Chinese nationals travelling to Vietnam — for tourism, business or work — need a visa (save special exemptions). Procedures are broadly the same as other nationalities, but there are a few specifics that Chinese applicants and sponsoring companies should know in advance. This article covers the most practical notes.
1. Visa types Chinese nationals commonly use
- E-visa: applied online, currently allows 90 days, multiple entries — fits tourism and short surveys;
- Business visa: needs a Vietnamese company sponsor — fits negotiations and project work;
- Work visa: tied to a work permit — for long-term employment;
- Family visit: for those with family in Vietnam;
- Rule: match the visa to the real purpose — wrong visa type is a violation.
2. E-visa: what’s different for Chinese applicants?
- Procedure: applied online like all nationalities — form, photo, passport upload;
- Processing: allow buffer time — don’t book flights before the visa is in hand;
- Key difference: see section 3 on the separate visa paper — directly relevant to e-visas;
- Double-check: name, passport number, birth date — one wrong character means re-applying;
- Print it: carry a printed e-visa at entry — don’t rely on the phone alone.
3. Separate visa paper: the administrative practice
- The practice: for Chinese passports, Vietnamese authorities commonly issue a separate visa paper instead of stamping the passport directly;
- Administrative reason: this is the authorities’ procedural practice — applicants just need to know to prepare;
- Keep it safe: don’t lose the separate paper — exit requires presenting it with the passport;
- Full validity: the separate paper has complete legal validity like a sticker visa;
- Note: no need to mention this in the form — just follow the procedure.
4. China–Vietnam business trips: which visa?
- Short trips (under 90 days): e-visa — fast, self-service;
- Invited business: business visa — Vietnamese partner sponsors, smoother at entry;
- Frequent travel: choose multiple-entry — avoids re-applying;
- Coming to work: work visa plus work permit — e-visa does not allow working;
- Big groups: see our article on sponsoring specialist teams — group processing is faster.
5. Documents to prepare
- Passport: valid at least 6 months — check before applying;
- Photo: exact specs (white background, standard size) — wrong photos are a top rejection reason;
- Invitation/sponsorship: for business visas — provided by the Vietnamese company;
- Itinerary: return tickets, hotel bookings — proving the trip’s purpose;
- Translation: Chinese-language documents need certified translation when authorities require.
6. Mistakes Chinese applicants often make
- Mistake 1 — Overstaying: even one day over draws fines — extend before expiry;
- Mistake 2 — Working on e-visa: e-visa does not allow employment — caught means violation;
- Mistake 3 — Losing the separate paper: exit becomes complicated — photograph it plus keep the hard copy;
- Mistake 4 — Wrong details: name spelling must match the passport 100%;
- Mistake 5 — No pre-flight check: discovering a visa error at the airport — check immediately on receipt.
7. Extending and converting visas
- Extension: apply before expiry — through the sponsor or an agent;
- Conversion: e-visa to work visa usually requires exiting and re-applying — rarely converted directly;
- Border runs: exiting to Cambodia/Laos and returning — legal but time-consuming;
- Long stays: get a temporary residence card instead of repeated extensions;
- Advice: complex cases — ask counsel before the visa expires.
8. At the airport/border: notes
- Right queue: the foreigners’ counter — not the Vietnamese-citizens line;
- Present: passport + visa/separate paper + entry form (if any);
- Answer briefly: trip purpose, accommodation — honest, matching the visa type;
- Entry stamp: check the granted duration — ensure it covers the trip;
- Keep papers: the entry form stays with you until exit.
9. Sponsoring companies: what are the duties?
- Liability: the sponsor is responsible for the purpose of the sponsored person’s entry;
- Registration: declare temporary residence for foreigners — via local police;
- Oversight: ensure sponsored persons don’t work contrary to their visa type;
- Risk: “paper” sponsorships where workers drift off elsewhere — the company is jointly liable;
- Internal process: companies need a receive–register–manage process for foreign staff.
10. Pre-trip checklist
- Passport valid 6 months?
- Correct visa type, correct details?
- Separate visa paper (if any) printed and kept safe?
- Invitation/sponsorship letter carried?
- Return tickets, hotel booked?
- Company ready to declare temporary residence?
11. Visas for accompanying family
- Spouse, children: family-visit or dependent visas;
- Documents: marriage and birth certificates — consular-legalised like all Chinese papers;
- Business trips: family can’t ride on a business visa — apply separately;
- Children: separate passports — no longer on parents’ passports;
- Planning: whole family travelling — synchronise visa timelines.
12. When a visa is refused
- Common reasons: incomplete/mismatched files, overstay history, purpose doubts;
- Handling: don’t re-file identically — fix the flagged point;
- Explanation: add an explanatory letter plus evidence — clear purpose;
- Timing: wait a while before re-applying — rapid re-filing looks suspicious;
- Advice: refused twice — get professional counsel/agent help.
13. Long-term: from visa to residence
- Temporary residence card: for stays over a year — replaces repeated visa extensions;
- Work-based: tied to the work permit — one application chain;
- Investment-based: investors get TRCs by investment value — longer for bigger investments;
- Family: dependents get matching TRCs — keep the family’s documents aligned;
- Renewal: renew before expiry — the same overstay rules apply.
14. Quick answers
- Fastest legal entry for urgent business? E-visa — but never work on it;
- Can the separate paper be replaced if lost? Report immediately — re-issue takes time, exit gets complicated;
- Do children need separate e-visas? Yes — every traveller, including infants.
15. E-visa vs visa on arrival: no confusion
- Visa on arrival: Vietnam suspended broad visa-on-arrival — don’t rely on old blog posts;
- E-visa: the current standard for independent travellers — applied online before flying;
- Approval letter: business visas via sponsors use approval letters — collected at the border;
- Scams: fake “visa agencies” sell worthless letters — use official channels or reputable agents;
- Verify: check your visa status on the official portal before departure.
16. Staying compliant during the trip
- Carry copies: passport, visa, separate paper — photocopies plus phone photos;
- Hotel registration: hotels register foreigners automatically — private stays need manual declaration;
- Internal travel: domestic flights need the passport — the visa paper too, keep them together;
- Working: attending meetings is fine on business visas — operating machinery is not;
- Exit: present the separate paper again — officers will ask for it.
17. Contacts and help
- Vietnam Immigration Department: the official source for visa policy — check before each trip;
- Vietnamese embassies in China: Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Kunming, Nanning — nearest one for paper visas;
- Sponsoring company: your first call for business-visa issues — they own the sponsorship;
- Reputable agents: for complex cases — licensed travel/visa agencies, not street touts;
- Counsel: refusals, overstays, conversions — legal help before the problem grows.
18. Special note: group business delegations
- Coordinated applications: delegations of 10+ should file together — the sponsor handles one batch;
- Uniform documents: identical invitation letters, aligned travel dates — inconsistencies trigger questions;
- Briefing: brief every delegate on the separate paper — nobody should panic at the border;
- Contact person: one Vietnamese-speaking contact per delegation — for border issues.
Contact us
FLAT Law Firm advises Chinese investors throughout the Vietnam investment cycle — from deal structuring and licensing to operations and compliance. Contact us for advice tailored to your project.
This article has been quality-reviewed by the FLAW AI Legal Council
