Guide for Vietnam Evisa

As of October 2026, any foreign national can apply online for a Vietnam e-visa valid for up to 90 days, single or multiple entry. The government fee is US$25 for single entry and US$50 for multiple entry up to 90 days. Apply only at evisa.gov.vn. Processing takes 3 working days, and the e-visa is accepted at 83 listed ports.

What changed for the Vietnam e-visa since 2024?

Four rules changed between November 2024 and September 2026. The e-visa now works at 83 ports instead of 42. A new fee circular took effect on 1 April 2026 but kept the e-visa fees at US$25 and US$50. Overstay fines rose in December 2025. Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Son Nhat Airport added an online pre-arrival declaration in April 2026.

What is a Vietnam e-visa?

A Vietnam e-visa (code EV) is an electronic visa issued online by the Vietnam Immigration Department under the Ministry of Public Security. You apply, pay and download it on the official portal. Since 15 August 2023, under Law 23/2023/QH15 and Resolution 127/NQ-CP, it is open to citizens of all countries, valid up to 90 days, single or multiple entry.

The e-visa is issued only to foreigners who are outside Vietnam at the time they apply. It does not carry a stamp. It is a PDF with your personal data, passport number, validity dates, number of entries and a QR code.

Do I need an e-visa, or can I enter Vietnam visa-free?

Check your nationality first. Citizens of 24 countries can stay 45 days visa-free: 12 under Resolution 44/NQ-CP (any purpose, until 14 March 2028) and 12 under Resolution 229/NQ-CP (tourism only, until 14 August 2028). All other travellers, and anyone staying longer than their exemption, need an e-visa.

Both 45-day lists require a passport valid for at least 6 months. Resolution 229 covers tourism only, so a Dutch, Polish or Swiss traveller coming for meetings needs an e-visa. For a full country-by-country answer, read Do I need a visa for Vietnam in 2026?.

How much does a Vietnam e-visa cost in 2026?

As of October 2026, a single-entry Vietnam e-visa costs US$25 and a multiple-entry e-visa valid up to 90 days costs US$50. These fees are set by Circular 28/2026/TT-BTC of the Ministry of Finance, in force since 1 April 2026. The fee is paid online by card and is not refunded if the application is refused.

Any amount above these figures is a service fee charged by an agency, not the government fee. Lookalike sites often charge several times the official fee for the same government e-visa.

What is the official Vietnam e-visa website?

The official Vietnam e-visa website is evisa.gov.vn, run by the Vietnam Immigration Department of the Ministry of Public Security. The same portal also opens at thithucdientu.gov.vn. Both addresses end in .gov.vn. Any site ending in .com, .org or .net is a private agency, even if it shows a Vietnamese flag or says "official".

The older address evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn stayed online alongside the new portal when it opened on 11 November 2024. An agency is not illegal, but it charges a service fee on top of the US$25 or US$50 government fee, and it still submits your application through the same government portal.

What do I need before I apply for a Vietnam e-visa?

You need a passport valid for at least 6 months after arrival, a clear photo of your passport data page, a recent passport-style portrait photo, an email address, your planned entry and exit dates, your entry and exit ports, an address in Vietnam (your first hotel is fine) and an international payment card.

Three details cause most of the delays we see with our own clients:

• Name. Type your name exactly as it appears in the machine-readable zone (the two lines of letters at the bottom of the passport data page). If your passport has a middle name, include it in the given-name field.

• Photo. A portrait with glasses, a shadow, a hat or a busy background is often sent back for correction.

• Passport data page. Scan the full page with all four corners visible and no glare across the machine-readable zone.

How do I apply for a Vietnam e-visa, step by step?

You apply in one sitting on evisa.gov.vn: open the form for foreigners, upload your photo and passport page, enter personal, passport and trip details, review, save the registration code, then pay. After about 3 working days you check the status with the code, your email and date of birth, and download the PDF.

1. Open evisa.gov.vn and choose the e-visa application for foreigners.

2. Upload your portrait photo and passport data page.

3. Enter personal details: full name, sex, date of birth, nationality, email and contact address.

4. Enter passport details: number, type, date of issue and date of expiry.

5. Enter trip details: single or multiple entry, intended date of entry and exit, purpose of entry, port of entry, port of exit and your address in Vietnam.

6. Review every field. You cannot edit the application after payment.

7. Save the registration code shown on screen. Take a screenshot. Without the code you cannot check the status or download the visa.

8. Pay the US$25 or US$50 fee online.

9. After 3 working days, use the status search on the portal to download your e-visa PDF.

Each traveller files a separate application, including children, with their own photo and passport page.

How long does a Vietnam e-visa take to process?

The Vietnam Immigration Department processes an e-visa in 3 working days after it receives a complete application and the fee. Working days are Monday to Friday, Vietnam time (GMT+7), excluding Vietnamese public holidays. Delays come from photo or name corrections, peak periods and holiday closures, so apply well before your flight.

These are our planning margins as an operator, not government processing times. For trip timing by region, see our best time to visit Vietnam by region and month.

Which ports of entry accept the Vietnam e-visa?

As of October 2026, the Vietnam e-visa is accepted at 83 international ports: 17 airports, 27 land and rail border gates and 39 seaports. Resolution 127/NQ-CP of 14 August 2023 listed 42 ports. Resolution 389/NQ-CP of 2 December 2025 added 41 more. Long Thanh and Gia Binh airports apply only once they open.

Province names below follow the 34-province map in force since 1 July 2025. If you know a port under its old province name, see our guide to Vietnam's 63-to-34 province restructuring.

Which airports accept the Vietnam e-visa?

All 17 airports below accept the e-visa, including Noi Bai (Hanoi), Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City), Da Nang, Cam Ranh and Phu Quoc. Vinh and Chu Lai were added in December 2025. Long Thanh and Gia Binh are on the list but apply only once they are in commercial operation.

Which land and rail border gates accept the Vietnam e-visa?

27 land and rail border gates accept the e-visa: 7 with China, 10 with Laos and 10 with Cambodia. Since December 2025 the list also includes the Dong Dang and Lao Cai railway border gates, so the e-visa now covers entry by international train from China at these two gates.

Which seaports accept the Vietnam e-visa?

39 seaports accept the e-visa. The 13 original ports include Hon Gai (Ha Long), Chan May (Hue), Da Nang, Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City and Duong Dong (Phu Quoc). Resolution 389 added 26 more, including An Thoi on Phu Quoc and Thuan An near Hue. Cruise passengers should check their port against this list.

Source: Resolution 127/NQ-CP (14 Aug 2023) and Resolution 389/NQ-CP (2 Dec 2025), Government of Vietnam, as published by the Government News portal baochinhphu.vn on 3 December 2025.

Can I enter or leave Vietnam through a different port than the one on my application?

The law requires e-visa holders to enter and exit through ports on the Government's e-visa list. The application form still asks you to name one entry port and one exit port. Our advice: name the port you will actually use. If your plans change to a port that is not on the list of 83, you need another type of entry permission.

[VERIFY: David to confirm from World Mate Travel's own client arrivals in 2025–2026 whether immigration at Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat or Da Nang has refused or questioned travellers whose e-visa names a different listed airport. Publish the answer here as first-hand operator guidance.]

Can I enter Vietnam overland from China, Laos or Cambodia on an e-visa?

Yes, at the 27 listed land and rail border gates. From China, use Huu Nghi, Mong Cai, Lao Cai, Tra Linh, Thanh Thuy or the Dong Dang and Lao Cai railway gates. From Laos, the main crossings include Tay Trang, Nam Can, Cau Treo and Lao Bao. From Cambodia, Moc Bai, Xa Mat, Tinh Bien, Vinh Xuong and Ha Tien.

Two practical points from running overland routes:

• Check the gate, not the province. A province can have several border gates and only some are on the e-visa list. Lang Son province, for example, has Huu Nghi and the Dong Dang railway gate on the list.

• Choose multiple entry for loop trips. A Hanoi – Laos – Cambodia – Ho Chi Minh City route that leaves and re-enters Vietnam needs a multiple-entry e-visa (US$50) covering both entry dates, unless your nationality is visa-exempt.

For routes that combine Vietnam with its neighbours, see our Cambodia tours, Laos tours and multi-country tours.

How do I check my Vietnam e-visa status and download it?

Go to evisa.gov.vn and open the search for your application. Enter your registration code, the email you used and your date of birth. When the status shows the visa is granted, download the PDF. Check every letter of your name, your passport number, the dates and the number of entries before you fly.

If the status shows a request for more information, the officer usually needs a new photo or passport image. Reply on the portal the same day. Each correction can add working days.

Can I extend a Vietnam e-visa or apply for a new one inside Vietnam?

You cannot apply for a new e-visa while you are inside Vietnam, because the e-visa is issued only to foreigners outside the country. Plan your e-visa dates to cover your full stay. If you need more time, the usual route is to leave Vietnam and enter again on a new e-visa or a visa exemption.

[VERIFY: whether a sponsoring company or organisation in Vietnam can still apply for a new visa for an e-visa holder inside Vietnam in 2026, and under which article of Law 23/2023/QH15. The 2024 version of this page said this was possible; it needs a primary source before it goes back in.]

What happens if I overstay my Vietnam e-visa?

Overstaying is fined under Decree 282/2025/NĐ-CP, in force since 15 December 2025. Fewer than 16 days costs VND 500,000 to 2,000,000. The fines rise in bands up to VND 30,000,000 to 40,000,000 for a year or more, and the authorities may also deport a foreigner who overstays. Check your exit date before you book flights.

What else do I need when I arrive in Vietnam in 2026?

Carry your e-visa PDF on your phone and on paper, and your passport with at least 6 months' validity. If you land at Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, complete the free online pre-arrival declaration before you fly. Your hotel registers your stay with the local police, so it will ask for your passport at check-in.

• Pre-arrival declaration. Since 15 April 2026, foreigners arriving at Tan Son Nhat submit passport, visa, flight and address details online and show a QR code at immigration. The Ministry of Public Security has said it will extend the system to other entry points. [VERIFY: confirm the official URL (reported as prearrival.immigration.gov.vn) and whether Noi Bai and Da Nang had been added as of October 2026.]

• Temporary residence registration. Hotels, guesthouses and homestays must declare foreign guests to the police. Decree 286/2026/NĐ-CP, in force since 15 September 2026, also asks inviting organisations to work with accommodation providers on this declaration.

• Money and insurance. Read our tips on exchanging money in Vietnam and why travel insurance matters.

Vietnam e-visa questions travellers are asking on forums

Is evisa.gov.vn the only official Vietnam e-visa website?

Yes. The official portal of the Vietnam Immigration Department is evisa.gov.vn, which also opens at thithucdientu.gov.vn. The older evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn address is also government-run. Every official address ends in .gov.vn. Sites ending in .com, .org or .net are private agencies that charge a service fee on top of the US$25 or US$50 government fee.

My e-visa still says "processing" after three working days. What should I do?

First count only working days in Vietnam time (GMT+7), excluding weekends and Vietnamese public holidays. Then check your email and the portal for a request to correct your photo or passport image, and reply the same day. If nothing is requested and your flight is close, use the contact form on the official portal or ask a licensed operator for help.

I made a mistake on my application after paying. Can I correct it?

Not on the portal. Once you pay, the application is locked. If the mistake is in your name, date of birth, passport number or nationality, apply again with the correct details and pay again, because an e-visa with wrong identity data can cause problems at immigration.

Can I arrive in Vietnam before the start date on my e-visa?

No. You can enter only on or after the first day of validity shown on your e-visa, and you must leave by the last day. Time zones matter: an overnight flight that lands at 00:30 Vietnam time counts as the next calendar day. If your trip moves earlier, you need a new e-visa with new dates.

Do I need to print my Vietnam e-visa?

Carry a paper copy. Airlines check travel documents at check-in and may ask to see your visa, and immigration may ask for it too. A printed copy plus the PDF on your phone covers both situations. Each traveller should carry their own copy, including children.

How do I enter my name if I have a middle name or a long name?

Copy the name exactly as it appears in the machine-readable zone at the bottom of your passport data page. Put your family name in the surname field and all other names, including middle names, in the given-name field. Do not add nicknames or titles, and do not leave out a middle name.

Does my child need a separate e-visa?

Yes. Every traveller, including babies and children, needs their own e-visa application with their own photo and passport data page. The portal does not accept group applications. Apply for all family members on the same day with the same dates and ports, so that one delayed application does not hold back the whole family.

I have a single-entry e-visa. Can I visit Cambodia or Laos and come back?

Not on the same e-visa. A single-entry e-visa ends when you leave Vietnam. For a side trip, apply for a multiple-entry e-visa (US$50) that covers both entry dates, or apply for a second e-visa for the return. Travellers from the 45-day visa-free countries can re-enter on a new visa exemption if they meet the entry conditions.

I am from a 45-day visa-free country but staying 60 days. What do I need?

Apply for an e-visa that covers your whole stay. A visa exemption cannot be extended into a longer tourist stay, and the e-visa allows up to 90 days. Use the e-visa dates for the entire trip rather than mixing an exemption with a later e-visa, because you cannot apply for an e-visa from inside Vietnam.

Do I need an e-visa if I only visit Phu Quoc?

Not if you fly or sail directly to Phu Quoc from abroad and stay on the island. Phu Quoc has its own visa exemption for all nationalities. If you continue to Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi or anywhere else on the mainland, you need an e-visa or a visa exemption for mainland Vietnam.

I renewed my passport after my e-visa was issued. Is the visa still valid?

Plan on a new e-visa. The e-visa is issued to one passport number, and immigration matches the two at the border. Apply again with the new passport before you travel. If you lose your passport during the trip, contact your embassy first, then the immigration office, before you try to leave Vietnam.

Can I attend business meetings on a tourist e-visa?

No. The purpose of entry is printed on your e-visa, and Vietnamese law does not let you switch a visa from one purpose to another after entry. Choose the business purpose if you will attend meetings, conferences or work. Nationals covered by Resolution 229/NQ-CP are visa-exempt only for tourism.

My flight to Ho Chi Minh City will land at Long Thanh Airport. Which port do I choose?

Choose Long Thanh if it appears in the portal's list of entry ports. Long Thanh is on the e-visa list from Resolution 389/NQ-CP, but only once it is in commercial operation, planned from 1 December 2026. If the portal does not show it yet, contact us or the Immigration Department before you pay.

Will Tet 2027 delay my Vietnam e-visa?

Expect it. The Immigration Department processes e-visas on working days only, and it does not process during the Lunar New Year public holiday. Tet 2027 falls on 6 February 2027. If you arrive in late January or February 2027, apply at least four weeks before departure.

Can World Mate Travel apply for my Vietnam e-visa?

Yes. World Mate Travel is a Hanoi tour operator holding international tour operator licence No. 01-282/2010/TCDL-GP LHQT. We check your passport page and photo before submission, file the application on the government portal, track the status and send you the PDF. The government fee of US$25 or US$50 is part of every price.

Clients on a World Mate Travel tour can also ask us to check their visa needs when we send the proposal.

Questions about your e-visa before you pay? WhatsApp +84 988 660 505 or email sales@worldmatetravel.com.