Do I Need a Visa to Travel to Vietnam?

For most travelers from around the world, a visa is needed for entry to Vietnam. Vietnam has a strict visa policy regarding ensuring travelers have their visas before they arrive. However, for a few countries around the world, there are visa exemption agreements with Vietnam that allow their travelers to enter the country without a visa for a specific number of days.

Who Can Visit Vietnam without a Visa Now?

Vietnam Visa Exemption Countries

There are a specific set of countries around the world that have bilateral visa exemption agreements with Vietnam. Those 25 countries include:

If you are a citizen of one of these countries, then you can travel to Vietnam without a visa. But please remember to conform to all of the other requirements for entry into Vietnam.

As well as having a passport that is valid for at least six months after your trip, you must also download the PC-Covid mobile app, which must be presented at all establishments in Vietnam, and you need to ensure you have medical/travel insurance that covers COVID treatment with a minimum cover of US$10,000.00.

Vietnam Visa Exemption Extension

A Visa Exempt traveler who decides they are going to stay longer may apply for an extension after their visa-free period ends.

For the shorter stay countries, you will need to make the application on arrival, as it can take more than a week to approve the extension.

If your period of stay is longer, then it is recommended you apply for the new visa at least two weeks in advance of the end of your exemption period. Rather than an extension of the visa exemption, it is effectively a new visa for 30 days of travel.

Other Cases of Vietnam Visa Exemption

The nationals of those 25 countries are not the only ones with visa exemptions for Vietnam.

Holders of the APEC Business Travel Card, which is issued by the country of origin within the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation area, may enter the country visa-free for business trips for up to 60 days.

There is also a 5-year Visa Exemption granted to Vietnamese overseas nationals that hold a foreign passport, as well as their spouse and children, and the children of Vietnamese nationals living in Vietnam who hold a foreign passport.

How to Get a Vietnam Visa Online?

Documents Required for Getting a Vietnam e-Visa

Vietnam now has an e-visa that is available to nationals of 81 eligible countries, which allows them to file their application online and receive an electronic copy of their visa before traveling.

All you need to apply is a scanned copy of your passport data page and blank visa page and a passport-sized digital visa photo.

Steps to apply for a Vietnam e-Visa

It is easy to apply for the e-Visa online. You can make the application at either of the two official websites, https://www.immigration.gov.vn/ and https://www.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn.

Once you have filled in all the data and uploaded a passport-sized digital photo, you will be directed to make your payment at the bank indicated for your country of origin or residence. Payment is made using a reference number, so once you have paid, the system will process your visa and you will normally get an email with the E-visa within 3-5 days.

How to Get a Vietnam Visa on Arrival?

Documents required for Getting a Vietnam Visa on Arrival

Vietnam’s Visa on Arrival service requires you to pre-apply in advance of your Vietnam tour and doesn’t process your visa when you arrive in Vietnam. You will need scanned copies of your passport data page and a blank visa page.

Steps to Apply for a Vietnam Visa on Arrival

You can apply for Vietnam Visa on Arrival online at https://vietnamvisa.govt.vn/apply-online/, and it normally takes around 2-3 business days to receive the letter of approval once you have uploaded your documents and paid the fees through the online payment gateway.

Once you arrive in Vietnam, you will need to queue to get your Visa, and need to provide your passport and the letter of approval that you were sent by email as well as two passport photos. It is best to have a couple of copies of this when you arrive.

Travelers can handle visa applications on arrival at the airport.

You can also apply through several reputable and registered travel agents around the world, but it is advised to ensure the travel agency is registered with a recognized global travel agency association such as ABTA, AGTO, JATA, etc.

Applicable Airports for Vietnam Visa on arrival

Unfortunately, the Vietnam Visa on Arrival is only available if you enter the country through three airports. These airports are:

Tan Son Nhat International Airport (Ho Chi Minh City)

Noi Bai International Airport (Ha Noi)

Da Nang International Airport

How Long does it Take to Get the Vietnam Visa?

How long it takes to get your visa can depend on which method you are using to apply. If you are getting it from an Embassy, it is normally recommended that it will be released in 3-5 business days, but if you do it just before the weekend, you will wait until the end of the following week. So it is best to apply on a Monday, so it can hopefully be approved before the weekend.

The E-visa service website states that it will send you a copy of your valid E-visa to your listed email address and that your “application will be processed in 3 working days”.

And the fastest of all is the Visa on Arrival, which you can get within 2 working days, or if you make an “urgent” application, within 1 working day. Or, if you are already packing and leaving tonight, it even has a “super urgent” service where they will provide your letter of approval within 4 working hours.

How Much does a Vietnam Visa Cost?

Different visas have different costs, which depending on where you apply. The application with an embassy and the E-visa are the most expensive, and both cost US$25 or the local equivalent.

The cost of Vietnam Visa on Arrival is a lot cheaper, and if you are from one of the eligible countries and are flying to an eligible airport, US$17 for the visa approval letter is a real bargain.

For the One-Day “Urgent” visa, the cost is just US$27, and for the “Super urgent” visa in four hours, a mere US$37.

When you arrive, there is also a government stamping fee of around two dollars for the issuance of the visa.

Can I Get a Visa Extension in Vietnam?

It is possible to extend your visa once you are already in Vietnam, so that you can stay longer if you decide to. For the normal 30-day tourist visa, you can extend the visa for an additional 30 days to give you a two-month stay.

The visa extensions can only be done in the Immigration Offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and can take up to seven days to process, so it is best to do it with plenty of time to spare.

All you need to do is visit the Immigration Office and apply over the counter for a visa extension. They will provide you with all the forms to complete, and process the visa extension application.

Depending on your country of origin, the cost of an extension of a standard 30-day tourist visa is from $60 to $155.

Conclusion

Almost everyone needs a visa to travel to Vietnam, but the Bureau of Immigration has made it relatively easy to obtain a visa, with the online options of the E-visa and Visa on Arrival being some of the fastest visa-approval times in Asia. So even if you are not able to travel visa-free, you can easily get your Vietnam visa in a few short days, or even hours.