UPDATED ENTRY PERMISSION FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Since March 15, 2022, the Vietnamese government has decided to resume pre-pandemic visa issuance and drop the requirements of COVID-19 vaccination certificates and quarantine for foreign arrivals. Travelers entering the country via air routes will have to present proof of negative COVID-19 tests done within 72 hours prior to departure in cases of RT-PCR/RT-LAMP or within 24 hours in cases of rapid antigen tests, and the results must be certified by the authorities of the country where the testing is conducted. If arrivals fail to show proof of negative tests, they are required to take a test using either of the two aforementioned methods in the first 24 hours from the time of arrival. If the results are negative, they may travel outside of their place of accommodation, with safety measures still maintained. If their tests return positive, they must contact health authorities for further instructions. Arrivals must make a medical declaration before entry and use Vietnam’s COVID-19 mobile application PC-COVID during their entire stay.

Please find more details here

ENTRY REGULATIONS ISSUED BEFORE MARCH 15, 2022

ENTRY PERMISSION FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Strictly following the instructions issued by the Government and the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, the Center for International Mobility (CIM) at IU-VNU facilitates international students’ entry to Vietnam for studying purposes. The following detailed procedure is the most updated one (as of September 2021) allowing Higher Educators in Vietnam to receive/host international students during the ongoing pandemic.

STEP 1: Documents lodged at Department of Labors, War Invalids and Social Affairs, Ho Chi Minh City (prepared by CIM)

Purpose: Seeking for the approval of People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City on the entry of the nominated foreigners.

Checklist for entry permission package:

• List of incoming international students;
• An official Application Letter from IU-VNU;
• Admission Decision of each student issued by IU-VNU;
• Copies of each student’s passport;

Information needed to be uploaded on http://dolisa.work/tracuu/ to once again (to be done by CIM) to further track the process and to receive the result spontaneously.

The request is processed by the Ho Chi Minh Department of Labors, War Invalids and Social Affairs, in collaboration with Department of Health and other relevant departments before being approved by the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City.

• Processing time: 10 – 14 business days.

Meanwhile, CIM keeps in close contact with international students to provide them with the information relating to flight options, hotel options for quarantine (designated by Vietnam Government), and transportation from airport to quarantine hotel. During the COVID-19 time, international students have very limited access to this information due to the complexity of paperwork, and many dealt with the possibility of flight cancellation.

STEP 2: Documents lodged at the Immigration Department Ho Chi Minh City (prepared by CIM)

Once the entry application package (in Step 1) is approved by the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, simultaneously, the result is announced on http://dolisa.work/tracuu/. The People’s Committee then sends a request for student visa issuance to the Immigration Department. Only students whose names appear in the list are in the consideration for visa issuance.

Visa Application Package includes:

• Application Form for visa issuance (Form NA2);
• Admission Decision of each student issued by IU-VNU;
• Copies of each student’s passport;
• The entry approval letter issued by People’s Committee (in step 1);
• Tentative flight itinerary of each international student;
• Processing time: 05 business days

Vietnam Immigration Department will fax a copy of the entry visa approval (Visa Pre-Approval Letter) to Vietnam Embassy or Vietnam Consulate General in students’ home countries. At the same time, students will receive a copy of the visa pre-approval letter from CIM via email.

STEP 3: Documents lodged at Center for Disease Control and Prevention Ho Chi Minh City, Center for Disease Control Ho Chi Minh City, and Provincial Medical Center (prepared by CIM)

Quarantine Plan for each students’ arrival to Vietnam (via Tan Son Nhat Airport) is necessary and crucial as the last step. The package should include:

• The entry approval letter issued by Ho Chi Minh People’s Committee (in step 1);
• The entry visa approval letter issued by Immigration Department (in step 2);
• Tentative flight itinerary of each international student;
• Hotel confirmation for the 14 days quarantine upon students’ arrival;
• Transportation confirmation from airport to quarantine hotel;

STEP 4: Final review of document checklist prior to departure

In the completion of documents for the departure, international students must prepare the following documents by themselves:

• COVID-19 test result stating Negative: the test must be taken within 96 hours (4 days before departure) or the number of specific hours regulated by the Airlines, and must contain the wording “Real time-PCR” on the testing result. Test result must be translated into English and certified by the Lab/Doctor if it is generated in other languages.
• International Insurance Certificate guaranteeing COVID-19 treatment coverage.

For the students to be able to embark, the following 07 documents need to be printed out and brought along during the process of flying out and in:

1. Approval Letter from People’s Committee of HCMC (sent by CIM in step 1)
2. Visa Pre-Approval Letter from HCMC Immigration Department (sent by CIM in step 2)
3. Decision and Letter of Accptance
4. Hotel Confirmation for the quarantine (sent by CIM; Hotel arrangement is done by CIM according to students’ request)
5. Transportation Confirmation from airport to quarantine hotel (sent by CIM)
6. COVID-19 test result stating Negative (prepared by students)
7. International Insurance Certificate (prepared by students)

Reference

1. https://ncov.moh.gov.vn/
2. http://dolisa.work/tracuu/
3. Notice of No. 102/TB-VPCP dated March 17, 2020, conclusion opinion of the Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the meeting of Standing Committee of the Government on COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control
4. Official dispatch no. 2847/CV-BCD dated May 23, 2020 on facilitating entry of foreigners who are investors, experts, highly skilled worker into Vietnam for work;
5. Official Letter No. 2814/UBND-VX dated July 24, 2020 of People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City;
6. Decision No. 3767/QĐ-UBND dated October 12, 2020 of People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City;
7. Notice of No. 4690/SYT-NVY dated August 17, 2020, introduction of transportation agency from airport to quarantine places

List of International Flight and Quarantine-Related Expenses

(A guidance for cost estimation)