Swedish Embassy improves visa services

Catering to the growing demand of Vietnamese travellers to Sweden and Europe, the new initiative is aimed at offering enhanced services, facilities and benefits to visa applicants in both the north and south of Vietnam, announced the Swedish Embassy.

Taking effect on June 17 and June 24, respectively, visa applicants to Sweden can present their passports and applications in person to VFS Global’s offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

All necessary information and other services will be made available for applicants. Decisions will take a maximum of 15 days and once made, applicants can collect their passport from the same VFS Global office.

According to Ambassador of Sweden to Vietnam Camilla Mellander, the embassy appreciates its co-operation with VFS and believes it has made the right decision.

”With VFS offices in Vietnam’s biggest cities Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh, it will provide an opportunity to provide a more accessible and additional services for visa applicants to Sweden,” Mellander said.

Also, applicants can now refer to the VFS Global website http://www.vfsglobal.se/vietnam for all necessary information, such as finding out about the timetables and checklists of what documents are needed for different types of visa such as business, tourist or visiting relatives.

VFS will also handle telephone and email inquiries and provide appointment booking services for the visa office at the Swedish Embassy. Applicants can can drop by between regular office hours Monday to Friday.

Resident permits and work permits still have to be submitted directly to the Embassy of Sweden in Hanoi or through the Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City. Online applications have been prioritised. The Swedish consulate in Ho Chi Minh City cannot accept visa applications.