The Vietnam e-visa
Are you travelling to Vietnam for a holiday or for business? In that case, Irish citizens always need a visa. British citizens only need a visa if they intend to stay in Vietnam for more than 45 days. Applying for an electronic visa is the easiest way to fulfil this obligation. You can apply for the e-visa online, without having to visit the embassy.
Apply for an e-visa nowWhat is the Vietnam e-visa?
The e-visa Vietnam is an electronic travel authorisation which is issued by the Vietnamese immigration service. British citizens only need such an authorisation if they intend to stay in Vietnam for more than 45 days, while Irish citizens, among others, always need a visa to enter Vietnam. The Vietnam e-visa is issued digitally and should be printed twice. You need to carry the printed visa during your entire trip so that you can show it to the border control authorities when they ask for it.
Why is a visa application necessary?
The Vietnamese government wants to know who enters the country, and wants to have the possibility to deny unwanted people entry to Vietnam. For this purpose, visas are made mandatory to many travellers. Before the visa is issued, the authorities check whether an applicant meets all visa requirements. Travellers who are eligible for a visa waiver are only checked upon arrival in Vietnam.
How do you receive the e-visa?
You only have to fill in the online application form, pay the cost, upload a number of documents, and wait until you receive the visa. The Vietnam visa is issued after 13 days on average. You may also submit an urgent application, which reduces the processing time to an average of 5 days.
Apply for the e-visa now
Who needs a Vietnam e-visa?
Most people who travel to Vietnam need a valid travel authorisation, except for Vietnamese citizens who travel with a Vietnamese passport. British, German, French, Spanish or Italian citizens may travel to Vietnam for up to 45 days without a visa. However, a visa is required for a longer stay. The e-visa is not suitable for all travellers. You may only use the e-visa if:
- You stay in Vietnam for a maximum of 90 days;
- You fulfil the e-visa requirements.
How much does a Vietnam e-visa cost?
An electronic visa for Vietnam costs £54,95 per person. This amount contains the consular cost, exchange fees, service costs and taxes. You can pay the cost with any of the secure payment methods that are available: credit card, PayPal, Google Pay and Apple Pay.
If you cannot use the e-visa
If you do not fulfil the requirements, you may not apply for an e-visa for Vietnam. In that case, you need a traditional paper visa which is available at the Vietnamese consulate or embassy. Please keep in mind that an application at the embassy is more time-consuming than an online application because it requires you to go to the embassy or consulate twice. First, to submit your passport, and second, to pick up your passport again.
