Are you planning on traveling to Vietnam from Madagascar in the nearby future? Or have you already purchased your ticket? Then the next step for you is to apply for a Vietnam visa. A visa is required for all citizens of Madagascar, regardless of the length of your stay. Even if you intend to only stay for a day or so, you will need to present a valid Vietnam visa to the immigration officers, otherwise they may deny you entry to the country. The first option is to apply for a visa online. This is by far the easiest way to get a Vietnam visa and the most preferred option. You can also go to your local or nearest Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate and apply for a visa with them. Let’s take a look at the two options:
I heard about Vietnam e-visa. Can I apply for Vietnam e-visa if I am citizens of Madagascar? (No, citizens of Madagascar are not eligible for Vietnam e-visa)
From 01 Feb 2019, under Decision 17/2019/NĐ-CP of the Government of Vietnam, there are 80 countries which citizens of it are eligible to apply online for an e-visa of Vietnam online (e-visa is a single entry valid for staying 30 days). We check but not found Madagascar national in this list, therefore, citizens of Madagascar should choose two options below to get a visa for Vietnam
1. Visa on Arrival (VOA) – Apply online for pre-approval then pick up your visa on arrival at the airport of Vietnam
Vietnam visa on arrival office in Da Nang Int’l Airport, Vietnam
The Visa on Arrival is an online, alternative visa. If you live far away from the Vietnamese Embassy for example, or you do not want to send important documents such as your passport, this is a good option for you. It is also easy, quick and affordable. To apply for a VOA, you need your computer and internet. If you get a Visa on Arrival, you are allowed to enter Vietnam through any of the 5 international airports: Da Nang, Khanh Hoa, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Hai Phong. You can only travel by air if you get a VOA, meaning you can’t enter Vietnam by bus, car, and so forth.
The process is very simple. What you need to do is fill in the Online Application form with all relevant information. What you need to state in the application form is:
- Your full name, as stated in your passport
- Date of Birth – The format they use in Vietnam is DD/MM/YY
- Your nationality – as stated in your passport
- Your passport number
- Date of Arrival – you can state a date of arrival and then arrive later, but not earlier
After you have filled this information out, you have to wait for a confirmation email which usually arrives within 1-2 working hours. Normally you will receive an Approval Letter within 2 working days. When the letter comes, don’t forget to print it out so the immigration officers in Vietnam can stamp your passport. If you need an emergency visa, you can get one within 40 minutes to 4 hours. This will cost you more money, but you will be able to get it much faster.
On arrival support for fast check-in at Vietnam Airports
You also have the option to buy “On Arrival Support” which is a very good option for those who wants to check in to Vietnam faster:
- Standard Support : +US$20/pp
Our staff will meet you in front of the “visa on arrival” desk with a welcome board, then take care of all procedures necessary to get the visa stamped on your passport. Please prepare 25 USD/person and give it to our staff to pay for the visa stamp fee.
- VIP Support : +US$35/pp
Our staff will meet you in front of the “visa on arrival” desk with a welcome board, receive your passport and give it back with the visa within 5-10 minutes, then escort you to check out via the VIP gate. Please prepare 25 USD/person and give it to our staff to pay for the visa stamp fee.
2. Apply for a visa through the Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate in the nearby countries of Madagascar
Vietnam tourist visa – single entry
The second option is to apply for a visa in your local or nearest Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate in Madagascar. The reason why this option might not be recommended is because it is not as convenient if you do not live close to the embassy. It means you’ will have to spend time on transportation and money. You will also need to remember to bring all the necessary documents, such as passport, and if you by any chance forget anything, you need to start all over again with the process. It is time consuming and you usually need to pick up your passport in the embassy or consulate. Also, be kindly advised that the fees and procedures are subject to change depending on where you apply.
Once you arrive, you should start looking into what you would like to do and see in Vietnam. It’s easy to underestimate the country’s size, but traveling can take a longer time than you think and all the sites are quite spread out. So make sure that you have sufficient time here, that you do some research before on what you would like to see and do, but most importantly – that you have fun and enjoy everything that Vietnam has to offer!
Take a look at some of our other articles to get some tips and advice on what to see and do in Vietnam:
