Vietnam – a destination that many Swedes are well familiar with. Thailand has long dominated the travel scene in Southeast Asia, but Vietnam is not far behind. There is much to do and see in Vietnam – what you need is time.
As a Swedish citizen, you can stay in the country visa free up until 15 days. That means, you can enter the country without applying for any sorts of visas, but you have to leave the country after 15 days. If you do wish to stay longer, there are ways for you to apply for a visa.
Vietnam is now allowing countries from 46 countries, including Sweden, to apply for a so-called E-visa. If you are Swedish, then you are one of the lucky ones. This method is not only one of the easiest, it is also affordable.
So, there are two options for you if you wish to stay for longer than 15 days. The first option is to apply for an E-visa. The second one is a Visa on Arrival. I will explain these more detailed:
1. Electronic visa or Vietnam E-Visa for Swedish passport holders
A sample of an eVisa Vietnam
This is an actual visa which will be issued electronically, which you can then show at the passport control when entering Vietnam. You don’t need to stop by the landing visa desk to pick up the actual visa as you would have to with a “Visa on Arrival” (more on that later). The fee is low, usually $25 and is non-refundable if rejected or failed. There is however an opportunity to get a 100% Money Back Guarantee policy. The price is then $40 instead. The E-Visa is really easy to apply to and it allows travelers to apply directly online. It also allows you to enter Vietnam via airports, land ports and seaports. So if you are planning on coming to Vietnam by cruise ship, road or airplane, this is a good choice.
The E-visa is valid for 30 days, single entry, which means that if you intend on staying for longer and wish to have a multiple-entries visa, you have to apply for point 2 (which I will explain now).
2. Visa on Arrival – Apply online for pre-approval then pick up your visa on arrival at the airport of Vietnam
Getting visa on arrival at the airport of Vietnam
This visa will help you get a multi-entry visa, so you can visit other countries and still be able to come back to Vietnam without having to apply for a visa again. However, if you are from Sweden and enters Vietnam as a unilateral visa-exempted, the entry date must be at least 30 days from the previous exit as unilateral visa-exempted person. Otherwise you are required to have an appropriate visa in order to enter Vietnam again.
The visa process differs slightly from the e-visa, but it’s not difficult or complicated. With the visa on arrival you can apply to stay for 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and even up to 12 months! What you need to do is apply online (you can do this through our website), wait for the visa approval and once you get it, download it so you can present it at the airport and pick up your visa. When the staff sees the approval letter, you need to pay the stamp fee, and voilá! You are ready to enter Vietnam and explore.
It’s not more complicated than that! You just have to remember to apply in time before you plan on traveling to Vietnam so you don’t have to stress.
Swimming-in-Halong-Bay
If you are still in the planning process, we suggest you to further read some of our articles we have published about Vietnam. Whether you are looking to trek in the mountains, relax on the beach, get immersed in the city life, get to know the Vietnamese culture or eat very delicious food, Vietnam has it all. What is so amazing about this country is the diversity it has and how you can go from one region to another, and feel like you have entered a different country. One thing that is also attracting many foreigners is how inexpensive it is to travel. You can easily find hostels under 5 dollars, amazing street food for 1 dollar and of course – you can always wander around for free or enjoy the beach for free.
We truly hope you will enjoy your time in Vietnam and that this article was helpful. We wish you good luck and safe travels!
