Citizens of Italy are among those of 12 nations who may enter Vietnam without a visa. Resolution No. 44/NQ-CP, dated 7 March 2025, grants a 45-day stay counted from your arrival, regardless of the passport type you carry or the reason for your trip.
This exemption stays in force between 15 March 2025 and 14 March 2028, and the government has indicated it may consider prolonging it. According to the Government of Viet Nam online newspaper, the remaining exempt nations are Germany, France, Spain, the UK, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland. Two older resolutions, 32/NQ-CP and 128/NQ-CP, ceased to apply on 15 March 2025.
Vietnam’s standard entry conditions still apply to you. If your plans involve more than 45 days, an e-visa is the better route. Under Resolution 127/NQ-CP, e-visas have been open to nationals of every country since 15 August 2023. A single entry costs 25 USD, multiple entries cost 50 USD, and validity reaches up to 90 days.
If your plans aren’t settled yet, take a look at our guides on visa-free entry and who needs a visa.
E-Visa Requirements for Italian Passport Holders
Two images and your passport are required, so prepare them in advance.
- Portrait photo: a recent shot measuring 4 × 6 cm, saved as JPG or JPEG and no larger than 2 MB. Face the camera straight on, wear formal clothing and use a white backdrop; hats and glasses are not allowed.
- Passport data page image: a single sharp photo in which no corner is cropped out.
According to the Immigration Department, the validity of your e-visa has to end at least 30 days before your passport expires. Writing for British travellers, the UK FCDO recommends an expiry date at least 6 months past arrival plus 2 blank pages, which is extra caution rather than a rule set by Vietnam.
Enter your name in uppercase, matching precisely what the ICAO line of your passport shows. The passport you enter with must also be the one you leave with. You may submit an application as early as 1 year before arrival. Everything has to be declared in English, truthfully and in full.
Among the e-visa conditions, Vietnamese sources make no mention of an onward ticket, proof of funds or travel insurance, and no yellow fever vaccination is needed to enter. You’ll find more details on our passport validity and vaccinations pages.
E-Visa Cost and Processing Time
| Type | Entries | Fee | Max validity | Processing time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single-entry e-visa | 1 | 25 USD | 90 days | 3 working days, up to 15 with checks |
| Multiple-entry e-visa | Multiple | 50 USD | 90 days | 3 working days, up to 15 with checks |
Even when a visa is refused, the fee is never returned. Payment goes through the VietCombank payment portal, and up to 2 hours may pass before the payment status refreshes. Working days do not include weekends or public holidays, and all declarations follow the UTC+07:00 time zone.
Never file a second, identical application. The Immigration Department counts it as a separate case and the first fee is not refunded; should both be approved, each visa carries the same validity. When your details are incomplete, you’ll be asked for more information and the clock begins again.
How to Apply for a Vietnam E-Visa
Visit the e-visa portal
Go to evisa.gov.vn or thithucdientu.gov.vn.
Complete the form
Fill in English and tick each answer relevant to your case.
Select entry details
Pick “Others” only when you supply the particular details it requests.
Upload required images
Submit the portrait photo together with the passport data page image.
Pay the fee
Send 25 or 50 USD via the portal; a refusal means the money is not returned.
Print and present
Print out the approved e-visa and present it at the border.
The Immigration Department suggests filling in a pre-arrival form at prearrival.immigration.gov.vn before you land. From April 2026, a digital arrival card is encouraged, though not mandatory, at Tan Son Nhat Airport, and other airports may follow.
Arrive through designated international border gates, for example Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat, Da Nang, Cam Ranh or Phu Quoc. Leaving through a different gate from the one you entered is allowed. Once at passport control, look at the temporary residence stamp before stepping away, and never overstay, since fines, deportation and future entry bans can result. Our application guide, scam tips, overstay penalties and arrival card articles cover this further.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Filing a duplicate e-visa to hurry things along. The initial fee is retained by the Immigration Department, and provided both applications are approved, you will be holding two valid visas.
- Sending a photo in which you wear glasses, or a passport page that is cropped. Your application is held back, and the processing clock restarts only once valid files arrive.
- Sorting out an e-visa while you’re already inside Vietnam. E-visas serve people entering from abroad, so you would need to leave and come back in.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can Italian citizens enter Vietnam without a visa?
Indeed. Under Resolution No. 44/NQ-CP, holders of Italian passports receive 45 days of temporary residence counted from the entry date, whatever passport type or purpose is involved. The exemption remains in effect until 14 March 2028.
For how long is the Vietnam e-visa valid when held by Italian citizens?
The maximum e-visa validity is 90 days, whether you choose single or multiple entries. It has to end at least 30 days before your passport does, so compare both dates before applying.
What is the price of the Vietnam e-visa for Italians?
For a single entry you pay 25 USD, for multiple entries 50 USD, settled online at evisa.gov.vn. No refund is issued, even when a visa isn’t granted.
What is the processing time for a Vietnam e-visa?
Provided your details are complete and valid, most e-visas are handled within 3 working days of payment. Should the Police Department need to verify your application, the wait can stretch from 3 to 15 working days.
What level of passport validity is required of me for a Vietnam e-visa?
Your passport has to stay valid for a minimum of 30 days beyond the e-visa. The UK FCDO suggests at least 6 months plus 2 blank pages, a sensible cushion for any traveller.
Is it possible to submit a Vietnam e-visa application when I am already inside Vietnam?
No. E-visas go to applicants abroad who intend to enter Vietnam, meaning you would have to depart and re-enter. Applications may be filed as much as a year ahead of your planned arrival.
At which border gates am I permitted to cross using a Vietnam e-visa?
Entry and exit are only possible through international gates approved by the government. The list includes 15 airports, 27 land gates and 39 sea ports.
What penalties apply in the case of overstaying a Vietnam visa?
You might be held back from departing until a fine is paid, removed from the country, and barred from returning to Vietnam later on. Look at the temporary residence stamp before you move past border control.
Sources and verification
- Vietnam National e-Visa Portal (Immigration Department) – charges, 90-day validity, processing times and refund policy (zweryfikowano 2026-10-13)
- Government of Viet Nam online newspaper – Resolution No. 44/NQ-CP covering the 45-day visa exemption for 12 countries (zweryfikowano 2026-10-13)
- Vietnam National e-Visa Portal – FAQs – passport validity, the name format, when to apply and border gate rules (zweryfikowano 2026-10-13)
- Viet Nam Immigration Department – e-Visa application form – requirements for the photo and the passport image (zweryfikowano 2026-10-13)
- Government of Viet Nam e-newspaper – Resolution 127/NQ-CP, which opened e-visas to every nationality (zweryfikowano 2026-10-13)
- UK FCDO – Vietnam travel advice: entry requirements – passport guidance, the digital arrival card and what overstaying leads to (zweryfikowano 2026-10-13)
- WHO – vaccination requirements, country list – the status of Vietnam’s yellow fever requirement (zweryfikowano 2026-10-13)
- Consular Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam – the information page on visa exemption (zweryfikowano 2026-10-13)
