For citizens of Vietnam heading to destinations in Europe, whether you are travelling for business, study or pleasure, a specific type of Schengen visa is required.
Schengen Visa is a visa for the Schengen Area, which consists of most of the European Economic Area, plus several other adjacent countries. The visa allows visitors to stay in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days within a 180-day period.
How Can I Get Schengen Visa from Vietnam?
To simplify and improve efficiency the Ministry of Foreign Affairs launched in March/2020 the e-VISA platform, where you can submit the visa application form and upload the required documents.
In addition to these new functionalities, applicants are given a personal access code that allows them to follow up the process online, change personal data and attach documents
The application process is broken down into four stages:
- Registered,
- Under examination,
- Granted or refused and
- Visa issued.
This new platform will be further developed to allow possibility of paying the administrative fee for processing the application. The e-VISA platform is one of the new features of the New Model of Consular Management of the MFA and continues the effort to digitise the entire document processing of visa applications. This measure contributes to the operationalization of the National Plan for the Implementation of the Global Pact on Migration (Resolution of the Council of Ministers No. 141/2019, approved on August 20).
The e-VISA is available on the Community Portal and the Visa Portal and can be viewed in five languages: Portuguese, English, French, Ukrainian and Russian.
Stays Longer than 90 Days – Does a Vietnam Passport Need a Visa for Europe?
For stays of longer than 90 days, citizens holding a Vietnam passport will need to apply for a full visa for the country or countries they will be visiting. There is no Schengen-wide visa application, and cases are judged on an individual basis. Working visas are a possibility in some European countries, but in others they are not. Additionally, these visas will generally not allow you travel freely within the Schengen Area. For more information on long-term visas, you will need to contact the respective embassy of the country you plan to travel to.
There are, however, alternatives available for individuals and families who are looking to spend more time in Europe and gain longer term access to the Schengen Area. Golden Visa schemes, such as Portugal’s Autorização de Residência para Actividade de Investimento program (ARI), provide long-term Schengen Area access. Citizens of Vietnam can apply to this program by either investing in real estate or eligible venture capital funds.
The benefits of the Golden Visa program in Portugal are as follows:
- Portuguese residency permit
- Portuguese Citizenship after five years of legal residency
- Visa-free access to the Schengen Zone
- Access to high-quality education and healthcare systems
- 10-year tax relief program
The minimum investment to be eligible for the Golden Visa program in Portugal is €350,000 for venture capital funds and €500,000 for real estate projects. For Vietnam citizens looking to relocate or set up a business in Europe, the Portuguese scheme offers easy entry to the Schengen Area while also providing other benefits to make investment a worthwhile vehicle.
For more information on how to apply for a Golden Visa in Portugal, contact Planeur today. We can give you the information you need to make an informed decision, while guiding you through the entire process, connecting you with the right professionals, and helping you to deal with the relevant paperwork.