The permission will be automatically given to those who are staying in the country because of travel restrictions caused by Covid-19.

 

The automatic one-month extension policy has been applied twice since mid-May to foreigners who are stranded in the country.

 

In accordance with the current regulations, people who came to Vietnam under the visa waiver program, e-visa or tourism visa from March 1 can stay or leave the country without doing any paperwork or paying any fees.

 

Meanwhile, people who entered the country before March 1 are also subject to this permit extension on condition that they can prove they are stranded in Vietnam due to the pandemic.

 

They need to provide certificates issued by their diplomatic mission in Vietnam through an official diplomatic note with Vietnamese translation or documents issued by Vietnamese authorities to confirm they were quarantined or treated for Covid-19, among other reasons beyond their control.

 

On March 22, Vietnam suspended the entry of all foreign visitors including those with visa exemption certificates in a bid to contain the novel coronavirus.

 

The country subsequently halted all international flights from March 25, except for Vietnamese nationals returning on repatriation flights.

 

Since then, the government has allowed only foreign diplomats, officials, business experts, managers, high-skilled workers, and students to come to Vietnam after they have met certain requirements.

 

Foreign experts, managers, and students from South Korea, Japan, China, Russia, among other countries, have been allowed to enter the country via special flights.

 

In a latest move, authorities of Vietnam and counterparts in Japan and South Korea have agreed on the reopening of flights between Vietnam and the other two in terms of destinations, frequency and preventive measures.

 

Air routes to be reopened are from Seoul to Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh and vice versa, and between Tokyo and Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh.

 

Linh Pham