Visa Procedures & Processing

Procedures for Issuance of Special Visa Exemption Cards for Foreigners from 18 August 2025

15 August 2025

On 18 August 2025, the Ministry of Public Security promulgated Decision No. 7134/QĐ-BCA-QLXNC, publishing new administrative procedures in the field of immigration management under the authority of the Ministry of Public Security.

Accompanying Decision No. 7134/QĐ-BCA-QLXNC are newly issued administrative procedures in the immigration management sector, including the list of procedures, detailed procedural content, and application forms. Among these is the procedure governing the issuance of special visa exemption cards for foreign nationals, as detailed below.

Implementation Procedures

Step 1: Preparation of the application dossier

Applicants prepare the required documents in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

Step 2: Submission of the application

The competent agency or organization requesting the issuance of a special visa exemption card for a foreign national may submit the application by one of the following methods:

In-person submission during office hours on working days at one of the two offices of the Immigration Department under the Ministry of Public Security:
- 44–46 Tran Phu Street, Ba Dinh Ward, Hanoi
- 333–335–337 Nguyen Trai Street, Cau Ong Lanh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City
Online submission via the National Public Service Portal or the Ministry of Public Security’s Public Service Portal.

Upon receipt, immigration officers will examine the legal validity and completeness of the application dossier:

If the dossier is complete and valid, it will be accepted, and an appointment slip for result collection will be issued, or confirmation of receipt will be sent via the National Public Service Portal, the Ministry of Public Security’s Public Service Portal, SMS, or email.
If the dossier is incomplete or invalid, guidance for completion will be provided or notification will be issued via the above-mentioned portals, SMS, or email.
If the dossier does not meet the required conditions, it will not be accepted, and a written response or electronic notification stating the reason will be provided.

Application reception time: From Monday to Saturday morning each week, excluding public holidays and Tet holidays.

Step 3: Result delivery

In-person collection: Results are collected directly at the Immigration Department. Applicants must present the appointment slip and valid identification documents for verification.
Online notification: Results are notified via the National Public Service Portal, the Ministry of Public Security’s Public Service Portal, or by email.
If the issuance of a special visa exemption card is refused, a written response or electronic notification stating the reasons will be provided.

Result delivery time: From Monday to Friday each week, excluding public holidays and Tet holidays.

Methods of Application

Direct submission at the headquarters of the Immigration Department.
Online submission via the National Public Service Portal or the Ministry of Public Security’s Public Service Portal.

Application Dossier Components

Notification or request letter from a competent agency or organization:
- For cases specified at Point a, Clause 1, Article 2 of Decree No. 221/2025/NĐ-CP: Notification using Form NA-01.
- For cases specified at Points b, c, d, and đ, Clause 1, Article 2 of Decree No. 221/2025/NĐ-CP: Request letter issued by a ministry, ministerial-level agency, government-attached agency, or Party or National Assembly body using Form NA-02.
- For cases specified at Points e and g, Clause 1, Article 2 of Decree No. 221/2025/NĐ-CP: Request letter issued by the relevant agency or organization using Form NA-02.
Copy of the passport biographical information page.

Number of dossiers: One (01) set.

Processing Time

No more than three working days from the date of receipt of a complete application dossier for cases specified at Point b, Clause 2, Article 3 of Decree No. 221/2025/NĐ-CP.
No more than five working days from the date of receipt for cases specified at Points c and d, Clause 2, Article 3 of Decree No. 221/2025/NĐ-CP.
No more than seven working days from the date of receipt for cases specified in Clause 3, Article 4 of Decree No. 221/2025/NĐ-CP.

Eligible Applicants

Competent agencies or organizations for cases specified at Point a, Clause 1, Article 2 of Decree No. 221/2025/NĐ-CP.
Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-attached agencies, or Party and National Assembly bodies for cases specified at Points b, c, d, and đ, Clause 1, Article 2 of Decree No. 221/2025/NĐ-CP.
Relevant agencies or organizations for cases specified at Points e and g, Clause 1, Article 2 of Decree No. 221/2025/NĐ-CP.

Authority Handling the Procedure

The Immigration Department under the Ministry of Public Security.

Result of the Administrative Procedure

An electronic special visa exemption card (Form NC-01) together with a notification to the relevant agency or organization regarding the issuance of the electronic special visa exemption card (Form NB-01), or a physical special visa exemption card with an embedded chip (Form NC-02).

Application Forms

Notification issued by a competent agency or organization requesting consideration for issuance of a special visa exemption card for eligible foreign nationals entering Vietnam (Form NA-01), or a request letter issued by a competent agency or organization requesting consideration for issuance of a special visa exemption card for eligible foreign nationals entering Vietnam (Form NA-02).

Requirements and Conditions

The applicant must hold a passport valid for more than 30 days.
The applicant must not fall under cases subject to entry prohibition or exit suspension as prescribed in Articles 21 and 28 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam (2014).
A physical special visa exemption card with an embedded chip is issued where the foreign national is currently staying in Vietnam, has biometric data recorded in the National Immigration Database or holds a Level-2 electronic identification account, and is eligible for visa exemption with a validity period of three years or more.