Visitors to Vietnam must obtain an e-Visa unless they are citizens of one of the visa-exempt countries.
Visa policy map
Visa exemption Ordinary passports Citizens of the following countries may enter Vietnam without a visa (including all ASEAN member states).
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, the maximum allowed period of stay depends on nationality: Vietnam grants 45-day visa waivers to citizens from 12 countries
90 days
45 days
30 days
21 days
14 days
Date of visa changes15 July 1985: Kyrgyzstan (signed as USSR) 1 April 2000: Philippines 9 July 2000: Thailand 21 November 2001: Malaysia 1 December 2003: Singapore 4 December 2003: Indonesia 1 January 2004: JapanUnder Decision No. 08/2003/QĐ-BNG from 1 Jan 2004 to 1 Jul 2004 Under Decision No. 09/2004/QĐ-BNG (PDF) from 1 Jul 2004 Under Resolution No. 99/NQ-CP trom 1 January 2015 5 March 2004: Laos 1 July 2004: South KoreaUnder Decision No. 09/2004/QĐ-BNG Decision No. 09/2004/QĐ-BNG (PDF) Under Resolution No. 99/NQ-CP trom 1 January 2015 1 May 2005: Denmark, Finland, Norway and SwedenUnder Decision No. 808/2005/QD-BNG (PDF) Under Resolution No. 99/NQ-CP trom 1 January 2015 8 August 2007: Brunei 4 December 2008: Cambodia 1 January 2009: RussiaUnder Decree No. 3207/2008/QD-BNG Under Resolution No. 99/NQ-CP trom 1 January 2015 (resumed) 26 October 2013: Myanmar 1 July 2015: Belarus (unilateral),Under the Resolution No. 39/NQ-CP France, Germany, Italy, Spain and United KingdomUnder Resolution No. 46/NQ-CP 11 August 2017: Chile 1 January 2020: Myanmar (extended from 14 to 30 days) 15 January 2021: Panama 7 March 2024: Mongolia 25 May 2024: KazakhstanKazakhstan - Visa-free travel policy with Vietnam introduced 30 January 2025: Belarus (mutual) 1 March 2025: Switzerland, Czechia and PolandViệt Nam-Belarus visa exemption agreement to open up world of opportunities 15 August 2025: Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia
Cancelled: Russia: 20 February 1994Was applied from 14 August 1982 under Agreement between USSR and Vietnam on 15 July 1981. (was resumed in 2009)
In addition, citizens of China, Cuba and North Korea who have a passport for public affairs or ordinary passports endorsed "for public affairs" may enter Vietnam without a visa.
Certificate of visa exemption
Holders of certificates of visa exemption do not require a visa regardless of nationality. A certificate of visa exemption is valid for up to 5 years or up to 6 months before the passport expiration date (whichever is shorter). This is available for Vietnamese residing abroad or spouses or children of Vietnamese citizens or Vietnamese residing abroad.
The exemption is valid for 180 consecutive days of stay. There is no limit on the number of entries and exits during the stay or the minimum waiting time between each 180-day stay.
APEC Business Travel Card Holders of passports issued by the following countries who possess an APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) containing "VNM" on the back of the card may enter Vietnam without a visa for business trips for up to 60 days.
ABTCs are issued to citizens of:
Non-ordinary passports
Holders of diplomatic or official / service passports of the following countries may enter Vietnam without a visa for the following period:
90 days DD
DD
D
DD
D D
30 days ASEAN member states (except Brunei) DD
14 days
D - Diplomatic passports only.
Future changes Vietnam has signed visa exemption agreements with the following countries, but they have not yet entered into force:
Country Passports Agreement signed on Ordinary 9 June 2026 Diplomatic, official October 2019 Diplomatic, service August 2019 Diplomatic 23 January 2019 Diplomatic, service August 2018 Diplomatic, service December 2017
In November 2023, the authorities in Vietnam proposed to abolish visas for citizens of China and India. In July 2024 Prime Minister of Vietnam instructed relevant ministries to work on expanding the list of visa exemption eligible countries.Vietnam PM urges visa exemptions for more countries to spur tourism
Phu Quoc Island Phu Quoc Island has a special visa exemption for all foreign visitors arriving directly by air or sea from outside Vietnam. Visitors can stay within Phu Quoc for a duration of 30 days. Visitor's passport must be valid for 6 months since the arrival date.
Electronic visa (e-Visa)
Vietnam introduced a pilot electronic visa system on 1 February 2017.
Starting from 15 August 2023, an e-Visa is issued to citizens of all countries and territories and is issued for single or multiple entry up to 90 days. The e-Visa costs 25 (single) or 50 (multiple) USD.
The list of border crossings that allow foreigners to enter and exit on an e-Visa includes:
List of international airports Noi Bai International Airport, Hanoi Tan Son Nhat International Airport, Ho Chi Minh City Cam Ranh International Airport Da Nang International Airport Cat Bi International Airport, Hai Phong Can Tho International Airport Phu Quoc International Airport Phu Bai International Airport, Huế Van Don International Airport Lien Khuong International Airport Tho Xuan Airport Dong Hoi Airport Phu Cat Airport Long Thanh International Airport (Not in operation) Gia Binh International Airport (Not in operation) Vinh International Airport Chu Lai International Airport
List of road border crossings Mong Cai, Quang Ninh ProvinceCN Dong Dang station, Lang Son ProvinceCN Huu Nghi, Lang Son ProvinceCN Lao Cai, Lao Cai ProvinceCN Lao Cai station, Lao Cai ProvinceCN Tra Linh, Cao Bang ProvinceCN Thanh Thuy, Tuyen Quang ProvinceCN Tay Trang, Dien Bien ProvinceLA Na Meo, Thanh Hoa ProvinceLA Nam Can, Nghe An ProvinceLA Cau Treo, Ha Tinh ProvinceLA Cha Lo, Quang Binh ProvinceLA La Lay, Quang Tri ProvinceLA Lao Bao, Quang Tri ProvinceLA Bo Y, Kon Tum ProvinceLA Long Sap, Son La ProvinceLA Nam Giang, Da NangLA Moc Bai, Tay Ninh ProvinceKH Xa Mat, Tay Ninh ProvinceKH Binh Hiep, Tay Ninh ProvinceKH Tan Nam, Tay Ninh ProvinceKH Tinh Bien, An Giang ProvinceKH Vinh Xuong, An Giang ProvinceKH Ha Tien, Kien Giang ProvinceKH Le Thanh, Gia Lai ProvinceKH Thuong Phuoc, Dong Thap ProvinceKH Dinh Ba, Dong Thap ProvinceKH
List of sea border crossings Hon Gai Port, Quang Ninh Province Cam Pha Port, Quang Ninh Province Hai Phong Port, Hai Phong city Nghi Son Port, Thanh Hoa Province Vung Ang Port, Ha Tinh Province Chan May Port, Thua Thien Hue Province Da Nang Port, Da Nang City Nha Trang Port, Khanh Hoa Province Quy Nhon Port, Binh Dinh Province Dung Quat Port, Quang Ngai Province Vung Tau Port, Ba Ria Province - Vung Tau Ho Chi Minh City Port, Ho Chi Minh City Duong Dong Port, Kien Giang Province Van Gia Port, Quang Ninh Province Diem Dien Port, Hung Yen Province Hai Thinh Port, Ninh Binh Province Ninh Binh Port, Ninh Binh Province Cua Lo-Ben Thuy Port, Nghe An Province Son Duong Port, Ha Tinh Province Giang Port, Quang Tri Province Hon La Port, Quang Tri Province Cuu Viet Port, Quang Tri Province Thuan An Port, Hue City Ky Ha Port, Da Nang City Sa ky Port, Quang Ngai Province Vung Ro Port, Dak Lak Province Ca Na Port, Khanh Hoa Province
e-Visa holders who present a Chinese biometric ordinary passport upon arrival must exchange their e-Visa for a free paper visa at the port of entry. This is because the passport contains a disputed map of the South China Sea, and the Vietnamese government refuses to stamp on it.
Investor visas Investor visas in Vietnam 2024 CodeDescriptionLengthDT1Investments over VND 100 billion (US$4.15 million), or for investment into ‘prioritised’ sectors, professions, or areas of Vietnam.5 yearsDT2Investments between VND 50 billion (US$2.07 million) and VND 100 billion (US$4.15 million), or for investment into ‘prioritised’ sectors, professions, or areas of Vietnam.5 yearsDT3Investor visa: issued for investors with total investment capital between VND 3 billion (US$125,000) and VND 59 billion (US$2.07 million).3 yearsDT4Investor visa: issued for investors with total investment capital less than VND 3 billion (US$125,000).12 months
Phú Quốc Visa-free Program Travellers who are not exempted from visa requirements may enter Phú Quốc without a visa for up to 30 days. They must arrive at Phú Quốc directly from a third country, or from airports in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City where they will clear immigration and proceed to the domestic terminals.
Pre-arranged visa on arrival
Holders of a visa letter issued and stamped in Hanoi or Da Nang or Ho Chi Minh City by the Vietnamese Immigration Department within the Ministry of Public Security or the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs may obtain a visa on arrival for a maximum stay of 1 or 3 months at airports in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Phu Quoc, Hai Phong, Da Lat or Nha Trang.
Transit Passengers of any nationality may transit through Vietnam by air without a visa for less than 24 hours providing that they do not intend to leave the sterile transit area. Staying overnight in the transit lounge is permitted.
Visitor statistics Most visitors arriving in Vietnam on short-term basis were from the following countries of nationality:
History Decree No. 390/TTg dated October 27, 1959, on the regulation of passport control, signed by Prime Minister Pham Van Dong, was the first legal document that regulated passport control in Vietnam. Article 1 of the decree states:
This means that both Vietnamese citizens and foreigners, when leaving or entering Vietnam, must have a passport and a visa. A person who wants to leave the territory of Vietnam must have an exit visa. Exit visas are administrative procedures imposed to restrict the freedom of citizens of a country to travel abroad. This measure was previously used by many countries, especially socialist countries, to control their citizens and migration issues. Currently, only a very few countries in the world still use exit visas (for example: Saudi Arabia). Therefore, before the Renovation period, the travel of Vietnamese citizens abroad was highly restricted and tightly controlled. Vietnamese individuals were issued passports and exit/entry visas mainly for official work purposes, with decisions made by relevant authorities.
In 1988, Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet issued the Decision of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers No. 48/CT dated February 26, 1988, on allowing Vietnamese citizens to temporarily leave the country to settle personal matters. This decision relaxed the regulations on exit permits "to meet the legitimate aspirations of our people to apply for temporary exit permits to settle personal matters".
In 1993, the Government issued Decree No. 48-CP on passports and visas, which unified the regulations on passport types and visas for the first time. The decree officially abolished entry visas for holders of Vietnamese passports, as stated in Article 10, Clause 3:
It was not until 1997 that Prime Minister Phan Van Khai officially abolished the regulation on exit visas for Vietnamese citizens by issuing the Decision No. 957/1997/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister on improving some procedures for exit and addressing the issue of Vietnamese citizens who have left the country but have not returned on time, stated in Clause 2, Article 1:
As for foreigners, in 2000, the National Assembly abolished exit visas by referring to all types of visas (exit, entry, exit-entry, entry-exit) as visas (valid for entry and exit) in the Ordinance No. 24/2000/PL-UBTVQH10 on Entry, Exit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam by the Standing Committee of the National Assembly.
In 2014, the National Assembly of Vietnam issued the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam (No. 47/2014/QH13), which is the highest legal document that regulates all activities related to the entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam.
See also