[Updated in 2017]_Everything about Vietnam visa for Spanish
If Spanish travelers intend to stay in other countries within 15 days, you do not need to apply Visa; otherwise, a visa is compulsory for your trip. There are three ways to apply Vietnam visa, each of which has different advantages and disadvantages therefore Spanish citizens can consider which is the best way to have a visa on hand and enjoy the journey to new lands.
1. Visa on arrival
It is the most common strategy that almost all travelers choose when entering Vietnam by air. Firstly, it has been requested because of its convenience as Spanish are allowed to pick up the visa as soon as you land at Vietnam international airport, which means you do not need to visit Vietnam embassy. This Vietnam visa type saves a lot of time and money as it prevents you from waiting outside the Embassy for hours just to get the official visa.
Secondly, Vietnam visa on arrival is secure since it guarantees your privacy when it does not demand any original document to the Immigration Department of Vietnam for visa approval. However, visa on arrival is acceptable for AIR travelers only; thus, if you want to get to Vietnam in land or sea way, you will have to get visa at Vietnam embassy traditionally. Another disadvantage of visa on arrival is that sometimes the time for getting visa can be long and applicants will have to wait at the long queue at Vietnam airport.
2. Vietnam Embassy in Spain
One of the first advantages is that you already have your visa stamped on your passport before the flight but applicants will have to deal with Vietnam Embassy in person directly. However, this type of visa has some disadvantages. It not only has your personal information sent away but also takes you at least 5 working days to get visa processed. It can be self applied which is considered an advantage but this leads to difficulty for those who lives far from Vietnam Embassy in Spain.
According to Vietnam Immigration Law, from 01 July, 2017 to 30 June, 2018, the citizens of Spain, irrespective of the purpose and type of passport, may enter or exit Vietnam for a term not exceeding 15 days stay with single entry. If you stay in Vietnam for more than 15 days or enter the country twice or multiple times, a Vietnam visa is required. To enjoy visa-free entry to Vietnam, the arrival date must not be within 30 days from the last exit date.
3. Vietnam E-visa
E-visas are applicable to citizens of eligible countries that have established diplomatic relations with Vietnam; Consistent with the economic development policies – social and foreign policy of Vietnam in each period; Without prejudice to national defense, security and order, social security of Vietnam.
An e-Visa can be easily obtained anywhere as long as Spanish visitors are provided with an internet connection. Applying E visa saves much time that you would otherwise spend on visa applications but it is eligible for 30 days single entry, tourist visa only. It takes you no sooner than 3 working days to know whether your Vietnam visa application is approved or not. Since this kind of visa of which some certain airlines may not be aware, they may refuse it is also not familiar to immigration staff, it’s better to check with airlines in advance to avoid troubles.
Finally, each ways of applying visa has its own advantages and disadvantages. However, citizens of Spain should check Vietnam visa requirements for Spanish and choose one of those ways in order that you can explore how beautiful Vietnam is with no worries that you are held back because of complicated visa processing.