Do I Need a Visa to Visit Vietnam? (2025 Entry Requirements)
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Heading to Vietnam in 2024 and scratching your head about whether you need a visa? You’re not alone.
Figuring out visa requirements can be tricky. Plus, there’s always that little worry about making a mistake that could throw a wrench in your travel plans.
I’ve been through it and I’m here to help you cut through the confusion. And luckily, getting a visa for Vietnam has become quite simple!
I’ve called Hanoi home since 2017. I’ve entered Vietnam on tourist visas and work visas. I’ve seen how exciting it can be to get that entry stamp and step foot into Vietnam. And I’ve also seen how disheartening it is when things don’t go as planned.
I remember my own rookie mistake the first time I arrived. I waited in a massive line at immigration only to find out I was supposed to collect my visa from a completely different counter!
Whether it’s your first visit to Vietnam or you’re coming back for more, my aim is to give you the most up to date visa advice out there.
TLDR: Just Tell Me How to Get a Visa for Vietnam
Don’t want to read the whole article?
Go to this website and see if you are from one of the 80 countries that can apply for an Vietnam e-Visa. If you are – Congratulations! All you need to do is follow the steps, pay the fee, and you’re done!
Official Vietnam National Web Portal on Immigration E-Visa Page
Do I Need a Visa to Visit Vietnam?
Likely, yes. I will outline all of the information below, but just note that if you’re planning a trip to Vietnam, understanding whether you need a visa is literally going to be the deciding factor of getting in or not.
Vietnam’s visa policy is relatively straightforward, but it varies depending on your nationality and the purpose of your visit.
Who Needs a Visa?
Most people! Though there are some nationalities that are exempt:
Visa Exemptions:
A visa exemption means that you are able to enter Vietnam and stay for a certain amount of time without having to do any sort of visa procedure. If you are from one of these countries you can just show up at and go through immigration and customs.
ASEAN Countries: Citizens from most ASEAN countries can enter Vietnam without a visa for varying periods ranging from 14 to 30 days. For example, Thai and Singaporean citizens can stay visa-free for up to 30 days. Here is a list of Visa Exemptions for ASEAN Countries.
European Countries: Travelers from certain European countries, including France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, can enter without a visa for stays of up to 15 days. Here is a list of Visa Exemptions for European Countries.
Types of Visas
There are six visa types available to foreigners in Vietnam. Here they are for reference:
- Tourist visa
- Business visa
- Student/internship visa
- Investor Visa
- Working visa
- Diplomatic visa
As a traveler to Vietnam you likely will not need to worry about any other visa except for the tourist visa.
The rest of the visas are typically arranged by your work/school if you are here for other reasons than just travel. For example, I am on a work visa and have a special work permit attached to my visa.
Important! Vietnam does not have a special ‘Digital Nomad Visa Vietnam’. If you’re a digital nomad, you go through the same tourist visa process.
When you’re preparing for your trip to Vietnam, you have two options when it comes to tourist visas: Single Entry Visa or Multiple Entry Visa.
Vietnam E-visa
The Vietnam e-visa is a popular choice for tourists and short-term business visitors. If you are from one of these 80 countries, you can get this e-visa through an online application process. This is your easiest way to get a visa. It is valid for a maximum of 90 days, and you can get a single entry or multiple entry option.
Single-entry E-visa
This visa type allows you to enter and exit Vietnam once and stay for 30 days. It’s perfect for travelers planning a one-time visit. After leaving Vietnam, you would need a new visa to return.
Cost: $25
Multiple-entry E-visa
Ideal for frequent travelers to Vietnam, the multiple-entry visa allows you to come and go several times over the visa’s validity period. This is a good choice if you are traveling around southeast Asia and will come back and forth into Vietnam more than once. This visa is good for 90 days.
Cost: $50
Requirements for Applying for Vietnam E-visa
- Must be outside of Vietnam to apply
- Have a valid passport
- Must not have breached the visa local laws in the past
- Arriving through one of the ports on the allowed list: List of Land/Air/Sea Ports
Visa Application Process
Entry Requirements
To enter Vietnam, all travelers must have a passport with at least six months’ validity beyond the date of arrival. If you require a visa, you must get it before your travel—unless you qualify for a visa exemption.
Nowadays, it is easy to apply for an e-visa to Vietnam! There are very straightforward and simple steps you can do on your own.
Give yourself time and apply for an e-visa at least a week ahead of when you plan to travel to Vietnam. Typically the visas have a 2-3 day processing time, but weekends and holidays they tend to not process. Or they might! It is Vietnam – sometimes anything goes! Point is, give yourself enough time.
Steps for Registering for an E-visa
- Go to this website. It is straightforward, in English, and everything is completed on it including the payment
- Upload photo and passport, fill in the correct information on the application form, and receive a registration code via email.
- Pay the visa fee ($25 or $50) via credit card or debit card. Wait 1-3 days.
- Use the registration code to check the e-visa search menu. Once it is processed and approved you will be able to see it to print it.
Requirements for Applying for an E-Visa
You will need the following required documents when applying for the Vietnam e-visa online:
- Valid Passport
- Two Passport Photos
- Credit/Debit Card
Important → Make sure you put the correct arrival date! I know too many people who have accidentally put the wrong date of entry and it totally messed up their visa.
Nationality Specific Information
Do Americans need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes – All US Passport holders and US Citizens can apply for the tourist e-visa.
Do Australians need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes – All Australian Passport holders can apply for the tourist e-visa.
Do British need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes – All British Passport holders can apply for the tourist e-visa.
Do Canadians need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes – All Canadian Passport holders can apply for the tourist e-visa.
Do Filipinos need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes – All Philippines Passport holders can apply for the tourist e-visa.
Do South Africans need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes – All South African Passport holders can apply for the tourist e-visa.
Do Chinese need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes – Chinese Passport holders can apply for the tourist e-visa.
Do Indians need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes – Indian Visa Vietnam holders must get an e-visa on arrival. This one is a bit confusing as the official government website says that Indian Passport holders are visa exempt – but that is not true!
Do Thai need a visa for Vietnam?
No – Thai visa Vietnam holders are visa exempt
Important Information About Getting a Vietnam Visa
Before COVID, the only way to get a tourist visa was to apply and receive a letter of invitation from the government. You then would print that letter and bring it with you. Then go to the ‘visa on arrival’ counter at the airport, and get a visa right in your passport.
This was a bit complicated and there were many businesses that did the work for you (paid of course).
THIS HAS CHANGED!
For most people coming on a tourist visa, you need to apply for the e-visa ahead of time, and you do it by yourself.
If you do a search on Google for “Vietnam Visa” you will find that there are still a lot of services offering to get your Vietnam Visa for you. This is a paid service and IS COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY!
I REPEAT!
You do not need to pay for a service to get your e-visa for you! You can do everything online by yourself!
The only time you might need to pay for an agent is if you need to get an emergency visa on arrival. You can find that information in the section below:
Urgent Visa on Arrival
If you are facing a last minute visa issue, or totally forgot that you needed to apply for a visa, you’re not shit out of luck. You can do the following to try and get an urgent visa on arrival:
- Find a Reputable Agency: There are a lot out there, try checking on this one, this one or this one. I would add them on WhatsApp or email them straight away to make sure they are legit and will communicate with you in real time and can get you a valid visa on arrival letter.
- Submit, Pay & Confirm: Add all of your information required and pay whatever the agency fees are for this service
- Receive Emergency Visa on Arrival (VOA): The agency will request the visa and hopefully get it approved within a few hours to one day. Once approved, you will get a document that is basically a letter with your name on it saying you have permission to enter Vietnam.
- Before Flying: Make sure you have USD in cash for the cost of the visa ($25) as well as a passport sized photo. When you check in for your flight, show the gate agents your visa on arrival letter. This will be enough to let you on the plane.
- Arriving in Vietnam: When you arrive, there is a counter for visa on arrival where you give the immigration officer your document, photo, passport and money. They will take your passport and put your visa in it. The amount of time this will take will depend on how busy the airport is. Alternatively, some agencies will have an agent at the airport who will help you with the process.
FAQ: Do I Need a Visa to Visit Vietnam?
How much for a visa to Vietnam?
As of the latest information, a tourist e-visa for Vietnam generally costs $25 USD. This fee is for the standard processing of the single-entry visa valid for up to 30 days.
Keep in mind that this fee is non-refundable, even if the visa application is ultimately denied. Additionally, prices may vary slightly depending on the specific application service used or if expedited processing is requested.
How to extend a visa in Vietnam?
There is a lot of conflicting information on this. Some websites say that you are able to extend your visa based on your current visa. So for example, if you have a one month single entry visa, you can extend it to add on another month.
HOWEVER!
This used to be the case before COVID. I am quite sure it is not a thing anymore. All of my friends in Vietnam that are here on tourist visas need to leave every three months and re-apply for a visa from out of the country. In the last few years I have not heard of a single person that was able to get visa extensions while in Vietnam.
There seem to be websites saying they can do this for X amount of money. This is likely a scam. Do your research.
How to get an urgent visa to Vietnam?
If you need an urgent visa to Vietnam, you can expedite the process by applying for an express e-visa or using a visa on arrival service, which can handle urgent requests. Here are the steps to follow: Urgent Visa to Vietnam
Many travel agencies offer urgent visa services that handle the entire process on your behalf, ensuring that you receive your visa promptly, often within the timeframe you specify.
This is only available for urgent, emergency situations and comes with lots of additional fees.
Last Time I Came to Vietnam I got a Visa on Arrival (VOA). Can I Do That Again?
The Vietnam government did away with visa on arrival a few years ago. The only way to get in now as a tourist is through an e-visa (this is much easier anyway). Unless it is an emergency situation in which case see the above question!
Do I need travel insurance to get a Vietnam visa?
No – You do not have to show proof of travel insurance when applying for a Vietnam e-visa. I highly recommend that you do get insurance, you can read my article all about my thoughts answering the question: Do you need travel insurance for Vietnam?
Bottom Line: Getting a Vietnam Tourist Visa
Don’t let worrying about a visa for your trip to Vietnam be an added stressor to your planning! As you can see from this article, getting a tourist e-visa is quite simple.
Things do tend to change in Vietnam so make sure you stay up to date by checking the official website run by the Vietnamese Government. Also I encourage you to check out all of my Vietnam travel advice – and consider commissioning a custom Vietnam itinerary if you want to make sure you get everything out of your trip that you want!
