Visa requirements for Vietnam
To apply for a visa for Vietnam, you must meet a number of requirements relating to the purpose and itinerary of your trip, as well as your passport and travel history. Although these requirements are not strict, you need to make sure you are eligible to apply for the e-visa before travelling to Vietnam.
Reason for travel
If you are travelling with a Vietnam e-visa, the purpose of your trip must fall into one of the following categories:
- Holiday
- Visiting friends and/or family
- Business travel (meetings, conferences)
- Journalism
- Travelling as an investor
- Doing an internship or teaching in Vietnam
- Make a stopover
- Volunteering
If the purpose of your trip is different – for example, if you are going to live or work in Vietnam – you will need to apply for a different type of visa. In that case, you should contact the Vietnamese embassy.
Travel itinerary
Please note that you can only apply for a Vietnam e-visa from outside the country. If you are already in Vietnam, you will not be able to apply for this visa. Furthermore, you must enter and leave the country via one of the authorised points of entry and exit. The Vietnamese government has recently expanded the number of authorised points of entry. You may choose any of the points of entry and exit listed here:
| International airports | ||
|---|---|---|
| Long Thanh International Airport | Gia Binh International Airport | Vinh International Airport |
| Chu Lai International Airport | Cam Ranh (CXR) | Can Tho (VCA) |
| Cat Bi (Hai Phong, HPH) | Da Nang (DAD) | Dong Hoi (VDH) |
| Lien Khuong (DLI) | Noi Bai (Ha Noi, HAN) | Phu Bai (HUI) |
| Phu Cat (UIH) | Phu Quoc (PQC) | Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City, SGN) |
| Tho Xuan (THD) | Van Don (VDO) | |
| Sea ports | ||
|---|---|---|
| Van Gia | Diem Dien | Hai Thinh |
| Ninh Binh | Cua Lo - Ben Thuy | Son Duong |
| Gianh | Hon La | Cua Viet |
| Thuan An | Ky Ha | Sa Ky |
| Vung Ro | Ca Na | Ninh Chu |
| Phu Quy | Lien Huong | Ben Luc |
| Dong Thap | Soai Rap | My Thoi |
| Hon Chong | An Thoi | Truong Long Hoa |
| Giao Long | Nam Can | Cam Pha (Quang Ninh) |
| Chan May (Thua Thien Hue) | Da Nang (Da Nang City) | Dung Quat (Quang Ngai) |
| Duong Dong (Kien Giang) | Hai Phong (Hai Phong City) | Ho Chi Minh City |
| Hon Gai (Quang Ninh) | Nghi Son (Thanh Hoa) | Nha Trang (Khanh Hoa) |
| Quy Nhon (Binh Dinh) | Vung Ang (Ha Tinh) | Vung Tau (Ba Ria - Vung Tau) |
| Land border crossings | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dong Dang (railway) | Lao Cai (railway) | Tra Linh |
| Long Sap | Nam Giang | Le Thanh |
| Binh Hiep | Thuong Phuoc | Dong Thap |
| Tan Nam | Thanh Thuy | Bo Y (Kon Tum) |
| Cau Treo (Ha Tinh) | Cha Lo (Quang Binh) | Ha Tien (Kien Giang) |
| Huu Nghi (Lang Son) | La Lay (Quang Tri) | Lao Bao (Quang Tri) |
| Lao Cai (Lao Cai) | Moc Bai (Tay Ninh) | Mong Cai (Quang Ninh) |
| Na Meo (Thanh Hoa) | Nam Can (Nghe An) | Tay Trang (Dien Bien) |
| Tinh Bien (An Giang) | Vinh Xuong (An Giang) | Xa Mat (Tay Ninh) |
Passport requirements
To be able to apply for an e-visa for Vietnam, travellers must have a valid passport with at least six months’ validity remaining upon arrival in Vietnam. Children and infants must also have their own passport and visa.
Please be aware: like most European countries, the United Kingdom has a visa waiver agreement with Vietnam. If you hold a British passport, you can stay in Vietnam for up to 45 days without needing a visa. Irish citizens, on the contrary, always need a visa
Conversely, if you wish to stay in Vietnam for more than 45 days or are travelling to Vietnam on business, you will need to apply for an e-visa.
Even if your nationality entitles you to a visa waiver, if the purpose of your trip does not allow you to travel on an e-visa, you will need to apply for a different type of visa. To do so, you should contact the Vietnamese embassy.
Traveller’s health and medical history
A traveller’s health must not pose a security risk to the Government or the people of Vietnam. The Vietnamese Immigration Service reserves the right to refuse entry to any traveller suspected of posing a security risk. Furthermore, the Immigration Service may check whether the traveller has a criminal record.
If you have a serious health condition, such as a contagious disease or a mental health condition that could pose a risk to others, your application may be refused.
Have you checked that you meet all the requirements?
If so, you can apply for an e-visa for Vietnam here:
