Minister of Public Security To Lam has just authorized the Prime Minister to report and explain the opinions of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly at the 23rd session with the bill on amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese citizens and the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam.
Minister of Public Security To Lam reports at the 23rd session of the National Assembly Standing Committee
With suggestions to explain more clearly about Proposal to extend the duration of electronic visa (visa) from 30 days to 3 monthsCurrently, the e-visa is short (30 days), so it has not attracted many foreigners, especially a group of guests who want to stay for a long time in Vietnam.
In addition, the number of people wishing to survey, learn about the market, and seek investment opportunities in Vietnam for a long time is also relatively large.
Therefore, the Government proposes to increase the duration of e-visas to 3 months, valid for one time or many times to meet the needs of long-term relaxation of international tourists. This also creates favorable conditions for foreigners who want to enter Vietnam to research, survey the market, seek and promote investment.
Also according to Minister To Lam, the e-visa is valid for up to 3 months, suitable for the duration of stay for foreigners who are responsible for establishing a commercial presence, service providers, and contract service providers as committed by Vietnam in FTAs.
Mr. To Lam also said that the issuance of electronic visas is done through prior personnel review. Therefore, compared with unilateral visa exemption, the issuance of electronic visas helps the immigration authorities to screen groups of people who are not eligible for entry, meeting the requirements of the management.
Go back Proposing to increase the temporary stay at the border gate for people entering unilaterally visa-free from 15 days to 45 daysThe Government believes that this is in line with the trend of the tourism industry.
Visitors from as far away as Europe to Vietnam often follow a long vacation of 15 days or more and choose resort, cross-Vietnam and inter-country travel programs.
The tourism industry is oriented to attract beach resort and long-stay tourists to gradually compete with other countries in the region in terms of sea tourism, while countries such as Thailand and Singapore are applying a visa-free policy with a temporary stay of up to 45 days and 90 days.
Mr. Lam emphasized, raising the unilateral visa exemption period to 45 days is the average in the region, thereby, will improve Vietnam's competitiveness in attracting tourists; helping tourists to take the initiative in time and schedule to visit and relax for a long time in Vietnam.
The Minister of Public Security also reported that, since the pilot phase in 2017, the number of foreigners applying for an e-visa has been increasing. After the Government restored the immigration policy as before the Covid-19 epidemic period (from March 15.3.2022, 46,6), the number of e-visa issuance increased by 19 times compared to the same period before the Covid-XNUMX epidemic.
Transition regulations for passports with no place of birth information
In addition to increasing the duration of electronic visas, this revised law also adds birth information to immigration documents, including ordinary passports.
Opinions at the National Assembly Standing Committee suggested the addition of the effective date of the above provisions; at the same time stipulating the transition for entry and exit documents without "place of birth" information and procedures for applying for passports submitted before the effective date of the revised law so as not to affect the interests of citizens.
Explaining this issue, Minister of Public Security To Lam said that the Government assigned the law-drafting agency to coordinate with the National Assembly's National Defense and Security Committee in correcting it in a suitable direction.
