Mistakes to Avoid While Applying for Vietnam Visa for Arrival For Indians [2020]

I am Rachit Agarwal from India, and I was looking to expand my professional horizons at a foreign land. I am into marketing, and I have found that Vietnam is brimmed with many lucrative marketing job opportunities. Furthermore, it is an absolutely amazing country to live in. I did my research and found out that it is an affordable place to dwell, and local people are very friendly. Now the hard part was actually to get a job. After a month of constantly applying for various companies, I finally got revert from a prestigious marketing company. While I was beyond ecstatic, the problem was I was asked to come down for a personal interview.

Without wasting any time, I started searching for the visa process. That is when I found that Vietnam offers visa on arrival. And in this blog, I am sharing everything that I learned about applying for visa on arrival for Vietnam and the mistakes that you should certainly avoid.

Why is Visa on Arrival Efficient?

Before we get down to how to apply for a visa on arrival, let’s understand why visa on arrival is so popular and favored amongst people. Following are some important reasons to choose visa on arrival –

1. It is a Time-Saving Process 

When you apply for a normal visa; you have to wait for months in order to get the approval. On the other hand, visa on arrival eliminates the waiting process. Once you submit the right documents and pay the stamping fees, your visa is approved instantly.

2. It is Convenient way to Travel Abroad 

I was looking for a job so I cannot wait for months for my visa to get approved. This is where visa on arrival renders the flexibility that people like me seek. If you are planning a rather short trip to Vietnam, it is more convenient to opt for visa on arrival.

3. The Application Process is Quite Simple and Straightforward 

Unlike applying for a visa via embassy, applying for visa on arrival doesn’t come with any complications. Just carry along relevant documents and stamp fees in cash in order to acquire your visa.

Vietnam Visa on Arrival – The Application Process 

Like I mentioned above, the process is quite simple. Below are the steps of the application process associated with Vietnam visa on arrival –

1. Apply for Visa 

Typically, visa on arrival is granted when you reach at a particular country, not in Vietnam. In order to get a visa on arrival, you must apply beforehand. You can do that online, and it generally takes 2 business days to receive your approval letter. And in case of an emergency situation, the processing can be done within 8 hours or 4 hours with extra fee.

2. Gather and Submit the Documents 

Once you have received your approval letter; get a hard copy of it. You need to submit your tickets; passport, approval letter and two passports sized photos in the visa counter. At the visa counter of Vietnam International Airport, you will get your visa stamped. The stamping fees are USD 25 for a single entry and USD 50 for a dual enter. Make sure you have stamping fees in cash, as they don’t accept card or any digital payment medium.

3. Get the Right Airport

Not all airports at Vietnam offer visa on arrival. Therefore while getting your tickets, ensure that you have the right airport. You can get visa on arrival in Phu Quoc International Airport in Phu Quoc Island, Cat Bi International Airport in Hai Phong city, Cam Ranh International Airport near Nha Trang city, Da Nang International Airport in Da Nang city, Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh city, Lien Khuong International Airport in Da Lat city, and Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi city.

Mistakes to Avoid While Applying for Visa on Arrival

If it is your first and you are not well-aware of the essentials, you might end up making a couple of mistakes, as I did. These mistakes can prolong your application process. Following are some mistakes that you must try to avoid while applying for Vietnam visa on arrival –

• Borders don’t provide VOA – You can only apply for a visa on arrival if you are traveling by air. You have to get a visa in advance in case if you are traveling by land or sea.

 

• Avoid Typos and Spelling Mistakes – Inaccurate details while filling the visa on the application form is the most common mistake. These mistakes could be mentioning the incorrect date of birth, missing out your full name, wrong passport number, etc. You must ensure that the details on the approval letter must match what is written on your passport. If that is not the case, you will be declined entry.

 

• Visa Extension is Not Simple – People believe that once they reach Vietnam, they could easily apply for a visa extension. However, the visa extension process is time-consuming and expensive. So if you think you might have to stay there for more than one month, apply for a three-month visa.

 
Before applying for Vietnam visa on arrival, ensure to do your research in order to avoid any mistakes that might lead to visa delay or even decline.