Individuals can sponsor their foreign parents and relatives to visit Vietnam — unlike corporate sponsorship (form NA2), individual sponsorship of relatives uses form NA3, and the core requirement is documents proving the relationship, not legal-entity status. Under Article 16, Clause 1 of Law 47/2014/QH13 (consolidated document 62/VBHN-VPQH dated 23/3/2026), individual sponsors include: Vietnamese citizens permanently residing in the country, or foreigners holding permanent or temporary residence cards in Vietnam — who may invite and sponsor foreigners to enter Vietnam to visit relatives, provided they have documents proving the relationship with the invited person.
1. Who can be sponsored? Scope of relatives
Under Article 45, Clause 1 of Law 47/2014, the relatives for whom a Vietnamese citizen may request visa issuance, amendment or stay extension include: grandparents, parents, spouses, children and siblings — with relationship-proving documents presented at the time of application.
2. Suitable visas for visiting relatives
- TT visa — for parents, spouses and children of Vietnamese citizens (Article 8), valid for no more than 01 year (Article 9);
- VR visa — for persons visiting relatives or entering for other purposes (Article 8), valid for no more than 180 days (Article 9).
3. Entry invitation procedure (form NA3)
The procedural framework under Articles 16–19 of Law 47/2014:
- Step 1: the sponsor prepares the sponsorship request on form NA3 — the sponsorship application for foreign relatives entering the country (issued under Circular 04/2015/TT-BCA, amended by Circular 22/2023/TT-BCA, effective 15/8/2023);
- Step 2: submit to the Immigration Department — in person or via the Ministry of Public Security’s public service portal / National Public Service Portal. The dossier includes form NA3, a copy of ID (ID card/CCCD/passport or permanent/temporary residence card) and relationship-proving documents (birth certificates, marriage certificates, etc.). Office addresses may have changed after the 2025 administrative reorganization — check the public service portal before submitting;
- Step 3: receive the entry approval letter — processing time for visa issuance requests is 05 working days from the date the Immigration Department receives the written request (Article 16, Clause 5);
- Step 4: the relative collects the visa at a Vietnamese diplomatic mission abroad or at an international border gate (border-gate issuance: 03 working days / 12 working hours under Article 16, Clause 5 and Article 18).
4. Stay extension and conversion
Stay extensions are processed within 05 working days (Article 35). A VR visa may be considered for purpose conversion where there are documents proving a parent/spouse/child relationship with the inviting/sponsoring individual (Article 7, Clause 4, Point b). TT visa holders may be considered for a TT temporary residence card, valid for no more than 03 years (Article 36, Clause 1, Point b; Article 38) — note this is a case-by-case consideration by the immigration authority, not automatic.
5. For overseas Vietnamese: 5-year visa-exemption certificates
Overseas Vietnamese and foreign spouses/children of overseas Vietnamese (or of Vietnamese citizens) may obtain a visa-exemption certificate under Decree 82/2015/ND-CP (issued 24/9/2015, effective 15/11/2015, still in force). The certificate is valid for up to 05 years, at least 06 months shorter than the passport’s remaining validity. Note: the number of stay days per entry under this certificate is not stated here, as the underlying provision has not been verified against the original text.
6. Alternatives without sponsorship
If relatives prefer to skip sponsorship: a 90-day e-visa (open to citizens of all countries and territories — Resolution 127/NQ-CP and Law 23/2023); or the 45-day unilateral exemption (Resolution 44/NQ-CP) if the relative holds one of the 12 exempt nationalities.
7. Reference fees
Under Circular 28/2026/TT-BTC (effective 01/4/2026): stay extension USD 10 per time; new/re-issued visa-exemption certificate USD 10 per certificate; single-entry visa USD 25.
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.
Need help sponsoring relatives or preparing entry invitation letters? Contact FLAT Law Firm for advice.
For reference only, not legal advice. Content quality-checked by the AI Legal Council; not yet reviewed by a human lawyer.