Article 9 sets the maximum validity for each Vietnam visa symbol. Short trips (SQ, HN, DL) run up to 30–90 days; VR allows up to 6 months; many official/study/business/family categories run up to 12 months; LĐ (work) runs up to 2 years; ĐT (investor) runs up to 5 years. Your visa’s validity must also be at least 30 days shorter than your passport validity.
Who this helps: tourists, conference delegates, family visitors, students/interns, employees, investors, NGOs, diplomats, airlines/hospitality teams verifying stay periods.
Visa Validity by Symbol (max durations)
| Symbol | Purpose (plain English) | Max Validity |
|---|---|---|
| SQ | Special short-term cases per law | Up to 30 days |
| HN | Conferences, meetings, workshops | Up to 3 months |
| DL | Tourism (incl. e-Visa tourist use) | Up to 3 months |
| VR | Visit relatives / personal purposes | Up to 6 months |
| NG1, NG2, NG3, NG4 | Diplomatic / official | Up to 12 months |
| LV1, LV2 | Working with state or social/political orgs | Up to 12 months |
| DN | Business with Vietnamese enterprises (non-employment) | Up to 12 months |
| NN1, NN2, NN3 | NGOs, international orgs, foreign company offices | Up to 12 months |
| DH | Study / internship / training | Up to 12 months |
| PV1, PV2 | Journalists / correspondents | Up to 12 months |
| TT | Dependents (spouse/parent/child) / family reunion | Up to 12 months |
| LĐ | Employment in Vietnam | Up to 2 years |
| ĐT | Foreign investor / foreign lawyer in VN | Up to 5 years |
Note: “Up to” is the legal ceiling; actual approvals can be shorter based on your documents, purpose, and passport validity.
Must-know rules (to avoid refusals and overstays)
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Passport rule: Your visa validity must be ≥ 30 days shorter than your passport/travel document validity.
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Example: Passport expires in 12 months → max visa validity 11 months.
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Validity ≠ entry type: Validity sets how long your visa is good, not whether it’s single or multiple entry—that is specified in your approval.
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No carryover: When a visa expires, you need a new visa or approved status; you cannot remain on an expired visa.
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Match purpose to symbol: Work duties require LĐ; conferences HN; tourism DL; investment ĐT, etc.
Real-world scenarios (answer-style)
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Tourist on a 7-week trip: Choose DL (up to 3 months) to cover your full stay.
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Visiting parents in Vietnam for 4 months: VR (up to 6 months) fits better than DL.
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Investor setting up operations: ĐT (up to 5 years) supports long-term activity.
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New employment contract (2 years): LĐ (up to 2 years) aligned with labor authorization.
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Annual conference circuit: HN (up to 3 months) for event participation.
Quick checklist (copy/paste)
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✅ Pick the correct symbol for your purpose (DL, HN, VR, DN, LĐ, ĐT, etc.)
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✅ Ensure passport validity comfortably exceeds your requested visa term (+30 days buffer)
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✅ Verify entry type (single/multiple) on your approval
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✅ Keep your stay within visa validity; file extensions/new visas before expiry
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✅ Carry printed/digital approval matching your passport number
FAQs
Is a tourist e-Visa always 90 days?
No. DL can be up to 3 months; your approval letter shows the exact dates.
Can I switch from a tourist visa (DL) to work (LĐ) inside Vietnam?
Conversions are regulated and case-specific; many cases require exit and re-entry with the correct category.
My passport expires soon—how long can my visa be?
Your visa must end ≥ 30 days before your passport’s expiry, even if the category allows a longer term.
VietnamEntryVisa.com (operated by Nguyen Adventure, trusted since 2010 with strong Trustpilot/Tripadvisor ratings) helps you:
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Map your purpose to the correct Article-9 validity
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Pre-check passport dates, requested duration, and entry type
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Fast-track options when timing is tight (Standard, 1-Day, Same-Day, Holiday)
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Clear guidance to prevent overstay or mismatched approvals
Plan with confidence. Start a purpose-matched application at VietnamEntryVisa.com.