How to get a student Visa in Vietnam

Vietnam is a socialist republic located between Laos and China on the coast of the Gulf of Tonkin. According to the official website of the U.S. State Department, relations between America and Vietnam have grown increasingly warmer. The U.S. has a consulate general in Ho Chi Minh City, and Vietnam has a consulate general in San Francisco. Vietnam, with its fascinating culture and history, attracts many visitors. Most visitors arrive on a tourist visa, but they can switch to another type of visa after arriving in the country. Getting a student visa in Vietnam is fairly simple.

1. Enroll in classes as a student in Vietnam. The easiest way to do this is to enroll in classes to study the Vietnamese language. You must be enrolled in a school. You cannot simply study with a private tutor.

2. Ask the school in which you are enrolled to provide you with formal documentation that you are a student there–perhaps a receipt. Ideally, your documentation should show how long you plan to stay in Vietnam.

3. Visit the Vietnam immigration department website vnimm.gov.vn. Click on “English.” Click on “Samples for Foreign Immigration.” Click on “Application of visa renewal, replacement or modification, length of stay extension.”

4. Print the application and complete it by hand, writing in your passport number and your length of stay and explaining why you want to change your visa type to a student visa.

5. Take the application to the immigration department along with your passport, two passport-size photos, proof of study from your school and the application fee. There are immigration departments in Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City. The application fee will range from $25 to $85, depending on how quickly you need your visa.

Tips & WarningsAccording to the website vietnam-visa.com, here are the addresses for immigration departments in Vietnam:

• Hanoi: No. 40A Hang Bai Str., Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi


• Da Nang: No. 7 Tran Quy Cap Str., Da Nang


• Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): No. 254 Nguyen Trai Str., Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City