The Vietnam e-visa is an electronic travel authorisation that allows most foreign nationals to enter Vietnam for up to 90 days. It is applied for online before travel, approved by the Vietnamese immigration authority, and presented at the airport alongside your passport. This guide covers everything you need to know: who qualifies, what to prepare, how to apply, what each tier costs, and what to do if something goes wrong.
New rule from April 2026: All passengers arriving at Tan Son Nhat Airport (SGN) in Ho Chi Minh City must complete a pre-arrival declaration at prearrival.immigration.gov.vn before boarding their flight. This is mandatory and separate from your e-visa.
Who Can Apply for a Vietnam E-Visa?
The Vietnam e-visa is open to citizens of most countries worldwide. Eligible nationalities include, but are not limited to: Australians, Americans, Canadians, New Zealanders, and passport holders from most European, Southeast Asian, Middle Eastern, and South American countries.
Some nationalities receive a longer visa-free period and do not require an e-visa at all — check current exemptions with VietnamVisaEasy before applying to avoid paying for an unnecessary visa. The e-visa is not available to Vietnamese nationals.
Important: UK / British passport holders
British citizens are exempt from the Vietnam visa requirement for stays up to 45 days. An e-visa is not required and should not be purchased.
What the Vietnam E-Visa Gives You
| Detail | What it means |
|---|---|
| Validity | Up to 90 days. Always apply for 90-day validity — the price is the same. |
| Entry type | Single entry only. If you leave Vietnam during your trip, a new e-visa is required for re-entry. |
| Entry ports | All major international airports: SGN (Ho Chi Minh City), HAN (Hanoi), DAD (Da Nang), PQC (Phu Quoc), CXR (Cam Ranh / Nha Trang), and others. |
| Who qualifies | Each traveller needs their own visa, including infants and children. Children cannot travel on a parent's visa. |
| Format | Electronic — delivered by email. Print a copy or save it to your phone. |
What You Need to Apply
Prepare all documents before starting your application. An incomplete submission can delay processing and, if urgent tiers are involved, may cause you to miss the day's cutoff.
| Document | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Passport | Valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned Vietnam entry date. The name, date of birth, and number must be entered exactly as they appear in the passport. |
| Passport scan | Clear photo or scan of the bio-data page (the page with your photo and personal details). JPG or PNG format required — not HEIC. iPhone users: check Settings to change capture format. |
| Portrait photo | Passport-style photo: face centred, white or light grey background, no glasses, no head covering (except for religious reasons), no filters. Poor photo quality is the most common cause of an Amendment Required status. |
| Entry date | The date your flight arrives in Vietnam. If you fly overnight from Australia and land in Vietnam the next morning, use the landing date — not the departure date. |
| Entry port | The Vietnamese airport code where you clear immigration. SGN, HAN, DAD, PQC, or CXR. Never list a transit airport outside Vietnam even if you have a layover. |
Processing Times and Fees — New Application
All fees include the USD 25 Vietnamese government fee. Standard processing is available in single-entry (USD 50) or multiple-entry (USD 75). For urgent tiers, single-entry is the standard option — contact VietnamVisaEasy if you require multiple-entry on an urgent application.
| Tier | Processing time | Total fee (inc. govt fee) | Days available |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard (single entry) | 3–5 business days | USD 50 | Mon–Fri |
| Standard (multiple entry) | 3–5 business days | USD 75 | Mon–Fri |
| 3-Day | 3 days | USD 90 | Mon–Fri |
| 1-Day | 1 business day | USD 110 | Mon–Fri |
| 5-Hour | 5 hours | USD 125 | Mon–Fri |
| 2.5-Hour | 2.5 hours | USD 155 | Mon–Fri |
| 1.5-Hour | 90 minutes | USD 185 | Mon–Fri |
| Weekend / Holiday | Same day | USD 230 | Sat / Sun / holidays only |
| Emergency | Fastest available | USD 215 | Mon–Fri only |
Weekend rule
The Weekend / Holiday tier is the only urgent option on Saturdays, Sundays, and Vietnamese public holidays. The Emergency tier and all standard weekday urgent tiers do not operate on weekends. Weekend / Holiday applications must be submitted and paid before 15:00 Vietnam time.
How to Apply — Step by Step
Check your eligibility and lead time. Confirm your passport nationality is eligible. If your trip is within 3 business days, you will need an urgent tier. If your trip is on a weekend, the Weekend / Holiday tier is the only available option.
Prepare your documents. Have your passport scan (JPG/PNG), passport-style photo, Vietnam arrival date, and Vietnamese entry airport code ready before you begin the form. Starting without these causes delays and may waste a paid slot.
Complete your application at VietnamVisaEasy. Fill in your personal details exactly as they appear in your passport — including name order, middle names, and passport number. Select 90-day validity and the processing tier that suits your travel date. Submit at vietnamvisaeasy.com/apply.
Pay to confirm processing. Payment confirms your tier and starts the clock. Processing begins immediately after payment is received. Do not pay twice or submit a second application — this triggers a 24–48 hour hold on both.
Receive, verify, and travel. Your approved e-visa arrives by email. Before travelling, check that the name, passport number, entry date, and entry port all match your passport and booking. You can verify your visa status at evisa.gov.vn.
Common E-Visa Errors and What to Do
Most problems with Vietnam e-visas come from a small set of errors in the application. Error identification is free — contact VietnamVisaEasy with your reference number (E260705... format) before taking any other action.
| Error type | Risk | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Wrong name | Denied boarding or denied at immigration | Contact VietnamVisaEasy — a new application is required. Do not submit two applications yourself. |
| Wrong passport number | Visa rejected at immigration | New application required. Check if caused by a typo or a recently renewed passport. |
| Wrong entry date | Visa invalid on actual arrival day | New application required. Use the date the plane lands in Vietnam, not the departure date. |
| Wrong entry port | Denied entry at the airport | New application required using the correct Vietnamese airport code. |
| Amendment Required | Application paused until corrected | VietnamVisaEasy will contact you to correct the photo or document. Respond quickly to avoid delays. |
| Photo quality | Triggers Amendment Required | Use a plain white or light grey background; face centred, no glasses, no filters. |
Never submit a second application when you already have a pending one. Duplicate applications cause a 24–48 hour hold on both. If your application needs to be expedited, contact VietnamVisaEasy for a Speed Up escalation — no second government fee applies.
Arriving in Vietnam: What to Expect
Present your approved e-visa alongside your passport at the immigration counter. Officers will check that the name, passport number, and entry port match exactly. Minor discrepancies can result in secondary screening or denial.
Before you fly, confirm that all details on your e-visa match your current passport and your flight. If anything has changed — including renewing your passport after applying — contact VietnamVisaEasy before travel.
Arriving at Tan Son Nhat (SGN)? Complete the Pre-Arrival Declaration
From 15 April 2026, all passengers arriving at Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City must complete an online pre-arrival declaration at prearrival.immigration.gov.vn before boarding. This is a separate requirement from your e-visa and applies to all nationalities regardless of visa type.
Need Your Application Faster? Speed Up Your Existing Application
If you already have a pending application and your travel date is approaching sooner than your tier allows, a Speed Up escalation moves your application to a faster tier. No second USD 25 government fee is charged — you pay only the difference in service fees.
| Speed Up tier | Processing time | Fee (no govt fee) |
|---|---|---|
| 3-Day Speed Up | 3 days | USD 70 |
| 2-Day Speed Up | 2 days | USD 80 |
| 1-Day Speed Up | 1 business day | USD 90 |
| 5-Hour Speed Up | 5 hours | USD 100 |
| 2.5-Hour Speed Up | 2.5 hours | USD 130 |
| 1.5-Hour Speed Up | 90 minutes | USD 160 |
| Weekend Speed Up | Same day | USD 210 |
| Emergency Speed Up | Fastest available | USD 190 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Standard USD 80. Urgent from 1.5 hours on weekdays. Weekend tier available Sat/Sun.
Questions about your Vietnam e-visa?
Contact VietnamVisaEasy — our team checks errors for free and can process urgent applications in as little as 90 minutes on business days.
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