The Covid 19 pandemic has presented the tourism industry with a major challenge. In Vietnam, the country has to close its tourist sites and prevent the entry of all foreign visitors. Aside from suspending the issuance of tourist visas, Vietnam has also prevented the entry of those foreigners who were part of the Vietnam waiver policy and are eligible for visa-free entry. But these travel restrictions were only temporary. Now that things are trying to go back to normalcy, Vietnam is hoping to welcome foreign visitors once again.

The Vietnam Visa Waiver Program

Under the Vietnam Visa Waiver Program, Russians, and some other foreign nationals, can enter visa-free, provided that their stay is only 15 days. The visa waiver program was launched last December of 2015. Under this program, there are more than 20 foreign nationals who will be eligible to enter Vietnam without having to apply for a visa.

The Visa Waiver Program was supposed to end last December of 2019. But it was found to be successful in bringing more foreign visitors in. As such, they have decided to extend it for three more years. Therefore, Russian citizens wanted to take advantage of the visa-free entry have until December 2022 to take advantage of this privilege.

Temporary Suspension of Visa-free Entry Due to Covid 19

Last month, the visa-free entry for citizens of Russia and some other foreign visitors, have to be suspended. This was part of the Vietnam government’s efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus also known as Covid 19. Aside from preventing the visa-free entry, Vietnam has also stopped issuing visas to all nationalities. As a result, several foreign visitors have to postpone their trip to the country.

Thankfully, the situation is now under control. The Vietnam government is happy to announce that they are now opening their doors to foreign visitors. All foreign nationals, including Russian citizens who are eligible for visa-free entry, can now come to the country.

Vietnam Visa-free Entry Requirements for Citizens of Russia

Under the visa waiver policy, Russian citizens can enter Vietnam without having to show a visa. But they need to present certain requirements before they will be allowed to get in. Without these requirements, the Immigration Officer won’t let them in.

• Valid passport – in order to be granted the visa-free entry, Russian citizens must be able to show their Russian passport. It should remain valid for at least six months from their entry date. The passport must have extra blank pages for entry and exit stamps.
• Proof of onward travel – Russian visitors are also required to show proof that they will be out of the country within 15 days. As mentioned, the visa-free entry will only allow you to stay in Vietnam for 15 days. You can present a plane ticket going to another country or a return ticket to Russia.

Applying for a Vietnam Visa for Citizens of Russia

Fore Russian visitors who wanted to stay in Vietnam for longer than 15 days, consider getting a Vietnam visa. You have two choices. One is the e-visa and the other is the visa on arrival.

The e-visa will let you stay in the country for 30 days. It’s acceptable at the various entry points in Vietnam, such as at the airports, seaports, and land border entry points. Since this is an electronic visa, you are required to apply for this visa online. There will be a visa registration form that you need to fill out. After you submit the application, it will take around 3 business days for them to send you back your visa. You will get it through email and you need to print the visa to present at the Passport Control when entering the country.

The other type of visa that Russian citizens can apply is called the visa on arrival. Indeed, this is a visa that you can get upon arrival. However, before you can get the visa, you are required to register online in advance. The best thing about this visa is that you get to choose between a single and multiple entries. You can also choose whether you need a 30-day or 90-day visa. So if you’re planning to stay in Vietnam for a much longer time, then this visa is perfect for you.

After you submit your online application, they will send you back a pre-approval letter. Show this letter at the visa landing counter and they will attach a visa sticker in your passport. But take note that the visa on arrival will only work if you are entering through the airport.