Japanese contingent requests visa exemption

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At last week’s meeting between Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and over 50 representatives from Japanese firms operating in the sectors of manufacturing, mechanics, electricity, electronics, commercial service, construction, information technology, and foodstuff production, Phuc promised to ask relevant ministries to consider relaxing the conditions for entry under a visa exemption for Japanese citizens.

The move will make it more convenient for Japanese visitors to enter Vietnam for investment, business, and travel purposes.

Earlier on the same day last week, at a meeting between the Japanese representatives and the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), Deputy Minister Dang Huy Dong also said the MPI wanted to see such a move from the government.

“Japanese investors have been investing dozens of billions of dollars in Vietnam, but have to apply for new visa continuously. This is a big obstruction to them from re-entering Vietnam, and so they should have visa exemption,” Dong said.

According to the MPI, Japan is a key investment partner and the fourth inbound tourism partner of Vietnam. As of September 20, 2016, there were 3,212 valid Japanese investment projects in Vietnam, registered at over $42 billion. Also in this year’s first nine months, the country received about 555,200 Japanese arrivals, up 11.4 per cent year-on-year.

At these meetings, on behalf of the 50 representatives, Kobayashi Yoichi, chairman of Japan-Mekong Business Cooperation Committee, proposed that the Vietnamese government ease conditions for entry under visa exemption for Japanese citizens.

In fact, since 2015, Japan Business Association in Vietnam has been requesting the government to give visa exemption to Japanese citizens, regardless of the date of their last departure from Vietnam. Under the current law, Japanese citizens are denied re-entry within 30 days if they do not have a visa, according to Yoichi.

Following the amendments to the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam enacted in June 2014, entry of Japanese citizens has been restricted in many cases.

Previously, when entering Vietnam under visa exemption, a Japanese citizen not having a visa did not affect their ability to re-enter the country, even if their last exit from Vietnam had been less than 30 days ago. Now, any Japanese citizen is required to obtain a visa when they wish to re-enter Vietnam.

“This change in the visa exemption limits Japanese citizens from visiting Vietnam more frequently for business or tourism,” Yoichi said. “As such, we request that the conditions for entry under a visa exemption for Japanese citizens be loosened or even removed in order to allow them to fully enjoy the exemption, regardless of the time of their last exit from Vietnam.”

He also added that Vietnam is the sole nation in ASEAN that is applying such a visa policy for Japanese citizens and that the country should follow common practice.