Vietnam Visas & Entry Requirements

E-Visa (primary route for most visitors)

Who it is for

Nationals of virtually all countries and territories — Vietnam extended e-Visa eligibility to all nationalities in 2023.

Allowed stay

Up to 90 days per entry, available as single-entry or multiple-entry.

Extensions

Uncertain for independent tourists. Sources conflict: some report a one-time in-country extension via a sponsoring entity, others state the e-Visa is effectively non-extendable and travellers must exit and re-apply. Do not rely on an extension — verify on the official portal before you travel.

How to apply

Apply online at the official Immigration Department e-Visa portal (evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn): upload your passport bio page and a portrait photo, declare your entry checkpoint and dates, and pay by card. Standard processing is about 3 working days.

Fees

About USD 25 (single-entry) or USD 50 (multiple-entry), paid by card on the official portal and non-refundable. Third-party agent sites charge roughly 2–3× (USD 50–150+) and are not official.

Visa exemption (visa-free tourism)

Who it is for

Passport holders of roughly 30 visa-exempt nationalities; stay length varies by nationality.

Allowed stay

About 14–45 days depending on nationality. Many Western European nationals plus the UK, Japan and South Korea currently receive 45 days (a unilateral exemption running through 2028); a further group of European states was added in August 2025. Confirm your own nationality's exact day count on the official portal.

Extensions

Generally not designed for extension; treat the exemption stay as fixed and plan to exit and re-apply for a longer stay.

How to apply

No advance visa needed — enter by air, land or sea via an international checkpoint on a qualifying passport. No work is permitted on visa-free entry.

Fees

Free. The previous 30-day gap requirement between two visa-exempt stays has been eliminated.

Tourist Visa (DL — via embassy / traditional)

Who it is for

Travellers wanting longer or different terms than the e-Visa, or whose situation is not covered by the e-Visa.

Allowed stay

Up to 90 days, single or multiple entry.

Extensions

Handled case-by-case through immigration; not guaranteed for independent tourists.

How to apply

Apply at a Vietnamese embassy or consulate, or through the consular channels of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Fees

Varies by mission and by single- vs multiple-entry; confirm the current consular fee with the embassy.

Visa on Arrival (largely superseded)

Who it is for

Mostly special cases and business travellers with a pre-arranged sponsor — not a route independent tourists should rely on.

Allowed stay

Not a genuine on-the-spot landing visa. Historically the air-arrival 'VOA' always required a pre-arranged approval letter from a sponsoring agency.

Extensions

Not applicable for standard tourism.

How to apply

We could not confirm that a true on-the-spot tourist landing visa exists — independent tourists should use the e-Visa instead. Verify with the Immigration Department if you believe you qualify.

Fees

Not applicable — use the official e-Visa (about USD 25/50) rather than a third-party 'VOA' service.

Passport validity

At least 6 months' validity beyond your intended entry date, with blank pages.

E-Visa extension is not guaranteed

Whether an e-Visa can be extended in-country is unresolved: some agents advertise a one-time extension via a sponsor, while other sources say the e-Visa is effectively non-extendable.

This could not be confirmed against a primary legal source. Plan to exit and re-apply for a longer stay, or line up a sponsoring entity in advance — and verify the current rule on the official Immigration Department portal.

Proof of onward travel

An onward or return ticket is commonly requested by airlines and immigration in practice, though it is not universally enforced.

Enforcement is inconsistent and no single authoritative rule was confirmed — carry proof of onward travel to be safe.

Overstay penalties (tightened January 2026)

A new decree effective 1 January 2026 tightened penalties. Administrative fines range from roughly VND 500,000 (~USD 19) for short overstays up to VND 40,000,000 (~USD 1,500) for serious cases, escalating by the length of overstay.

Indicative bands: under 16 days ~VND 0.5–2M (USD 19–76); 16–30 days ~VND 5–10M (USD 190–380); over 30 days up to ~VND 15M and higher for longer overstays. Serious cases can bring blacklisting, deportation and re-entry bans. Very short overstays can sometimes be settled at the airport with an exit visa.