Vietnam Visa: Visa-free Entry and e-Visa
For tourist trips to Vietnam, foreigners can use visa-free entry or obtain an electronic visa (e-Visa) in advance.
The main difference is that the visa-free stay duration depends on citizenship. For most nationalities without visa-free access, an electronic visa is available.
Vietnam e-Visa is valid for up to 90 days and can be single-entry or multiple-entry.
Government fee:
- 25 USD โ single-entry e-Visa;
- 50 USD โ multiple-entry e-Visa.
The information below applies to tourist trips with ordinary passports. Diplomatic, official, special passports and other special categories are not covered here.
Visa-free Entry to Vietnam
Citizens of certain countries can visit Vietnam without obtaining a visa in advance.
The maximum stay duration depends on the passport.
Up to 90 days visa-free
๐จ๐ฑ Chile ๐ต๐ฆ Panama
For citizens of Chile and Panama with ordinary passports, visa-free entry is valid for up to 90 days.
For Panama, the agreement provides for trips of up to 90 days provided that the purpose of stay is not paid employment.
Up to 45 days visa-free
๐ง๐ช Belgium ๐ง๐ฌ Bulgaria ๐ญ๐ท Croatia ๐จ๐ฟ Czech Republic ๐ฉ๐ฐ Denmark ๐ซ๐ฎ Finland ๐ซ๐ท France ๐ฉ๐ช Germany ๐ญ๐บ Hungary ๐ฎ๐น Italy ๐ฏ๐ต Japan ๐ฑ๐บ Luxembourg ๐ณ๐ฑ Netherlands ๐ณ๐ด Norway ๐ต๐ฑ Poland ๐ท๐ด Romania ๐ท๐บ Russia ๐ธ๐ฐ Slovakia ๐ธ๐ฎ Slovenia ๐ฐ๐ท South Korea ๐ช๐ธ Spain ๐ธ๐ช Sweden ๐จ๐ญ Switzerland ๐ฌ๐ง United Kingdom
For these countries, the maximum visa-free stay is 45 days from the date of entry.
For citizens of:
๐ฉ๐ช Germany ๐ซ๐ท France ๐ฎ๐น Italy ๐ช๐ธ Spain ๐ฌ๐ง United Kingdom ๐ท๐บ Russia ๐ฏ๐ต Japan ๐ฐ๐ท South Korea ๐ฉ๐ฐ Denmark ๐ธ๐ช Sweden ๐ณ๐ด Norway ๐ซ๐ฎ Finland
The 45-day regime is established for the period from March 15, 2025 to March 14, 2028.
It applies regardless of the purpose of travel, subject to compliance with Vietnam's entry conditions.
For citizens of:
๐ง๐ช Belgium ๐ง๐ฌ Bulgaria ๐ญ๐ท Croatia ๐จ๐ฟ Czech Republic ๐ญ๐บ Hungary ๐ฑ๐บ Luxembourg ๐ณ๐ฑ Netherlands ๐ต๐ฑ Poland ๐ท๐ด Romania ๐ธ๐ฐ Slovakia ๐ธ๐ฎ Slovenia ๐จ๐ญ Switzerland
The 45-day visa-free regime was introduced from August 15, 2025 to August 14, 2028 as part of the tourism stimulation program.
For British documents, there is an important exception: the British National (Overseas), BNO passport does not grant the right to 45-day visa-free entry. BNO holders need to have an appropriate entry permit, such as an e-Visa.
Up to 30 days visa-free
๐ง๐พ Belarus ๐ฐ๐ญ Cambodia ๐ฎ๐ฉ Indonesia ๐ฐ๐ฟ Kazakhstan ๐ฐ๐ฌ Kyrgyzstan ๐ฑ๐ฆ Laos ๐ฒ๐พ Malaysia ๐ฒ๐ณ Mongolia ๐ฒ๐ฒ Myanmar ๐ธ๐ฌ Singapore ๐น๐ญ Thailand
Citizens of these countries with ordinary passports can stay in Vietnam without a visa for up to 30 days, but additional restrictions apply to some nationalities.
Belarus
๐ง๐พ Citizens of Belarus can stay in Vietnam without a visa for up to 30 days per trip.
For ordinary passports, the total stay must not exceed 90 days during a calendar year.
Kazakhstan
๐ฐ๐ฟ Citizens of Kazakhstan can stay in Vietnam without a visa for up to 30 days per trip.
Total visa-free stay must not exceed 90 days during each 180-day period.
Up to 21 days visa-free
๐ต๐ญ Philippines
Citizens of the Philippines with ordinary passports can stay in Vietnam without a visa for up to 21 days.
When traveling, you should have a valid passport and be prepared to confirm your intention to leave Vietnam within the permitted period.
Up to 14 days visa-free
๐ง๐ณ Brunei
Citizens of Brunei with ordinary passports can stay in Vietnam without a visa for up to 14 days.
If your country is not on the list
If your passport country is not listed among countries with visa-free access, you can obtain a Vietnam e-Visa in advance for a tourist trip.
The electronic visa is also available to citizens of countries with visa-free access.
For example, if a Russian citizen is allowed to stay in Vietnam without a visa for up to 45 days, but the trip is planned for 60 or 80 days, you can obtain an e-Visa for the required period in advance.
Vietnam Electronic Visa โ e-Visa
Vietnam e-Visa is an electronic entry permit issued by the Vietnam Immigration Department.
The electronic visa can be issued:
- for a period of up to 90 days;
- for single entry;
- for multiple entries.
Official cost:
| e-Visa Type | Government Fee |
|---|---|
| Single-entry | 25 USD |
| Multiple-entry | 50 USD |
The visa fee is not refunded if the application is not approved.
Official portal:
Single-entry and Multiple-entry e-Visa
Single-entry e-Visa
A single-entry e-Visa allows you to enter Vietnam once.
After leaving the country, it can no longer be used for re-entry, even if the document's validity period has not yet expired.
This option is suitable if you plan to spend your entire trip in Vietnam and do not intend to travel to neighboring countries.
Multiple-entry e-Visa
A multiple-entry e-Visa allows you to enter and exit Vietnam multiple times within the visa validity period.
It is convenient if during your trip you plan to visit, for example:
- China;
- Laos;
- Cambodia;
- Thailand;
- other countries in the region.
Re-entry does not extend the e-Visa validity period. All trips must fit within the period specified in the issued visa.
How the 90 days of e-Visa are counted
The validity period of the electronic visa starts from the date specified in the e-Visa, not from the actual date of entry into Vietnam.
For example, if the e-Visa is valid from October 1 to December 29, and you actually entered on October 10, the visa expiration date will still be December 29.
Unused days before actual entry are not carried over.
You also cannot enter Vietnam before the e-Visa start date.
How to apply for e-Visa yourself
You can submit an application yourself through the official portal of the Vietnam Immigration Department:
For the application, you usually need to prepare:
- A valid passport.
- An image of the passport page with personal data.
- A portrait photograph.
- An email address.
- Intended dates of stay.
- Address of residence in Vietnam.
- Information about the planned entry point.
- A bank card or other supported payment method.
When filling out the application, carefully check:
- first name and last name;
- passport number;
- citizenship;
- date of birth;
- gender;
- passport validity period;
- e-Visa start date;
- end date;
- selected entry point.
The data must match the passport.
An error in passport number, name, citizenship or other important data can create problems when registering for a flight or passing border control.
Where you can enter with e-Visa
The electronic visa is only used at border checkpoints authorized by the Vietnamese government for e-Visa holders.
These include international airports, seaports, and certain land border crossings.
Before purchasing a ticket or organizing a land trip, you must check whether the selected entry point accepts e-Visa.
The current list of authorized entry points is published on the official portal:
This is especially important for trips overland across the border with China, Laos, or Cambodia.
Passport Requirements
To use visa-free entry, you must comply with general entry conditions to Vietnam.
For current unilateral visa-free regimes, official rules provide, in particular:
- a valid passport;
- passport validity of at least 6 months from the date of entry;
- no grounds for refusal of entry.
The border service may also ask you to confirm your plans to leave Vietnam before the end of the permitted stay.
When applying for an e-Visa, you must use the same passport whose data is specified in the application.
If after obtaining an e-Visa the passport has been replaced, you must check the possibility of using the issued visa before traveling.
Can you choose e-Visa instead of visa-free entry
Yes.
Having the right to visa-free entry does not prevent you from obtaining an e-Visa in advance.
This makes sense if the permitted visa-free period is insufficient.
For example:
- a Russian citizen can enter without a visa for up to 45 days, but for a 70-day trip it is more convenient to obtain an e-Visa in advance;
- a Thai citizen can enter without a visa for up to 30 days, but for a longer trip use an e-Visa;
- a Brunei citizen has a 14-day visa-free regime, but can obtain an e-Visa for a longer stay.
Can you enter Vietnam multiple times without a visa
Having visa-free access does not by itself mean that permitted days can simply be added within one trip.
After leaving the country, the previous stay period ends, and the conditions for new entry are checked again.
At the same time, additional restrictions exist for certain nationalities.
For example:
- for Belarus, there is a restriction on total visa-free stay during a calendar year;
- for Kazakhstan, there is a restriction on total stay during a 180-day period.
The final decision on admitting a foreigner to the country is made by the border service.
What to do if you need to stay in Vietnam longer than the visa-free period
For a regular tourist trip, the simplest option is to obtain an e-Visa for the required period of up to 90 days in advance.
For example:
| Passport | Visa-free | For a longer trip |
|---|---|---|
| ๐ง๐ณ Brunei | 14 days | e-Visa up to 90 days |
| ๐ต๐ญ Philippines | 21 days | e-Visa up to 90 days |
| ๐น๐ญ Thailand | 30 days | e-Visa up to 90 days |
| ๐ท๐บ Russia | 45 days | e-Visa up to 90 days |
| ๐จ๐ฑ Chile | 90 days | visa-free period is usually sufficient for a trip up to 90 days |
If you need to stay in Vietnam for more than 90 days, a tourist e-Visa by itself does not solve this task. You need to consider a new entry or another migration status if there is a legal basis.
Can you extend a tourist e-Visa within Vietnam
You should not count on automatic extension of a regular tourist e-Visa for another 90 days within the country.
The official portal does not offer a universal service that allows any tourist to simply extend a current e-Visa for the next 90-day period.
If a new stay period is required, you usually need to arrange a new basis for entry in advance or obtain a new e-Visa and fulfill the requirements for re-entry.
Possibilities of changing migration status within the country depend on the specific basis โ for example, work, investment, study, or family.
Visa Run and Re-entry
A visa run is not an extension of an existing visa.
When you leave, the current stay period ends. Subsequent entry is made on the basis of the document or regime in effect at the time of the new border crossing:
- a new visa-free entry, if it is allowed for your citizenship;
- a new e-Visa;
- a valid multiple-entry e-Visa;
- another legal basis.
Before a land visa run, it is especially important to check:
- entry rules for the neighboring country;
- passport validity;
- e-Visa validity;
- whether the selected border crossing is authorized for e-Visa;
- whether the visa data matches the passport;
- whether the crossing is open to foreign citizens.
Visa-free Entry to Phu Quoc
A separate special regime applies to Phu Quoc Island.
Foreigners with foreign passports can stay on Phu Quoc without a visa for up to 30 days subject to established conditions.
This regime applies specifically to visiting Phu Quoc and should not be automatically perceived as permission for 30-day visa-free travel throughout Vietnam.
If after Phu Quoc you plan to travel to Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang, or other regions of the country, you must check in advance whether a visa or e-Visa is required for your passport.
The special rule also provides for the possibility of transit through another international checkpoint in Vietnam when proceeding further to Phu Quoc subject to established conditions.
Important Features of Visa-free Entry
Visa-free regime means that before the trip you do not need to obtain a tourist visa for the permitted period.
However, this does not guarantee automatic entry.
When passing border control, you must comply with Vietnam's legal requirements.
It is recommended to have:
- a passport valid for at least 6 months;
- a ticket out of Vietnam or confirmation of further route;
- address of first place of residence;
- hotel booking or other confirmation of accommodation;
- medical insurance for the trip period.
The final decision on entry is made by the border service.
Overstaying the Permitted Stay Period
You cannot remain in Vietnam after the end of the permitted visa-free period or e-Visa validity.
Overstaying may lead to:
- an administrative fine;
- detention upon exit;
- the need to resolve migration status;
- problems on subsequent trips to Vietnam;
- more serious migration consequences depending on circumstances and duration of violation.
If the stay period has already been violated, the issue should be resolved with migration authorities without delaying it until passing the border.
Which Option to Choose
Trip fits within the visa-free period of your passport
Use visa-free entry. Obtaining an e-Visa in advance is usually not required.
Visa-free access exists, but the trip will be longer
Obtain an e-Visa for the required period up to 90 days.
No visa-free access for your passport
Obtain an e-Visa before the trip.
Planning to leave Vietnam and return during one long trip
Consider a multiple-entry e-Visa.
Planning to stay in Vietnam for more than 90 days
You need to determine an appropriate basis for further stay in advance or plan a new entry in accordance with current rules.
Briefly
- Visa-free period depends on citizenship and can be 14, 21, 30, 45, or 90 days.
- Citizens of Russia, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland have 45 days visa-free until March 14, 2028.
- Another 12 European countries โ Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Switzerland โ received a 45-day regime from August 15, 2025 to August 14, 2028 as part of the tourism stimulation program.
- For Belarus, 30 days per trip applies with an additional restriction on total stay duration.
- For Kazakhstan, 30 days per trip applies with a restriction of 90 days within 180 days.
- For ordinary passport of the Philippines โ 21 days.
- For ordinary passport of Brunei โ 14 days.
- Chile and Panama have visa-free access up to 90 days for ordinary passports.
- Vietnam e-Visa is issued for a period of up to 90 days.
- e-Visa can be single-entry and multiple-entry.
- Government fee is 25 USD or 50 USD respectively.
- A separate 30-day visa-free regime applies to Phu Quoc subject to special conditions.
Official Sources
Vietnam e-Visa official portal:
Vietnam Immigration Department:
Official visa exemption list of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam:
https://mofa.gov.vn/tin-chi-tiet/chi-tiet/viet-nam-39-s-visa-exemption-list-57163-172.html
Official government information on the 45-day visa-free regime for the first group of 12 countries:
Official government information on the expansion of the 45-day visa-free regime to another 12 countries from August 15, 2025:
Currency of Information
Information is verified from official Vietnamese sources.
Visa rules may change. Before traveling, it is recommended to re-check entry conditions for a specific passport on the official website of the Immigration Department or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam.