Vietnam Marriage Visa Application Procedures and Required Documents
Vietnam Marriage Visa Application Procedures and Required Documents
The Vietnam marriage visa allows spouses of Vietnamese citizens and certain foreign nationals residing in Vietnam to live in Vietnam with the spouses.
People who will travel to Vietnam to live with their spouses can first enter the country with a tourist visa and then stay in Vietnam for long periods by applying for a Vietnam visa for marriage purposes.
How to Get a Vietnam Marriage Visa?
In order to obtain a Vietnam marriage visa, it is necessary to marry a Vietnamese citizen or a foreign national residing in Vietnam. For this, the person who will apply for a Vietnam marriage visa must obtain a tourist visa and go to Vietnam.
Afterwards, the marriage visa procedures are carried out and the applicant can obtain his/her visa. The marriage visa is essentially a 5-year visa exemption application and the application procedures vary accordingly.
Applying for a Tourist Visa to Get Married in Vietnam
Foreign nationals who will apply for a tourist visa to get married in Vietnam must first obtain a Vietnam visa approval letter; receiving the approval letter means that the tourist visa has also been obtained. Applicants who receive the Vietnam visa approval letter must then have their visas processed into their passports. The visa processing procedures can be completed through the Vietnam Embassy in Ankara or by applying to border officers at Vietnam international airports.
Marriage Procedures in Vietnam
In Vietnam, marriage visa procedures are carried out by submitting the necessary documents to the People's Committee in the place of residence after entering the country with a tourist visa. All documents submitted must be in Vietnamese, or if they are not in Vietnamese, they must be translated and notarized. The application file is evaluated within 15 days after it reaches the Regional Ministry of Justice in full; in some cases, this period may be extended by another 10 days. After the document submission and fee payment procedures are completed, the Regional Ministry of Justice may contact the applicant and his/her spouse to evaluate their marriage and communication between them and may meet face to face depending on the location of the individuals. In cases where the spouse is a Vietnamese citizen, information about the process must be obtained from the authorities.
Vietnam 5 Year Visa Exemption Application
Vietnam 5-year visa exemption is granted to individuals who have a Vietnamese spouse and can be obtained without leaving Vietnam. The requests of individuals who send all necessary documents by mail or in person to the Vietnam Immigration Bureau offices are reviewed and if approved, the passport and 5-year visa exemption certificate are delivered to the person.
What are the Application Documents for Vietnam Visa Exemption for Married Persons?
For married people, the Vietnam visa exemption application documents include the applicant's passport, a photocopy of the Vietnamese citizen spouse's ID or passport, the Vietnamese citizen spouse's residence record, also known as the "Red Book", marriage certificate and two 4 cm x 6 cm white background photographs taken within the last 6 months.
Spouses' Right to Stay in Vietnam Under the 5-Year Visa Exemption
Within the scope of the 5-year visa exemption, people have the right to stay in the country for 5 years, but they must leave Vietnam every 180 days; it is not possible to stay in Vietnam continuously for 5 years.