For tourism, holders of a Dutch passport may enter Vietnam without a visa and stay for as long as 45 days. Resolution No. 229/NQ-CP keeps that exemption in force from 15 August 2025 to 14 August 2028, and it covers every passport type. Those planning a longer trip can take out a 90-day e-visa, which costs 25 USD for a single entry or 50 USD for multiple entries.
Both of those routes are set out below for Dutch citizens (NL) in this independent travel guide. We are not a government page, we take no payments and we file nothing on your behalf. The only place to apply is the official portal, evisa.gov.vn, where you should also confirm the details before you travel.
Is a visa required for Dutch citizens to enter Vietnam?
Not for a tourism trip lasting no more than 45 days. A government resolution in Vietnam exempts people from 12 countries, and the Netherlands is among them.
Whichever passport type you carry, the permitted stay is 45 days counted from the date you enter. Vietnam’s usual entry conditions still have to be met.
Since the exemption is limited to tourism, work or study calls for a different visa. It expires on 14 August 2028, and travel after that date follows whatever rules are then in force.
Planning to remain beyond 45 days? Arrange an e-visa or another visa type before you fly.
E-Visa Options for Longer Stays
Vietnam’s e-visa has been available to nationals of every country since 15 August 2023, so Dutch passport holders apply under the same terms.
| Option | Fee | Entries | Maximum stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-entry e-visa | 25 USD | One | Up to 90 days |
| Multiple-entry e-visa | 50 USD | Several | Up to 90 days |
Payment is made online through the payment gateway on the portal. As set out in Resolution No. 30/2016/QH14, this is a processing fee, and it is not refunded should your visa be refused.
According to the Vietnam National e-Visa Portal, most applications are answered within 3 working days of payment. Where the Police Department examines your file, allow 3 to 15 working days. Weekends and public holidays are not counted.
How to Apply for a Vietnam E-Visa
Everything happens online, and you may start as early as a year before arrival.
Visit the portal
Visit evisa.gov.vn or thithucdientu.gov.vn and open a new application.
Provide a portrait photograph
4 × 6 cm, white background, JPG or JPEG below 2 MB.
Add passport data page image
A sharp image with none of the corners cropped.
Type your name in capitals
Match exactly how it is written on the ICAO line of your passport.
Complete the form
Give honest answers to every question in English, ticking all the options that apply.
Settle the fee
Pay through the VietCombank payment portal.
Photo requirements are enforced strictly: look straight at the camera, wear formal clothes and remove hats or glasses. In the name field, the portal’s FAQ asks for surname, middle name and given name.
Updating the payment status can take as long as 2 hours. Information that is incomplete, wrong or dishonest either sends processing back to the start or results in refusal. A second identical application means a second fee, and if both are approved, both are counted.
Entry Requirements and After Arrival
Go through the following paperwork points before your flight.
- Passport validity: for visa-free entry, the UK FCDO advises an expiry date at least 6 months after arrival, along with at least 2 blank pages and no damage. With an e-visa, its validity must be at least 30 days shorter than your passport’s.
- Same passport in and out: the passport you enter on has to be the one you exit on.
- Your entry stamp: before you step away from border control, check the exit date in your passport, since nobody will change it afterwards.
- Your address: state your first temporary address on the application, and report any change through whoever manages your accommodation.
- Border gates: holders of an e-visa have to enter and exit through international border gates on the government’s list, which the portal publishes.
- Arrival card: since 15 April 2026, the Vietnamese government encourages all foreign nationals arriving at Tan Son Nhat Airport (SGN) to complete a digital arrival card online before arrival.
No yellow fever vaccination is needed at entry, and none of the official sources we could read requires an onward ticket, proof of funds or travel insurance. If you carry prescription medicine or large amounts of cash, check the customs thresholds separately.
Common mistakes Dutch travellers make
- Handing money to a middleman. Applications belong on evisa.gov.vn, where the government fee is 25 USD for a single-entry e-visa and 50 USD for a multiple-entry e-visa.
- Booking a 50-day trip in the belief that the 45-day exemption stretches. It doesn’t, so arrange an e-visa beforehand.
- Filing twice because the payment screen was slow. A duplicate application brings a second, non-refundable fee.
- Submitting a passport photo that has been cropped. The portal asks for one clear image of the data page, with no corners cut off.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How long can Dutch citizens stay in Vietnam without a visa?
For tourism, 45 days counted from the date you enter, under the exemption in force from 15 August 2025 to 14 August 2028. Anyone staying longer needs an e-visa or another visa type.
Is it possible to apply for a Vietnam e-visa when I am already in the country?
No. E-visas go to people abroad who want to enter Vietnam. If you are already in the country, you would have to leave and re-enter before applying.
How much is the Vietnam e-visa fee for Dutch citizens?
25 USD for single entry and 50 USD for multiple entry, with payment made online. Should the visa not be granted, the fee is not returned.
What is the processing time for a Vietnam e-visa?
Usually 3 working days once you have paid and your details are complete. Where the Police Department verifies your application, allow 3 to 15 working days.
What passport validity does Vietnam require?
For visa-free entry, the UK FCDO advises an expiry at least 6 months after arrival, plus at least 2 blank pages. With an e-visa, the validity must be at least 30 days shorter than your passport’s.
With an e-visa, can I enter and exit Vietnam through different border gates?
Yes. Entry and exit alike must take place at an international border gate from the government’s approved list, which the portal publishes.
To enter Vietnam, is travel insurance or proof of funds necessary?
None of the official sources we could read names travel insurance, proof of funds or an onward ticket as an entry condition. Before you travel, check the conditions stated on the portal.
Where is it possible to apply for a Vietnam e-visa?
At evisa.gov.vn or thithucdientu.gov.vn, the two addresses given by the Immigration Department. Make payment only through the portal’s own gateway.
Sources and verification
- Vietnam National e-Visa Portal (Immigration Department): e-visa fees, validity, processing times and the non-refundable rule (verified 2026-10-13)
- Vietnam National e-Visa Portal, FAQs: passport validity, name format, eligibility and border gate rules (verified 2026-10-13)
- Viet Nam Immigration Department, e-visa for foreigners: photo and passport image requirements, entry conditions (verified 2026-10-13)
- Government of Viet Nam online newspaper, Resolution No. 229/NQ-CP: the 45-day visa exemption for Dutch citizens and 11 other nationalities (verified 2026-10-13)
- Government of Viet Nam e-newspaper, Resolution 127/NQ-CP: e-visas for all nationalities from 15 August 2023 (verified 2026-10-13)
- UK FCDO, Vietnam entry requirements: passport validity, blank pages, the digital arrival card and customs thresholds (verified 2026-10-13)
- WHO, vaccination requirements country list: no yellow fever certificate required at entry to Vietnam (verified 2026-10-13)
- Consular Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam: visa exemption reference page (verified 2026-10-13)
