Vietnam announces waiver on visa requirements

Residents of Britain, Germany, France, Spain and Italy now have cause to celebrate, as Vietnam announces its plan to waive visa requirements for an entire year.

The exemption period, which will begin on the 1st of July 2015 and end on the 30th of June 2016, will allow residents of these five countries to travel to Vietnam with nothing but their passport. Belarus will also be added to the list for a period of five years from the same date.

News of the announcement surfaced in the media last week, but it was not until Monday that the Embassy of Vietnam in London confirmed reports in a statement on their website. From July 2016, the visa waiver is expected to be extended to Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

The visa exemption has been introduced to counteract a slump in tourist numbers, which have reportedly been in decline since 2014, and will add to the list of 18 other countries that are exempt from Vietnamese visa requirements. Most countries on the list are members of ASEAN, but it also includes Russia and much of Scandinavia.

What do you need to know?

• The visa exemption period only covers visits of up to 15 days
• Your passport must have at least six months validity for you to be eligible for the visa exemption
• If you wish to visit Vietnam twice during the exemption period, the beginning of your second visit must begin at least 30 days after the end of your first
• If you are already travelling to Vietnam with a visa and plan to make a second visit during the exemption period, you do not need to leave a 30-day grace period between your visits
• If you have already applied for a visa to travel to Vietnam beyond the 1st of July 2015, your visa fee will not be refundable

So, now it is easier to get to this great country and we can help you get there.