Vietnam Visa Policy

Familiarize yourself with Vietnam visa regulations and discover visa requirements for every nationality.

Visa Policy for Vietnam

The visa policy of Vietnam is the list of rules and regulations that decide which visas a foreign visitor needs to travel to the Southeast Asian country.

There are different types of visa for Vietnam. The kind of visa required depends on several factors, including the nationality of the traveler, the purpose of the trip, and the length of the intended period of stay in the country.

The Electronic Visa or E-visa for Vietnam is a multi-purpose visa that can be obtained by completing an online application form. This efficient system enables eligible travelers to acquire a visa quickly without having to go to an embassy in person.

The Vietnam E-visa is available to around 200 different nationalities and grants the holder entry to the country for tourism, business, leisure, study, and a variety of other reasons.

Travelers from over certain countries are not eligible for the E-visa and must apply for a Vietnam visa from an embassy, including for short stays and visits for tourism.

Foreigners of most nationalities must go to a Vietnamese embassy in order to apply for the relevant visas and permits to live and work in Vietnam. The same is true for visitors who wish to spend longer than the time permitted by a standard tourist visa or E-visa.

Citizens of a small number of countries enjoy exemption from visa requirements for Vietnam. These travelers may enter the Socialist Republic of Vietnam without a visa for short stays, by simply presenting their passport at border control.

A visa is also not required for air passengers transiting through Vietnam, providing they remain in the transit area of the airport and do not stay longer than 24 hours.

Browse the information provided below to find out more about Vietnam’s visa policy and the requirements for each nationality to visit the country.

Tourist Visa Policy for Vietnam

The Vietnam tourist visa policy outlines the requirements for foreign nationals to visit the country for purposes of tourism, which vary according to the traveler’s citizenship.

The Vietnam E-visa can be used as a tourist visa, permitting holders to enter the country and stay up to 90 days. Tourism is one of the potential uses of the E-visa, which also enables business trips, and family visits, among other travel purposes.

The E-visa system was introduced to expedite the process of applying for a Vietnam tourist visa.

For travelers from countries that are not eligible for the tourist E-visa, Vietnam tourist visas must be obtained from an overseas diplomatic mission (an embassy or consulate) in advance. Processing times are usually longer than for their online counterparts, so it is advisable to apply with plenty of time before the trip.

Not all tourists require a visa for Vietnam. Nationals of a select few countries have the right to enter the country for the purpose of tourism visa-free, using only their passports.

Learn more about the tourist visa policy of Vietnam and which visas are required for your nationality in the information below.

Vietnam E-visa

In 2017, Vietnam launched an Electronic Visa (E-visa) program. This digital visa permits entry to the country for various travel purposes and can be obtained online.

The streamlined system was designed to make the Vietnam visa application process quicker and easier for visitors, eliminating the need to go to an embassy.

The E-visa for Vietnam is available to citizens of roughly 200 different countries and territories.

It is a single-entry visa that permits the holder to enter Vietnam and stay for a maximum of 90 days in the Southeast Asian state.

The Vietnamese E-visa can be used to visit the country for the purposes of tourism, business, studying, visiting relatives, and journalism, among others.

Travelers from eligible countries must complete a simple online application form, submitting some basic personal details, passport information, such as the document number and expiration date. It is also necessary to provide a current email address to receive the approved Vietnam E-visa.

The passport used for the Vietnam online visa application must be presented at the Vietnam border in order to enter the country.

If the passport is lost, stolen, damaged, or otherwise rendered invalid before arrival, the traveler must apply for a new Vietnam E-visa with their new passport.

Check the list below to see all of the countries whose citizens are eligible to apply for the Vietnam E-visa.

Vietnam E-visa: Country list

  • Andorra
  • Argentina
  • Armenia
  • Australia
  • Austria
  • Azerbaijan
  • Belarus
  • Belgium
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Brazil
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Bulgaria
  • Canada
  • Chile
  • China
  • Colombia
  • Croatia
  • Cuba
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Federated States of Micronesia
  • Fiji
  • Finland
  • France
  • Georgia
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Hong Kong
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • India
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Kazakhstan
  • Latvia
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Macau
  • Macedonia
  • Malta
  • Marshall Islands
  • Mexico
  • Moldova
  • Monaco
  • Mongolia
  • Montenegro
  • Myanmar
  • Nauru
  • Netherlands
  • New Zealand
  • Norway
  • Palau
  • Panama
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Peru
  • Philippines
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Qatar
  • Republic of Cyprus
  • Romania
  • Russian Federation
  • Samoa
  • San Marino
  • Serbia
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Solomon Islands
  • South Korea
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Timor Leste
  • United Arab Emirates
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
  • Uruguay
  • Vanuatu
  • Venezuela

Embassy or Consular Visa Required for Vietnam

In line with the Vietnam visa policy, travelers of various nationalities must obtain a visa from an embassy prior to traveling to the country.

There are various countries whose citizens are required to apply for a visa for Vietnam from an embassy in order to enter. This is the case for any type or purpose of visit, including short-term stays for the purpose of tourism.

Travelers of all nationalities who plan to relocate to and/or work in Vietnam or stay for a long period of time must apply for a residence cardwork permit, or long-term visa at a Vietnamese embassy, since these are not issued via the online platform.

To apply for an embassy visa for Vietnam, foreign nationals must complete an application form and provide the necessary supporting documentation for the type of visa needed, such as a valid passport.

Applications are made in person at the embassy. It is not necessary to make an appointment beforehand; it is possible to walk in and apply for a visa for Vietnam.

Consult the list below to check which nationalities must apply for an embassy visa for any type or length of visit to Vietnam.

Embassy or Consular Visa Required for Vietnam: Country list

  • Afghanistan
  • Aland Islands
  • Albania
  • Algeria
  • American Samoa
  • Angola
  • Anguilla
  • Antarctica
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Aruba
  • Bahamas
  • Bahrain
  • Bangladesh
  • Barbados
  • Belize
  • Benin
  • Bermuda
  • Bhutan
  • Bolivia
  • Bonaire
  • Botswana
  • British Indian Ocean Territory
  • British Virgin Islands
  • Burkina Faso
  • Burundi
  • Cameroon
  • Cape Verde
  • Cayman Islands
  • Central African Republic
  • Chad
  • Christmas Island
  • Cocos Islands
  • Comoros
  • Congo
  • Cook Islands
  • Costa Rica
  • Curacao
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Djibouti
  • Dominica
  • Dominican Republic
  • Ecuador
  • Egypt
  • El Salvador
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Eritrea
  • Ethiopia
  • Falkland Islands
  • Faroe Islands
  • French Guiana
  • French Polynesia
  • Gabon
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Gibraltar
  • Greenland
  • Grenada
  • Guadeloupe
  • Guam
  • Guatemala
  • Guernsey
  • Guinea
  • Guinea Bissau
  • Guyana
  • Haiti
  • Honduras
  • Iran
  • Iraq
  • Isle of Man
  • Israel
  • Ivory Coast
  • Jamaica
  • Jersey
  • Jordan
  • Kenya
  • Kiribati
  • Kuwait
  • Lebanon
  • Lesotho
  • Liberia
  • Libya
  • Madagascar
  • Malawi
  • Maldives
  • Mali
  • Martinique
  • Mauritania
  • Mauritius
  • Mayotte
  • Montserrat
  • Morocco
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Nepal
  • New Caledonia
  • Nicaragua
  • Niger
  • Nigeria
  • Niue
  • Norfolk Island
  • North Korea
  • Northern Mariana Islands
  • Oman
  • Pakistan
  • Palestinian Territory
  • Paraguay
  • Pitcairn Islands
  • Puerto Rico
  • Reunion
  • Rwanda
  • Saint Barthelemy
  • Saint Helena
  • Saint Kitts and Nevis
  • Saint Lucia
  • Saint Martin
  • Saint Pierre and Miquelon
  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Sao Tome and Principe
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Senegal
  • Seychelles
  • Sierra Leone
  • Sint Maarten
  • Somalia
  • South Africa
  • South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
  • South Sudan
  • Sri Lanka
  • Sudan
  • Suriname
  • Svalbard and Jan Mayen
  • Swaziland
  • Syrian Arab Republic
  • Taiwan
  • Tajikistan
  • Tanzania
  • Togo
  • Tokelau
  • Tonga
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Tunisia
  • Turkey
  • Turkmenistan
  • Turks and Caicos Islands
  • Tuvalu
  • Uganda
  • Ukraine
  • United States Virgin Islands
  • Uzbekistan
  • Vatican City
  • Wallis and Futuna
  • Yemen
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

Visa Not Required for Vietnam

According to Vietnam’s immigration policy, visitors of several nationalities may enter the country without a visa.

Citizens of 7 countries are exempt from visa requirements for Vietnam.

Visa-exempt travelers need only present their passports at the Vietnamese border to enter the Southeast Asian country.

Visa exemption only applies for short stays in the country, up to 45 days.

For longer stays or in order to relocate to Vietnam, all foreign nationals must obtain the relevant documentation from a Vietnamese embassy. This may include a long-term visa, residence card, and/or work permit.

Check the list below to discover the countries whose nationals enjoy visa exemption for Vietnam.

Visa Not Required for Vietnam: Country list

  • Cambodia
  • Indonesia
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • Laos
  • Malaysia
  • Singapore
  • Thailand

Visa Exemption for Phú Quốc

All foreign passport holders can visit Phú Quốc Island visa-free.

The biggest island in Vietnam, Phú Quốc has its own international airport, via which visitors can enter without requiring a visa.

Travelers transiting through another Vietnamese airport to reach Phú Quốc do not need a Vietnam visa to do so.

Visa exemption for the island of Phú Quốc only applies for a maximum of 30 days. Foreign nationals who wish to stay for a longer period must obtain a visa.

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