Application through embassy for Visa is important for those who are taking a land route to Vietnam. Since there is no embassy of Vietnam in Malawi, citizens who wish to apply for Visa must contact the Embassy of Vietnam in the nearest neighboring country. If you are a Malawian citizen who wishes to travel to Vietnam, you can reach out to the embassy in the nearest neighboring country to apply for Visa. You might have to personally visit the embassy for the application process. However, if you do not wish to travel to the embassy location, you can check with the embassy officials if they can facilitate the application process through postal mail.
Nevertheless, the application process through the embassy is a time consuming, long drawn and expensive process. The ideal process for Visa application for Malawian citizens or passport holders who wish to travel to Vietnam is the Visa on Arrival process. You will not have to travel to any embassy location, your documents will be safe and you will not have to incur any kind of expense to apply for the Visa.
In order to apply for Visa on Arrival, you will have to get in touch with a travel agent based in Vietnam. The travel agent will ask you to fill up an online application form for Visa and pay the required fees by online transfer. When filling up the form, you will have to key in information such as your name, occupation, travel dates, duration of stay and purpose of visit. The purpose of visit is particularly important and you will be asked to choose from options such as business, tourist and travel.
Vietnamese immigration authorities are particular about the information provided and so choose from the options carefully. A business Visa will give you a validity of one month, three months and six months. A tourist Visa will get you a validity of one month and a transit Visa will get you a validity of less than five days. If you are in Vietnam for transit purposes, you must travel out within five days or you will have to move to third country if your stay exceeds five days.
Once the online application procedure is complete, you will be issued a letter of approval. This letter of approval can be collected by your travel agent and forwarded to you. This letter of approval can be submitted at the Visa on Arrival counter by you at the time of arrival in Vietnam for your Visa on Arrival document. You will also be required to pay the Visa stamping fees along with the letter of approval.
It is to be noted that the Visa on Arrival facility is extended only to those who arrive in Vietnam by air. For those taking land routes, it is mandatory that they carry all their documents, including the Visa, along with them while traveling to Vietnam. In case of a cruise ship, the cruise authorities can be contacted for information on Visa on Arrival.
