Visas & Documents
45-day visa-free entry for many EU/UK passports, $25–50 e-visa (up to 90 days), visa-run routes, overstay fines, the Phu Quoc 30-day exemption, entry with children. Updated for 2026.
Updated: March 2026
Key numbers
Vietnam’s visa rules boiled down to four numbers.
Visa types
Every legal way to stay in Vietnam, side by side. Visa-free entry through to the investor visa.
| Type | Duration | Cost | Extendable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa-free | up to 45 days | Free | No, exit required |
| E-visa (single) | up to 30 days | $25 | No |
| E-visa (multiple) | up to 90 days | $50 | No |
| Work (DN / LĐ) | 1–2 years | $100–200 | Yes, via employer |
| Business (DN) | 1–12 months | $100–200 | Yes |
| Investor (ĐT) | 1–5 years | On application | Yes |
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Visa-free entry checklist
If your passport qualifies (UK, most EU, Japan, South Korea and more), you get up to 45 days visa-free. Here’s what you need at the border.
What to check before you fly
- ✓Passport valid for at least 6 months
- ✓At least 2 blank pages for stamps
- ✓Return or onward ticket (recommended, sometimes checked)
- ✓Arrival/immigration form — filled on arrival or online
- ✓No 30-day cooldown — you can exit and re-enter right away
E-visa — step by step
If you’re not visa-free (US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand) or want to stay longer, apply for an e-visa online in 3–5 business days.
Prepare your documents
- 1A 4x6 cm photo on a white background (JPEG, under 2 MB). A clear selfie works, as long as the background is white and the shot is sharp.
- 2A scan or photo of your passport data page (JPEG, under 2 MB).
- 3Application details: full name, date of birth, passport number, email, and your planned port of entry.
Fill in the application
- 1Go to the official site evisa.gov.vn (mirror: evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn). Choose E-visa → For foreigners.
- 2Complete the form in English. Enter your name exactly as it appears in your passport.
- 3Upload the photo and passport scan. Make sure the files are sharp and not blurry.
- 4Pick your Entry port and Exit port carefully — an airport or a land border.
Pay — $25 (single) or $50 (multiple)
- 1Any international Visa or Mastercard works — no restrictions for Western cards.
- 2Keep the payment confirmation. If the payment page fails, try a different browser or card.
- 3Prefer to skip the paperwork? A visa agency will file it for you for $45–155.
- 4Double-check the visa fee page shows the correct passport and dates before paying.
Receive your e-visa
- 1Processing takes 3–5 business days. Check the status on the site with your application code.
- 2The e-visa arrives by email as a PDF. Print 2 copies — one for immigration, one spare.
- 3Valid at all international airports plus main land borders (Moc Bai, Lao Bao and others).
Visa runs
A visa run means leaving Vietnam and re-entering to reset your allowed stay. Three proven routes.
Cambodia (Moc Bai)
$100–1503 hours from Ho Chi Minh City by bus. The most popular route, and you can do it as a day trip.
You need: Passport, ~$30 Cambodia e-visa or visa on arrival, 4x6 photo
Laos (Lao Bao)
$100–150From Da Nang/Hue. A land crossing that takes a full day. Quieter than the Cambodia route.
You need: Passport; most Western nationals need a Laos visa on arrival (~$30–42) or e-visa
Thailand (by air)
$150–300Fly from any major city. Combine with 2–3 days off. Visa-free up to 30–60 days for most Western passports.
You need: Passport, return ticket to Vietnam
Overstay fines
Don’t risk it. Fines climb with every tier, and overstaying by more than 30 days means deportation plus a re-entry ban.
| Overstay | Fine | Consequences |
|---|---|---|
| 1–15 days | 500,000 – 2,000,000 VND | Pay at the airport or immigration office |
| 16–29 days | 5,000,000 – 10,000,000 VND | Deportation possible |
| 30–59 days | 10,000,000 – 15,000,000 VND | Deportation + entry ban |
| 60–89 days | 15,000,000 – 20,000,000 VND | Deportation + entry ban |
| 90–179 days | 20,000,000 – 25,000,000 VND | Deportation + up to 5-year ban |
| 180+ days | 25,000,000 – 30,000,000 VND | Deportation + up to 10-year ban |
How to pay the fine
- →Payable in cash only, in Vietnamese dong (VND)
- →Go to the immigration office (Phòng Quản lý xuất nhập cảnh) in your city
- →On departure — pay at the immigration desk at the airport
Overstay calculator
Work out your exit deadline and the overstay fine
Enter your entry date to calculate.
Extending your stay
Neither visa-free entry nor an e-visa can be extended in place. Here’s what to do if you want to stay longer.
- Visa-free (45 days): can’t be extended — do a visa run (exit and re-enter) or apply for an e-visa
- E-visa (30/90 days): can’t be extended — do a visa run or apply for a new e-visa after leaving
- Work / business visa: extend via your employer or an agency — file at least 2 weeks before it expires
Entering with children
What to know when travelling to Vietnam with minors.
Good to know
- ✓Every traveller, including infants, needs their own passport and visa-free eligibility or e-visa
- ✓Apply for a separate e-visa for each child
- !Travelling with one parent — a notarised consent letter from the other parent is recommended
- !Unaccompanied minors (e.g. with grandparents) — notarised consent from both parents
Phu Quoc — visa-free zone
Phu Quoc island has its own visa rules.
🏝️ Up to 30 days visa-free — for everyone
Phu Quoc is a special economic zone. Citizens of any country can stay on the island up to 30 days visa-free, even nationalities that need a visa for mainland Vietnam. The condition is a direct international flight to Phu Quoc (not via another Vietnamese city).
If you plan to continue from Phu Quoc to the mainland, you’ll need an e-visa or your country’s visa-free entry.
Do you need a visa? By passport
Vietnam’s rules differ by nationality. Here’s a quick reference for common Western passports.
| Passport | Visa-free | E-visa | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 45 days | Yes | — |
| Germany · France · Italy · Spain | 45 days | Yes | + 20 more EU/Schengen states |
| United States | No | Yes | E-visa up to 90 days |
| Canada | No | Yes | E-visa up to 90 days |
| Australia | No | Yes | E-visa up to 90 days |
| New Zealand | No | Yes | E-visa up to 90 days |
| Japan · South Korea | 45 days | Yes | — |
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Customs — what you can bring in
The main import limits for Vietnam. Going over means confiscation and a fine.
- ✓Cigarettes: up to 200 (10 packs) or 100 cigars, or 500 g of tobacco
- ✓Alcohol: 2 litres (under 22%) or 1.5 litres (over 22%)
- ✓Currency: up to $5,000 without declaration (above — declare it)
- ✓VND over 15,000,000 must be declared (both in and out)
- ✓Personal goods up to ~10,000,000 VND (~$400) are duty-free
- ✕Prohibited: drugs, weapons, pornography, anti-state materials