Vietnamβs visa system changed significantly in 2023. The e-visa is now the standard route for most nationalities, offering 90-day stays with single or multiple entry. Phu Quoc has a separate blanket visa-free status for all nationalities. As of 2026, a digital arrival card applies alongside your visa or exemption, and a health declaration may be required if Vietnam activates one. Both are covered below.
Before you travel
- Travel insurance: VisitorsCoverage - covers medical emergencies, trip cancellation, and travel delays
- Digital arrival card: complete at prearrival.immigration.gov.vn within 72 hours of arrival (free)
- Digital health declaration: not a standing requirement; only needed if Vietnam activates it during a public health emergency
- Vietnam e-visa: apply at evisa.gov.vn - allow 3β5 business days, from $25 USD (single entry)
Vietnam entry options at a glance (as of 2026):
| Route | Stay | Key detail |
|---|---|---|
| E-visa (evisa.gov.vn) | 90 days, single or multiple entry | From approximately $25 USD single entry; allow 3-5 business days |
| Visa-free (UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain) | 45 days | No fee; current exemption runs to March 2028 |
| Visa-free (Japan, South Korea) | 45 days | No fee |
| Phu Quoc only | 30 days, all nationalities | No visa if you stay on the island |
| Visa on arrival | Airports only | Agent letter approximately $10-20 USD plus $25 USD stamping fee |
| Digital arrival card | Required with any visa or exemption | Free; complete within 72 hours before arrival |
Entry documents beyond the visa (as of 2026)
A visa or exemption alone is no longer enough. One digital form applies, and a second may be activated:
Digital arrival card. Introduced in April 2026, this replaces the paper arrival card and must be completed at prearrival.immigration.gov.vn within 72 hours of arrival. You enter passport details, flight number, first-night accommodation address, and purpose of visit; the system issues a QR code to show at immigration. It is free, takes about five minutes, and started as a pilot at Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City) and has expanded to Hanoi, Da Nang and Phu Quoc airports, with land and sea borders still being studied. It does not replace your visa - it is a registration step only. Full details in our digital arrival card news report.
Digital health declaration - conditional, not standing. Early reports said a health declaration would be mandatory for all arrivals from 1 July 2026. Vietnamβs Ministry of Health then clarified (30 June 2026) that it is a framework activated only when an epidemic risk justifies it, and international travellers are not currently required to submit one. It is separate from the arrival card. If it is activated, airlines may check for it at check-in, so confirm before you fly. Our earlier news report predates the clarification.
Requirements change quickly - verify on the official Vietnam Immigration Department portal (xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn) shortly before you fly.
E-Visa (recommended route)
The Vietnam e-visa allows 90 days single or multiple entry. It covers all international entry points (airports and land borders).
Apply: evisa.gov.vn (the official Vietnamese government e-visa portal).
Cost: from $25 USD for single entry; multiple entry costs more (as of 2026).
Processing time: Typically 3β5 business days. Apply at least a week before travel.
What you need: Passport photo (digital), passport scan, credit card, and entry/exit dates. The application is straightforward.
Eligible nationalities: Most nationalities worldwide are eligible for the e-visa. Check the current list on the official portal - coverage expanded significantly in 2023.
Visa-free entry (selected nationalities)
Several nationalities have bilateral visa exemption agreements with Vietnam, allowing stays without any visa:
- ASEAN member states: 30 days (some up to 30β90 days depending on the specific agreement)
- UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain: 45 days visa-free (current exemption runs to March 2028)
- Japan, South Korea: 45 days visa-free
- Russia, Belarus, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland: various exemption terms
Visa-free entry allows multiple stays but cumulative presence in a 180-day period may be subject to immigration officer discretion. For extended stays, the e-visa is cleaner.
Phu Quoc - separate 30-day visa exemption
Phu Quoc Island has a specific visa-free entry policy: all nationalities can enter Phu Quoc for up to 30 days without a visa, provided they stay on the island. Exiting Phu Quoc to the mainland requires a valid visa.
Practical use: If your Vietnam trip consists only of Phu Quoc, no visa is required regardless of nationality.
Visa on arrival (VoA)
The visa on arrival process (pre-approved online, collect the visa at the airport on arrival) is less commonly used since the e-visa expansion. It was useful when e-visa eligibility was limited; now the e-visa is simpler for most travellers.
VoA remains an option at airports only (not land borders). Requires a pre-approval letter obtained through an agent (approximately $10β20 USD) plus a stamping fee paid on arrival ($25 USD). The e-visa is generally easier.
Extension and overstay
Visa extensions inside Vietnam are technically possible but administratively complex. For most travellers, itβs more practical to exit and re-enter (to a neighbouring country - Cambodia or Laos) rather than extend in-country.
Overstaying your visa has financial penalties and may complicate future entry. Donβt overstay.
Cambodia and Laos border crossings
Vietnamβs land borders with Cambodia (Moc Bai near HCMC, Xa Xia near Ha Tien/Phu Quoc, Tinh Bien near Chau Doc) and Laos (Lao Bao, Nam Can) are covered by the e-visa. The e-visa specifying land border entry works at the major crossings - verify your crossing is covered when applying.
Useful links:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a visa to visit Vietnam? Most nationalities require a Vietnam e-visa, which is applied for online before travel. Citizens of certain countries can enter visa-free for 45β90 days (check the current list, which has expanded significantly in recent years). UK, German, French, Italian and Spanish passport holders get 45 days visa-free; US, Australian and Canadian passport holders need an e-visa.
How do I apply for a Vietnam e-visa? Apply at the official Vietnam e-visa portal (evisa.gov.vn). The process takes 3β5 business days and costs approximately USD 25. Beware of unofficial third-party sites that charge significantly more - the official site is the only legitimate portal.
How long can I stay in Vietnam on an e-visa? The Vietnam e-visa currently allows stays of up to 90 days (single or multiple entry). Extensions are possible but administratively complex - most travellers find it easier to exit and re-enter. Verify current regulations before travel as the rules have changed recently.
Can I get a Vietnam visa on arrival? Visa on arrival is available at airports but less commonly used since the e-visa expansion. It requires a pre-approval letter from an agent (approximately USD 10β20) plus a stamping fee paid on arrival (USD 25). The e-visa is simpler and also works at land borders.
Can UK and US passport holders visit Vietnam visa-free? As of recent updates, UK, German, French, Italian and Spanish passport holders are exempt for stays up to 45 days. US passport holders require an e-visa. Check the current official list before travel as exemption agreements change - the Vietnamese government expanded the visa-free list significantly in 2023.
What forms do I need to fill in before flying to Vietnam? As of 2026, the digital arrival card (complete within 72 hours of arrival at prearrival.immigration.gov.vn) applies in addition to your visa or exemption. A health declaration is not a standing requirement and is only activated during a public health emergency.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is worth sorting at the same time as your visa - it covers medical treatment, emergency evacuation, and trip cancellation if your plans change before departure. We recommend VisitorsCoverage for straightforward policies that cover most nationalities travelling to Vietnam. A quote takes under five minutes and single-trip cover typically starts from around $30 for a two-week stay.
Plan Your Trip
For official entry rules, we check the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UK government entry requirements page before every trip.
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