IMPACT – MEDIUM

The Vietnamese government has moved to address concerns about new passports it began issuing earlier this summer.

Key Points:

  • Vietnamese authorities began issuing a new version of the country’s passport on July 1.
  • Following the passport’s introduction, several EU countries, including the Czech Republic, Finland and Germany, barred Vietnamese nationals holding the new passport from entering the country because the passport did not include passport holders’ place of birth.
  • In response, Vietnamese authorities stated that they would add the place of birth in the appendix of passports upon request from the applicant.

BAL Analysis: Vietnamese nationals may face difficulty entering some EU countries if they hold the new version of the Vietnam passport. Those who do not have their place of birth listed on their passport and are intending to travel internationally should work with authorities to have their place of birth added to the new passport.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2022 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

IMPACT – MEDIUM

Vietnamese immigration authorities are requiring local employees from sponsoring entities to submit visa applications in-person.

Key Points:

  • Vietnamese immigration authorities no longer allow third-party providers to submit an application on behalf of a sponsoring entity even with a power of attorney signed by the sponsoring entity’s authorized signatory.
  • Sponsoring entities must send one of their designated employees to the Immigration Department to submit visa applications.
  • Vietnamese authorities no longer accept visa pre-approval applications with the requirement for visa endorsement “on-arrival” when there is no Vietnamese embassy or consulate in the applicant’s departure country.

BAL Analysis: Employees from sponsoring entities who are submitting visa applications in-person should expect delays when filing an application. Employees should arrive at the Immigration Office before 7 a.m. to ensure the application can be submitted that day. Employers should plan to start the visa application process at least three weeks before the foreign national’s intended travel date.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2022 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

The Vietnamese government has eased its COVID-19 entry and testing requirements.

Key Points:

  • As of May 15, travelers, regardless of their vaccination status or departure country, do not need a pre-departure COVID-19 test to enter the country.
  • Vietnamese authorities are no longer requiring individuals to have a negative PCR test that was taken within 72 hours before departure.

Additional Information: More information regarding Vietnam’s decision to ease its COVID-19 testing requirements is available here.

BAL Analysis: Entry and health requirements may change with little or no notice. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and BAL will provide additional updates as information becomes available.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2022 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.

IMPACT – MEDIUM

The Vietnamese government has resumed its visa-free travel program and reinstated many of its pre-pandemic immigration policies.

Key Points:

  • As of March 15, individuals from Belarus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden and the U.K. can travel to Vietnam without obtaining a visa.
    • Foreign nationals from these countries can stay in Vietnam for up to 15 days without a visa for any travel purpose, including short-term business trips.
  • Foreign nationals are no longer required to obtain special entry demand approval from the Vietnamese government in order to apply for an entry visa.
  • Foreign nationals are no longer required to quarantine upon arrival.
  • Travelers are still required to have proof of a negative PCR test result taken within 72 hours before departure or a negative antigen test taken within 24 hours before departure. More information regarding COVID-19 entry requirements is available here.

Additional Information: Application processing delays are expected as many immigration department offices continue to work at a reduced capacity.

BAL Analysis: Individuals who are applying for entry visas should expect delays in application processing due to the resumption of pre-pandemic immigration policies and an increase in application volume. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and BAL will provide additional updates as information becomes available.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2022 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

IMPACT – MEDIUM

The Vietnamese government has announced exemptions to its entry requirements for qualifying foreign nationals, overseas Vietnamese nationals and their relatives.

Key Points:

  • Individuals who hold a valid permanent resident card, temporary residence card, visa or visa exemption certificate are exempt from entry permit requirements and the immigration approval process.
  • Foreign nationals who do not hold a valid permanent resident cards, temporary residence card, visa or visa exemption certificate and are traveling to Vietnam for work purposes must get an entry demand approval.
  • Entry demand requests must be sponsored by a host entity in Vietnam, issued by the People’s Committee and approved by immigration authorities.

BAL Analysis: The government intends to reduce the administrative burden for individuals who hold a valid permanent resident card, temporary residence card, visa or visa exemption certificate. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and BAL will provide additional updates as information becomes available.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2022 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.

The Vietnamese government has recognized the vaccine certificates of 72 countries and territories.

Key Points:

  • As of Oct. 21, authorities recognize the vaccination certificates of foreign nationals from Australia, Brazil, China, Singapore, the United Kingdom, the U.S. and 66 other countries.
  • Eligible travelers will undergo a reduced 7-day quarantine if they have proof of vaccination. The normal quarantine period is 14 days.
  • More information on entry requirements and health protocols can be found here.

BAL Analysis: Vietnam’s decision allows fully vaccinated travelers from the aforementioned countries to enter the country with reduced health requirements. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and BAL will provide additional updates as information becomes available.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2021 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

IMPACT – MEDIUM

The Ministry of Labor Invalids and Social Affairs has directed provincial labor authorities to reduce document requirements for experts, specialists and technicians applying for work permits.

Key Points:

  • Previously issued work permits can now serve as evidence of past work experience to justify the qualification for a new work permit application.
  • Applicants may now provide certificates of graduation as evidence of qualifications; previously, only official diplomas or degrees were accepted.
  • Applicants may now submit a copy of their passport that has not been notarized.

Additional Information: Foreign nationals who hold a valid work permit in one province may now be temporarily transferred to work in another province for six months without having to apply for a new permits. Employers must notify the provincial labor authorities when transferring an employee. Labor authorities have yet to announce when and how this will be implemented at the local level.

BAL Analysis: The Vietnamese government has reduced current administrative requirements for the issuance and re-issuance of work permits for foreign nationals to help businesses and individuals recover from the ongoing pandemic. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and BAL will provide additional updates as information becomes available.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2021 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

IMPACT – MEDIUM

The Ministry of Health recently announced that it would reduce the quarantine for fully vaccinated travelers granted approval to enter Vietnam.

Key Points:

  • As of Aug. 4, the Vietnamese government reduced the required quarantine from 28 days to 14 days if the following conditions are met:
    • The traveler has a vaccination certificate showing he or she has received the last applicable dose of a COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days but no more than 12 months before intended arrival, or has a recovery certificate proving the individual recovered from COVID-19 within the last six months.
    • The traveler possesses a negative PCR test result that was conducted 72 hours before departure.
  • The 14-day quarantine consists of a seven-day stay in a designated hotel and a seven-day stay at home.

Additional Information: Upon arrival, travelers will be tested and continue to be monitored for COVID-19 during the quarantine period.

BAL Analysis: The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and BAL will provide additional updates as information becomes available.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2021 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

The Vietnamese government recently extended health protocols for Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) and Hanoi for an additional two weeks.

HCMC:

  • Officials extended Directive 16 on July 23 for HCMC for at least two weeks.
    • Residents living in high-risk areas or districts are not allowed to leave their residence except for food or medical visits.
  • The Labor Department in HCMC will continue to operate at reduced capacity; the Immigration Department, consulates and notary services will remain closed indefinitely.

Hanoi:

  • Officials extended Directive 16 on July 24 for Hanoi for at least two weeks.
    • Restaurants, public transportation and non-essential businesses will remain closed. Most employees are required to work from home, and companies must operate with a minimum number of staff in the office.
  • As of July 26, the Labor Department began accepting entry demand approval applications online only and will not receive visitors or issue work permit applications until the end of the two-week lockdown.
  • The Immigration Department will remain open with a reduced workforce.
  • Embassies, consulates and notary services may be open, but individuals should check the availability of services on a case-by-case basis.

Additional Information: As of July 14, the mandatory hotel quarantine was reduced form 21 days to 14 days. Following the hotel quarantine, individuals must quarantine for an additional 14 days at home. All travelers arriving in Vietnam must have a PCR test conducted within 72 hours of arrival.

BAL Analysis: The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and BAL will provide additional updates as information becomes available.

This alert has been provided by Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2021 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

IMPACT – MEDIUM

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Labor Invalids and Social Affairs (HCMC DOLISA) has restarted accepting work permit applications for Chinese e-passport holders.

Key points:

  • Before the recent change, HCMC DOLISA had not accepted work permit applications for Chinese e-passport holders for over a year. Officials began accepting the applications without issuing an official notice.
  •  The Hanoi DOLISA had previously not accepted work permit applications from Chinese e-passport holders either but began accepting the applications in March.

BAL Analysis: The change finally allows companies in HCMC to apply for work permits for their Chinese employees.

This alert has been provided by Berry Appleman & Leiden. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2021 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.