Vietnam visa for Timor-Leste – Common issues and how to resolve them

Nowadays, an increasing number of Timor-Leste travellers are coming to Vietnam to visit, live, study, etc., and many bring their families with them. However, all citizens of Timor-Leste will need to apply for a Vietnam visa for tourist or business purposes.

Brief summary

– Timor-Leste citizens are required to obtain a visa to enter Vietnam;
– Timor-Leste citizens are eligible for a Vietnam e-visa for tourism, visiting relatives, business, working or other purposes;
– Standard processing time: 3-5 working days (excluding Saturday and Sunday);
– Rush visa service: can be completed within 2 working days, 1 working day, 4 working hours or 2 working hours;
– Fix visa issues: expedite the pending e-visa application, update the visa information in the system.

Notice: During the processing of your visa application, you may receive a request from the Vietnam Immigration Department asking you to amend or update certain information. In such cases, the processing time will begin only after the required amendments have been completed and resubmitted.

Common issues and how to solve them?

Although Timor-Leste citizens are eligible for a Vietnam e-visa, many applicants encounter difficulties during the application process, often due to errors in preparing their documents or filling out the form. When applying for a visa to Vietnam, applicants from Timor-Leste must submit a clear passport photo and a scanned copy of the passport’s main page. If these photos are blurry, low quality, or missing key information, the visa application may be rejected. As a result, applicants have to amend their visa application again and again, which can still lead to delays in receiving their visa.

Below is a guide on how to apply for a Vietnam visa with a high success rate, minimise waiting time, and avoid unfortunate mistakes:

1. Prepare a copy of your passport and portrait photo:

• Passport copy

Submit a clear, high-resolution copy of your passport. The image must be free of glare or obstructions, clearly display the 4 corners of the page, and show all data in full. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from your date of arrival in Vietnam.

• Portrait photograph

Provide a recent (taken within the last 6 months) colour photograph on a plain, light background. You must face the camera directly with a neutral expression, without wearing hats or glasses. You are not allowed to crop the portrait photo from your passport page for use in your visa application. Instead, take a new picture with your phone camera against a plain, light colored background.

• File format and size

Save all documents in PDF, JPG, or PNG format, and each file must not exceed 3 MB. If any of your photos are larger than 3 MB, use an image compression app or save a lower resolution copy before uploading.

2. Prepare the information about the trip and accommodation

In this step, you will need to provide your full residential address in your home country as well as the address where you will stay in Vietnam. If you are staying at a hotel in Vietnam, please contact the hotel representative to get the exact address of the accommodation. You will need to enter the name, address, and telephone number of a person to be contacted in case of emergency.

You should enter your arrival date as accurately as possible. However, if you are unsure of the exact arrival date, select the earliest date on which you plan to travel to Vietnam.

3. Review the information carefully

Once you upload your photos, the system will automatically extract your personal data and populate the form. However, you will need to review all information to ensure its complete accuracy. By clicking “Submit”, you confirm that the data entered is correct. After your visa is issued, any errors in the visa details cannot be amended or used as grounds for a complaint.

4. Pay the visa fee using an appropriate payment method and keep the payment receipt

Visa fees are typically paid by credit card, so please ensure you have a valid credit card authorised for online payments. After completing the payment, check your email to confirm it has been received. Make a note of your visa application number and the email address used, as you will need them to download your visa result later.

It is essential to provide an active and accurate email address. If you enter an incorrect email, you may not receive your visa application number and will be unable to obtain your visa result. Many applicants have had to reapply for a visa simply because they provided the wrong email address.

5. Receive the visa result

Sometimes, due to technical errors, you may not receive an email notification from the Vietnam Immigration Department confirming your visa approval. To verify the status of your visa, enter your visa application number and email address in the visa search section on the official portal.

Once you receive your visa result, you must carefully review all the details. Every piece of information – including names, dates, and numbers – must exactly match the information in your passport. If you find any discrepancies, immediately apply for a new visa or contact the Vietnam visa speed up for assistance if you are short on time. We can help you resolve the issues that may arise in just a few hours:

How soon can the Timor-Leste citizens get a new e-visa if they don’t want to amend the incorrect one?
A new e-visa can be done within 2 working days, 1 working day, 4 working hours, 2 working hours or 1 working hour as below:

For applicants with long names, please note that names may be truncated to fit the visa form. In such cases, please make sure that the name displayed matches the ICAO line at the bottom of your passport.

Frequently asked questions