Vietnam Visa Application

The Vietnam Visa application

Are you travelling to Vietnam? Then you need to submit a Vietnam visa application. This can be easily arranged online. Fill in the form and receive the visa by e-mail. This applies to both holidays and business trips. On this page you can read how applying works and what you need to keep in mind to make it past the checking point without problems.

Only if you possess a valid Vietnam visa will you make it past the immigration check at the airport, border posts and/or seaport.

Warning beforehand: avoid the visa on arrival

In 2018, the system of the immigration service of Vietnam was changed. It is now possible to submit your application entirely online and to receive the Vietnam visa by e-mail. It is therefore not recommended anymore to make use of the old visa on arrival. This old procedure is more expensive, more complicated and has an extra waiting queue at the airport. Visa on arrival may appear cheaper, but that’s because you only pay for the costs of the approval letter before departure. Many travellers don’t realize that a stamping fee needs to be paid on arrival, making the visa on arrival a fair bit more expensive than the electronic visa (applied for through this website).

Apply for the Vietnam visa online

The easiest way to get a valid Vietnam visa is by making use of the online application procedure. To do this, you fill in your contact information, travel details and passport information on the application site. You can add multiple travellers to a single application form if you are travelling in a group. Next, you pay for your application and digitally provide a passport scan and passport photo through the website.

Vietnam visa

Everything arranged within three days

After applying you receive the Vietnam visa within three days digitally by e-mail. You need to print it and keep it with your passport during the trip. You won’t need to do anything else; you won’t need to join the queue for the stamping fee after arrival in Vietnam, which is only necessary for travellers with the old visa on arrival. You also won’t need to pay for any additional costs, other than the application costs.

Exceptions

Virtually all travellers can make use of the online procedure for applying for the Vietnam visa. However, there are a few exceptions. In those cases it is necessary to submit an application through the embassy. An employee will then affix the physical visa which fits your situation and travel purpose to your passport.

Nationalities

You can only apply for your visa online if you have the nationality of a country which falls under the e-visa program. The United Kingdom and the United States both fall under this, as well as Germany, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Denmark, Poland and a number of other countries. Take note: if you country does not fall under this, you cannot apply for your Vietnam visa online.

Short stay

Citizens from a number of countries can stay in Vietnam for a maximum of 15 days without needing a visa. This includes the following countries: Belarus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. However, with this arrangement, you need to already have a printout of an onward ticket ready on arrival. Furthermore, there needs to be a gap of at least 30 between two visa-free visits.

Long stay

Do you want to stay in Vietnam for longer than 30 days? Then it is not possible to apply for your Vietnam visa through the online application system.

Requirements

Aside from having a nationality that isn’t in the list of visa-approved countries and having a desired length of stay of more than 30 days, there are a number of other reasons that can result in your Vietnam visa application not being submittable through the online procedure. You also need to meet the visa requirements. Although most travellers meet these without problems, it is wise to closely read it before starting the Vietnam visa application.