Vietnam Visa for UK Citizens 2026: Visa-Exempt 45 Days, When You Need an eVisa, and the Pre-Arrival Form
VietnamVisaEasy • Updated July 21, 2026 • Processing experience since 2010 • Written for British travelers
Direct answer
UK and British passport holders are visa-exempt for 45 days in Vietnam — no eVisa needed for stays of 45 days or fewer. The 45-day exemption is not 15 days; outdated information on some websites is incorrect.
You need an eVisa only if: (1) staying longer than 45 days, (2) crossing into Cambodia or Laos and returning to Vietnam on the same trip, or (3) a formal visa stamp is required for work purposes.
Pre-Arrival Form: mandatory for all UK arrivals at SGN, HAN, DAD, PQC, CXR regardless of visa status. Complete free at prearrival.immigration.gov.vn within 72 hours before arrival.
Passport must be valid for the duration of stay (Vietnam does not enforce 6-month rule for visa-exempt UK arrivals, but 3 months beyond planned departure is advisable). No blank page requirement under the exemption. eVisa required for 90+ day stays: from USD 90 via VietnamVisaEasy.
UK Visa Status at a Glance: The 45-Day Exemption
| Visa required? | No — for stays of 45 days or fewer. UK passport = 45-day visa-exempt entry. |
| Exemption period | 45 days per entry. Not 15 days — that figure predates the 2023 expansion. |
| Who is covered | All holders of a valid British passport: British Citizens, British Nationals (Overseas), British Overseas Territories Citizens, British Subjects with right of abode. |
| Purpose covered | Tourism, visiting family, business meetings, transit. Not for employment or formal study. |
| Document needed | Valid British passport only. Plus the mandatory Pre-Arrival Form QR code (see below). |
| Visa on arrival available? | Not applicable — VOA abolished 2023. UK citizens do not need VOA either; the exemption allows direct entry. |
The 45-day exemption is counted from the actual date of entry, not the date of booking or departure. Day 1 = the day you enter Vietnam at the immigration counter.
The Pre-Arrival Form: Mandatory for UK Citizens Since 2026
The Vietnam Pre-Arrival Declaration Form is a free digital immigration form introduced in 2026 for all foreign arrivals at major Vietnamese airports. UK citizens are not exempt from this requirement despite being visa-exempt. Failing to complete it before boarding may cause delays at immigration.
| Website | prearrival.immigration.gov.vn — official Vietnamese government portal |
| Cost | Free |
| When to complete | Within 72 hours before Vietnam arrival. Not earlier. |
| Time needed | Approximately 10 minutes |
| Airports requiring it | SGN (HCMC, since Apr 15 2026) • PQC (Jun 1) • HAN (Jun 8) • DAD (Jun 15) • CXR (Jun 2026). Nationwide rollout ongoing. |
| What it generates | A QR code for the immigration counter. Immigration officers scan it on arrival. |
| Presentation | Screenshot on phone accepted. Printing optional. Save offline before boarding — airport Wi-Fi unreliable. |
| Replaces eVisa? | No. The Pre-Arrival Form is separate from — and does not replace — the visa-exempt status or any eVisa. Both are required where applicable. |
Information needed for the form: passport number and expiry, Vietnam arrival date, flight number, hotel name and full address (street, district, city — name alone not accepted), email for OTP, planned departure date.
Complete the form on your phone before boarding at LHR, LGW, or MAN
Most UK–Vietnam routes transit Singapore or Doha with long layovers — complete the form during the layover if not done before departure. The 72-hour window runs backward from Vietnam landing time, not UK departure time.
When UK Citizens Do Need a Vietnam eVisa
Three situations require a Vietnam eVisa for British passport holders. Outside these situations, the 45-day exemption applies and no eVisa is needed.
If You Need a Vietnam eVisa: Requirements and Processing
| Field | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Passport | Valid British passport. At least 6 months validity beyond Vietnam arrival date recommended for eVisa holders. 2 blank pages. |
| Portrait photo | JPEG only (not HEIC). White background, no glasses, neutral expression, face 70%+ of frame, under 2MB. iPhone: Settings → Camera → Formats → Most Compatible. |
| Passport bio page scan | JPEG, full page + MRZ visible, all text legible, under 2MB. Use scanner app (Adobe Scan, CamScanner) for flat, glare-free result. |
| Full legal name | All given names from passport MRZ second line. British passports often show all middle names in MRZ. Include every one. |
| Entry port | UK routes via Doha (QAT), Dubai (DXB), or Singapore (SIN): enter SGN, HAN, or DAD — never QAT, DXB, or SIN. Always the Vietnamese airport "Arrives" code. |
| Entry date | Vietnam arrival date DD/MM/YYYY. UK to Vietnam routes (via Doha/Dubai/Singapore) generally do not cross Date Line — arrival date is typically same or +1 day from UK departure. |
| Validity | 30 or 90 days — same price. Always choose 90 days. |
| Government fee | USD 25 single entry • USD 50 multiple entry. International card only on evisa.gov.vn. |
Urgent eVisa Options and BST Cutoffs for UK Travelers
If an eVisa is needed urgently (extended-stay trip booked last minute, or re-entry situation arising unexpectedly), agency processing is available with BST cutoffs below.
| Tier | Speed Up | New app | BST cutoff | GMT cutoff | VNT cutoff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3-Day | USD 65 | USD 90 | 04:00 | 03:00 | 11:00 |
| 1-Day | USD 85 | USD 110 | 04:00 | 03:00 | 11:00 |
| 5-Hour | USD 100 | USD 125 | 06:00 | 05:00 | 13:00 |
| 2.5-Hour | USD 130 | USD 155 | 08:00 | 07:00 | 15:00 |
| 1-Hour | USD 160 | USD 185 | 11:00 | 10:00 | 18:00 |
| Weekend | USD 210 | USD 230 | 08:00 Sat/Sun | 07:00 Sat/Sun | 15:00 Sat/Sun |
| Boarding Letter | WhatsApp 24/7 | 24/7 | 24/7 | 24/7 | |
BST = British Summer Time (UTC+1, late Mar–late Oct). GMT = Greenwich Mean Time (UTC+0, late Oct–late Mar). VNT = Vietnam Time UTC+7. Speed Up applies when already submitted on evisa.gov.vn — USD 25 govt fee deducted. Do not reapply if stalled — 24–48h duplication hold. Multiple entry: add USD 25.
UK Routes to Vietnam and Entry Port
UK departure airports (LHR, LGW, MAN, EDI) route to Vietnam via Doha, Dubai, or Singapore. If applying for an eVisa, the entry port must be the Vietnamese airport — never the transit hub.
| UK route | Wrong port | Correct port | Destination |
|---|---|---|---|
| LHR / LGW via Doha (QAT) → Ho Chi Minh City | DOH | SGN | HCMC (Tan Son Nhat) |
| LHR / MAN via Dubai (DXB) → Ho Chi Minh City | DXB | SGN | HCMC (Tan Son Nhat) |
| LHR via Singapore (SIN) → Hanoi | SIN | HAN | Hanoi (Noi Bai) |
| Any UK airport via any transit → Da Nang | transit | DAD | Da Nang International |
Related guides
| 1 | Vietnam Pre-Arrival Form 2026 | Full guide — what it is, how to complete, airports requiring it |
| 2 | How to apply for Vietnam eVisa step by step | For UK travelers who need eVisa for 90+ day stays |
| 3 | Vietnam eVisa photo requirements | JPEG, HEIC fix, portrait and bio page specs |
| 4 | Urgent Vietnam eVisa: all tiers and BST cutoffs | Full tier table with BST/GMT/VNT cutoffs |
| 5 | Vietnam eVisa Amendment Required | What it means and how to fix it if applying for eVisa |
Frequently asked questions
Do UK citizens need a visa for Vietnam?VietnamVisaEasy is a private licensed travel agency that has processed Vietnam eVisa applications for British travelers departing from London Heathrow (LHR), Gatwick (LGW), Manchester (MAN), Birmingham (BHX), and Edinburgh (EDI) since 2010. Last updated July 21, 2026.
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UK citizens: visa-exempt 45 days — no eVisa needed for short stays. Pre-Arrival Form mandatory. eVisa from USD 90 for 90+ day stays or re-entry. Pre-Arrival Form: prearrival.immigration.gov.vn within 72hrs • 1-Hour eVisa cutoff 11:00 BST • Entry port SGN/HAN not DOH/DXB/SIN • 90-day same price as 30-day |
Apply eVisa — from USD 90 WhatsApp — 24/7 |