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Getting a Visa for Vietnam can be confusing! From getting a Vietnam E-Visa, Vietnam Visa-On-Arrival, or getting a visa at an Embassy, we break down how to do it in this guide.
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The world is only getting smaller. But no matter how small the world gets, you still need the proper paperwork to get to your destination. Unless, of course, your preferred destination is a holding cell at immigration. And from what I’ve heard, those are not pleasant places.
Here you’ll find everything you need to know about getting an E-visa for Vietnam. Why an E-Visa? Vietnam wants you to visit, and they are making the visa process easier by making it all accessible online. Read on to find out how to get your E-Visa. Vietnam will thank you.
1) E-visa for Vietnam 101
If you’re planning a 30-day single-entry visit to Vietnam, go with an E-visa. Make sure your passport has at least six months of validity left and that you have at least two blank pages for the stamps or you won’t be allowed in the country.
You’ll also need a printed copy of the E-visa. You Vietnam visa photo should be passport-sized (4cmX6cm). along with a color copy of your passport photo page to make sure the visa application process goes smoothly. E-visas are accepted at almost every major port of entry into Vietnam, making them great for the adventurer on the go.
Be aware that E-visas are valid for 30 days, are single-entry only and non-renewable. If you leave Vietnam, you’ll have to get a new visa if you want to return. Personally, we have used iVisa in the past and we highly recommend their no-hassle services. The service fee is well worth it and will save you a lot of headaches. Especially when it comes to dealing with government paperwork. But if you’re in the mood to fill out extra Vietnam visa application forms and bureaucracy is more your style, you can also apply for an E-visa directly from the government.
You must use the E-visa within six months of receiving the paperwork. The 30-day clock starts once you enter the country. But on the plus side, you won’t have to wait in the visa-on-arrival line. You get to wait in line with the rest of the folks in the normal immigration lines. Oh boy!
What you’ll need to bring to get your E-visa:
- Passport with 6 months of validity and two blank pages
- Printed copies of E-visa paperwork
- Two passport-sized photos (4cmX6cm)
- Clear, color copy of passport photo page
2) Vietnam Visa Fees and You
There are some fees associated with getting an E-visa. There is a 25USD fee for the visa itself plus any expediting fees if you need it extra fast. Typically the E-visa will be processed within three business days, so you shouldn’t have to pay any expediting fees. Make sure to plan ahead or your Vietnam visa costs will skyrocket. We have used iVisa and they have been fast, courteous, and professional. If you are planning on getting an e-visa, we recommend using iVisa.
If you are traveling with your kids under the age of 14, you can add them onto your E-visa application. Anyone over the age of 14 must have their own completed paperwork.
On the Vietnam visa from you will be asked for the address where you’ll be staying during your stay. List the name of the hotel where you’ll begin your journey. If you’re into the backpacking, no-booking-ahead lifestyle, you can write down the name of a guesthouse you found online.
3) Are You Eligible for an E-Visa?
Not all countries are eligible for an E-visa. If your passport country is not eligible for an e-visa then your Vietnam visa will have to be sorted through an embassy or through a visa-on-arrival service. Check the list below to see if you’re eligible for an E-visa.
List of countries eligible for a Vietnamese E-visa:
- Argentina
- Australia
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Belarus
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- China
- Colombia
- Cuba
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- India
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Kazakhstan
- Luxembourg
- Mongolia
- Myanmar
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Panama
- Peru
- Philippines
- Poland
- Romania
- Russia
- Slovakia
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sweden
- Timor Leste
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Uraguay
- Venezuela
4) Vietnam Visa Exemption
Certain countries can enter Vietnam visa exempt. No need for paperwork. All you need is your passport and a smile. You don’t really need a smile, but it does help.
90 Days Visa-Exempt
Chile
30 Days Visa-Exempt
- Thailand
- Indonesia
- Singapore
- Malaysia
- Cambodia
- Laos
- Kyrgyzstan
21 Days Visa-Exempt
Phillippines
14 Days Visa-Exempt
- Myanmar
- Brunei
15 Days Visa-Exempt
These passports require a printout of onward travel. It’s still a visa exemption, Vietnam just wants to know you’re leaving soon. You’ll have to prove you’re leaving Vietnam within 15 days. It is usually a good idea to have a physical copy of all upcoming flights when it comes to dealing with immigration. An email on your phone tends to have less of an effect but can work.
- Belarus
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Japan
- Norway
- Russia
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sweden
- United Kingdom
5) E-Visa or Visa on Arrival?
If you are planning to spend more than 30 days traveling in Vietnam, you should steer clear of the E-visa. Fortunately, Vietnam also offers a visa-on-arrival. The name is misleading, however, as you will need to fill out paperwork and get a visa approval letter from the Vietnam Immigration Department before you arrive in Vietnam.
To get started, you will need to find an online visa-on-arrival (VOA) business or an online travel agency. iVisa is a great hassle-free option. Once you are approved, you will receive a Vietnam visa approval letter (it should look something like this) in your email. Make sure all the information on your Vietnam visa letter is correct, print it out and bring it with you when you fly into Vietnam. Do not forget your approval letter, Vietnam will turn you away.
The great thing about getting a visa-on-arrival is they are available from one month to one year, can be multiple-entry and can be extended. The visa-on-arrival is a better option for those looking for a multiple-use Vietnam tourism visa. Note that each visit on a multiple-entry visa is capped at 90 days. You’ll have to exit the country and return to keep your visa status and avoid a fine.
It’s also important to remember that a visa-on-arrival can only be used at three major international airports: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City or Danang. If you are crossing by land or by sea, you will have to get your visa ahead of time at a Vietnamese embassy in another country.
Vietnam Visa Fee
So how much is a Vietnam visa? Your Vietnam visa price will vary depending on a number of factors. Your nationality, the length of the visa, if you want single-entry or multiple-entry and if you are applying for a Vietnam business visa. Some countries are eligible for a six-month multiple-entry visa (95USD stamp fee) and US citizens can get a one-year multiple entry visa (135USD stamp fee). Expediting fees can be pretty pricey, so make sure to plan ahead. You can check out the Vietnam visa cost for your nationality and travel plans here.
You will need to bring a printed copy of the approval letter as well as cash to pay the stamp fee to the visa-on-arrival counter at the airport. The stamp fee is 25USD for single-entry visas and 50USD for multiple entry visas. The Vietnam visa fee is payable in either United States Dollars or Vietnamese Dong, however, USD is preferred. Try to exchange currency for USD before leaving for Vietnam. There are money changers as you approach the visa-on-arrival counter but their exchange rates are notoriously high.
6) Get Your Visa at a Vietnamese Embassy Instead of Online
If you’re in an area with easy access to a Vietnamese embassy and don’t want to bother with an online Vietnam visa, you can get all of your visa needs taken care of right then and there and usually for much cheaper. We got our Vietnamese visas in-person at the Vietnamese embassy in Phnom Penh and it is a pretty simple process. The visa fee for Vietnam depends on your passport.
What you’ll need to bring to get your Visa-on-Arrival
- Passport with 6 months of validity
- Two passport-sized photos (4cmX6cm)
- Clear, color copy of passport photo page
- Printed copies of Visa-on-Arrival approval paperwork
- Cash in USD to pay stamp fee (single-entry: 25USD, multiple-entry: 50USD)
7) Vietnam Visa Extension (not possible for E-Visa)
If you want to extend your stay in Vietnam after your visa is up, you’ll need to go through a travel agency in Vietnam or the Vietnam Immigration Department directly. It is usually easier to work through a travel agency unless you’re a big fan of bureaucracy. The cost of Vietnam visa extensions can vary, be sure to shop around.
The usual turn-around for a visa renewal is seven working days BEFORE the visa expires, so make sure to keep an eye on the calendar if you are interested in renewing while being allowed to stay in Vietnam. Extending a visa is usually cheaper than getting a renewal, but extensions are typically only for 30 days. Remember that E-visas cannot be extended.
8) Now Go Explore Vietnam!
Traveling to Vietnam has never been easier thanks to the Vietnam online visa. Vietnam has unbelievable food, sightseeing and is a wonder to explore. Ride a motorbike, eat some delicious pho, take in the local culture and learn about one of the most fascinating countries in the world.
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Dustin says
This is so helpful! Thank you very much 🙂
Jennifer Joslin says
Glad to hear it! 🙂
Nisha says
Awesome! This is definitely one of the post comprehensive post on Vietnam Visa. The online eVisa is so very convenient that we save a lot of time running to the embassies.
Jennifer Joslin says
Thanks Nisha! It took a lot of time to compile all the information out there as it’s pretty confusing! We appreciate your feedback 🙂
Jennifer says
As an American, I’m among the lucky that can get an eVisa. It’s never convenient when I have to send my passport off for a visa application, so I go the eVisa route when possible.
Jennifer Joslin says
That’s true, being without your passport can be very inconvenient!
Sandy N Vyjay says
Vietnam is a country that has been beckoning with its beauty for some time now. We have unfortunately not been able to get there and it is still on our bucket list. So this is a very useful guide for us so that we are prepared when it happens. I can see our country is there on the list of countries which are eligible for e-visas, that is indeed such a relief as many hassles get removed when you can do it online.
Jennifer Joslin says
It is lucky to be able to qualify for the E-Visa. It definitely makes life easier, especially if you aren’t near an embassy!
MEENAKSHI says
A very informative post and surely for keeps sake. Yes, I can apply for an e-visa and the process seems pretty organized and simple. Splendid captures indeed!
Jennifer Joslin says
Thanks, Meenakshi. Glad to hear this broke it down well!
Suruchi says
That is really a one stop guide on e – visa for Vietnam and thank you so much for compiling it up. I was happiest seeing India in the list . You have taken care to mention all the required documents and procedure too. That is really great. Thanks once again.
Jennifer Joslin says
Thanks so much for your feedback! It took quite a long time to compile all of the information, so I’m really glad it’s useful!
Medha Verma says
That’s a really informative post! Good to know that I, as an Indian, can get an evisa easily and with a small charge of USD 25! I plan to visit Vietnam in 2019. Usually its such a hassle for me with an Indian passport to get visas to most countries in the world but I am happy to see its not the case with Vietnam, thanks for sharing this info!
Jennifer Joslin says
Happy to hear you’re planning to visit Vietnam! Hope you have a great trip! Here are a couple of Vietnam articles for inspiration 😀 https://twocantravel.com/getting-off-the-beaten-path-in-ho-chi-minh-city-saigon-vietnam/
https://twocantravel.com/interesting-markets-in-asia/
Sarah says
We’ve had some terrible experiences at embassies over the years so we always opt for an E-Visa where we can. Vietnam sounds great for that. Some really useful info here guys. Thanks for this!
Jennifer Joslin says
Sorry to hear that! We’ve been to a few embassies for visas and have had mostly good experiences. We’ll definitely try an E-visa next time we are able to though!
Milijana says
I have visited Vietnam recently and got my visa at the Vietnamese Embassy in Kuala Lumpur since at that time I was traveling to Malaysia and it was convenient for me.
But I love E-visas in general. It makes a life of a traveler much easier.
In fact, I am just about to get my E-visa for Egypt.
It is good that so many countries give the option of E-visa these days!
Jennifer Joslin says
Thanks for sharing! Good to hear that you were able to complete the Vietnam Visa process in Kuala Lumpur. It is nice that many countries are creating the E-visa option now. Honestly, we find that sometimes it’s easier to just go in person to an embassy and avoid the online confusion.
Debbzie Leksono says
As an Indonesian, I’m happy that I can just show up in Vietnam bringing my passport and pulling my best smile 😁 Vietnam is indeed an amazing country that I’d love to visit frequently, specifically for its delicious food.
Jennifer Joslin says
It’s always good to bring your smile 😀 Ahhh we love Vietnamese food too!!
Vourneen says
You have detailed some really useful information for getting a visa in Vietnam. Very good to know e-visa’s can’t be extended. I love your photography especially the fisherman image is really stunning and tells a great story.
Jennifer Joslin says
So glad you found it helpful! There is a lot of confusion about how to get a Vietnam visa, so we wanted to break it down in a more simple way. Thanks for your feedback!