The Swedes are among the top foreign visitors of Vietnam and they have the privilege of entering the country visa-free. In 2019, there are more than 50,000 Swedish nationals who came to Vietnam for a holiday. However, when the Covid 19 pandemic took place, Vietnam has to temporarily stop the entry of all foreign visitors. Thus, a lot of Swedish travelers have to cancel or postpone their trip.

The Vietnam Visa Waiver Program

Under the Vietnam Visa Waiver Program, citizens of more than 20 countries will be allowed to enter Vietnam without having to show a visa. These include citizens of Sweden. The visa waiver program was implemented last December of 2015. Supposedly, the program is only good for four years. However, the program has successfully brought thousands of foreign visitors into the country. Thus, the Vietnam government has decided to extend it for three more years and is due to end in December 2022.

Under the visa waiver program, Swedish travelers will only need to show their passport upon entry to the country. But they will be allowed to stay in Vietnam for only 15 days. If they want to stay longer, they must apply for a visa.

Temporary Suspension of Visa-free Entry Due to Covid 19

So far, the visa waiver program has brought in thousands of tourists in Vietnam. However, when the Covid 19 outbreak came, the government has to stop the entry of all foreign visitors. Everyone, including those who have visa-free entry into the country, was prevented from getting inside. In fact, Vietnam has also stopped issuing all kinds of visas. This was done in order to prevent the entry of foreign individuals who could possibly bring the virus in.

But Vietnam’s efforts were all worth it. The government has been successful in containing the virus and the country is now trying to go back to normal. Once again, they are inviting foreign visitors to come and check out the country’s tourist attractions. For citizens of Sweden who plan on visiting Vietnam, now is the time.

Vietnam Visa-free Entry Requirements for Citizens of Sweden

Remember that even though you no longer need to show a visa when entering Vietnam, you are required to show some documents. Here’s what you need to present upon entry:

• Valid Swedish passport – Swedish citizens are required to present their passport at passport control in order to enter Vietnam visa-free. The passport should be valid for six months from the date of entry. It must also have two blank pages for the entry stamp.
• Proof of onward travel – under the visa waiver policy, Swedish citizens can only stay in the country for 15 days. Therefore, you need to be able to provide a document as proof that you will be exiting the country before the 15-day period ends.

Applying for a Vietnam Visa for Citizens of Sweden

If you feel like you need to stay in Vietnam for more than two weeks, you might as well apply for a visa in advance. The good news is that getting a visa to Vietnam is now so easy. In fact, you don’t need to go to a Vietnam embassy anymore. The application is done online and your visa will be issued online as well.

For a stay of 30 days, choose the e-visa. Also known as the electronic visa, the Vietnam e-visa can be easily obtained online. There’s an online visa application form that you need to fill out. After only a few days of submitting your application, they will send you your visa. You don’t need to go to the embassy for this. They will send it to you through email so you can just print it out when you get it.

If 30 days is still not enough for you, then apply for the visa on arrival. This visa will let you stay in Vietnam for a maximum of 90 days. As the name suggests, this is the kind of visa that you will get on arrival. But before you will be issued with this visa, you are required to apply online in advance. Just like with applying for the e-visa, you will be asked to fill out a form. When they approve your application, they will give you a letter. Show this letter at the visa counter and they will attach a visa sticker on your passport.