INSTRUCTION

On pre-clearance for foreigners entering Vietnam sponsored by agencies and organizations when Covid-19 prevention and control measures applied

            I. Scope of regulation

            Instructions on order and procedures for requesting pre-clearance from Vietnam Immigration Department for foreigners entering Vietnam sponsored by agencies and organizations (including foreigners with or without visas or temporary residence cards) when Covid-19 prevention and control measures are applied.

      II. Subjects of application

            1. Foreign experts, investors, business managers, high-skilled workers (hereinafter referred to as experts); parents, spouses, and children of foreign experts; and foreign students studying in Vietnam.

            2. Agencies and organizations in Vietnam which invite or sponsor foreigners entering Vietnam; and other relevant agencies, organizations and individuals.

            III. Order and procedures

            1. Required documents

            a) An application form NA2 issued with Circular No. 04/2015/TT-BCA dated January 5^th, 2015 by the Minister of Public Security prescribing forms related to foreigners’ entry into, exit from and residence in Vietnam, which is submitted to Vietnam Immigration Department to apply for visa and entry pre-clearance.

            Inviting or sponsoring agencies and organizations can access the website at https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/en_VN/web/guest/trang-chu-ttdt to fill in the online application form for pre-clearance via electronic transactions, and then print the complete form, sign and stamp on it.

            For foreigners who have obtained valid visas or valid temporary residence cards in sponsorship from the said inviting or sponsoring agencies and organizations, please declare in the application form (form NA2) that they have visas or a temporary residence cards (number, symbol, issuing authority, date of issuance, expiry date) and enclose copies with the application.

            b) An approval letter of the People's Committee of the province or the centrally-run city (hereinafter referred to as the People's Committee of the province)  which allows foreigners’ entry (specified in Section II.1 of this Instruction) with the purposes of working, visiting relatives and studying as well as approving transportation and quarantine measures and strategies; in case of undergoing quarantine in another locality, please submit the approval letter for quarantine arrangements of the People's Committee of the province in which quarantine is implemented.

            In case the Prime Minister or the National Steering Committee for Covid-19  Prevention and Control allows entry into Vietnam, please submit the written notice from the Government Office or the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control and the approval letter for quarantine arrangements of the People's Committee of the province in which quarantine is implemented.

 (The above-mentioned documents are the originals or certified copies)

            c) In case foreigners enter through international airport border gates, information about the onward flight (flight number, itinerary and entry border gates) shall be declared; If flight information is not available at the time of submitting application, it must be sent in writing immediately when available so that Vietnam Immigration Department can notify the entry approval.

            d) If this is the first application for inviting or sponsoring foreigners, a social organization, an enterprise or another organization having the legal person status as prescribed by Vietnamese law, a foreign trader’s branch or the representative office of a foreign economic, cultural or professional organization in Vietnam shall send attachments including:

            - A certified copy of the organization’s establishment license or decision issued by a competent agency;

            - A document introducing the seal and signature of the organization’s competent person (form NA16 issued with Circular No. 04/2015/TT-BCA).

            2. Places of submitting application forms, and receiving results:

            Inviting or sponsoring agencies and organizations directly submit application forms and receive results at Vietnam Immigration Department (Address: 44-46 Tran Phu, Ba Dinh, Hanoi or 333-335-337 Nguyen Trai, District 1, Ho Chi Minh city).

            3. Processing time:

            Vietnam Immigration Department shall consider and send a reply to inviting or sponsoring agencies or organizations within 03 working days from the date of receiving appropriate documents.

            4. Entry approval notification:

            a) In case foreigners enter through international airport border gates, Vietnam Immigration Department shall notify immigration control units at the border gates of foreigners’ entry approval.

            b) In case foreigners enter through land, sea or railway border gates, Vietnam Immigration Department shall notify foreigners’ entry approval to Border Department of the Border Guard Command of the Ministry of National Defense./.

Translated by Trọng Minh – Mạnh Hà