Vietnam Immigration Streamlines E-Visa Process

Six months after Vietnam officially reopened its borders to foreign travelers, the Immigration Office implemented policies that are more efficient and simplified, starting with releasing the e-visas within three working days after application, an official from the Ho Chi Minh City Immigration Office told the local media.

Foreign experts, investors, and tourists can enter Vietnam with an e-visa. According to the Immigration official, it is the preferred way for international visitors to enter the country.

“Foreigners in need can access the website of the Ho Chi Minh City Immigration Office to apply for 30-day e-visas regardless of purposes. Vietnam will also issue e-visas to citizens from more countries,” the official added.

Vietnam's e-visa is just one of the several visa options offered by the Vietnam Immigration Department to foreigners entering the country. It’s valid for 30 days and for single entry only. It costs 25 USD for card payments.

While Vietnam had been granting e-visas before the COVID-19 pandemic halted travel, the number of e-visa applications is increasing every day since the tourism reopening.

However, because of the high demand, e-visa applications had to wait for weeks to get approval. Some even have to cancel their trips entirely because the whole process took longer than expected.

A Facebook user posted on one of the expat groups in Ho Chi Minh City said, “My partner and I were supposed to fly to Vietnam tomorrow for our long overdue honeymoon. The problem is, until today, we have not received any response or confirmation about our e-visas. Now we’ll have to cancel most of our pre-booked trips and reschedule the rest.”

“Vietnam’s immigration processes should keep up,” the user added. “Many people want to visit the beautiful country, but the process pushes us away.”

Another foreigner expressed the e-visa duration is too short and that extending it is “too complicated and a headache.” Some aren’t even certain how the procedure and requirements.

Before sending your application, make sure your nationality is one of those approved for Vietnam’s e-visa:

• Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China (including Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR passport holders, not applicable to Chinese e-passport holders), Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Myanmar, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, Salomons Islands, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Philippines, Timor Leste, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, and Western Samoa.

Here are the requirements:

• Your passport that’s valid for the next six (6) months
• Your photo in .jpg format of your full passport data page
• Your passport photo in .jpg format (4x6, white background, without glasses)
• Your valid international credit or debit card
• Your email address for documentation
• Your temporary address in Vietnam
• Your entry and exit dates and entry and exit points/airports

Apply for e-visas here.