Vietnam Visa 2026: E-Visa, Requirements, Fees & Latest Update

In Short: Vietnam Visa Rules at a Glance

For most tourist trips to Vietnam, the first question is simple: are you visa-exempt, or do you need an e-visa?

If your passport is covered by Vietnam's visa-exemption policy and your stay is within the permitted period, you may not need a visa. Otherwise, the Vietnam e-visa is usually the most practical option for tourists.

The official Vietnam e-visa fee is:

Vietnam's official e-visa portal states a standard processing time of around 3 working days. In practice, it is sensible to apply well before departure so you have time to deal with incorrect information, holidays or other delays.

Do not travel while your e-visa is still marked ''in processing''. Wait until it has been approved and download the issued e-visa before departure.

Before submitting your application, double-check your name, passport number, date of birth, travel dates and intended border gate. A small mistake can become a major problem at airline check-in or immigration.

Do You Need a Visa for Vietnam?

Your passport, length of stay and travel plan determine whether you need a Vietnam visa.

Some travelers can enter without a visa for a limited period. Others need to obtain a visa before arrival. Even if your nationality is visa-exempt, you will normally need another suitable entry permission if you plan to stay beyond the permitted visa-free period.

For most tourist situations:

For ordinary tourism, the e-visa is usually the most practical solution.

Vietnam Visa Exemption: Who Can Enter Without a Visa?

If your passport is covered by Vietnam's visa-exemption policy and your trip stays within the allowed period, you may enter without applying for a visa. If you plan to stay longer, you will normally need a suitable visa.

For tourists covered by Vietnam's current unilateral 45-day policy, the countries fall into two main groups:

• Resolution 44/NQ-CP: Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland. The policy runs from 15 March 2025 to 14 March 2028. See the Vietnam Government announcement.
• Resolution 229/NQ-CP: Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland. The policy runs from 15 August 2025 to 14 August 2028. See the Vietnam Government announcement.

Both groups currently receive up to 45 days of visa-free stay, but the policies have different expiry dates. Other treaty-based, special-purpose or passport-specific exemptions may also exist, so this list should not be treated as the only possible visa exemption in every situation.

The simple rule: if your passport is visa-exempt and your trip stays within the allowed period, you may not need a visa. If you plan to stay longer, arrange the appropriate visa before traveling.

Vietnam E-Visa: Validity, Fees and Processing Time

The Vietnam e-visa can be valid for up to 90 days and can be issued for either single or multiple entry.

Vietnam made e-visas available to citizens of all countries and territories from 15 August 2023. Applications are completed online before travel through the Vietnam Immigration Department's electronic system.

An e-visa can work well for:

• A classic 10 to 15-day Vietnam holiday
• Trips of three weeks or longer
• Vietnam and Cambodia itineraries
• Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia routes
• Trips where you leave Vietnam and return later
• Northern Vietnam journeys including Hanoi, Cao Bang, Ba Be or Ha Giang

The official fee is 25 USD for single entry and 50 USD for multiple entry. The fee is paid online and is generally not refunded if the application is refused.

The official portal states a standard processing time of around 3 working days. Do not leave the application until the last moment: incorrect information or a request for correction can delay your result.

How to Apply for a Vietnam E-Visa Online

Apply through Vietnam's official e-visa portal at evisa.gov.vn. The Immigration Department also recognizes thithucdientu.gov.vn as an official domain.

Be careful with commercial websites using similar names or government-style designs. A private visa service may charge its own service fee in addition to the official government visa fee.

Before starting, prepare:

• A passport with sufficient remaining validity; the official e-visa guidance requires more than six months
• A clear image of the passport information page
• A recent portrait photo, facing forward and without glasses
• A valid email address
• A payment method accepted by the online portal
• Your planned entry and exit dates
• Your intended entry and exit border gates
• Your planned temporary address or accommodation in Vietnam

The process is straightforward:

1. Go to the official Vietnam e-visa portal.
2. Choose the application for foreigners currently outside Vietnam.
3. Upload your portrait photo and passport information page.
4. Enter your personal details exactly as required by the form and passport.
5. Enter your proposed visa dates and travel information.
6. Choose single entry or multiple entry.
7. Check every field again before submitting.
8. Pay the official e-visa fee online.
9. Save your registration code and application information.
10. Check the result through the official portal and download the e-visa once approved.

Save your registration code. You will need it, together with the requested identifying information, to track the application and retrieve the approved visa.

Once approved, download the e-visa and keep both a printed copy and a digital copy available during your journey.

Single or Multiple Entry: Which E-Visa Should You Choose?

If you will enter Vietnam only once, single entry is normally enough. If you leave Vietnam and later return on the same visa period, choose multiple entry.

A single-entry e-visa allows one entry into Vietnam. Once you leave, that single-entry visa cannot be used for another entry.

A multiple-entry e-visa allows more than one entry while the visa remains valid.

Single entry usually makes sense if:

• Vietnam is your only country on the trip
• You will not leave Vietnam before your final departure
• Your route is continuous, for example Hanoi → Cao Bang → Ha Long Bay

Multiple entry is worth considering if:

• You will visit Cambodia, Laos, Thailand or another country and then return to Vietnam
• Your international arrival and final departure are both in Vietnam with another country in between
• Your itinerary may change and could require you to re-enter Vietnam

The mistake to avoid: leaving Vietnam ends the usefulness of a single-entry visa even if the date printed on the visa has not yet passed.

Common Vietnam Visa Mistakes to Avoid

Most avoidable visa problems start with a small detail entered incorrectly.

Before submitting your application, check:

• Your name matches the passport information requested by the official form
• Passport number is correct
• Date of birth is correct
• Nationality and other personal details are correct
• Requested visa start and end dates fit your itinerary
• Entry and exit border gates are appropriate for your trip
• Portrait image is clear
• Passport page is readable and not badly cropped
• Passport has sufficient remaining validity
• You are using an official government application portal
• You have allowed enough time before departure

Pay particular attention to your name. Enter it according to your passport and the fields shown on the official application form. Do not substitute a nickname, deliberately remove part of your legal name or copy a shortened version from an airline booking instead of checking the passport itself.

Also check your border gate carefully. If your itinerary changes from flying out of Vietnam to crossing overland into Cambodia or Laos, make sure your visa details remain compatible with your actual travel plan.

Visa on Arrival, Embassy Visas and Special Cases

For an ordinary tourist trip, do not assume you can simply arrive at a Vietnamese airport and buy a visa at the immigration desk.

Vietnam does have procedures under which a visa can be collected on arrival in approved cases, but these involve prior immigration approval, sponsorship or another qualifying process. It is not the same as a walk-up tourist visa with no preparation.

For most tourists who need a visa, completing the official e-visa process before departure is simpler.

Embassy, consular or sponsored visa procedures may still be relevant for employment, business, complex immigration situations or visa categories not covered by the ordinary tourist e-visa process. In these cases, check the requirements directly with the relevant Vietnamese authority, embassy, consulate or sponsoring organization.

Vietnam Pre-Arrival Information and Health Declaration: What's New in 2026?

Neither the Pre-arrival Information system nor a health declaration replaces your visa. They are separate border-processing and public-health procedures.

Pre-arrival Information (PAI)

Vietnam's Immigration Department introduced the Pre-arrival Information (PAI) system in 2026 to let foreign travelers provide key information before entering Vietnam.

The system began as an optional pilot at Tan Son Nhat International Airport on 15 April 2026 and has been intended for wider rollout. The Immigration Department currently encourages travelers to use the official system before arrival.

You can access the official system at prearrival.immigration.gov.vn. The official guidance allows the information to be submitted within three days before entry. After completion, the system generates a QR code that can be saved on your phone or printed.

PAI does not apply for or approve your visa. If you need a visa, complete the visa process separately.

Use only the official Immigration Department website. Vietnamese authorities have warned travelers about fake websites impersonating the PAI system.

Health Declaration Rules from 1 July 2026

A health declaration is not automatically mandatory for every person entering, leaving or transiting Vietnam from 1 July 2026.

Decree No. 165/2026/ND-CP, effective from 1 July 2026, establishes the legal framework for health declarations at Vietnamese border gates. However, Vietnam's Ministry of Health has clarified that this does not mean a blanket, permanent declaration requirement for all travelers.

Instead, the Ministry of Health determines when health declarations are required, who must complete them and for which infectious-disease risks, based on the health situation at the time.

When a health declaration is activated, the regulation provides for electronic or paper submission and for completion within seven days before entry, exit or transit.

The Ministry of Health has also clarified that the old tokhaiyte.vn website is not currently the official system for this purpose. Travelers should follow current government or airline guidance if a health declaration is required for their journey.

Practical takeaway: do not complete or pay for a health declaration simply because an unofficial website tells you it is compulsory. Check the latest official Vietnamese guidance shortly before departure.

FAQ: Common Vietnam Visa Questions

My e-visa is still ''in processing'' and my flight is tomorrow. Can I travel?

Do not treat a pending application as an approved visa. If you require a visa to enter Vietnam, you should have the approved travel document before departure.

Check your application through the official e-visa system and contact your airline if departure is imminent. Be cautious with anyone promising guaranteed emergency approval.

I am visa-exempt for 45 days, but my return ticket is later. Is that a problem?

It can create questions because your itinerary appears longer than your visa-free stay. If you genuinely plan to leave Vietnam before the exemption expires, keep evidence of that onward travel available.

Can I enter Vietnam before my e-visa starts?

No. Plan your arrival within the validity dates stated on the issued e-visa. If it starts on 10 October, do not schedule your entry for 9 October.

Can I combine visa exemption and an e-visa?

Do not assume that two different entry permissions can simply be combined to extend one continuous stay. If your planned trip is longer than your visa-free entitlement, arrange an entry permission that properly covers the itinerary rather than relying on an automatic combination.

Do US citizens need a visa for Vietnam?

For an ordinary trip through mainland Vietnam, US passport holders are not included in Vietnam's current unilateral 45-day visa-exemption groups, so an e-visa is normally the practical option for tourism.

There is an important special case: Phu Quoc has a separate visa-free policy that can allow foreign visitors to stay on the island for up to 30 days when the relevant conditions are met. If your trip continues from Phu Quoc to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Cao Bang or other parts of Vietnam, check your visa requirements for the wider itinerary rather than relying on the Phu Quoc exemption.

What happens if I overstay my Vietnam visa?

Overstaying can lead to fines, administrative procedures and possible problems with future immigration. The consequences depend on the circumstances and length of the overstay, so avoid relying on an old online fine table.

If you realize your permitted stay is close to expiring or has already expired, contact the relevant Vietnamese immigration authority or obtain reliable professional guidance as soon as possible.

Final Checklist Before Traveling to Vietnam

Before you leave for the airport, confirm the points that actually affect whether your journey can continue smoothly:

• Passport has sufficient remaining validity
• Your visa exemption, e-visa or other entry permission is suitable for your trip
• Any required e-visa has been approved and downloaded
• Name and passport details are correct
• Arrival date falls within your permitted entry period
• Your intended entry and exit points match your itinerary
• Printed and digital copies of important travel documents are available
• Return or onward travel evidence is available if relevant
• Your Vietnam accommodation details are easy to access
• You have checked whether the Pre-arrival Information system is useful for your arrival
• You have checked current official guidance for any active health declaration requirement
• You have rechecked the latest entry rules shortly before departure

Vietnam's visa process is manageable when you check the right things in the right order: first confirm whether you need a visa, then use the official application system, verify every passport detail, and finally check any current arrival procedures before you fly.

Once your entry documents are sorted, the next practical question is how much time to allow for Cao Bang. See our Cao Bang Loop tours for routes ranging from a full-day experience to multi-day journeys through northern Vietnam.