A DN business visa approval letter takes 5 working days from a complete file, plus 3–5 working days if the company has never registered form NA16. The company files form NA2, the Immigration Department notifies the border gate or embassy, and the traveller collects the visa on arrival. File at least 7–10 days before the flight; most delays come from a missing NA16, misspelt names or old form templates.
This page covers the process and timing. The eligibility and document list is in DN requirements.
The five stages
- Company registration check (once): form NA16 plus enterprise registration certificate. Allow 3–5 working days if this has never been filed.
- Preparation: form NA2 completed from the passport scans, signed and sealed by the authorised person registered on NA16.
- Filing: submitted to the Immigration Department in person, by public postal service or electronically.
- Review — 5 working days: the Department issues the approval and notifies the border gate or the Vietnamese mission.
- Collection: the traveller receives the letter, flies in and has the visa stamped, or collects it at the mission named in the letter.
What actually causes delays
| Cause | Prevention |
|---|---|
| NA16 missing or outdated after a change of seal or address | Refile NA16 before the first application of the year |
| Name spelling differs from the passport | Type names from the scan, never from an email |
| Old form template used after 1 July 2026 | Download current templates — see Circular 70/2026 |
| Entry date too close to the filing date | File at least 7–10 days before the flight |
| Address on the enterprise certificate uses a merged province name | Update the certificate — see post-merger filing |
Group applications
One NA2 can list several travellers arriving for the same purpose, which is cheaper and faster than separate filings. All must share the entry gate and the collection point named in the letter.
After entry
File the temporary residence declaration, and diarise the expiry date: extensions take 5–7 working days and should start 10–15 days early.
If you do not have time to prepare the file yourself, Info Travel – a Vietnam visa and immigration services company for foreigners – can check your documents and file on your behalf. Free advice on Zalo/WhatsApp: +84327828822 (phone, Zalo, WhatsApp).
