More than 96,000 foreigners granted e-visa in past nine months: Immigration official

As many as 96,478 foreigners requested and received e-visas in the past nine months (since February 1^st), including 93,266 that accessed the application system by themselves and 3,212 that completed the procedures through domestic agencies and organisations, said Major General Le Xuan Vien, head of the Immigration Management Department.

Major General Le Xuan Vien, head of the Immigration Management Department, speaks at the press conference to review the nine-month pilot e-visa scheme. (Photo: VNA)

The information was released at a press conference held by the Immigration Department, under the Ministry of Public Security, in Hanoi, on December 12^th, to evaluate the results of a nine-month trial period of granting e-visas for foreigners, as well as to announce that more countries have been added to the e-visa programme.

According to Major General Le Xuan Vien, over the past nine months, the programme of granting e-visas for foreigners has been appreciated by both domestic and international travellers, as well as attracting the interest of citizens from the U.S. and Europe.

He also noted that the issuance of e-visas has attracted a larger number of foreigners to visit Vietnam, to survey the market and seek investment opportunities, further contributing to the country’s socio-economic development, particularly in tourism.

Since February 1^st, the National Web Portal on Immigration has reported about one million visits; and approximately 96,500 foreign citizens were granted e-visas, 97 per cent of whom got their e-visas through the portal, Vien unveiled.

The immigration official added that Vietnam provides both e-visa and visa-upon-arrival services.

Following the success of the scheme, the government has decided to expand it to visitors from six more countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the UAE, India and the Netherlands. Australians are the seventh biggest group of foreign arrivals and among the top spenders.

Vietnam began allowing tourists from 40 countries to apply for e-visas last February, with China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the U.S., the UK, Germany and Sweden — all major target markets for its tourism sector, among the 40.

The application has also enhanced administrative reform in the management of the exit and entry of foreigners, ensuring that the process is convenient and transparent, added the Major General.

As many as 96,478 foreigners requested and received e-visas in the past nine months.

The inspection and control of foreigners entering Vietnam through e-visas at border gates and airports has ensured safety and created favourable conditions for foreigners, as well as avoiding the admittance of those who are not allowed to enter Vietnam, ensuring national sovereignty and security.

The coordination between the Immigration Department and the relevant agencies has been strictly promoted; meanwhile the connection of the transmission line for information on e-visas to border gates has been implemented quickly and smoothly.

In order to help inpiduals and organisations easily find the information related to e-visas, the Immigration Department has set up an e-mail and ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ column in English, France and Spanish at the websites http://www.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn or http://www.immigration.gov.vn.

As of December 4^th, the department received and answered 4,592 e-mails from foreigners on issues related to the issuance of e-visas.

In addition to granting e-visas, the department also received and processed the proposals of approving and examining personnel of foreigners entering Vietnam from agencies and organisations in Vietnam through the electronic transaction system.

Visitors can apply online for a 30-day, single-entry visa by paying a non-refundable application fee. It will take applicants three working days to find out if their visa applications have been approved.

Visitors with e-visas can enter through eight international airports, 13 international border gates on land or seven ports./.

VNF