• Apply through the embassy
On approaching the embassy, you will be guided by the embassy officials through a step-by-step procedure on the filling up of necessary forms, submission of relevant documents and payment of mandatory fees. The Embassy of Vietnam in Sweden is located in:
Örby Slottsvägen 26, 125 71 Älvsjö, Stockholm, Sweden
Telephone: + 46-8-5562 1071/1077/1082
E-mail: info@vietnamemb.se
At the embassy, you will be asked to fill up the Visa application form. Along with the duly filled form, you will be required to submit one recent passport sized photograph, one self-addressed envelope and your original passport. You will also be required to pay the Visa fees, which can be paid to the Embassy of Vietnam by way of money order or cashier’s cheque. Once you have submitted all the documents and paid the fees, your documents will be forwarded ahead for processing.
The embassy will need at least five working days to process your documents. After your documents are processed, you will be issued a fully stamped Visa in the self-addressed envelope you submitted. Although this procedure allows you to get a fully stamped Visa before your departure to Vietnam, there are certain drawbacks that you should be aware of. This procedure will require you to visit the embassy several times before the process is complete. This can be quite a hassle if you live in an area that is far away from the embassy location. Also, your documents will be forwarded ahead by postal mail, which poses a high risk of loss of documents.
• Apply for Visa on Arrival
The Visa on Arrival process is an easier, more convenient and more affordable process. To apply for Visa on Arrival, you will have to get in touch with a reliable travel agent based in Vietnam. You will have to fill up an online application form. You will have to enter details such as your name, occupation, purpose of visit, duration of stay etc. While filling up the section of purpose of visit, you will have to choose from business, transit and tourist. A business Visa offers you a validity of one month, three months and six months. A tourist Visa offers a validity of one month and transit Visa offers a validity of less than five days.
Once your form is processed, you will be issued a letter of approval. This letter of approval can be collected by your travel agent on your behalf and he can have it forwarded to you. On reaching Vietnam, you will have to produce this letter of approval at the Visa on Arrival counter of the airport you arrive in. Along with this letter of approval, you will have to submit the Visa stamping fees in order to get your Visa on Arrival.
It is to be noted that the Visa on Arrival facility is available only to those travelers who arrive in Vietnam by air. If you are taking a land route, it is important that you carry your Visa and all other documents with you while traveling.
