Due to the Covid 19 outbreak, Vietnam has decided to temporarily suspend the issuance of visas last March 2020. This is applicable to all foreign nationals including the citizens of Norway. The coronavirus, also known as Covid 19, has taken the lives of thousands of people all over the world. It spreads very rapidly and the only way to contain it is by closing borders and preventing people from going places.

Thankfully, the visa suspension is only temporary. Now that things are trying to go back to normal, Vietnam has started accepting visa applications again. This is good news for Norwegian citizens who are planning to go to Vietnam for a holiday break.

Citizens of Norway are among those nationalities that qualify for the Vietnam visa waiver program. This means that their visa to Vietnam is waived so they can enter the country even without a visa. However, this is only limited to 15 days stay. If you’re going to stay in Vietnam for more than that, then you should apply for a visa.

Vietnam E-visa for Citizens of Norway

Thankfully, applying for a visa to Vietnam is now so easy and that’s thanks to the e-visa. This is an electronic visa that Norwegian citizens can easily apply online. You just have to fill out an application form and wait for a few days. Once your visa is approved, you will be able to download a PDF copy of it. All you need to do is print the visa and that’s what you’ll show at the Vietnam Immigration.

Just like with applying for a visa for other countries, there’s a processing fee that you need to pay when applying for the e-visa. That’s around $25, depending on the processing time that you have chosen. For this, you can pay with your debit or credit card. They also accept PayPal. Take note that the processing fee is non-refundable. So if the visa won’t be approved for some reason, then you can no longer get your money back.

After only 3 -5 business days, you will get an email back informing you of your e-visa status. If it’s approved, you’ll receive a link where can download the e-visa. Print the visa and bring it to your trip to Vietnam.

Vietnam Visa on Arrival for Citizens of Norway

Citizens of Norway are also entitled to apply for the visa on arrival. As the name goes, this is a visa that you can get upon arrival in Vietnam. But there are certain requirements you need to submit before you will be given this visa. One of these is the pre-approval letter. This letter will also serve as proof that you’ll get your visa once you arrive in Vietnam. So if the airline you are flying in will ask for a visa copy, you simply have to show this letter.

Aside from the letter, you will also be asked to submit other requirements before you will be given the visa. These include passport-sized photos and the visa application form. Of course, you also need to give your passport at the counter because the visa will be attached to it.

Things to Keep In Mind

Take note that the Vietnam e-visa is only good for single entry and will only be valid for 30 days. Therefore, you need to make sure that you are out of the country in less than a month. Otherwise, you’ll be charged with overstaying. But if you knew ahead that your holiday is longer than 30 days, you should apply for the visa on arrival.

When you apply for the Visa on Arrival, you’ll be asked to choose between a single entry and multiple entry visas. As for the number of days, you can choose between 30 days or 60 days. But the disadvantage of the visa on arrival is that you can only get it at the airport. So this is not suitable for those who plan on entering the country via the land border or seaport. In this case, the e-visa is what you should choose. It’s a type of visa that can be accepted in all points of entry.

When Should You Apply for your Visa?

Since Vietnam has just opened its visa issuance system, the Vietnam Immigration is anticipating a surge of visa application anytime soon. So in order not to delay your visa application, make sure you apply as early as now. In fact, the Vietnam government will require all foreign visitors to apply for their visa at least two weeks before the actual trip.

For those who are in need to go to Vietnam in the coming days, you can pay for a rush processing of your visa. This option might cost more, but you will get your visa in as fast as 24 hours!