Applying for the Vietnam single entry e-visa costs 25 USD, and once approved the document remains valid for as long as 90 days; it is issued electronically through evisa.gov.vn. Normally the wait is about 3 working days, though it can stretch to 15 when officials decide to verify your details.
Bear in mind that this travel guide is independent and not a government website; we never file applications for anyone, nor do we collect payments on anyone’s behalf.
Who Is Required to Obtain the Vietnam Single Entry E-Visa?
Travellers carrying passports from the United States, Canada, Australia, India, China, Ukraine and other countries take the e-visa route.
15 Aug 2023
Resolution No. 127/NQ-CP: E-visas available to citizens of every country and territory
15 Mar 2025
Resolution No. 44/NQ-CP: 45 visa-free days for Germany, France, Italy, Spain, UK, Japan, South Korea (until 14 Mar 2028)
15 Aug 2025
Resolution No. 229/NQ-CP: Exemption for Poland, Czechia, Netherlands, tourism only (until 14 Aug 2028)
Our data does not confirm the position for holders of Filipino or Indonesian passports, so check the Vietnamese immigration portal before booking anything.
A passport is required in every case. People who fall into the categories listed in Clauses 1 to 4 of Article 8 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence are barred from the e-visa portal; instead they apply to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through an inviting or guaranteeing organisation. An e-visa is likewise out of reach for anyone covered by an entry suspension under Article 21.
Vietnam Single Entry E-Visa Cost, Validity and Processing
You pay 25 USD for a single-entry visa, while multiple entry costs 50 USD.
The e-visa notices published by the Immigration Department make clear that the money is not returned even if your visa is refused, since it covers processing under Resolution No. 30/2016/QH14.
- For most applications, roughly 3 working days from payment, provided the details supplied are complete and valid.
- Where police verification is needed, between 3 and 15 working days.
- Weekends and public holidays do not count as working days.
- You may submit as early as 1 year ahead of the entry date you have planned.
Payment goes through the VietCombank portal authorised by the Immigration Department. Allow up to 2 hours for the payment status to refresh.
Because duplicates are never refunded, filing a second identical application simply leaves you paying twice. Should your details be incomplete or invalid, you will be asked for more information, and processing restarts from the moment valid information arrives.
Required Documents
Two images are needed: a freshly taken portrait measuring 4 × 6 cm, saved as JPG or JPEG and under 2 MB, showing a straight face with no hat or glasses, formal clothing and a white backdrop, plus a sharp image of your passport data page with every corner intact. Both must meet the application form requirements set by the Immigration Department.
How to Apply and Entry Conditions
Applications are made online at evisa.gov.vn or thithucdientu.gov.vn. Nothing arrives by post, so store your e-visa both on your phone and as a printout.
Visit the portal
Select the section for foreigners, then upload your portrait and the passport data page image.
Complete the form
Complete the form in English, typing your name in uppercase exactly as it appears on the ICAO line of your passport.
List past trips
Give the trips you have taken over the past year, along with their entry and departure dates.
Disclose violations
Disclose any violation history from the past. Omitting it may get your application denied.
Pay the fee
Settle the 25 USD fee via the VietCombank payment portal.
Wait for the outcome
Usually comes in 3 working days, or takes 3 to 15 working days when verification is needed.
Declarations and processing both follow the UTC+07:00 time zone. Finer points of the form are explained on the portal’s FAQ pages.
Holding the visa means you must enter and leave Vietnam via designated international border gates, and these need not be the same gate. Before you reach Vietnam, the Immigration Department advises filling in your pre-arrival form at prearrival.immigration.gov.vn. Once at the border, present your e-visa, examine the temporary residence certificate stamped into your passport, and flag anything inaccurate immediately.
Entry and Exit Border Gates
Those flying in have 15 designated gates at their disposal, among them Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat, Da Nang, Cam Ranh and Phu Quoc. Crossing by land, travellers may choose from 27 gates, such as Mong Cai, Lao Cai and Moc Bai. Arriving by sea, you can pick from 39 gates, Hai Phong and Vung Tau included.
Anyone intending to work needs a work permit, or else confirmation that the Labour Code exempts them from requiring one.
Common Mistakes That Delay Applications
- Filing a duplicate once payment has been made, which means the first fee is lost.
- Sending a passport image with one corner cropped off.
- Entering your name in a way that differs from the ICAO line.
- Skipping an earlier trip or an old violation. If you fail to disclose past violation history, your e-visa may be denied.
- Buying flights before you have checked which border gate you will use.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How much does the Vietnam single entry e-visa cost?
The fee is 25 USD, payable through the VietCombank portal. No refund is given, not even when the application is refused.
For What Period of Time Is the Vietnam Single Entry E-Visa Valid?
As long as 90 days. Your passport, in turn, has to stay valid for at least 30 days beyond the visa.
At Which Place Should I Submit My Application, and How Many Days Beforehand?
Applications go to evisa.gov.vn or thithucdientu.gov.vn, and you can file them as much as 1 year before entering. Most decisions arrive in about 3 working days.
If My Application Is Rejected, Can the E-Visa Fee Be Returned?
It is not. Under Resolution No. 30/2016/QH14 the fee pays for processing and is unrelated to the outcome.
Is It Possible to Arrive in and Depart from Vietnam via Separate Border Gates?
You can. What matters is that both gates appear on the Government’s list of designated international border gates.
What photo format is required?
A newly taken 4 × 6 cm portrait, saved as JPG or JPEG and under 2 MB, with a straight face, no hat or glasses, and a white background.
Am I Allowed to Work in Vietnam While Holding a Single-Entry E-Visa?
The visa on its own does not allow it. You need a work permit, or confirmation that you do not require one under the Labour Code.
Which Passport Validity Requirement Must I Meet?
Your passport has to remain valid for at least 30 days past the visa’s expiry. If it runs out soon after your trip, renew it before you apply.
Sources and verification
- Vietnam National e-Visa Portal (Immigration Department): fee amounts, validity period, processing times, refund policy and border gates (verified 2026-10-13)
- Vietnam National e-Visa Portal FAQs: application rules, how to format your name, passport validity (verified 2026-10-13)
- Viet Nam Immigration Department e-Visa application form: requirements for the photo and the passport image (verified 2026-10-13)
- Government of Viet Nam e-newspaper : Resolution No. 127/NQ-CP (verified 2026-10-13)
- Government of Viet Nam online newspaper (baochinhphu.vn): Resolution No. 44/NQ-CP visa exemption (verified 2026-10-13)
- Government of Viet Nam online newspaper (baochinhphu.vn): Resolution No. 229/NQ-CP tourism visa exemption (verified 2026-10-13)
- Consular Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam: visa exemption list (verified 2026-10-13)
