An e-visa is required for travellers holding Irish passports when heading to Vietnam. It costs $25 for a single entry or $50 for multiple entries. This guide is independent and never collects payments, so you should submit your own application through the Vietnam National e-Visa Portal.
Is a Vietnam visa required for Irish citizens?
Yes. Stays of up to 45 days are visa-free for a number of nationalities, among them citizens of the UK, Germany, France, Japan and South Korea, yet Ireland is not on that list. E-visas became available to every nationality on 15 August 2023 under Resolution 127/NQ-CP, which means the same application route applies to you.
Choose single entry when you make just one visit, and multiple entry if your plans include a trip to Thailand, Cambodia or Laos with a return to Vietnam. To find out who may travel without a visa, look at Visa-Free Entry to Vietnam and Who Needs a Visa for Vietnam.
Vietnam E-Visa Requirements for Irish Citizens
According to the e-visa form of the Immigration Department, two files must be uploaded by each applicant:
- Portrait photo – taken recently, sized 4 × 6 cm, in JPG or JPEG format and below 2 MB, with your face straight to the camera, no hat or glasses, formal clothing and a white backdrop.
- Passport data page image – a single legible photo of the data page, with all four corners visible.
As stated in the portal’s FAQ, the validity period of your e-visa has to end at least 30 days before your passport expires. A six-month rule is not laid down by any Vietnamese source, although the UK FCDO suggests six months from arrival as a reasonable safety margin. Further details appear at Passport Validity for Vietnam.
Type your full name (surname, middle name, given name) in uppercase, matching the ICAO line of your passport exactly. Applications may be submitted as early as 1 year before entry, and every detail must be declared accurately and honestly in English.
E-Visa Fees and Processing Time
Payment of the fee goes through the portal’s e-payment gateway, which VietCombank operates with authorisation from the Immigration Department.
| Visa type | Fee | Validity | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-entry e-visa | $25 | Up to 90 days | 3 working days typical |
| Multiple-entry e-visa | $50 | Up to 90 days | 3 working days typical |
Based on the notices published on the portal, standard processing takes 3 working days once payment is made with complete and valid details. When the Police Department carries out verification of your application, the wait stretches to 3-15 working days, weekends and public holidays excluded. Updating payment status may take as long as 2 hours.
Under Resolution No. 30/2016/QH14, the charge counts as a processing fee, so no refund is given even when the visa is refused. Should you apply twice, the first fee is not returned, and if both applications are approved, each one is equally valid. Figures on costs can be found at Vietnam E-Visa Cost and Processing Time.
How to Apply and Enter Vietnam
Application Steps
Open the portal
Open the Vietnam National e-Visa Portal and begin a fresh application.
Upload documents
Add your portrait photo along with the passport data page image.
Complete the form
Complete all fields in English, writing your name in uppercase as it appears on the ICAO line.
Declare travel history
State the trips you have taken over the last year and any violation history from the past.
Select border gates
Select your arrival and departure border gates from the list designated by the government.
Make the payment
Make the payment of $25 or $50 via the payment gateway.
Wait for processing
Then wait for the e-visa to arrive, a process that takes 3 to 15 working days.
A warning on the portal states that the Immigration Authority will refuse a visa when it finds information that is not truthful, and failing to declare past violations may also cause an application to fail.
Arrival and Border Control
When you reach border control, present your passport and e-visa to the immigration officer, and before walking away, inspect the temporary residence certificate stamped in your passport. The passport used for entry must also be the one used for exit. Arrival at one designated international gate and departure through a different one is allowed, yet foreigners who are already inside Vietnam cannot obtain an e-visa.
A pre-arrival form at prearrival.immigration.gov.vn is recommended by the Immigration Department. Travellers landing at Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City have been encouraged since 15 April 2026 to fill in a digital arrival card online. At present it is not compulsory, though that may change at short notice. More information is available in Vietnam E-Visa Application Guide and Vietnam Arrival Card and Digital Declarations.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Sending the same application two times. Since the first fee is not returned, hold off on reapplying until you have a result.
- Hurrying through details carelessly. When information is incomplete or invalid, the clock starts again and your flight date may pass before approval.
- Choosing a border gate absent from the list. An e-visa is valid only at international gates that have been designated, so verify this before booking a land crossing.
- Walking away from border control without examining your stamp. Look at the temporary residence certificate stamped in your passport, and if any detail in it is wrong, notify immigration control at the border immediately.
What to look out for is covered on the Vietnam E-Visa Tips and Scams page.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can Irish citizens visit Vietnam without a visa?
No. Vietnam’s exemption list does not include Ireland, so an e-visa is required before departure, either single entry at $25 or multiple entry at $50.
What is the cost of a Vietnam visa for Irish citizens?
For a single entry the e-visa is $25, and for multiple entry it is $50, paid online. No refund is possible, so check every field carefully before paying.
How much time does e-visa processing take?
Usually 3 working days from payment, provided the information is complete and valid. Where the Police Department verifies the application, the time needed is 3 to 15 working days.
For a Vietnam e-visa, what passport validity is required?
The portal’s FAQ states that your e-visa’s validity must end at least 30 days before your passport’s validity does, so check the expiry date of your passport before applying.
How early can I apply?
An application may be submitted as much as 1 year ahead of your intended entry date, giving you time to prepare photos, verify passport validity and choose border gates.
Is it possible to enter and exit through different border gates?
Yes, provided both are international gates designated by the government. Select them during the application, because the e-visa limits you to the points you choose.
If my application is denied, is the fee refundable?
No. It is a processing fee, and it is not returned whether the visa is granted or not, duplicate applications included.
Is it possible to apply for an e-visa while I am already in Vietnam?
No. Foreigners who are abroad are the ones issued e-visas. Should you already be inside the country, you would have to leave and re-enter in order to begin an e-visa.
Sources and verification
- Vietnam National e-Visa Portal (Immigration Department) – notices published on e-visas – charges, processing times, validity and rules on refunds (zweryfikowano 2026-10-13)
- Viet Nam Immigration Department – foreigner’s images on the e-Visa application form – requirements for the photo and the passport image (zweryfikowano 2026-10-13)
- Vietnam National e-Visa Portal – FAQ section – passport validity, the name format, border gates and rules for applying (zweryfikowano 2026-10-13)
- Government of Viet Nam e-newspaper – Resolution 127/NQ-CP on e-visas for all nationalities – the date e-visas became available to every country (zweryfikowano 2026-10-13)
- Consular Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam – Exemption of entry visa to Viet Nam – details about visa exemption (zweryfikowano 2026-10-13)
- UK FCDO – Vietnam travel advice: entry requirements – guidance on passport validity, the digital arrival card and border procedures (zweryfikowano 2026-10-13)
- WHO – Vaccination requirements and recommendations for international travellers, country list – entry requirements related to health (zweryfikowano 2026-10-13)
