• Apply through the embassy
If you decide to travel to a foreign country, it will result in a number of expenses. At the embassy, you will be required to fill up the Visa application form. Along with the duly filled form, you will have to submit one recent passport sized photograph, one self-addressed envelope and your original passport. Besides submitting these documents, you will have to pay the Visa fees. The fees can be paid in favor of the Embassy of Vietnam by way of money order or cashier’s check.
The embassy will take at least five working days to process your documents. Once your documents are processed, you will be issued a fully stamped Visa. Although this process offers you the benefit of getting hold of a fully stamped Visa before departing for Vietnam, it is quite expensive and time consuming.
In case of correspondence, you will have to send in all your documents to the embassy location through postal mail. This means you could lose all your documents if your package is misplaced or lost in transit.
• Apply for Visa on Arrival
The easier alternative for the citizens of Iceland is to apply for Visa on Arrival. Visa on Arrival is faster, more affordable and convenient. In order to apply for Visa on Arrival, you will have to get in touch with a travel agent based in Vietnam. You will have to fill up an online application with your details such as your name, address, purpose of visit, duration of stay etc. When filling up the purpose of visit section, you will have to choose from options such as business, tourist and transit. A business Visa offers a validity of one month, three months and six months. A tourist Visa offers a validity of one month and a transit Visa offers a validity of one month and transit Visa offers a validity of less than five days.
Online forms are usually processed in two or three days. Once the application is processed, you will be issued a letter of approval. This letter of approval can be collected by your travel agent and forwarded to you. On reaching Vietnam, you will have to submit this letter of approval at the Visa on Arrival counter of the airport you arrive in.
It is to be noted that the Visa on Arrival facility is extended only those who arrive in Vietnam by air. For those taking land routes, it is mandatory that they carry all their documents with them while traveling. In case of a cruise ship, the cruise authorities can be contacted for information on Visa on Arrival.
