Direct Answer
As of 2026, roughly 38-39 nationalities can enter Vietnam visa-free, with stays from 21 to 45 days depending on nationality — a wider list than many guides show, now including most of Europe, Japan, South Korea, Belarus, most ASEAN neighbors, the Philippines, Chile, and Panama. Schengen membership alone doesn't guarantee exemption, and 12 European countries added in 2025 are tourism-only. Phu Quoc Island has its own separate 30-day exemption for every nationality. Below: the full breakdown.
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45-Day Exemption: Two Groups, Different Rules
24 countries carry a 45-day exemption, but under two separate resolutions with a genuinely important difference in purpose:
| Group | Countries | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution 44 (March 2025) | UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland | Any purpose |
| Resolution 229 (August 2025) | Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland | Tourism only |
This distinction matters: if you're from a Resolution 229 country and traveling for business — meetings, events, signing contracts — the exemption technically covers tourism only. Applying for a standard e-visa avoids any ambiguity at immigration for a business trip.
Schengen Membership Doesn't Mean You're Exempt
Vietnam grants exemptions by specific nationality, not by regional bloc — a genuinely common point of confusion:
| Schengen Countries That ARE Exempt | Schengen Countries That Still Need an E-Visa |
|---|---|
| Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia | Austria, Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Cyprus, Iceland, Liechtenstein, San Marino |
30-Day Exemption: Belarus and Most ASEAN Neighbors
- Belarus
- Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Brunei
- Chile, Panama (bilateral agreement; a separate 90-day option exists under a different treaty for these two — confirm which applies to your specific trip)
A genuine conflict worth flagging: some sources report Indonesia's exemption dropped from 30 to 14 days as of July 2026, while others (including recently-updated content) still show 30 days. This is exactly the kind of detail that changes — verify Indonesia's current status directly with Vietnamese immigration or your embassy close to travel, rather than trusting any single source, including this one.
Shorter Exemption: Philippines
The Philippines gets 21 days under a separate bilateral agreement — different from the other ASEAN nations at 30 days.
A Rule That Changed: No More 30-Day Re-Entry Gap
Under Law 51/2019/QH14, the old rule requiring a 30-day wait between two visa-exemption stays has been removed. You can now exit Vietnam and re-enter the same day or next day for a fresh exemption period. Very frequent same-day crossings may draw scrutiny at immigration but aren't prohibited outright.
Not Exempt: These Need an E-Visa
The US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, China, and South Africa are among the nationalities not on the exemption list — an e-visa or other visa is required for any trip length, regardless of purpose. This applies even for a short cruise stopover.
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Other Special Cases
- APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC): valid cardholders get 60 days visa-free
- Certificate of Visa Exemption (CVE): for those of Vietnamese origin and their spouse/children — 180 days per visit, 5-year validity, unlimited entries
- Phu Quoc Island: any nationality gets 30 days visa-free arriving directly from abroad, provided the stay is confined to the island
A New Requirement That Applies Even to Exempt Travelers
A Pre-Arrival Form / Digital Arrival Card is now required at several major airports (Tan Son Nhat, Noi Bai, Da Nang, Cam Ranh) — and this applies even if your nationality is visa-exempt. Being on the exemption list doesn't skip this separate requirement.
The Phu Quoc Exception — Genuinely Different Rules
Phu Quoc Island has its own separate exemption, available to every nationality — including those not on the 45-day list above:
- Up to 30 days, visa-free
- Arrival must be direct — by air or sea from abroad, or via transit through a mainland Vietnamese airport without leaving the transit area, continuing to Phu Quoc the same day
- Your entire stay must be confined to the island
This is the detail that catches people out: if your itinerary includes any mainland Vietnam component — even a few days in Ho Chi Minh City before or after Phu Quoc — the exemption doesn't apply, and you need a full e-visa for the entire trip. Treat any mixed itinerary as an e-visa trip from the start.
A Note on Older "15-Day" References
Some older content still references a 15-day exemption for certain countries. Vietnam's exemption periods have been extended in stages, and the current framework for the countries listed above is 45 days — if you're seeing a 15-day figure for one of these nationalities, it's very likely outdated. Worth double-checking your specific situation close to travel rather than relying on an older source.
If You're Not Sure Which Applies to You
- Check your nationality against the 45-day list above
- If traveling only to Phu Quoc, confirm your entire itinerary stays on the island
- If neither applies, or you want more than 45/30 days, or multiple entries, the e-visa covers it
If You Need the E-Visa: Real Pricing
| Processing Time | Fee |
|---|---|
| Standard (4–6 days) | $50 |
| 30–60 minutes (fastest) | $215 |
30 or 90 days, single or multiple entry, your choice. Full 9-tier list on our urgent Vietnam visa service page.
What No Agency Can Honestly Guarantee
No service, including us, can guarantee approval — that decision belongs to Vietnamese immigration alone. What we can honestly commit to, if you use our service: a refund on our processing fee if we miss the timeframe you paid for.
Why Travelers Verify With Us
We check your specific nationality and itinerary before recommending anything, so you're not relying on an outdated exemption figure. Transparent pricing, document review, and a public review record you're welcome to verify yourself — 4.9 out of 5 across 150+ Trustpilot reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which countries are currently visa-exempt for Vietnam, and for how long?
Roughly 38-39 nationalities in 2026. 24 countries (most of Europe, Japan, South Korea) get 45 days — though 12 of those (added August 2025) are tourism-purpose only. Belarus and most ASEAN neighbors get 30 days, the Philippines gets 21 days, and Chile/Panama get 30 days under one treaty (a separate 90-day option may apply).
Is the US, Canada, or Australia visa-exempt for Vietnam?
No — citizens of the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, China, and South Africa are not on the exemption list and need an e-visa or other visa type for any visit.
Does Schengen Area membership mean I'm visa-exempt for Vietnam?
No — Vietnam grants exemptions by specific nationality, not by regional bloc. Austria, Greece, Ireland, Portugal, and several other Schengen members still require an e-visa despite Schengen membership.
Do ASEAN countries get visa-free entry to Vietnam?
Most do, but durations vary: Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, and Cambodia get 30 days; the Philippines gets 21 days; Brunei and Myanmar get 14 days; Indonesia moved to 14 days as of July 2026.
What is the Phu Quoc 30-day exemption, and who qualifies?
Any nationality can enter Phu Quoc Island visa-free for up to 30 days, provided the stay is confined entirely to the island — traveling onward to mainland Vietnam voids the exemption and requires a full e-visa for the whole trip.
Does a connecting flight through a mainland airport ruin the Phu Quoc exemption?
Not if you stay within the airport's transit area and continue to Phu Quoc the same day — this still counts as arriving directly for exemption purposes.
Do these exemption periods expire?
Yes — both current 45-day resolutions run through 2028. Vietnam has adjusted exemption lists before, so it's worth checking your specific status close to your travel date.
Related Guides
- 👉 What is a Vietnam e-visa? The complete overview
- 👉 Visa requirements by nationality: the real rules
- 👉 Urgent Vietnam visa service: full pricing and options
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