Do I Need a Visa for Vietnam? (2026)

Who can enter visa-free, who needs the 90-day e-visa, how to apply on the official site, and the Phu Quoc exception.

Published Oct 2026 • Updated Oct 2026 • By the Vietnam Private Tours planning team, reviewed by Van Anh (Founder & Chief Executive Officer)

Quick answer

Citizens of 24 countries enter Vietnam visa-free for up to 45 days, including the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the Nordic countries, Japan and South Korea. Americans, Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders and most other nationalities need an e-visa: applied for online, valid for up to 90 days, single entry US$25 or multiple entry US$50. Apply at least two weeks before you fly, on the official government portal only.

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Visa rules by nationality

Your passport	What you need	Maximum stay
United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, India	E-visa, applied for online before travel	Up to 90 days
United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland	No visa (Resolution 44/NQ-CP, valid to 14 March 2028)	45 days per entry
Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland	No visa for tourism (Resolution 229/NQ-CP, valid to 14 August 2028)	45 days per entry
ASEAN countries (Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and others)	No visa under bilateral agreements	Usually 14–30 days, depending on the country
Any nationality flying or sailing directly to Phu Quoc	No visa, if you stay on Phu Quoc island	30 days
Visa-exempt traveller staying longer than 45 days	E-visa instead of the exemption	Up to 90 days

Your passport must be valid for at least six months from the date you arrive, whichever route you use.

How to apply for the Vietnam e-visa

Go to the official portal run by Vietnam's Immigration Department (linked under Sources below). Ignore the ads above it in search results — many are agencies charging two or three times the government fee.
Upload a clear photo of your passport data page and a recent passport-style photo with a plain background and no glasses.
Choose single or multiple entry, your entry date and your port of entry (for example Noi Bai Airport, Hanoi, or Tan Son Nhat Airport, Ho Chi Minh City). You can enter on or after the date you give.
Pay the fee by card and save the registration code.
Check the portal after about three working days and download the approved e-visa. Check every letter of your name and passport number, then print it or keep it on your phone.

Single or multiple entry?

Choose multiple entry if you will leave Vietnam and come back on the same trip: for example Vietnam → Cambodia for Angkor Wat → back to Vietnam, or a side trip to Laos. Otherwise single entry is enough. Changing a single-entry visa once you are in Vietnam is slow and not always possible.

From our team: the visa mistakes we see most often

Paying an agency by mistake. Guests sometimes pay US$80–150 on a look-alike website for the same e-visa the government issues for US$25.
A name that doesn't match the passport. Middle names left out or swapped around lead to problems at check-in. Copy the name exactly as printed on the passport data page.
Applying too late before Tet. Processing slows down around the Lunar New Year; apply a month ahead if you travel in January or February.
Single entry on a Vietnam–Cambodia trip. If your itinerary leaves Vietnam and comes back, you need multiple entry or a second visa.

When you plan a private tour with us, your specialist checks the current rule for every passport in your group and tells you exactly which visa to apply for before you book flights.

Sources

Visa rules change. Check the official portal or your nearest Vietnamese embassy shortly before you travel.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa to visit Vietnam?

It depends on your passport. Citizens of 24 countries — including the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, the Nordic countries, Japan and South Korea — can visit visa-free for up to 45 days. Citizens of the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, India and most other countries need an e-visa, which is applied for online and allows stays of up to 90 days.

Do US citizens need a visa for Vietnam?

Yes. Americans need a visa for any visit to Vietnam, including tourism. The simplest option is the official e-visa, applied for online before you travel: it allows up to 90 days, single or multiple entry. Apply only through the government portal, not through look-alike agency sites that charge extra.

How long does a Vietnam e-visa take?

The official processing time is about three working days, but it can take longer around Tet (Lunar New Year) and other holidays, and applications with blurred photos are often rejected. Apply at least two to three weeks before you fly so that you have time to correct any mistakes.

How much does a Vietnam e-visa cost?

The government fee is US$25 for a single-entry e-visa and US$50 for a multiple-entry e-visa, paid online by card. Agency sites charge more for the same visa. Check the fee on the official portal when you apply, as it can change.

Which countries can enter Vietnam without a visa for 45 days?

Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland (until 14 March 2028), plus Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland (tourism only, until 14 August 2028). Your passport must be valid for at least six months.

Can I visit Phu Quoc without a visa?

Yes. Foreign visitors who fly or sail directly into Phu Quoc from abroad and stay on the island can visit visa-free for up to 30 days. If you also want to visit mainland Vietnam — Hanoi, Hoi An or Saigon — you need a visa or a visa exemption that covers the mainland.

What do I need to show on arrival in Vietnam?

Your passport (valid for at least six months from arrival, with blank pages), your printed or downloaded e-visa approval if you need one, and proof of onward travel if asked. There is no separate visa-on-arrival form for tourists who already hold an e-visa.

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