E-visas are issued by Vietnam to nationals of every country, priced at 25 USD for a single entry or 50 USD for multiple entries, and they stay valid for up to 90 days. Holders of passports from two sets of 12 countries, among them the UK, Germany, France, Japan and South Korea, may enter without a visa and remain for 45 days. In most cases, processing takes 3 working days.
The guide you are reading is an independent travel resource; it is neither a government site nor a service that processes applications. Its information is drawn from Vietnamese government sources, and every link in the Sources section below carries its own verification date. Because the rules can shift at short notice, always confirm details on the Vietnam National e-Visa Portal before setting off.
Visa-Free Entry: Which Countries Are Eligible?
Two resolutions establish separate visa-free groups, and each of them carries its own expiry date.
The first, set out in Resolution No. 44/NQ-CP, applies to passport holders from 12 countries, among them the UK, Germany, France, Japan, South Korea and Russia. Whatever the purpose of the trip, they may stay for as long as 45 days, between 15 March 2025 and 14 March 2028.
A second set of 12 countries, which includes Poland, Czechia, the Netherlands and Switzerland, is governed by Resolution No. 229/NQ-CP. That exemption is for tourism only and likewise grants 45 days, running from 15 August 2025 until 14 August 2028.
An e-visa is required by everyone else, including citizens of the US, India, China, Canada, Australia and Ukraine. Since 15 August 2023, when Resolution 127/NQ-CP came into force, e-visas have been open to nationals of all countries and territories. Travellers in either visa-free group still have to meet Vietnam’s standard entry conditions.
After details for a particular country? Our guides cover US citizens, Indian citizens, Chinese citizens, UK citizens, German citizens and Japanese citizens.
E-Visa Cost and Processing
Resolution No. 30/2016/QH14 makes clear that the charge is a processing fee rather than a deposit, which is why it is not refunded even when an application is denied.
Provided the information you supply is complete and valid, most applications are handled within 3 working days after payment. Should the Police Department need to verify your details, allow 3 to 15 working days, with weekends and public holidays left out of the count. An application may be submitted as early as one year before entry.
Payment status on the portal can take up to 2 hours to refresh. Bear in mind as well that your e-visa validity has to be at least 30 days shorter than the remaining validity of your passport.
Applying for an E-Visa
Applications are accepted at evisa.gov.vn and thithucdientu.gov.vn, both of which are run by the Immigration Department. Foreigners already inside Vietnam cannot be issued an e-visa, so you must leave the country, apply from abroad and then re-enter.
Write your name in uppercase letters, matching the ICAO line of your passport exactly. Every trip taken during the past year, along with any violation history, has to be declared, since leaving something out may result in denial.
Entry and exit are only permitted through international border gates designated by the Government: the list published on the e-Visa portal counts 15 air, 27 land and 39 sea gates. Leaving through a different gate from the one you arrived at is allowed.
Entry Requirements and Common Mistakes
Vietnamese law demands that a passport used for unilateral visa-free entry still be valid for at least another 6 months. British citizens are advised by the UK FCDO to hold a passport expiring no sooner than 6 months after arrival, with at least 2 blank pages and no damage. Entry and exit must both be made with the same passport.
Before you step away from border control, make sure the stamped exit date corresponds to your 45-day window or your e-visa validity, because immigration officers will not put it right afterwards.
Travellers landing at Tan Son Nhat Airport have been encouraged since 15 April 2026 to fill in a digital arrival card online. It is not compulsory as yet, though that could change at short notice. Cash above 15 million VND or 5,000 USD should be declared, according to the UK FCDO, and the same goes for prescription medication worth more than 100 USD in import value.
Pitfalls that travellers often fall into:
- Duplicate applications: a second form opens a separate case, while the fee paid for the first one is not returned.
- Wrong name format: anything that fails to match the ICAO line, lowercase letters included, may hold up processing.
- Unchecked exit date: staying beyond it brings fines, deportation and possibly a ban on entry.
- Passport damage: the UK FCDO reports that British nationals have been refused entry and exit over damage to their passports.
- Hidden violation history: an application can be denied when earlier infractions go undeclared.
- Assuming you can extend in-country: in reality you would have to leave and come back in.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do US citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes. Holders of US passports do not belong to any visa-exempt nationality. A single-entry e-visa costs 25 USD, a multiple-entry one 50 USD, and processing usually takes 3 working days.
As stated in this Vietnam visa FAQ, which nationalities are allowed to enter without a visa?
Two resolutions exempt 12 countries apiece, and stays of 45 days are permitted under both. The 12 countries listed in Resolution 44 are exempt for any purpose, while the 12 others named in Resolution 229 qualify for tourism alone.
Can I extend my e-visa, or can I stay in Vietnam for a longer time?
No source describes an e-visa being extended. A longer stay would call for a new visa supported by an invitation or guarantee from a Vietnamese authority, organization or individual.
Is a digital arrival card or customs declaration required by Vietnam?
At Tan Son Nhat the arrival card has been encouraged since 15 April 2026, yet it is not mandatory as of now. Cash above 15 million VND or 5,000 USD has to be declared.
What is the duration of e-visa processing?
Usually 3 working days from payment when the information is complete, or between 3 and 15 working days if verification is required. Weekends and holidays are not counted.
Can I submit an e-visa application if I am already in Vietnam?
No. To activate a new e-visa you have to exit the country, submit the application from abroad and re-enter.
Is it necessary to exit through the same border gate that I entered through?
No. Any of the designated international border gates may be used for departure.
What passport validity does this Vietnam visa FAQ advise?
For unilateral visa-free entry, Vietnamese law calls for at least another 6 months of validity. British citizens are advised by the UK FCDO to hold 6 months after arrival, 2 blank pages and an undamaged passport. The e-visa’s validity must also fall at least 30 days short of the passport’s remaining validity.
Sources and Verification
- Vietnam National e-Visa Portal (Immigration Department) – fees, validity, eligibility and entry conditions (verified 2026-10-13)
- Government of Viet Nam – Resolution No. 44/NQ-CP – exemption from visas for 12 countries (verified 2026-10-13)
- Government of Viet Nam – Resolution No. 229/NQ-CP – visa exemption for tourism, covering 12 countries (verified 2026-10-13)
- Government of Viet Nam – Resolution No. 127/NQ-CP – e-visas available to every country (verified 2026-10-13)
- UK FCDO – Vietnam travel advice – passport validity, the arrival card and customs rules (verified 2026-10-13)
- Consular Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Visa exemption list (verified 2026-10-13)
