Traveling to Vietnam from São Tomé and Príncipe in the nearby future? Then make sure that you get your Vietnam visa in good time.
As a citizen of São Tomé and Príncipe you are required to get a visa no matter how long you are planning on staying in the country. But acquiring a Vietnam visa has never been easier or quicker, you can even get it within a few days! All you need is to decide whether to apply for a Visa on Arrival (which is the most preferred option) or if you want to go to your nearest Vietnam Embassy or Consulate and get your Vietnam visa there. Here are the two options further explained:
I heard about Vietnam e-visa. Can I apply for Vietnam e-visa if I am citizens of São Tomé and Príncipe? (No, citizens of São Tomé and Príncipe 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 São Tomé and Príncipe national in this list, therefore, citizens of São Tomé and Príncipe 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 desk in Da Nang city
You can apply for a Visa on Arrival from anywhere in the world. All you need is your computer and internet. If you apply for this type of visa, you are allowed to enter Vietnam through any of the 5 international airports in following cities: 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 easy. What you need to do is fill out the Online Application form where you state your date of birth and other relevant information. You will then have to wait for a confirmation email that 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 by chance you need to get an emergency visa, it will cost you more money, but you will be able to get it faster. You will get it within 30 minutes to 4 hours.
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 São Tomé and Príncipe
Vietnamese-visa-sticker-in-a-passport
The second option is to apply for a visa in your local or nearest Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate in São Tomé and Príncipe. The reason why this option might not be recommended is because it’s not as convenient if you don’t 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.
Please remember to print out all necessary documents such as the visa approval letter, so you can present it to the immigration officers along with two photos of yourself and money to pay for the visa stamp. You may pay with EUR and USD as well. If you fail to bring this, the immigration officers has the right to deny you entrance to Vietnam.
The City Hall of Ho Chi Minh City
When you are in Vietnam, it is time for you to enjoy everything that the country has to offer! Everything from pristine beaches, beautiful landscapes which stretches as far as the eye can see, big and metropolitan cities where you can walk around for hours and hours, and smaller towns, full of charm and serenity. Vietnam has a lot of sites to offer, but they are quite spread out in the country, so if you are planning to travel around, remember that transportation can take a lot of your time. So it is always advised to try to be here for at least 2 weeks, but stay for one month if you can. There is simply so much to do here and you will be happy you have some extra time in this alluring country.
