Are you planning a trip to Vietnam? You might need a Vietnam e-visa. A Vietnam e-visa is an electronic visa that allows eligible foreign nationals to travel to Vietnam for tourism and business purposes. In this article, we answer some of the most frequently asked questions about Vietnam e-visas.

1. What is a Vietnam e-visa?

• A Vietnam e-visa is an electronic visa that allows eligible foreign nationals to enter Vietnam for a maximum of 30 days at a time for tourism and business purposes. Note that business purposes only include business meetings and other business activities that do not require compensation for work from a Vietnam company. IMPORTANT UPDATE: As of August 15, 2023, the Vietnam e-visa also offer a longer option with the introduction of a 90-day multiple entry e-visa.

2. How does the Vietnam e-visa look-like?

• As opposed to traditional sticker visas affixed on 1 passport page, the Vietnam e-visa is a stand-alone letter page format. It is a pdf document received electronically via email and should be printed when traveling to Vietnam.

3. Who is eligible to apply for a Vietnam e-visa?

• As of August 15, 2023, all citizens holding a valid passport are eligible. Whereas, prior to August 15, citizens of 80 eligible countries, including the US, Canada, UK, and Australia, were eligible to apply for a Vietnam e-visa. All EU countries were eligible as well. See the 80 eligible countries.

4. How long is a Vietnam e-visa valid for?

• The are two options: First, the short-term Vietnam e-visa, valid for a maximum of 30 days for single-entry, and only valid for 30 consecutive days. The longer option allows a maximum of 90 days multiple entries.

5. What types of activities are permitted with a Vietnam e-visa?

• A Vietnam e-visa allows visitors to participate in a range of activities such as tourism, business meetings, visiting friends and family, and medical treatment.

6. How long does it take to process a Vietnam e-visa application?

• The processing time for a Vietnam e-visa application is typically 3-5 business days. Keep in mind that you will need to take into account Vietnam holidays that may delay the application result.

7. How much does a Vietnam e-visa cost?

• The government fee of a Vietnam e-visa is $25 USD for a single-entry visa. For a 90-day multiple entry e-visa, the government fee is $50 USD.

8. What are the requirements for a Vietnam e-visa application?

• The main requirements for a Vietnam e-visa application include a valid passport that will not expire during your stay in Vietnam, a recent passport-style photo that matches your passport photo, address and phone number of main residence, address and phone number of stay , port of entry/exit, whether the applicant has multiple passport, history of previous trips to Vietnam, emergency contact information, amount of money for the trip and payment for the visa fee.

9. Can I apply for a Vietnam e-visa if I have a criminal record?

• If you have a criminal record in Vietnam, you may be

10. What are the steps to apply for a Vietnam e-visa?

• The steps to apply for a Vietnam e-visa include completing an application, submitting the required documents, and paying the visa fee. Duong Global will take care of that for you! 

11. Can I apply for a Vietnam e-visa on arrival?  

• No, a Vietnam e-visa must be applied for online in advance of arrival in Vietnam. It is recommended to give a 15-day time prior to the arrival to submit the application in order to ensure approval. 

12. Can I enter Vietnam multiple times with an e-visa?

• Yes, as of August 15, 2023, the Vietnam e-visa is also valid for a multiple entry option into Vietnam. 

13. Can I extend my stay in Vietnam with an e-visa?

• No, a Vietnam e-visa cannot be extended. 

14. Can I work in Vietnam with an e-visa?

• No, a Vietnam e-visa does not permit visitors to work in Vietnam. You will need to apply for a business/investor visa and work permit to be able to work in Vietnam. Note that foreign citizens under a family visa are only required to apply for a work permit in order to work in Vietnam. 

15. Do I need to show proof of onward travel to apply for a Vietnam e-visa?

•  No, proof of onward travel is not required to apply for a Vietnam e-visa. However, you will need to show your return ticket (booking confirmation) at the immigration port of entry. 
  

  

16. Can I apply for a Vietnam e-visa if I hold a refugee travel document?

• Yes, holders of refugee travel documents are eligible to apply for a Vietnam e-visa depending on the validity and nature of travel documents. 

17. Can I apply for a Vietnam e-visa if I hold a stateless person travel document?  

• No. 

18. Can I apply for a Vietnam e-visa if I hold a travel document issued by an unrecognized state?

• No, individuals holding a travel document issued by an unrecognized are not eligible for a Vietnam e-visa. 

19. What documents do I need to present upon arrival in Vietnam with an e-visa?

• Visitors with a Vietnam e-visa need to show their passport, printed e-visa and booking confirmation upon arrival. 

20.What should I do if I lose my e-visa while in Vietnam?

• You will receive your e-visa in a pdf document via email. If you lose your e-visa, use the pdf file to print it again.  

21. Can I use a Vietnam e-visa to enter Vietnam through any port of entry?  

• No, a Vietnam e-visa is only valid for entry through select ports of entry, including international airports and some border crossings. See the accepted ports of entry here.. 

22. What happens if my Vietnam e-visa application is rejected?  

• If your Vietnam e-visa application is rejected, you can reapply with the correct information. However, the processing fee is non-refundable. Therefore, no refund will be given if your visa application is rejected. 

23. Can I cancel my Vietnam e-visa application after it has been submitted?

• You cannot cancel your Vietnam e-visa application after it has been submitted. However, you can reapply  a second time right away provided the fee is paid. It will automatically discard your first application.

24. What is the difference between a Vietnam e-visa and a visa on arrival?

• The main difference between a Vietnam e-visa and a visa on arrival is that the former is applied for online before your trip, while the latter is obtained upon arrival at a Vietnamese airport.  

25. Do I need to provide a photo for my Vietnam e-visa application?

• Yes, you need to provide a photo for your Vietnam e-visa application. The photo should be in .jpg format on a white background and without glasses. The photo size should be 4cmx6cm. 

26. How long does it take to receive my Vietnam e-visa after it has been approved?

• After approval, it will be sent immediately by email. 

27. Can I use my Vietnam e-visa to enter Vietnam by land?

• Yes, you can use your Vietnam e-visa to enter Vietnam by land. The e-visa is valid for entry through any of the 33 designated border crossings (airports, land crossings, and seaports). 

28. What should I do if there is a mistake on my Vietnam e-visa?

• We will ensure there is no mistake on your Vietnam e-visa. However, If the information provided is incorrect, you may need to apply again in case the provided information prevent you from entering and/or exiting Vietnam.  

29. Can I apply for a Vietnam e-visa if I am already in Vietnam?

• Yes, you can apply for a Vietnam e-visa while in Vietnam. However, you will need to exit Vietnam the visa you entered with and re-enter Vietnam to activate and consume the e-visa you applied for while in Vietnam. 

30. Can I use a Vietnam e-visa to enter Vietnam for business purposes?

• Yes, you can use a Vietnam e-visa to enter Vietnam for business purposes. In this particular case, the definition of business purposes include business meetings, supplier visit, business partnership search and other business activities that are not remunerated by a Vietnamese company for the mentioned tasks. However, if responsibilities and duties derive from a labor contract remunerated or not by a Vietnamese company, a work permit along an eligible visa will be required. 

31. What is the penalty for overstaying a Vietnam e-visa?

• The penalty for overstaying a Vietnam e-visa is a fine, which varies depending on the number of days overstayed. According to the Vietnam Immigration Department, the current fine for overstaying a Vietnam e-visa is VND 500,000 per day, up to a maximum of VND 10,000,000, as explained in this video. 

32. Do Americans who have travelled recently to Vietnam, via Hanoi, with an e-visa have to pay any extra fee at arrival?

• No. 

33. Is there any necessary vaccine paperwork?

• No longer needed, as of May 15, 2022. 

34. Do you need to leave Vietnam first then apply for the evisa? Or can you apply for the future re-entry even though you’re in Vietnam on a previous visa? 

• The Vietnam e-visa can be applied while under the first e-visa in Vietnam. You do not need to leave Vietnam to apply for a future e-visa. However, you will need to leave the country with your current e-visa on or before the expiry date and re-enter the country with the new e-visa

35. Can I apply for another e-visa for Vietnam even though I am already here on a 1 month evisa? Or should I just get one on arrival when I come back in? 

• Yes.

36. Wrong name order on Vietnamese e-visa, people keep telling me it’s fine but does anyone have personal experience with it? 

• For the visa to be valid, the name should be identical to the passport’s name holder. In such a case, a new e-visa application has to be submitted.

37. On my e-visa I put the wrong exit point will they allow me to leave the country on the wrong exit point? 

• No. The physical exit of the country needs to be identical to the exit point on the submitted e-visa application.

38. We are planning to spend around 6 months in Vietnam on the tourist visas. We hoped to apply for our e-visa a few days before it expires and stay in another country for a week. Although we saw somewhere that it states we must stay out of Vietnam for at least 30 days. Is that true? 

• No longer true.

39. How many days before visa expires do you request a new e-visa? 

• It is best to give a minimum of 7 business days to request a new e-visa in order to ensure that it is granted. But it can be done before.

Contact the experts:

William Dos Santos

Co-Founder | VP of Marketing & Communications | Managing Partner

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