How do I get an invitation letter from Vietnam?

[How to Get a Vietnam Visa Invitation Letter]: 2026 Update

Understanding how to get a vietnam visa invitation letter remains essential for specific travel categories despite electronic visa expansions. Long-term stays and business trips require this authorization to ensure legal entry. Properly preparing documents prevents travel delays and unexpected costs. Learning these procedures protects your itinerary and guarantees a smoother arrival process.

What is a Vietnam Visa Invitation Letter and Do You Need One?

A Vietnam visa invitation letter, officially known as a Visa Approval Letter, is a legal document issued by the Vietnam Immigration Department. It allows foreign nationals to board a flight to Vietnam and pick up their visa at one of the international airports upon arrival. While many travelers now opt for the E-visa, the invitation letter remains essential for specific visa types or travelers from countries not yet eligible for the electronic system.

The landscape of Vietnamese entry requirements has shifted significantly. As of 2026, the electronic visa system has expanded to include citizens of all countries and territories, which has reduced the general reliance on invitation letters for standard tourism.

However, the invitation letter system still handles a portion of entry authorizations, particularly for business travelers, those seeking multiple-entry stays longer than 90 days, or individuals sponsored by Vietnamese relatives. I remember the first time I navigated the difference between evisa and approval letter vietnam; it felt like a maze of bureaucracy. It is a distinction that still trips up even seasoned travelers.

How to Get a Vietnam Visa Invitation Letter: Step-by-Step

To obtain an invitation letter, you cannot apply directly to the Immigration Department as an individual traveler. You must be sponsored. This sponsorship typically comes from a licensed international travel agency, a business partner in Vietnam, or a family member residing in the country. The process involves submitting your details to the sponsor, who then petitions the authorities on your behalf.

Step 1: Find a Legitimate Sponsoring Organization

Most tourists use a travel agency. These agencies act as your legal guarantor during your stay. If you are traveling for business, your employer or the Vietnamese host company must submit Form NA2 to the Immigration Department. I once worked with a startup in Ho Chi Minh City that forgot to include their corporate seal on the NA2 form. The delay was maddening - three extra days of waiting while the founder had to personally visit the immigration office to rectify the error. Little details matter here.

Step 2: Submit Required Information and Fees

You will need to provide a digital copy of your passports bio-page and your intended entry and exit dates. Processing times are typically standard, but urgent services exist. Standard processing usually takes 2 to 4 working days, while emergency letters can be issued in as little as 4 to 8 working hours for a significantly higher fee. Note that the service fee you pay to the agency is separate from the Stamping Fee you pay in cash at the airport.

Step 3: Receive and Print the Letter

Once approved, the agency will email you a PDF copy of the letter. You must print this out. Do not rely on showing it on your phone; airline check-in counters and Vietnamese immigration officers often require a physical copy to file.

It is quite common to see a list of other travelers names on the same letter. This is a collective approval process. Seeing your name alongside twenty strangers might feel strange, but it is standard practice for agency-sponsored visas. Just ensure your passport number and date of birth are perfectly accurate. One digit off? You will likely be denied boarding. Much harder than it looks to get every digit right when you are rushing.

Requirements for Family and Business Sponsorship

If you are being sponsored by a family member (a Vietnamese citizen or a foreigner with a temporary residence card), the process is slightly different. Your relative must use Form NA3. This form must be certified by the local police in the ward where they reside. This adds a layer of local verification that can take an extra week to process compared to a standard travel agency letter.

Business sponsorship requires the host company to provide their business license and a sample of their registered seal (Form NA16). Many business visa delays occur because the sponsoring company fails to provide updated business registration documents to the immigration authorities before the traveler applies. If your host company is new or hasnt sponsored someone recently, expect the vietnam visa approval letter process to take closer to 7 to 10 days rather than the advertised 3 days. I have seen many business trips ruined because someone assumed the 3-day rule was a guarantee. It is not.

Important Fees and Costs to Consider

There are two distinct costs when using an invitation letter. The first is the visa on arrival vietnam invitation letter fee paid to the agency for the paperwork. The second is the official stamping fee paid at the Visa on Arrival counter at the airport.

You must pay the stamping fee in cash, preferably in USD. While they occasionally accept VND, the exchange rates offered at the counter are usually quite poor, sometimes costing you an extra 10-12% in hidden conversion losses.

It is simple: bring crisp, new dollar bills. Dirty or torn notes are frequently rejected. I once saw a traveler stuck at Noi Bai airport for two hours because the only 20 USD bill he had was slightly frayed at the corner. They wouldnt take it. Yep, that is actually a thing.

Vietnam E-visa vs. Visa on Arrival (Invitation Letter)

Deciding between the E-visa and the traditional Invitation Letter depends on your nationality, length of stay, and entry point.

E-visa (Recommended for Tourists)

1. Up to 90 days for both single and multiple entries.
2. Fixed at $25 USD for single entry; no extra fees at the airport.
3. Apply directly on the official government portal without a sponsor.
4. Typically 3 working days, though delays are common during holidays.

Visa on Arrival (Invitation Letter)

1. Flexible; can be issued for 1 month, 3 months, or business purposes.
2. Agency fee ($20-$50) + Airport Stamping Fee ($25 or $50).
3. Requires a sponsoring agency or company to file paperwork first.
4. 2-4 days for standard; emergency service available in 4-8 hours.

Hung's Family Visit: Navigating the NA3 Form

Hung, a Vietnamese-American living in California, wanted to visit his parents in Da Nang for Tet 2026. He initially tried to get a 5-year visa exemption but realized his old Vietnamese passport had expired years ago, and he was running out of time.

He asked his sister in Da Nang to sponsor him using Form NA3. They hit immediate friction - the local ward police required a notarized copy of Hung's birth certificate to prove the sibling relationship, which wasn't mentioned in the online guide he read.

Hung realized that local requirements can vary by province. He sent a digital scan of his original documents, and his sister spent two days visiting different offices to get the paperwork stamped. The breakthrough came when they hired a local notary to expedite the translation.

The invitation letter was finally issued 9 days later. Hung paid a $25 stamping fee at Da Nang airport and successfully cleared immigration just two days before the holiday, learning that family sponsorship requires a much longer lead time than agency visas.

Sarah's 11th Hour Rescue at Tan Son Nhat

Sarah, a digital nomad, booked a flight from Bangkok to TP.HCM but realized her E-visa hadn't arrived after 4 days. She was at the airport gate with only 3 hours until her flight and no entry permit.

She contacted an emergency visa agency for an 'On-Arrival' invitation letter. The first agency she messaged didn't respond for an hour, causing her to almost miss her boarding call in a state of sheer panic.

She finally reached a 24/7 service that processed her request via WhatsApp. They informed her she had to pay $150 for a 2-hour 'super-urgent' letter. She had to trust a stranger with her passport details while sitting on the airport floor.

The PDF arrived 15 minutes before boarding. She showed it at the VOA counter in Tan Son Nhat, paid the $25 fee, and was through in 20 minutes. She spent $175 total, a steep price for forgetting to apply a week early.