Bilateral visa exemption means two countries sign an agreement so that each other’s citizens can enter visa-free, under the international treaties to which Vietnam is a party (Article 12, Clause 1 of Law 47/2014/QH13, consolidated document 62/VBHN-VPQH dated 23/3/2026). This is a different mechanism from the unilateral 45-day exemption (Resolution 44/NQ-CP) that Vietnam grants on its own to citizens of certain countries. The most common misunderstanding: most bilateral agreements only exempt diplomatic and official passports — they do not apply to ordinary passports.
1. How bilateral visa exemption works
When Vietnam signs a visa-exemption agreement with a country, citizens of both countries may enter visa-free for the period stated in the agreement. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vietnam has signed visa-exemption agreements or arrangements with about 84 countries (three of them — Namibia, Bolivia and Cameroon — have no confirmed effective date yet). The detailed list and the passport types covered by each agreement should be checked against the official list of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Immigration Department, because each agreement has a different scope.
2. Diplomatic and official passports: the most common exempt category
The vast majority of Vietnam’s bilateral agreements exempt only diplomatic and official passports (some extend to special passports). Holders of ordinary passports from those countries must still apply for a visa as usual. So when checking a specific agreement, the first thing to confirm is the passport type covered — not just the country name.
3. Verified cases of ordinary-passport exemption
- ASEAN: Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore — 30 days; the Philippines — 21 days; Brunei — 14 days;
- Myanmar: commonly cited by legal sources as 14 days (under the Vietnam–Myanmar agreement), although some sources cite 30 days — the exact number of days should be verified against the official list of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Immigration Department;
- Chile: 90 days for ordinary passports (Vietnam–Chile agreement, implemented under Decision 1287/QD-TTg of 2017, applied from 11/8/2017, not for income-generating activities);
- Belarus: 30 days per entry, with total stay not exceeding 90 days within 01 year, for ordinary passports (agreement signed 08/12/2023 in Hanoi, effective from late January 2025). Note: Belarus has left the unilateral exemption list — Resolution 44/NQ-CP now covers only 12 countries, excluding Belarus.
4. Three current exemption mechanisms — do not confuse them
- (i) Bilateral, under agreements — the main subject of this article, under Article 12, Clause 1 of Law 47/2014;
- (ii) Unilateral, 45 days: Resolution 44/NQ-CP (07/3/2025, effective 15/3/2025–14/3/2028) covers citizens of 12 countries (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the UK, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland); Resolution 229/NQ-CP (11/8/2025, effective 15/8/2025–14/8/2028) grants 45 days to citizens of 12 other countries (Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland) for tourism under the stimulus program. Note: Resolution 11/NQ-CP (Poland/Czechia/Switzerland) has expired;
- (iii) Special time-limited exemption under Decree 221/2025/ND-CP (issued 08/8/2025, effective 15/8/2025) — a third mechanism applied under specific decisions of the competent authority.
5. Fee for visa-exemption certificates
The fee for a new or re-issued visa-exemption certificate is USD 10 per certificate, under Circular 28/2026/TT-BTC (effective 01/4/2026).
6. Practical checklist
Before traveling, foreign citizens should: (1) confirm whether their passport type is covered by a bilateral agreement; (2) check the updated official list of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Immigration Department instead of relying on unofficial lists online; (3) if no exemption applies, apply for an e-visa before departure.
For reference only; not legal advice. This content was drafted by AI and reviewed by the QA council of FLAT Law Firm; it is not legal advice from a human lawyer. Regulations may change; please check the current legal texts before relying on this information.
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For reference only, not legal advice. Content quality-checked by the AI Legal Council; not yet reviewed by a human lawyer.