Vietnam Visa Requirements
What are the visa requirements for Vietnam?
To get a visa for Vietnam is only possible if you follow some visa requirements. Getting your Vietnam visa online is the easiest and most comfortable way of getting this official travel document. Citizens who are from eligible nationalities and those who travel for tourism will be allowed to get a Vietnam evisa.
If you are one of them, you will be able to apply and get the visa for Vietnam completely online. No need to go to any embassy or consulate or to deal with tons of paperwork.
Visa requirements for online applications
One of the main requirements is to be a citizen of one of the countries eligible for the eVisa. You must also be traveling to Vietnam for no more than 90 days and for purposes of tourism, business or to visit friends or relatives.
You should inquire at your nearest Vietnamese embassy or consulate if you require a different type of visa, if your visit to Vietnam is intended to be longer, or if your trip serves purposes other than tourism.
What documents do you need to apply for the eVisa?
The Vietnam visa requirements are as follows:
- Passport and scan of the biographical page of the passport
- Digital passport photo. Your photo must follow this format:
- Image should measure 4cm x 6cm (2 inches by 2 inches) and it should be recent (taken within the last 6 months).
- The weight should not exceed 1MB.
- Photos should be in color and be uploaded in portrait format (no smiling, keep a neutral expression) with a plain and bright background.
- The accepted file types are JPG and GIF.
- The photo should be as clear as possible and your eyes should be as visible as possible. You can wear glasses, if they don’t cover your eyes.
- Only scarves and head pieces can be worn if they are for religious or medical reasons.
- Evisa Vietnam application form. You must fill in the application form truthfully. Any omitted or false details will result in the denial of the visa for Vietnam. Some details you will be asked in the form are personal information like name, address, date of birth, country of birth, etc.; passport details like number, expiration date, country of issue, etc. and travel plans like dates of arrival and exiting, accommodation address, airport of entry, etc.
- Email address to receive your eVisa.
Other visa requirements for Vietnam
Can I travel to Vietnam without a visa?
A valid visa is generally required for citizens of most countries visiting the nation. If your nationality allows you to travel without a visa, it is usually for short stays and only for tourism. Remember that you will always need a valid passport to be granted access into Vietnam.
There are also some citizens from selected countries that can travel to Vietnam only with an electronic travel authorization: the Vietnam eVisa. You can get it online.
If neither of these two situations apply to you (you are not from an eligible country or you want to travel for reasons other than tourism or business), you must ask your nearest Vietnam embassy or consulate for more information on your specific visa requirements.
Which countries can get a Vietnam eVisa?
Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Andorra
Angola
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Benin
Bermuda
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
British Indian Ocean Territory
Brunei
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Cape Verde
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
China
Colombia
Comoros
Congo
Costa Rica
Ivory Coast
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
Denmark
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
Ethiopia
Fiji
Finland
France
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Gibraltar
Greece
Greenland
Grenada
Guatemala
Guinea-Bissau
Guinea
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Ireland
Islamic Republic of Iraq
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kiribati
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Lao People’s Democratic Republic
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Marshall Islands
Mauritius
Mauricio
Mexico
Micronesia
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Montserrat
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palau
Palestinian Territory
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russia
Rwanda
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
Sao Tome and Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leona
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Suriname
Eswatini
Sweden
Switzerland
Syrian Arab Republic
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Timor Leste
Togo
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Tuvalu
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Vatican City
Venezuela
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe
How many days before should I apply for a Vietnam visa?
The answer depends on the way you are applying for the visa. The three ways of getting a visa for Vietnam are:
- If you decide to get a visa on arrival, the application is made when you arrive in Vietnam. While this can be convenient if everything goes smoothly, there can be problems if your visa is not approved. You will have to return immediately to your home country. Additionally, you can face longer queues and delays.
- When you get the Vietnam visa online, you can apply just one week before your intended trip. The process itself is swift, and within a few days, you’ll receive your approved visa in your email.
- If you choose to apply through an embassy or consulate, it’s advisable to do so well in advance. Processing times can take up to 10 working days on average.
How quickly can I get the visa?
The speed at which you obtain a visa also depends on the method of application.
The visa on arrival option enables travelers to apply for and receive the visa in person at the airport. However, it is necessary to apply in advance for pre-approval of the visa (with a visa approval letter) and, upon arrival, present it to the authorities. This method is not recommended, as there is a possibility that your application may be rejected once you are in Vietnam, requiring you to promptly return to your country.
The online visa is typically processed in just less than a week. It’s advisable to apply using this method and at least one week in advance of your trip to account for any potential issues.
Getting your visa through the embassy or consulate is by far the longest process. Applications typically require a minimum of 10 working days, though this may vary depending on the specific embassy or consulate handling the application.
How long can I stay in Vietnam with my visa?
The length of stay in Vietnam depends on the type of visa you select or are eligible for. If you are traveling for tourism you can opt for two types of visas:
Single entry tourist eVisa: you can only enter the country once, but stay for up to 30 days.
Multiple entry tourist eVisa: you can enter the country multiple times and each stay can be for up to 90 days. For example, you can enter and exit as many times as you like from January 1st to March 30th, with each stay limited to 90 days. Even if you exit on March 28th and re-enter on March 30th, the latter stay is also limited to a maximum of 90 days.
Holders of any of these two eVisas can go directly to the immigration counters and do not need to queue at the airport where they arrive at.
Can I extend my Vietnam eVisa?
Yes, as long as your visa is still valid. You will need to apply for an extension in the country at your nearest embassy. It is recommended to apply for a visa extension or renewal at least 7 business days before the visa expires.
When you extend your visa, the passport will be stamped and credited with the extension time, but no new visa sticker will be issued. Also without leaving the country, you can renew the visa instead of extending it. If you renew it, you’ll get a new visa stamp and sticker in your passport.
The requirements to extend or renew a visa are the same: you will need a passport valid for at least 6 months and with at least 2 blank pages. You can apply for a visa for Vietnam at some immigration offices like the ones in Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City and Khanh Hoa.
Lastly, you can leave the country and apply for a new eVisa. When it comes to fees, you can expect lower fees when you want to extend your visa than when you renew it. If you apply for an eVisa from outside Vietnam, you should expect to pay the same as the first time you applied for it.
You shouldn’t stay in Vietnam past your visa’s expiration date. Vietnam gives multiple options to extend the duration of the document and legally stay and visit the country.