Decree No. 21/2001/ND-CP dated May 28, 2001 of the Government detailing the implementation of the ordinance on entry, exit and residence of foreigners in Vietnam

THE GOVERNMENT -----	SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM Independence - Freedom - Happiness --------
No: 21/2001/ND-CP	Hanoi, May 28, 2001

DECREE

DETAILING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ORDINANCE ON ENTRY, EXIT AND RESIDENCE OF FOREIGNERS IN VIETNAM

THE GOVERNMENT

Pursuant to the Law on Organization of the Government of September 30, 1992;

Pursuant to the April 28, 2000 Ordinance on Entry, Exit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam;

At the proposal of the Minister of Public Security,

DECREES:

Chapter I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1.- This Decree prescribes the procedures applicable to foreigners who enter, exit, transit and/or reside in Vietnam; the invitation of foreigners into Vietnam by agencies, organizations and individuals; the responsibilities of and working coordination among the State functional bodies.

2. This Decree shall also apply to Vietnamese bearing foreign passports who enter, exit, transit and/or reside in Vietnam. The application by Vietnamese bearing foreign passports for repatriation to Vietnam shall comply with the provisions of other legal documents.

Article 2.- Foreigners may travel freely on the Vietnamese territory in accordance with the already registered entry purposes, except for areas banned from travel by foreigners as prescribed in Article 12 of this Decree.

Chapter II

ENTRY, EXIT AND TRANSIT

Article 3.-

1. Visas shall be granted as part of passports of foreigners. In the following cases, loose visas shall be granted in attachment to passports:

a/ No more visa-granting page is left in the passport, which has not yet been renewed;

b/ Passports issued by countries which have not yet established diplomatic or consular relations with Vietnam;

c/ For security or diplomatic reasons.

2. Validity and duration of visas:

a/ Single or multiple visas, which are valid for no more than 12 months, shall be granted to persons entering Vietnam to execute projects under investment licenses or cooperation contracts with Vietnamese agencies and/or organizations; or persons entering Vietnam to work at Vietnam-based foreign agencies and their accompanying next of kin and dependents;

b/ Single or multiple visas, which are valid for no more than 6 months, shall be granted to persons who have been invited by agencies, organizations and individuals into Vietnam and do not fall into the cases specified at Point a of this Clause;

c/ Single visas, which are valid for 15 days, shall be granted to persons applying for entry without any invitation by agencies, organizations and individuals in Vietnam.

3. Upon the expiry of their visas, the visa bearers who wish to make other entries into and exits from Vietnam shall have to fill in the procedures for applying for new visas.

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