Vietnam immigration policy: What companies need to know about COVID-19 quarantine and entry

On 15 March 2022, the Government of Vietnam issued dispatch no. 1606/VPCP-QHQT on the reintroduction of Vietnam’s immigration policy and dispatch no. 1265/BYT-DP on the introduction of new medical policies for passengers travelling to Vietnam. This means that for companies and private individuals, entry restrictions and the strict test and quarantine regulations in place during the corona pandemic no longer apply.

The Vietnamese government has good control of the national epidemic situation and is gradually turning to a stage of safe, flexible adaptation and effective control of the COVID-19 pandemic aimed at simultaneous disease prevention and socio-economic development. To revive economic life again, the government has published a package of measures and guidelines. The easing of immigration and medical policies is expected to bring positive results when Vietnam reopens its border. The Ecovis experts explain the most important details.

Resumption of pre-COVID-19 entry/exit procedures and visa exemption policies

• Entry and exit procedures for foreigners and Vietnamese nationals living overseas will be as they were before the introduction of measures to prevent and control COVID-19, based on the law on entry, exit, transit and residence of foreigners in Vietnam and corresponding guiding regulations. As a result, entry approval is no longer required for all inbound travellers, including foreigners entering Vietnam for business purposes.
• Prompt implementation of the government’s resolution no. 32/NQ-CP on unilateral visa exemption for citizens from 13 countries (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Russia, Japan, Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Belarus) who can temporarily stay in Vietnam for 15 days from the date of entry, no matter what visa types they currently hold or their entry purposes, based on adequate eligibility criteria in accordance with Vietnamese laws. This visa exemption policy will last for three years, from 15 March 2022 to 14 March 2025, and an extension may be tabled in line with Vietnamese law.
• Immigration policies will be formulated with partners within the framework of bilateral and multilateral relations. Negotiations will also be continued with other countries on the recognition of each other’s vaccine passports.

We strongly recommend that foreign travellers inquire about the exact rules that apply before entering Vietnam.

Nghia Tran, Partner, ECOVIS AFA VIETNAM, Da Nang City, Vietnam

Easing of quarantine policies

The latest medical guidance issued by Vietnam’s Ministry of Health removes tough entry restrictions and compulsory quarantine upon arrival for inbound passengers. Instead, new requirements are set out for COVID-19 testing and health declaration and observation:

• A negative COVID-19 test certificate issued by authorised agencies is required. Either a PCR test taken at least 72 hours before departure or a rapid antigen test taken within 24 hours of departure. This requirement does not apply to children under 2 years of age. Otherwise, passengers must be tested within 24 hours of their arrival in Vietnam. If the test result is positive, it must be reported to the local medical centre for further guidance.
• Complete a health declaration before entry and install the PC-COVID app during their time in Vietnam. Any COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, sore throat, breathing difficulty etc., must be notified at the border.
• Passengers must self-monitor their health during the first 10 days in Vietnam. Any symptoms must be informed to the nearest medical centre for further guidance. Pandemic protocols such as the wearing of masks, hand disinfection etc., should be followed at all times.

For further information please contact:

Nghia Tran, Partner, ECOVIS AFA VIETNAM, Da Nang City, Vietnam
Email: Nghia.Tran@ecovis.com.vn