HANOI, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam will halve the processing time for visa exemption certificates at its overseas missions from two working days to one, local daily Nhan Dan reported Tuesday.

A plan to reduce the administrative processing time for visa exemption certificates was approved by the government, according to the local newspaper Government News.

The decision also shortens the notarization processing time for civil contracts from 48 hours to within 24 hours, and in complex cases from 10 working days to six, the report said.

Foreign nationals will now be able to submit applications by post to Vietnamese visa-issuing agencies abroad, according to local daily VnExpress.

The use of digital signatures and digital seals was also approved for submitting applications for diplomatic and official passports. ■