What Is a Vietnam Business Visa?
The Vietnam Business Visa service on this page covers Vietnam’s e-visa applied for under the “Business” purpose of entry, submitted through the official e-visa portal — the same electronic visa issued for tourism, just selected because your trip is for business activities. On the government application form, this appears as a purpose-of-entry option labeled “Business Activities.” There’s no separate form or separate government fee: selecting this purpose is what defines it, and this is the route our service handles.
One thing worth knowing: holding a business e-visa doesn’t restrict you to business activities only — travelers are free to take leisure time or sightsee during a trip entered on a business purpose. The purpose field simply reflects the primary reason for your entry, not everything you do while in the country.
Note on the traditional DN visa: Vietnam also has a longer-established Business Visa category (DN1/DN2), which requires a sponsoring company in Vietnam to issue an invitation or sponsor letter, and is typically used for longer or repeated business stays, or situations the e-visa system doesn’t cover. This is a separate process from the e-visa system and outside the scope of the service on this page. If you’re unsure which category fits your trip, message us and we’ll help you confirm whether the e-visa Business purpose is the right fit before you apply.
The e-visa Business purpose is right for you if you’re:
- Attending business meetings, conferences, or trade shows
- Conducting market research, negotiations, or site visits
- Visiting a Vietnamese business partner or client short-term
- Not requiring a local sponsor letter or invitation for your specific trip
- Planning a stay of up to 90 days, single or multiple entry
This is not the right selection if:
- You’re travelling purely for tourism or personal reasons — see our Vietnam Tourist Visa page instead
- You intend to take up paid employment in Vietnam — neither the tourist nor business e-visa authorizes paid work; a work permit and LD visa are required for that
- Your company or a Vietnamese partner has explicitly told you a DN visa (sponsor-based) is required for your specific trip
What You’ll Need
Document requirements follow the same base checklist as any Vietnam e-visa — a valid passport, a recent portrait photo, and your travel details. A few things are worth knowing specifically for business applications:
| For Business Applications | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Purpose of entry: “Business” | This is the field that actually defines your visa as a business visa — select it accurately |
| Invitation or sponsor letter | Not required for the standard e-visa Business purpose, but some travelers choose to carry one anyway for immigration or company compliance purposes |
| Company/host details | Not a mandatory e-visa field, but useful to have on hand for your own itinerary and in case immigration officers ask about your trip |
| Multiple entry option | Frequently used by business travelers making repeated short trips into Vietnam during a project or contract period |
For the full document checklist and photo specifications, see the complete Vietnam e-visa requirements.
Common Business Visa Situations
Making repeated short trips during a project? A multiple-entry business e-visa (valid up to 90 days) is generally more cost-effective and convenient than applying for a new single-entry visa each time you travel.
Attending a single conference or short meeting? A single-entry business e-visa covers most short, one-off trips without any need for a sponsor letter.
Planning a longer-term posting or work assignment? The Business purpose e-visa does not authorize employment and cannot be extended in-country. If you’re being posted to Vietnam for work, a work permit and LD visa arranged through your employer is the correct route — this falls outside our e-visa service, so this is worth confirming with your employer or a corporate immigration specialist before you travel.
Combining business with some sightseeing? If the trip is primarily business with some personal time attached, Business remains the correct purpose to select — this doesn’t affect your ability to also enjoy tourism activities during the same visit.
Is your company applying on your behalf? Some Vietnam-based companies register their own account on the e-visa portal to submit applications for visiting staff or partners directly, rather than each traveler applying individually. If your Vietnamese host company has offered to do this, that’s a valid alternative route — message us if you’d like help confirming the details are entered correctly either way.
Traveling with family while on a business trip? Each family member needs their own individual application with the purpose that actually matches their reason for travel — typically Business for the employee and Tourism for accompanying family members, submitted as separate applications.
How to Apply
Applying for a business visa follows the same process as any Vietnam e-visa — you can either use the official government portal yourself, or have our specialists prepare, review, and submit it for you. See the full step-by-step application process, processing times, and pricing on our Vietnam E-Visa page →
In short, applying through us looks like this:
- Message us your passport photo page, portrait photo, and trip details (dates, entry port, purpose: Business) by WhatsApp or email
- A visa specialist reviews everything for errors before submission
- We file your business visa application and keep you updated
- You receive your approved e-visa by email, ready to print
Pricing starts from $49 for Standard processing (3–5 working days), with faster tiers available for travelers on a tighter timeline. View full pricing tiers →
👉 Message us on WhatsApp or by email to start your business visa application.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is a “business visa” different from an e-visa? The e-visa Business purpose described here is the same electronic visa as the tourist e-visa, just selected for business activities. This is different from the traditional sponsor-based DN visa — see below.
2. Do I need an invitation letter from a Vietnamese company? Not for the standard e-visa Business purpose. An invitation or sponsor letter is generally only required for the traditional DN visa category, which covers longer or more formal business arrangements.
3. Can I work or receive payment in Vietnam on a business e-visa? No. Neither the tourist nor business e-visa authorizes paid employment. Working in Vietnam requires a work permit and LD visa.
4. How long can I stay in Vietnam on a business visa? Up to 90 days, with single or multiple entry, depending on what you apply for and are granted.
5. What’s the difference between the e-visa Business purpose and a DN visa? The e-visa Business purpose is fully online, doesn’t require a sponsor letter, and suits short business trips — this is what our service handles. A DN visa requires a Vietnamese company to sponsor you, generally involves longer or repeated stays, and follows a separate application process outside our e-visa service.
6. Can I attend multiple meetings across different Vietnamese cities on one business visa? Yes — a business e-visa isn’t tied to a single city; you can travel within Vietnam during your stay.
7. Is a business visa more expensive than a tourist visa? No — the government fee and our service pricing are the same regardless of purpose; only the intended activity differs. See the full pricing table.
8. Can I extend a business visa while in Vietnam? Currently, e-visas — including the business purpose — can’t be extended in-country. Frequent business travelers often use multiple-entry visas or plan a border exit/re-entry instead.
9. Can I sightsee or take personal time during a business trip? Yes. The purpose field reflects the main reason for your entry, not a restriction on your activities — you’re free to enjoy leisure time alongside your business schedule.
10. Can my Vietnamese host company apply for my visa instead of me? Yes, some companies apply directly through their own registered account on the e-visa portal on behalf of visiting staff or partners. Either route — applying yourself or having the company apply — results in the same type of business e-visa.
Ready to Apply for Your Vietnam Business Visa?
Getting your business visa purpose and details right the first time avoids delays before an important trip. Send us your details and let our specialists handle the rest.
👉 Message us on WhatsApp or by email
Traveling for tourism instead? See our Vietnam Tourist Visa page. Need the full requirements, pricing, and application process? Visit our Vietnam E-Visa page.
