Vietnam: New Mandatory Online Multiple Entry Business Visa Application Process
February 24, 2023
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At a Glance
- The Vietnam government has introduced a new mandatory online application process for certain Multiple Entry Business Visa (MEBV) applicants.
- Sponsoring companies must obtain a token (e-signature) from a local Vietnamese telecommunications company to log in to the new Ministry of Public Security (MPS) portal and create an account to apply for MEBVs.
- Eligible applicants now have access to a streamlined process that no longer requires a local company representative to visit the immigration bureau for the visa submission process.
- Sponsoring companies who do not submit MEBV applications through the new MPS portal may have their applications rejected.
The situation
The Ministry of Public Security (MPS) of Vietnam (which oversees the Immigration bureau) has introduced a new online portal, which sponsoring companies should register with to apply for Multiple Entry Business Visas (MEBV) for their foreign national employees.
A closer look
| CHANGE | DETAILS | IMPACT |
| New online process |
|
|
| Sponsoring company token application and MPS registration |
|
|
Background
This change comes after the Vietnam government announced that it will revert to stricter immigration rules relating to foreign nationals, such as the recent Immigration bureau requirement to have a local employee be present during the filing step. While the change may represent the bureau’s attempt to address issues that were causing delays to the visa process, it remains to be seen if these changes (which have been abruptly implemented) will improve the efficiency of the process (or, for example, may cause additional delays with fewer avenues for manual redress).
Looking ahead
It is likely that the government will move more immigration processes online, such as the submission of supporting documents, as it continues its initiative to move all government processes in Vietnam online.
We worked closely with Resident Vietnam in Vietnam to prepare this alert. This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].
