Vietnam entry requirements depend on your passport, travel purpose, intended stay and route. This guide explains how to check visa-free entry and the official eVisa route, but the Vietnam Immigration portal or the relevant Vietnamese diplomatic mission should be treated as the final source for your case.
| Your situation | What to check first |
|---|---|
| Passport may qualify for visa-free entry | Check the current exemption list, permitted stay and passport conditions for that nationality. |
| Tourist needs an eVisa | The official Immigration portal currently supports single- or multiple-entry eVisas valid for up to 90 days; use the dates actually granted on the approved document. |
| Phu Quoc-only trip | Check the specific island exemption conditions before assuming they also cover a later mainland stay. |
| Pre-Arrival Information (PAI) | Treat it as a separate arrival-information process. It does not replace the visa or exemption needed for entry. |
How does Vietnam’s visa system work for tourists?
For a tourism trip, the first decision is whether your passport qualifies for visa-free entry or whether you need an eVisa or another visa category. The official electronic-visa portal is managed by the Vietnam Immigration Department, but not every traveller should assume the same route applies. What is the overall structure of the Vietnamese visa system? Vietnam entry rules depend on nationality, travel purpose and length of stay. For eligible travellers, the official eVisa system is the main online route and eVisas can be valid for up to 90 days, single or multiple entry. Some nationalities also qualify for visa exemptions. Travellers who do not fit those routes should follow the current Vietnam Immigration or diplomatic-mission guidance for their case. For most tourists, the practical starting point is to check the current rule for the passport you will actually travel on, confirm the permitted dates and entry conditions, and only then lock non-refundable flights or cross-border plans.Do you need a visa for Vietnam?
Whether you need a visa depends on your nationality, passport type, purpose and length of stay. Vietnam has unilateral and bilateral visa-exemption arrangements, and those policies can be changed or extended by the Government. Do not rely on an old fixed count of visa-exempt countries. Vietnam changed and expanded exemption policies in 2025, and some exemptions have different purposes or validity periods. Check the current Government or Immigration guidance for your passport before departure. Some passports currently qualify for 45-day visa-free stays under Government resolutions, but the applicable country list and policy dates matter. If your intended stay exceeds an exemption or your trip does not meet its conditions, check the official eVisa or other visa route that applies to you.The Vietnam E-visa
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Vietnam Visa requirements and who is exempt
Visa-exemption rules vary by nationality, passport type and the legal basis of the exemption. Do not apply one ASEAN or European rule to every passport. The current Ministry of Foreign Affairs exemption list should be checked for the passport you will actually use, including the permitted stay and any conditions.- ASEAN passports: exemption periods are not identical across all ASEAN countries. Check the current MOFA list rather than relying on one regional number.
- Unilateral exemptions: some nationalities currently receive 45-day visa-free entry under Government resolutions, subject to the applicable policy period and entry conditions.
- Bilateral exemptions: other passports may have different stay periods under bilateral agreements.
- Phu Quoc exemption: foreign passport holders may qualify for a 30-day Phu Quoc visa exemption under the applicable rules, including certain itineraries that transit through another Vietnamese international border gate before continuing to the island. Check the current official conditions before relying on this exemption, especially if the trip also includes mainland Vietnam.
How to apply for a Vietnam E-visa?
For an eVisa application, use the current instructions shown on the official Immigration portal and prepare the passport and portrait files it requests:- Use the official portal: Apply through evisa.gov.vn or thithucdientu.gov.vn. If you use a third party, understand that it is not the Immigration Department itself.
- Images: Follow the current portal requirements for the portrait and passport-data-page files. The official application guidance currently asks for a front-facing portrait without glasses and a passport data-page image.
- Route details: Use an eVisa-eligible international checkpoint and make sure the route details in your application and approved visa fit the itinerary. If the route changes materially, check current Immigration guidance before travelling.
- Fee and result: The official portal currently lists USD 25 for a single-entry eVisa and USD 50 for a multiple-entry eVisa, with online payment and application-status lookup using the registration details. Recheck the portal before paying in case the process changes.
If the standard eVisa route does not fit your case
Older Vietnam travel guides often describe a tourist “Visa on Arrival” approval-letter process. Do not assume that old procedure applies to your trip. If you are not eligible for visa-free entry or the official eVisa route, follow the current instructions from Vietnam Immigration or the relevant Vietnamese diplomatic mission for the visa category you need. For ordinary tourism, check your passport eligibility and current entry requirements before paying any third party to arrange a visa service.Visa types and typical durations
Vietnam has visa categories beyond ordinary tourism. For this guide, the useful distinction is whether the trip uses visa-free entry, a single-entry eVisa, a multiple-entry eVisa or another visa category that needs separate official guidance:- Single-entry eVisa: It can be granted for a validity period of up to 90 days and is intended for one entry within the approved dates.
- Multiple-entry eVisa: It can be useful for a route that leaves and re-enters Vietnam within the approved validity period. Check every planned crossing against the current eligible checkpoint list.
Entry and border-gate rules
Passport and entry requirements
A valid visa or visa exemption does not override the other entry conditions that apply to the traveller and passport. Check the passport-validity requirement and any onward-travel evidence that applies to your entry route before departure. For visa-exempt entry, Vietnamese diplomatic guidance commonly states that the passport should remain valid for at least six months from entry; the exact document checks should be confirmed against current official guidance for your case. For an eVisa, travel with the passport used in the application and keep an accessible copy of the approved visa. If your passport details, itinerary or entry conditions change before travel, recheck the Immigration instructions rather than assuming the original approval automatically covers the new situation.READ MORE: Is Vietnam Safe For Tourists? A Vietnam Safety Tips Guide
Special cases and common pitfalls to avoid
Common problems come from using the wrong entry route for the itinerary, entering application data incorrectly, or assuming a visa exemption covers travel beyond its actual conditions. Phu Quoc is one example where the itinerary matters. A traveller relying on the island-specific exemption should not assume that the same status automatically covers a later mainland stay. If the trip combines Phu Quoc with Ho Chi Minh City or another mainland destination, check the visa or exemption route that covers the complete itinerary before departure. For eVisa travel, verify the passport details, approved validity dates, entry type and planned checkpoints against the issued document and current Immigration guidance before the first international sector.What to expect at the airport or border gate
At the airport or border gate, follow the signs and instructions for the visa or visa-exempt entry route that applies to you. Queue time and document checks vary by airport, flight bank and individual case, so do not plan a tight onward connection around one assumed immigration-processing time.
For an eVisa arrival, keep the passport used for the application and the approved visa accessible. Follow the current airport and Immigration instructions for passport control, then continue to baggage claim or the next stage of the arrival process.
Check whether Pre-Arrival Information applies to your arrival
Vietnam Immigration introduced a Pre-Arrival Information (PAI) system in 2026. It is a separate arrival-information process and does not replace a visa or visa exemption. The system began as a pilot at Tan Son Nhat International Airport and is being expanded, so check the current official instructions at prearrival.immigration.gov.vn for your airport and travel date rather than assuming every border gate uses the same process.
If your visa situation falls outside the standard visa-free or eVisa route, follow the current instructions issued for that visa category before you travel. Do not arrive expecting an old tourist approval-letter procedure to be available at the airport.