Short answer: "File has script tag, please try again" is an upload error on evisa.gov.vn. It does not mean your photo contains a virus or that your application is being refused. The portal's upload filter has rejected that particular file. In almost every case the fix is to make a fresh, plain JPG of the same photo, keep it well under 2 MB, and upload it again from a computer.
Nothing is lost yet. This error appears before you pay, while you are still uploading. Your details are not submitted and you have not been charged.
Why it happens
The Vietnam Immigration Department has never published an explanation for this message. What travellers and agencies see in practice is that the portal scans each uploaded image and refuses files it doesn't like. The usual triggers are:
- Extra data inside the file added by a phone camera, an editing app or a scanner app (location, edit history, embedded previews).
- The wrong format with a .jpg name. iPhone photos are HEIC by default, and some apps save PNG or WebP files that still end in .jpg.
- A large or heavily processed file, often close to or over the 2 MB limit.
The same photo can fail once and pass after it is re-saved. That's why the fixes below focus on producing a clean new file rather than taking new pictures.
How to fix it, step by step
Try these in order. Most people are through after step 1 or 2.
- Export a fresh JPG. Open the original photo on a computer and use “Save as” or “Export” to a new JPG file. On Windows, Paint works: open the image, then File > Save as > JPEG. On a Mac, use Preview: File > Export > Format: JPEG. Upload the new file, not the old one.
- Make it smaller. Keep the file around 1 MB or less while the face and the passport text stay sharp. When exporting, lower the quality slider a little or reduce the image to about 1200–1500 pixels on the long side.
- Use a simple file name. Rename it to something like
photo.jpgorpassport.jpg: letters only, no spaces, accents or symbols. On its own this rarely fixes the error, but it rules out one more cause. - Switch device and browser. Upload from a computer using Chrome or Firefox. Phone browsers and Safari cause more upload failures on this portal.
- Start from a different copy. If the file came through WhatsApp, email or a cloud folder, go back to the original photo, or take a new one in good light, then repeat step 1.
Quick checklist before you upload
| Check | Portrait photo | Passport data page |
|---|---|---|
| Format | JPG / JPEG | JPG / JPEG |
| Size | Under 2 MB (aim for about 1 MB) | Under 2 MB (aim for about 1 MB) |
| Content | Recent photo, plain light background, no glasses | Whole page, all four corners, both code lines at the bottom readable |
| Not accepted | HEIC, PNG, PDF, a crop of the passport photo | Photocopies, photos of a screen, glare over the text |
For the full photo rules, see eVisa photo and passport requirements.
Still getting the error?
If a clean JPG from a computer still fails, the problem is likely on the portal's side that day. The site is often slow or unstable at busy times. Wait a few hours and try again, ideally late evening or early morning Vietnam time (GMT+7). Other portal problems and their fixes are covered in evisa.gov.vn not working.
If your flight is close, don't spend the evening fighting the upload form. Send us the photos as they are. We prepare the files, check every detail against your passport and submit the application for you. See our urgent options.
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Start application Ask on WhatsAppQuick answers
What does “script tag” mean on a passport photo?
A “script tag” is a piece of website code (<script>). The portal checks every uploaded image for hidden code, and ordinary photos sometimes trip that check because of extra data that phones, editing apps and scanner apps store inside the file. It says nothing about your face, your passport or your eligibility. Re-save the photo as a fresh JPG (step 1 above) and it usually passes.
Does “script tag” mean my photo has a virus?
No. It's the portal's upload filter rejecting the file. Re-saving the same photo as a clean JPG almost always solves it.
Will this error count against my application?
No. Nothing has been submitted or paid at this stage, so there's no record of a failed application.
Can I upload a PNG or PDF instead?
No. The portal accepts JPG/JPEG only, for both the portrait and the passport page.
I fixed the photo but now payment fails. What now?
That's a separate problem. See eVisa payment failed.
This guide is general information. Vietnam visa rules and processing times change — always check the current requirements. evisavietnamexpress.com is a private visa assistance service, not the official government portal.