We recently (in January 2023) applied and got the Vietnam e-Visa through the official Vietnam Immigration Department website.
And in this guide, we would like to share our first-hand experience, tips, rules, and what to look out for when you apply yourself. If you don’t want to do this yourself, use a service like iVisa (extra cost).
Note: We have a lot of questions answered in the comments at the end of the article, make sure to check them out if you have any additional questions.
- Vietnam e-Visa summary
- Available for 80 countries
- 30 days maximum stay
- Entry through 33 international checkpoints (air, land & sea)
- 25 USD processing fee
- Non-refundable processing fee under any circumstance
- Three working days usual processing time
- No available extensions
Skip ahead in the article to
Quick links to official Vietnam Immigration sites
- Homepage
- Application form
- Application status search
- Support
- List of allowed ports of entry and exit with e-Visa
Who is eligible for the Vietnam e-Visa in 2023?
Currently, Vietnam e-Visa is available for passport holders of 80 countries. You can find the official list of countries eligible for the Vietnam e-Visa on the official site.
| Andorra | Greece | Palau |
| Argentina | Hungary | Panama |
| Armenia | Iceland | Papua New Guinea |
| Australia | India | Peru |
| Austria | Ireland | Philippines |
| Azerbaijan | Italy | Poland |
| Belarus | Japan | Portugal |
| Belgium | Kazakhstan | Qatar |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | South Korea | Romania |
| Brazil | Latvia | Russia |
| Bruney | Liechtenstein | Samoa |
| Bulgaria | Lithuania | San Marino |
| Canada | Luxembourg | Serbia |
| Chile | North Macedonia | Slovakia |
| China | Malta | Slovenia |
| Colombia | Marshall Islands | Solomon Islands |
| Croatia | Mexico | Spain |
| Cuba | Micronesia | Sweden |
| Cyprus | Moldova | Switzerland |
| Czech Republic | Monaco | Timor Leste |
| Denmark | Mongolia | United Arab Emirates |
| Estonia | Montenegro | United Kingdom |
| Fiji | Myanmar | United States of America |
| Finland | Nauru | Uruguay |
| France | Netherlands | Vanuatu |
| Georgia | New Zealand | Venezuela |
| Germany | Norway |
What if my country is not eligible for the e-Visa?
If your country is not on the list of 80 countries that can apply for the Vietnam e-Visa, check Vietnam Tourism’s site to see if your country is eligible for a Vietnam visa exemption or visa waiver.
Important note: We always advise everyone to also send a quick email or call the embassy in their country just to double-check. Visa rules are constantly changing, and Vietnam has changed quite a few in the last year(s).
How long can I stay in Vietnam with the e-Visa?
In 2023, the Vietnam e-Visa allows you a single entry and a stay of a maximum of 30 days.
How far in advance should I apply for the Vietnam e-Visa?
Usually, you will get your Vietnam e-Visa in 3 working days, but we recommend applying for your Vietnam e-Visa at least 10 to 14 days before your planned arrival, so you have enough time if it takes longer.
It took us eight days in total from applying to receiving results, as there were holidays in between, so definitely make sure to plan accordingly.
What are the Vietnam e-Visa Requirements?
The basic requirements you need to meet before applying for a Vietnam e-Visa are:
- Passport valid for at least 6 more months after arrival date with at least 2 blank pages
- Photo of passport personal data page
- Portrait photo of yourself (facing forward, no glasses, white background)
- Ability to pay online with a credit or debit card
How to apply for the Vietnam e-Visa in 2023?
The Vietnam e-Visa application is straightforward, completely done, and paid for online, with results received within three working days.
Below is the step-by-step process for applying for the e-Visa.
Note: The process is very simple, but if you don’t want to go through the process yourself, you can use a service like iVisa to do it for you (for a fee). Click here to check the services offered at iVisa.
Step 1: Visit the official e-Visa application form
Step 2: Fill out the e-Visa application form
Fill out the information required to apply for the e-Visa:
- Portrait photo
- Passport data page photo
- Personal information (name, sex, date of birth, address, nationality)
- Contact information (phone, email)
- Passport number, type, and expiry
- Intended temporary residential address (address of the hotel you plan on booking)
- Purpose of entry (choose tourism)
- Date of entry
- Date of exit (max 30 days from date of entry)
- Entry and exit checkpoint
Make sure to:
- Write your name entirely (first name, middle, and last name)
- Fill out the intended temporary residential address, as it’s a requirement, and you will be asked to provide information if you leave it empty. You can find the address of your first hotel and use that (even if you haven’t booked yet).
- Double and triple-check all the information
Step 3: Submit the application and pay the $25 fee
Step 4: Wait for three working days for the result
Step 5: Download the e-Visa and print two copies
Which photos do I need for the Vietnam e-Visa?
You must upload two photos for the Vietnam e-Visa, a portrait photo of yourself (4x6cm), looking straight without glasses, and a picture of your passport data page (first page) with the image, personal information, and ICAO lines clearly seen.
We took portrait photos of each other with our phones and used a white wall as a background. Some people have also taken a quality photo of their image from their passport.
As for the passport photo, make sure to take a top-down shot of the first page containing all the information (as shown in the example) so that there is no glare and everything is clear and easy to read.
How to check the Vietnam e-Visa result?
You need to manually check your Vietnam e-Visa application result on the official website, and we advise you to do it multiple times daily.
It works by entering your registration code, email, and date of birth and then searching for your results. And it either says in processing, granted, or denied.
Do I receive an email with my Vietnam e-Visa?
According to the official website, you will not receive an email with the results of your Vietnam e-Visa application, but we actually received an email as soon as it was done.
The email we received simply said that the results were in, but to check the actual status of the application, we still had to check it on the official website ourselves.
How long does it take to get the Vietnam e-Visa?
Generally, the immigration department will process your Vietnam e-Visa within three working days, but sometimes it may take up to a whole week or ten days.
Our e-Visa results took eight days to arrive due to public holidays in between, so make sure to plan your trip accordingly.
Why does the Vietnam e-Visa result arrive late?
There are different reasons why your e-Visa result for Vietnam is late, either national holidays, a significant amount of applications, or your payment not being processed yet.
According to some sources, there can be a delay between the time you pay your e-Visa and the time the banks process it. Upon paying your Vietnam e-Visa fee, you will receive an email with a payment confirmation.
However, according to Vietcombank, the payment confirmation can take up to 2 hours, but if it’s delayed further, we recommend getting in touch with them to check what’s up.
Note: Before paying again, make sure that you got a confirmation for the payment either being canceled or failed because otherwise if it goes through, you will be charged twice. So definitely wait for the confirmation, then try to pay again if it fails.
If you have any issues with the payment through Vietcombank, you can contact their payment provider NganLuong at doitac@nganluong.vn or visit their website at https://www.nganluong.vn.
Also, please note that some Vietnam e-Visa applications can be sent for further checks to The Ministry of Public Security, and in case that happens, it can take up to 15 working days to receive the result.
Can I enter Vietnam through a different port of entry than on the e-Visa?
According to the rules of the e-Visa for Vietnam, you can only enter the country in the port of entry you chose on the application, which is also written in the received Visa document.
Although it can happen that you can enter through another airport than the one you have marked on your Vietnam e-Visa without issue, you should try to avoid doing so, as you can be denied boarding your plane by an airline. That is the most common problem, and if you do manage to board the plane, it is then up to the immigration officer at your arrival destination to decide if you are allowed to proceed or not.
So, as much as it is possible to go well for you, we advise you against arriving at a different airport/land border than the one you chose to avoid any issues.
To recap, if you think your travel plans might change, it’s best to put your port of entry to either Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, or Da Nang airport, as they receive the most significant number of frequent international flights, so you’ll be able to enter there, even if you have to find a flight last-minute.
Our situation was that our e-Visa result arrived late (after eight days), and we couldn’t fly into the port of entry we chose on our application on the date that we wanted, so we had to find another flight on a later date, and lost some days in the process.
Which entry and exit points can I use with the Vietnam e-Visa?
You can use your e-Visa to enter Vietnam through 33 international checkpoints, including airports, land borders, and sea ports.
| International Airport | Seaport |
|---|---|
| Cat Bi Int Airport (Hai Phong) | Chan May Seaport |
| Cam Ranh Int Airport (Khanh Hoa) | Da Nang Seaport |
| Can Tho International Airport | Duong Dong Seaport |
| Da Nang International Airport | Hon Gai Seaport |
| Noi Bai Int Airport (Ha Noi) | Hai Phong Seaport |
| Phu Bai Int Airport | Nha Trang Seaport |
| Phu Quoc International Airport | Quy Nhon Seaport |
| Tan Son Nhat Int Airport (Ho Chi Minh City) |
| Landport | Landport |
|---|---|
| Bo Y Landport | Moc Bai Landport |
| Cha Lo Landport | Mong Cai Landport |
| Cau Treo Landport | Nam Can Landport |
| Huu Nghi Landport | Na Meo Landport |
| Ha Tien Landport | Song Tien Landport |
| Lao Bao Landport | Tinh Bien Landport |
| Lao Cai Landport | Tay Trang Landport |
| La Lay Landport | Xa Mat Landport |
Is the Vietnam e-Visa fee refundable?
The 25 USD fee for processing the Vietnam e-Visa is non-refundable under any circumstance, regardless of the outcome.
Do I need to print the Vietnam e-Visa?
Yes, even though you apply for Vietnam’s e-Visa entirely online, you still need to print it and present the physical copy on your arrival in Vietnam.
What are the common mistakes when applying for Vietnam’s e-Visa?
The most common mistakes when applying for Vietnam’s e-Visa are entering the wrong name and passport number, uploading bad quality or wrong photos, or choosing the wrong port of entry.
For example, there are multiple ports of entry to Ho Chi Minh City, like Tan Son Nhat International Airport and Ho Chi Minh City Seaport, so make sure to select the correct one.
Can you apply for more people at once?
You can not apply for the Vietnam e-Visa for more people at once, so families or groups are advised to fill out a separate application for each person.
What if I have a problem with the Vietnam e-Visa application?
In case you made a mistake or there is a problem with your application for your Vietnam e-Visa, you can send a message to the support agents on the official website and describe the issue, like wrong information, failed payment, or forgotten registration code.
Unfortunately, we don’t know the time it takes for the support agents to answer.
What if I provided invalid information on the Vietnam e-Visa application form?
If your application form misses information or contains invalid data, the immigration department will request to provide further information, or in rare cases, they can also decline you.
If you have to provide additional information for your Vietnam e-Visa, you will be contacted and asked to fill it out, and the processing time will restart once you submit all the valid information.
What do I need to present upon arrival with the Vietnam e-Visa?
Upon entering Vietnam with your e-Visa, you must present a printed copy of the Vietnam e-Visa document you received (print from PDF) and your passport.
Although Vietnam no longer requires proof of travel insurance that includes COVID, we always advise against traveling without valid travel insurance.
Get your insurance:
- SafetyWing (great – we currently use this one)
- Heymondo (more plan choices and also affordable)
Can I arrive on different dates than stated on the e-Visa?
You can arrive later than the date of entry you put on the application for your Vietnam e-Visa, but you can not arrive sooner.
Take note that when you apply, you must fill in the exact entry date, so once your visa is approved, the days start counting from the entry date you set, even if the visa arrived late.
We put our date of entry for the 2nd of September, and our visa arrived late, on the 5th of September, so we lost three days because of that. And as we were planning to fly to Nha Trang, and the next direct flight was on the 9th of September, so we also lost additional four days because of that.
Thus, we can’t stress enough how important it is to know your travel dates beforehand and apply much sooner than the advertised three working days it takes to receive the visa.
Our final thoughts
It’s evident that as of March 2023, Vietnam is lacking behind South East Asian countries like Thailand in terms of available options to enter the country, mainly because it misses a longer exemption period and the return of the Visa on Arrival.
Many travelers that would visit Vietnam for a more extended period than 30 days, for example, 45, 60, or even 90 as you could before the pandemic, are now left with no choice but to either wait longer or cut their trip short.
Vietnam is a country visited by various types of travelers in different stages of life, from vacationers that come for a week or two to those that come for a month and to backpackers or people on their gap year who take a longer time to explore the whole country.
Many are still waiting for better options for entering Vietnam, and we’re closely following the situation on the ground, so we’ll update this article accordingly.
We hope that we answered all your questions about the application process and requirements.
However, if you have any more questions, drop a comment below and let us know!
Now that you hopefully have your visa, you might want to see what to do in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, go canyoning in Da Lat, do the stunning Ha Giang Loop, go on a Ha Long Bay Cruise, enjoy the Trang An boat ride in the beautiful Ninh Binh, hike the Mua Caves Viewpoint, or visit the gorgeous old town of Hoi An.
We spent a year and a half exploring Vietnam.
And we wrote extensive free guides for destinations across the country.
Must visit places
– Hanoi Train Street
– Ha Long Bay
– Ban Gioc Waterfall
– Ha Giang Loop
– Ha Long Bay Cruise
– Hanoi
– Ho Chi Minh City
– Ninh Binh
– Da Nang
– Hoi An
– Nha Trang
– Da Lat Canyoning
– Dak Lak
– Mui Ne
– Mai Chau
About Vietnam
– Vegan & Vegetarian Guide
– 30 Fascinating Facts
– Top Vietnam Digital Nomad Places
Get travel insurance
SafetyWing | Heymondo
Book your tours
GetYourGuide | Viator | Klook
Get a Vietnam eSIM
Airalo eSIM | Holafly eSIM | Gigago (best plans)
87 Responses
Hi and Thank you for great content!
Can you still visit Vietnam for maximum 15 days without visa?
Hi Tina, thank you!
Yes, you can visit Vietnam under the visa exemption if you’re from one of the eligible countries. The eligible countries for the visa exemption are listed on the vietnam.travel website: https://vietnam.travel/plan-your-trip/visa-requirements#visa
Good luck!
Hi
I have been following and in touch with you before since before Covid.Ourfamily trip didn’t take place as covid started.So thanks to you during these years I have learnt so much about what we want to visit and do!!! Thanks a lot ..you are great!!!!
I can’t wait until We buy the plane tickets from January onwards for August!!!!!!
Thanks again for all your help…I am hooked on your information
Best regards from Spain
Mar
Hi Mar!
You have no idea how much this means to us! The whole point of this blog is to inspire travel and give as much info and insight into the places we visit.
We’re so happy to hear that you’ll be visiting Vietnam next year, and we can guarantee that you will have a great time in this beautiful country.
Keep an eye out for new articles, as we have some big ones coming out soon. Starting with the Hanoi Ultimate Guide that went out yesterday.
Thank you! 🙂
Greetings from Kuala Lumpur!
Arijana & Matej
Thanks for the article.
I am just wondering if the following scenario would work to stay longer in vietnam.
I could visit vietnam and stay no longer than 15 days.
After that I have read, that you are not allowed to re-enter vietnam for the next 30 days.
So question would be for me:
Would it be possible to re-enter vietnam with a visa after that?
so in the end I could stay in vietnam for 45 days (after a short trip maybe to thailand?
Sounds like a hack? 🙂
Hi John,
We haven’t done this before and can’t really give any verified information about it.
But what you can definitely do, is have a back-to-back visa, so let’s say you apply for 2 visas, one would be for the first 30 days, and then the other for the next 30 days. If you’re visiting for tourism purposes and don’t have a long history of border (visa) runs, you should have no problem.
But essentially, yes, after the 30 days are over, you would need to exit and re-enter the country.
Good luck and have a great trip! 👋
Sunny regards from Chiang Mai,
Arijana & Matej
If I dont have any totally full pages left on my U.S. passport, is there any other way to enter Vietnam? I will be in Dubai and was planning on visiting Hanoi right after that. Planning on leaving Dubai on March 20th. I remember when I obtained the Turkish e-visa, no label was needed to place in my booklet. Help!
Hi Gil,
The stamps you get on arrival and departure (1 each time) combined take up about 1/3 of a passport page.
According to some rules about Vietnam’s passport policy, they require one full page, but you might be able to enter anyway.
The bigger problem would be the airline denying you boarding the flight. We’d check that first with the airline.
Let us know what you decided and the outcome.
Safe travels!
Hello 🙂 Thank you for these informations ! I have two questions about the visa. I leave France on December 30th to go to Hanoi and I arrive there on the 31st in the morning. I have to start the visa on the 31st or I need it to take the flight and I have to start it on the 30th?
My 2nd question is that on the e-visa website when I put the maximum period for example for a start on December 31, they told me that the limit is set to January 30, but then it makes 31 full days? Is it a mistake on their part or is it good?
Thanks in advance 🙂
Hi Florence 🙂
Since you will be entering the country on 31st December, then your visa can easily be from the 31st and not the time when you board the flight (30th).
30 days from 31st December is actually 30th January, so that’s all good. 👍
Have a great trip!
Sunny regards from Chiang Mai,
Arijana & Matej
Do you then have to pay anything else at the border or is the only fee the $25 for the visa?
Hi Renee 🙂
You do not have to pay anything else at the border, the $25 processing fee you pay when applying online covers everything.
Sunny regards from Chiang Mai,
Arijana & Matej
Does the initial visa cover you the entire time you are there, even if you have flights to other cities within Vietnam? We are flying into Ho Chi Minh, then Phu Quoc and then Da Nang and Hoi An.
Hi Holly 🙂
Yes, indeed, the visa covers your whole stay in Vietnam for 30 days, including domestically flying between cities, as you mentioned.
Have a great time!
All the best,
Arijana & Matej
Hi. I am traveling in February…my flight lands in Hanoi and I take an onward flight to Ho chi Minh….what would be my port of entry for visa?I should apply for 10 days as I am there for 7 days
Hi Rajiv,
Since you are arriving on an international flight to Hanoi, you will clear immigration there, so put your port of entry as Hanoi.
While we personally didn’t have this situation yet, it has been confirmed by many travelers through the years.
Essentially the onward domestic flight at either HCMC or Hanoi airport always means you need to clear immigration and then go to the domestic terminal.
All e-Visas for Vietnam are valid for 30 days, so you apply for 30 days, even if you don’t intend to stay the full duration.
Have fun!
Question.
If I do a border run to Cambodia or Laos by bus, how soon can I re-enter with a new e-visa – is that even possible, or would I have to go to an embassy?
I would need to do 2 border runs as I’ve booked a 10 week air ticket to Vietnam (I didn’t know 3 month visas were no longer available!)
Hi Simon,
Usually, the e-Visa can not be back-to-back, meaning that if your first one expires on 1st February, then your next one needs to be from 2nd February.
This is the last information we have from people that did border runs, so essentially you’d need to stay one night in Cambodia/Laos.
On the other hand, there are people still doing it back-to-back (but maybe use some visa agency).
We can’t really guarantee it for you because it all depends if your e-Visa will be granted for, let’s say, the following scenario: 1st January – 31st January, 31st January – 30th March.. and so on. And it depends again on the officer at the border.
Your best bet is to go to one of the Vietnam Visa Advice groups on Facebook and ask for your specific case there and get it confirmed with the latest information.
We hope this helps!
Warm regards from Thailand,
Arijana & Matej
It seems like I looked everywhere on the Internet and Facebook groups for all of this exact information. Thank you so much now I am more confident in filling out the application and following all the rules of arrival and departure!
Hi Polly, thank you!
Have a great time in Vietnam!
Warm regards from Thailand,
Arijana & Matej
Question
Can you apply for 2 e-visas simultaneously with different entry dates for the same individual?
I will be traveling to Hanoi for 4 days, exit and visit Siem Reap for 3 days and re-enter Saigon for 4 days stay in January, 2023.
Hi Annette,
Yes, you can certainly do that!
Fill out the first one till the end and pay, and then repeat the process.
What’s is the best way to extension visa to 40 days?
I have polish Passport.
Hi Thomas,
There are no extensions available for the e-Visa.
You will need to exit and re-enter the country (apply for a new one beforehand).
Good luck!
Hi and thank you for your informative article.
I have two questions:
How far in advance can you apply for the e-Visa? I.e. can I apply now (in January) for a stay commencing in July?
You mentioned that you can apply for two Visas at the same time, to cover reentry.
However the official FAQ has the following question and answer that would suggest that applying for two consecutive Visas is not possible:
“5. What if I want to enter Vietnam before my e-Visa validity period?
You must complete a new e-Visa application. The previous e-Visa application will be cancelled once the new e-Visa is issued”
Best Regards,
Peter
Hi Peter,
Thank you for the kind words. And thank you for your questions. We’re sure others can benefit from this as well.
1.) Although there is no official information regarding how far in advance you can apply, according to other sources online and the e-Visa application form, you should be able to apply at least 6 months in advance and even more (there is no limit when selecting your visa validity in the application).
2.) Again, there is no official information regarding any e-Visa being canceled because of another application. And it also did not happen for any of the people applying for a consecutive e-Visa, where the second visa goes into the period of the first one. This should cover the scenario where for example, you visit the north of Vietnam for 10 days, go into northern Laos, then re-enter Vietnam after 10 days down south.
Hopefully, this is of some help.
Kind regards,
Arijana & Matej
Hi Peter…in the end how far beforehand have you applied the visa?
Thanks
Mar
Hi! Thank you for the info.
Just want to clarify ( I saw similar post already), however – can I enter Vietnam on single entry visa and after fly locally to other cities? I’m arriving in Saigon and after few days going to Da Nang and after returning to Saigon. Worried that I will not be allowed to travel to Da Nang and back in single entry visa.
Please advise. Thank you!!
Olya
Hi Olya,
Yes, of course, Vietnam is a single country where you can fly between all the domestic destinations as much as you want on a single-entry visa.
Have fun!
Arijana & Matej
Unfortunately auto fill left my surname off the 30 day e-visa application. So I just have my first name and middle name on the application. The Visa has been approved and ready to be downloaded. Will I have any issue with the airline boarding? Or with customs on arrival. I am assuming a visa approved is good to use?
Hi Gary,
Unfortunately, this is a 50-50 situation because it might be fine, but it all depends, as you mentioned, on the airline (the person at check-in) and the immigration officer upon arrival.
In this case, we would likely re-apply for a new visa if there is enough time.
Please note that during Tet (still until 26.1.2023), the immigration department does not work, and no visa application will be processed.
Good luck!
And in any case, please return to this article and update us and everyone else with your experience. It’s very much appreciated because although there are rules, there are still many unknown factors in this visa application and usage process.
Thank you. 🙏
Hi,
I have had encountered many versions of eVisa/landing visa. My query is about the eVisa that I’ve applied successfully via this URL https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/web/guest/khai-thi-thuc-dien-tu/cap-thi-thuc-dien-tu. Which queue do we have line up? The LANDING VISA or the normal IMMIGRATION line?
Thanks in anticipation.
Regards
Hi Vince,
Currently, there is no landing visa (visa on arrival) in Vietnam.
So you line up at the only immigration queue there is, like everyone else.
Have fun!
Thank you so much for the informative post! Most helpful info out there on this issue I’ve found so far.
I’m traveling to Da Nang in 2.5 weeks, and have a connecting flight in Hanoi for two hours…I‘ve already got my visa with Da Nang as my entry point. According to this post, it looks like I’ll have to get a new visa to have Hanoi as my entry point since I’ll likely be going through immigration there? Will they issue another visa even though they’ve already issued one?? Will that nullify the other visa to Da Nang?
Thanks!!
Hi Shelly,
Thank you for the kind words! We’re trying to gather as much first-hand information as possible, as many rules and regulations aren’t always too clear (not for us and many times even for some officials at embassies and airline companies).
Essentially, even with a connecting flight, coming on an international flight into one airport in Vietnam and then flying domestically to another, you will need to go through immigration at the first airport.
For example, you can confirm this by checking the connecting flight rules of Vietnam Airlines, as they have quite a detailed description of the procedures for connecting flights.
Check this link: https://www.vietnamairlines.com/vn/en/travel-information/airports-transit/connecting-flight-information
Your scenario is under point 2.D. or 2.H. (Connecting flights operated by Vietnam Airlines and other airlines), confirming that you must pass through immigration at your first entry point.
With everything said, yes, the safest thing to do is to re-apply for a new visa because the airline you’re flying with will likely deny your boarding because your eVisa does not permit your entry into Hanoi.
And yes, they will issue another visa on top of the existing one, and that one will be the relevant one going forward.
We hope this helps!
Thanks for the detailed and prompt response! This is exactly what I needed for my trip 🙂
Does exit point matter with e-Visa? I’m planning to enter through hanoi airport but leave through the Bavet cambodia land border.
The exit point chosen for the Vietnam e-Visa is not important and plays no role, so you can leave where you want.
You do however still have to choose one on the application.
Hi there! Thank you for the information! I wonder if you can please clarify if we need a visa? We are from Canada and will be first visiting Singapore for a week and then flying into Danang for 8 nights. Do we need an e-visa in this case? Secondly, if we do, then can you please clarify if a stamping fee is required once we are issued our e-visa? Thanks so much for your assistance!
Hi Katie 🙂
Yes, as of now, you need to apply for an e-Visa to Vietnam as a Canadian. (you do not qualify for a visa exemption to Vietnam)
The 25 USD fee for the Vietnam e-Visa that you pay while applying covers everything, and there is nothing extra to pay.
But please remember to print out the e-Visa once you do get it, as you do need to present a printed copy at the airport/immigration.
Hi guys! Thank you so much for your detailed info! I have applied for a visa (from Australia), however at the time did not realised they would be closed for the week around their new year celebrations, so I have cut things too close. With maybe only 6 working days for them to process. (It is currently in “processing status”). If for some reason it is not processed in time. Am I able to submit another application upon entry explaining my circumstance? Or what would happen here?
Hi Cheyenne, thank you for the support!
Sorry to hear about your situation. Unfortunately, around Tet, the Vietnamese New Year, every government office, including the immigration office, shut down for a good week or so.
And so a bunch of applications pilled up, and it takes them a long time to go through (it’s a manual process) – can’t know how long.
Regarding your case, you probably can’t speed up the process by submitting another application, as we can only assume that they review them in the order that they received them. So if you apply again, you will likely anyway wait for the “first” one.
Hopefully, you get it in time! 🙏
Hello,
I have a single ticket because I am not quite sure how long I will be staying in Vietnam (3 or 4 weeks) and I have an e-visa I was wondering if I needed a outbound ticket as well to show at immigration?
Thank you
Hi Gert,
So supposedly, there is a rule that you need a ticket out (it doesn’t have to be a flight, can be a bus/train, etc.), but it’s usually only enforced by airline companies upon check-in for your flight.
We just checked in for our flight to Vietnam with VietJet Air a few minutes ago, and nobody checked it, as was the case the previous times.
But the cheapest way to be prepared and to be safe is to book a refundable ticket for a bus, like from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh, and then if you don’t end up using it, try to refund it. It’s what most people do.
And if you want to just wing it, try to check-in for your flight without a ticket out, and if they ask, you can book one right then and there easily on 12Go.asia.
Immigration on the other hand, never really cares.
Good luck!
Hi, does the evisa letter need to be printed in color? Will a black and white one also be acceptable? Thank you!
Hi Jeff,
We just arrived back in Vietnam 2 days ago, and it got accepted just fine in black and white. 👍
Sunny regards from Da Nang ☀
Hi there,
This question might have already been asked, but is the 30 day multiple entry VISA no longer available?
I’m
Travelling to Vietnam in a few weeks but plan on going to Cambodia, Philippines, and Singapore, and then back to Vietnam. How do I go about this? Thank you for your reply
Hi Renay,
Unfortunately, you are correct that the 30-day multiple-entry visa to Vietnam is currently unavailable.
As of February 2023, the only visa available for entry to Vietnam is the 30-day single entry e-Visa.
There have been talks of visas changing in the following weeks/months, which everyone has been eagerly waiting for, but nothing is certain as of yet.
For your situation, you need to apply for 2 visas for those two separate entries (remember to choose the correct entry port).
Have fun!
Hi there, looking for a little advice. Me and my girlfriend arrived in Vietnam yesterday (6th Feb) and have entered without a visa. We’re UK citizens so are entitled to the 15 day exemption. Can we still apply for an e-visa to extend our stay?
Hi Jake,
When you enter Vietnam via a visa exemption, you cannot extend your stay by applying for an e-Visa while in the country. Of course, you can still apply for the e-Visa, but you need to re-enter the country to actually use it (be stamped in).
Hope this helps!
Thanks! Do we need to wait 30 days to apply for the e-visa? or can we apply to come back into Vietnam after a couple of weeks away.
You can apply for two visas in advance, one for your first visit and another for your second visit. No need to wait for the first one to “expire” or similar.
Hello,
For an eVisa does the 30 days start from the date the visa was issued or the date upon initial entry into Vietnam?
Also in regards to departure port I am flying from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh International to pick up my flight back to Sydney, Australia. I assume that Ho Chi Minh should be my departure point on the eVisa application., can you please confirm.
Thanks for your help.
Hi Kate,
The eVisa is valid for the dates that you put on the application, so if you put on the application for it to be valid from the 1st of April, that’s when its validity will start. You can only enter the country on or after that date and before the expiry date.
Your flight from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City is domestic, meaning you will exit Vietnam from Ho Chi Minh City. So yes, you would put Ho Chi Minh City as the departure port.
Sunny regards from Da Nang ☀
Hey
So glad to of stumbled across this post, wondering if anyone can help.
We have UK passports & we fly to Ho chi min on the 2nd of March, we then leave via Hanoi on 9th March to South Korea & Japan then back to Hanoi on the 16th March. We were hoping to travel to Thailand & Laos before flying home from Ho chi min on the 5th April.
This means 3 entries into Vietnam spanning more than 30 days and after looking into the visas I don’t know if this will be possible?
Reading this thread it looks like we’d possibly be able to take advantage of the visa waiver for the initial entry then would it be possible to get 2 separate Evisas for the other 2 entry’s or is it too much over lap?
Any advice is much appreciated
Thanks
Amanda
Hi Amanda,
There used to be a rule that you couldn’t re-enter Vietnam on a visa exemption before a period of 30 days had elapsed since your last entry with a visa exemption.
That rule has been removed, so you can enter Vietnam on a visa exemption, exit, and re-enter on a visa exemption even on the same day.
You won’t be breaking any rules, so you essentially don’t need to apply for any e-Visa for your particular case, as you won’t be in Vietnam for more than 15 days on any of those entries.
Sunny regards from Da Nang,
Arijana & Matej
Oh fantastic news!! Thanks for coming back to me so quick.
Just found so much conflicting information online and nothing official so was worried!
Thanks again
Amanda
Glad to be of help! Have a great trip! 👋☀
Hi,
Thank you for a very informative post. I am in the process of applying for the e-visa. I heard from a friend that if you use some of the visa processing services (where you pay a lot more) you get speedier process at the airport. Is that the case? And anyway, how long can you expect the immigration process to take at the airport?
Many thanks
Gudrun
Hi Gudrun,
We don’t recommend any visa processing services.
The airport process is the same for everyone with an e-Visa, and there’s no way for anyone to make it “speedier” for you.
The immigration process at the airport can take up to 30 minutes when it’s a really long queue, but usually, you’ll be through in about 15 minutes.
For example, on our arrival in Ho Chi Minh City two weeks ago, more flights landed simultaneously, so all the immigration counters were occupied, and the place was packed, but we were done in 15 minutes.
Hope this helps!
Thank you so much for a speedy and useful answer.
How can you enter Vietnam for 3 weeks from Australia and then use car/driver to Cambodia for a week and one back to. Gif am for day 31-35, which is outside the Vietnam 30 day visa?
Hi Colleen,
Essentially you would need to apply for 2 e-Visas, the first one covering the first part and the second one covering the second part.
For example, if your first entry is 1.4.2023, and your second entry is 24.4.2023, then these are the dates:
– e-Visa 1: Validity from 1.4.2023 – 1.5.2023
– e-Visa 2: Validity from 24.4.2023 – 24.5.2023
Hi there,
Similar question maybe to many of the above, but I realised recently that my stay in Vietnam from the 2nd of March to the 2nd of April is actually 31 days instead of 30. I’m looking at booking a flight to Bangkok in-between. Maybe from the 13th to the 15th of March. If I do so, will I be able to apply for two separate e-visas for 30 days? One being from the 2nd of March – 13th of March and the second being from the 15th of March – 2nd of April?
Thanks in advance !
Martin
Hi Martin,
Hopefully, you haven’t booked your flights before getting the e-Visa. 😅
If you have, then yes, you can apply for another e-Visa that would start after the first one.
Example:
– e-Visa 1: 2nd March – 1st April
– e-Visa 2: 15th March – 14th April
In case you already have your flights booked for 2nd March and 2nd of April, a better option would be to leave Vietnam towards the end of March and then fly back on the 2nd April (still get the second visa), when your flight out is (if that is the case). Just a thought.. I’d do anything to avoid that flight in between.
Good luck!
Matej
Hello. I’ve a similar question to some above.
I’m thinking about travelling from may 7 to may 17 to Vietname then exiting on may 17 to Cambodja and entering again on may 20 in transit at the airport to exit again on may 20. Do I need 2 e-visas?
If I need 2 visas and if I apply wrongly for 1 e-visa from may 7 to may 20 (instead of may 17) I still can apply for a 2nd visa from may 20 to may 20?
Thank you.
Hi Paula!
If you’re flying from Cambodia to Vietnam (HCMC, Hanoi, or other international airports..) and then flying out the same day, you don’t need another visa, as you should be in international transit at the airport.
But if you’re exiting Vietnam to Cambodia and re-entering Vietnam from Cambodia through the land border, yes, you need to get 2 e-Visas.
Then you would simply apply for 2 e-Visas that cover your visit:
– e-Visa 1: validity starting 1st May
– e-Visa 2: validity starting 15th May
Kind regards
Hello there,
Many thanks for this useful tool I have stumbled across. My question is regarding my trip to Vietnam from the UK arriving on 18/03/23 at HCMC Airport, then leaving vietnam on 22/03/23 to travel to Thailand and Cambodia. I return To HCMC Airport on the 22/04/23 and leave Vietnam for the UK on 25/04/23. Can I use my visa exemtion to cover the whole trip or will I need an evisa as well.
Many thanks
Hi Stephen,
Since you’re from the UK, you can use the visa exemption (15 days) for both of your stays in Vietnam:
– 18th March to 22nd March (5 days)
– 22nd April to 25th April (4 days)
You’re good to go! Have fun! 👋
Hi,
After reading some of the other comments, I’m still a bit confused about overlapping and/or back-to-back evisas to cover my 6 week stay in VN.
I’ll be arriving from the US to VN on Mar 15th and departing April 30th. I understand that I’ll need to exit VN and re-enter after 30 days. Is it possible for my 2 e-visas to overlap since I’m not sure exactly which day I will make this border run?
Visa 1: March 15-April 14
Visa 2: April 12-May 11
Is it also possible to have back to back visas?
Visa 1: March 15-April 14
Visa 2: April 14-May 13
Would I be able to apply online for these evisas one after the other?
Thanks so much!!!
Hi Lee,
We completely understand.
Yes, you can apply for overlapping and back-to-back visas.
So your example of the first visa being valid from March 15th to April 14th and the second valid from April 14th to May 13th, is all good.
You are able to apply for them one after the other.
This situation is quite common as so many people come to Vietnam for a week or two, then go to Cambodia or Thailand for a week and then return for either another week or two, or to simply fly out.
You’re good to go. 👍
Thanks for the quick reply!
Just to clarify… In my first example, there is an overlap of several days where the first e-visa ends on April 14 and the second e-visa begins April 12. Is this allowed? Thanks so much!
Hello,
Do I apply for an e-visa for my
2 kids the same way as I would for myself so that these are 3 separate applications? Or, will I be filling out their info under my application? Thank you!
Hi David,
While you can fill out the information that you’re traveling with your children on your application, that is not how to apply for the e-Visa for them.
You indeed need to apply for your children with separate applications.
Have a great time in Vietnam! 👋
Hi there. My daughter’s visa hasn’t been processed in time for her flight to Vietnam tomorrow. If she enters under the 15 day stay non-visa option does her 30 day visa become valid once it actually arrives or will she have to leave after 15 days? If she does have to leave, can she return to Vietnam almost immediately? Any advice would be hugely appreciated.
Hi Victoria,
Yes, she has to leave Vietnam after 15 days and re-enter to extend her stay. And yes, she can re-enter again straight away (same day).
Good luck!
So grateful that I found your site. Thank you so so much for replying so quickly. Hugely appreciated. ☺️
Hi, so I was granted my visa and I have reviewed it and everything looks okay. However, I was checking a screen shot I made of the Visa form I filled in and I found out that I entered the incorrect nationality at birth, which is supposed to be different from the current nationality. Will I have any issues on arrival? Since the nationality at birth is not indicated on the granted visa form so I presume it will be okay. Please advise.
Hi Ryan,
This is essentially guesswork, as it’s something for which you can’t find any official information anywhere.
Since you were granted the visa already, and presuming that the granted visa states the country of which passport you have now, and with which you will enter, you should (emphasis on should) be fine. The airline staff and immigration officers simply check your passport and your visa, and if it checks out, you’re in.
The best way to go about this would be to send a message to immigration, but it’s questionable if and when you will get a response.
So in conclusion, you should probably be fine, but you never know about these things.
Please let us know how you went about this and the result, so we can share it with others.
Hello
I am inVietnam April 20 to May 6.
I have applied for this Visa.
We are exiting Viernam in April 26 for 4 days to go to Siem Reap. We fly back into Danang on April 30th.
I have read you can get a VOA at Danang airport.
How do we handle this scenario with visa now in 2023? I read so many conflicting things.
Thank you.
Emily
Hi Emily,
If you’re exiting Vietnam and returning later, you need another e-Visa.
Currently, as of 21st March 2023, there is no VOA (Visa on Arrival) for Vietnam, and you need to get an e-Visa (unless your country is one of the visa-exempt ones).
Have a great trip!
Hello,
I have a 30 day e-visa that will expire soon, but I’d like to stay longer. Since I understood that extending the current visa is very difficult (or impossible), I have applied for a new e-visa, to be valid starting from the same date as the old one will expire. Therefore, could I:
– Go to Hanoi airport, with some cheap one way flight ticket
– Exit through the immigration
– Miss the flight intentionally
– Stay for a while in the airport
– And then re-enter via the 2nd (new) visa
Does this sound feasible?
Thanks!
Hi Vlade!
Well, sooner or later, someone has to try this. 🤷♂️
We can’t recommend this as we never heard of anyone doing it. While it does sound like it could work, you can’t be certain what the officials at the airport will do with you.
Please let us know if you will actually do it. And again, we don’t and can’t recommend it.
Good luck!
Thank you very much for a quick reply!
Yes, I haven’t found any other info if someone else has attempted this, but yes I fully understand that this is not recommended and I agree with you.
I guess that they could look for a stamp from another country before re-entering, so if I don’t have it, it could be interpreted that I have never left the country and thus create a problem.
Only other quick solution I had in mind was to head to Ha Giang (I planned to do the loop anyway) and use the opportunity to cross into China (luckily I don’t need a visa for China). However, that border crossing doesn’t seem on the list of ‘port of entries’ and in any case my port of entry and exit on my 2nd visa is ‘Hanoi airport’ so not sure how or if it would work?
Well, if you’re willing to fork out about $150, there could be a return flight you could take from Hanoi to either Bangkok, Chiang Mai, KL, or similar.
Found some here, but it depends on your visa options: return flight from Hanoi to Thailand, China, Malaysia..
Hi,
I already bought my ticket to Viet Nam, I did not know that the e-visa is only for 30 days.
I will depart on 5/24/23 and then return to the US on 6/25/23.
What should I do? Can you please help?
Hi Thypac,
You should try to change the return flight to 2 days sooner if possible.
If that’s not possible or it costs too much, you would either have to fly out somewhere (Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, or similar) and return after 2 days for your flight out of Vietnam. If you really want to save money as much as possible, you could potentially leave your baggage (if you have a big bag) in a hotel/homestay in Vietnam and fly out and back in with just your cabin bag. Click here to find the cheapest flights for your case.
On the other hand, if you’re finishing your trip in the south of Vietnam, another option is crossing over to Cambodia for those 2-3 days.
There’s frequent buses from HCMC to Phnom Penh that you can take. So might as well then just add a few days in Phnom Penh or if you want to split your trip, head north to Siem Reap and visit Angkor Wat.
If you’re finishing your trip in the central or north Vietnam, the only option by land is to Laos. From Da Nang/Hoi An/Hue it’s not a long journey (back in a day), but from Hanoi it’s a like a 24 hours bus ride..
In any case, at this moment, you can not extend your stay in Vietnam unless you exit and re-enter the country.
Hopefully this helps you out!