 1 using a tourist visa, e-visa or visa exemption certificate. Foreign nationals in Vietnam can leave the country through June 30 without needing to apply for an extension of stay.
  • The same automatic extension may apply to foreign nationals who traveled to Vietnam before March 1 if they have proof they were unable to leave the country because of reasons beyond their control such as the mandatory quarantine or needing medical treatment. The proof in this case is a letter from their Consulate or Embassy describing their predicament. It may also be necessary to show this document when leaving the country.
  • The automatic extension does not apply to those who entered using a business visa sponsored by a host entity. In this case, a request can be made by the host entity to sponsor the extension for foreign nationals who travelled to Vietnam for purposes such as work, business or visiting relatives.

The automatic extension of stay is good news because it provides some relief to foreign nationals stranded in Vietnam.

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Sophie Carlei

Sophie est Managing Director au sein de l’équipe Mobilité Internationale de Lyon et dirige l’équipe immigration. Elle conseille les groupes français et internationaux et intervient tant pour des clients travaillant dans […]

Fatia Bouteiller

Fatia Bouteiller a rejoint Deloitte Société d’Avocats en 2017 pour renforcer l’équipe Immigration. Fatia dispose d’une expérience de 15 ans en mobilité internationale dans les domaines du droit de l’immigration, […]