Vietnam has a long history and is one of the oldest civilizations in Asia. After surviving its war past, the country has emerged as a fast-developing country that attracts millions of visitors to its borders every year, including Sri Lankan citizens. If you are from Sri Lanka and you intend to visit Vietnam, you will need to apply for a Vietnam visa for Sri Lanka. With a visa issued by the government, you can enter the country legally and stay for some time. This page contains valid information about the apply Vietnam visa application process and requirements, so keep reading to know more.
Does Sri Lankans Need A Visa To Enter Vietnam?
Sri Lankans need a visa to enter Vietnam for short or long-term visits because Sri Lanka is not on the list of visa-exempt countries. So any visitor coming to the country from Sri Lanka must apply and obtain a visa before boarding a flight to Hanoi. Sri Lankans who arrive in Hanoi without a visa must apply for a visa on arrival at the airport before they can enter the country. The visa-on-arrival process isn’t cumbersome, but you may need to wait in long queues should you arrive on days with intense traffic inflows.
Types of Vietnam Visa For Sri Lanka
There are different visas to Vietnam from Sri Lanka you can apply for, and they are as follows.
Tourist Visa: Vietnam is open for tourism, and you can apply for it if your sole aim is to visit for tourism. You can visit any tourist hotspot in the country and stay for up to 30 days.
Business Visa: Another visa Sri Lankans may apply for is a business visa for commercial activities like meetings, events, contract negotiation, and the like.
Transit Visa: Those looking to change flights in Vietnam en route to another country may apply for a transit visa valid for just three days. Applicants must show proof of flight tickets for their planned destination.
Vietnam Visa Validity
Note that Vietnam visas have different validities and features. We have the 1-month single entry visa and double entry visa, the 3 months single entry and double entry visa, and the 1-year multiple entry visas. Long-stay residence visas like work or study visas are valid for more than 1 year.
Furthermore, Sri Lankans with 1-year visas can stay for up to 90 days for tourism, while those with business visas can stay for up to 180 days at a time.
Residence Visas
Study Visa: Students from Sri Lanka admitted into schools in Vietnam must apply for a student visa before visiting to study. The visa validity depends on the duration of the academic course.
Work Visa: Those who have secured employment in Vietnam must apply for and obtain a work visa before they can work legally. The authorities will request employment letters, invitation letters, and tax documents of the employer, among other important documents.
How To Apply For A Vietnam Visa For Sri Lanka
There are two ways to apply for a Vietnam Visa as a Sri Lankan passport holder: visit the embassy in Colombo or apply for one online. Vietnam embassy applications are required for long-term residency visas, and you must submit physical copies of your documents. Online e-visa application, on the other hand, doesn’t require the submission of physical documents. All you need is to submit soft copies of your documents on trusted online platforms using your smartphone or computer.
The online is only designed for short-term tourist, business, or transit visas. Also note that Vietnam visa on arrival is available to Sri Lankans.
Here are steps to take to apply for Vietnam e Visa
Visit VisaHQ
Select Vietnam as your destination
Select Sri Lanka as your country of origin
Choose your preferred visa
Fill out the application form with the correct details
Upload copies of your travel documents
Pay the required visa application fees
Submit for approval
Visa Processing Timeline
For embassy applications, you may need to wait up to 15 working days or more to get the visa as it entails different processes; however, for online e-visas, you can get it within 3 working days or less, depending on the volume of applications at the time.
Vietnam Visa For Sri Lanka Requirements
Here are the visa requirements for a Vietnam tourist visa. For other visas, additional documents will be required.
Passport: Original Sri Lanka passport with a minimum of 6 months validity and 2 unused pages. Passports that do not meet these conditions will be rejected.
Travel Itinerary: The itinerary covers flight reservations, hotel reservations, information about arrival and departure dates as well as places you intend to visit. Note that your hotel and flight should only be reserved, not paid for.
Proof of funds: Financial documents proving that you have the capacity to cover your expenses.