Practical guide

Vietnam visa

Most visitors need a visa, and the usual way to get one is the 90-day e-visa from the government portal, which costs $25 for a single entry or $50 for multiple entries. Passport holders from the UK, much of Europe, Japan, South Korea and several Asian countries can enter without one for 14 to 45 days.

Quick answer: who needs what

Most nationalities need a visa. The standard route is the e-visa, applied for on the government portal at evisa.gov.vn: it is valid for up to 90 days, single or multiple entry, and costs $25 or $50 (fees checked October 2026). The same site covers every nationality.

Some passports skip the visa altogether because of exemptions that run for a fixed period. As of October 2026 these include:

  • The UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland: 45 days, for entries from 15 March 2025 to 14 March 2028.
  • Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland: 45 days, from 15 August 2025 to 14 August 2028.
  • Most ASEAN passports (Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines and others): 14 to 30 days depending on the country.

The United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand are not on the exemption lists, so those travellers apply for an e-visa. Exemption lists change by decree, so confirm yours with the Vietnamese embassy or the e-visa portal before you book flights.

Applying for the e-visa

Apply at evisa.gov.vn only. Several private sites copy the official form and add a service charge, and some are slow or unreliable. You do not need an agent for a straightforward tourist trip.

You will need:

  • A scan of your passport photo page (the passport must be valid for six months beyond your arrival).
  • A recent portrait photo with a plain background.
  • Your arrival and exit dates, a first address in Vietnam and an entry gate.
  • A card for the fee, payable online.

Official processing time is three working days. Apply a week or two ahead, which leaves room for a correction if the system rejects a photo. Print the approval and keep it with your passport. Details on the e-visa, including the entry points (13 international airports, 16 land crossings and 13 sea ports), are on the Vietnam tourism board’s e-visa page.

Check every letter of your name and your passport number before you pay. A mistake can make the visa invalid, and a new application means a new fee.

Visa exemptions in practice

An exemption means you can enter and stay for the stated number of days from the day you arrive. Count them carefully: 45 days is not “six weeks”.

If you want to stay longer than the exemption, you can apply for an e-visa for a later stay, or extend inside Vietnam. Travellers who plan a long trip, such as a month in the north and a month in the south, often take the 90-day e-visa instead of relying on the 45-day exemption.

The passport used to enter must be valid for at least six months, and officials may ask for proof of onward travel. Keep a flight or bus booking out of the country on your phone.

The pre-arrival form at Saigon airport

Since 15 April 2026 the immigration department has run an online pre-arrival declaration (PAI system) at Tan Son Nhat airport in Ho Chi Minh City and at Phu Quoc, at prearrival.immigration.gov.vn. It replaces the paper form, takes a few minutes and can be completed in the 72 hours before arrival. It produces a QR code for the immigration officer.

The department describes it as a roll-out that is being extended to other airports, and some travel sites describe it as required. Fill it in anyway: it is free, it saves time at the desk and a missing form can slow you down. If you are using the official portal, avoid any site that charges for it.

Arriving at Saigon airport

Queues at immigration at Tan Son Nhat can run to an hour or two when several wide-body flights land together. Fast-track immigration is an add-on we offer with a Saigon airport transfer, and the driver waits for you at arrivals with a name sign. If you arrive after midnight, a driver who tracks your flight avoids a taxi queue at the worst time.

Long Thanh airport is not open to passengers yet (commercial flights are targeted for December 2026). See the Long Thanh airport page for the current status. Tan Son Nhat remains the airport for Saigon.

Extending a stay and overstaying

Extensions are made with the immigration department or through a visa agent, and cost a fee that depends on the visa type and length. Allow several working days, and apply well before the visa ends. A short stay granted by exemption is harder to extend than an e-visa.

Overstaying is a real offence. It brings a fine and can lead to a ban from re-entering Vietnam, so don’t count on a grace period. A common alternative to a long stay is a short trip out of the country (to Cambodia, say) and a fresh e-visa.

Other points before you fly

  • You need an exit as well as an entry plan: some airlines check onward tickets at check-in.
  • Bring cash for the first day. The money guide covers notes and ATMs.
  • Land borders use the same visa rules, but not every crossing accepts an e-visa; check the gate when applying.
  • Visa rules change often. Check the portal, or the embassy of Vietnam in your country, in the month you fly.

The information page links to the rest of our practical guides, including health and safety and getting around Vietnam.

FAQ

Questions travellers ask us

Do I need a visa to visit Vietnam?

Usually yes. Citizens of the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand need a visa, normally an e-visa. Citizens of the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, South Korea and many other European and Asian countries can enter without one for 45 days, and most ASEAN passports get 14 to 30 days. Check the current list before you book.

How much is the Vietnam e-visa and how long does it take?

The government fee is $25 for a single entry and $50 for multiple entries, valid for up to 90 days. Official sources give three working days for processing, so apply a week or two before you fly. The fee is not refunded if the application is refused.

Can I get a visa on arrival in Vietnam?

Not at the airport counter. The old approval-letter 'visa on arrival' has been replaced by the e-visa, which you apply for online before you travel. If your nationality is exempt, you need nothing in advance. Without an e-visa or an exemption, an airline can refuse to board you.

Where do I apply for the Vietnam e-visa?

On the official portal at evisa.gov.vn (the immigration department's site). Many look-alike sites charge extra for the same form. You need a passport photo page, a portrait photo, your arrival and exit dates and an entry gate. The e-visa is tied to the passport you apply with.

Can I extend my visa in Vietnam?

Yes, through the immigration department or a visa agent, for a fee, and it takes several working days. Short stays on exemptions and short visas are harder to extend. Overstaying brings a fine and can lead to a ban on re-entry, so plan the dates before you land.

How long must my passport be valid?

At least six months from your date of entry, with a blank page. The same passport must be used to enter and leave. If you hold two passports, apply with the one you will travel on.