Short answer: most travellers need a visa for Vietnam, and the easiest one is the eVisa: online, up to 90 days, $25 single or $50 multiple entry, available to every nationality. About 40 countries can visit without a visa for a set number of days. The main groups are below. Lists change, so check before you travel.
Visa-free stays (ordinary passports)
| Days | Nationalities (main examples) |
|---|---|
| 90 | Chile, Panama |
| 45 | United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Switzerland, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovenia, Russia, Japan, South Korea |
| 30 | Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia and others |
| 21 / 14 | Philippines (21), Brunei (14) |
Not on the list? That includes the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India and China. You need a visa, and the eVisa is the usual route.
Things that catch people out
- Visa-free days can't be extended. If your trip is longer than your exempt period, get an eVisa from the start.
- Passport validity. Exempt or not, your passport should be valid for at least 6 months after arrival.
- Phu Quoc exception. Any nationality can stay up to 30 days visa-free on Phu Quoc island, but only if you fly in directly from abroad and don't go on to the mainland.
- Special passports. Exemptions apply to ordinary national passports. For example, British National (Overseas) passports are not covered by the UK exemption. See Vietnam visa for UK citizens.
- Arrival card. Even visa-free travellers may need to file the online pre-arrival declaration at some airports. See the arrival card guide.
Which visa route?
For tourism and short business trips: the eVisa. Visa on arrival still exists for air travel with a pre-arranged approval letter, but it is slower and costs more. See eVisa vs visa on arrival. Work, study and long stays need a sponsored visa through an employer, school or family.
Quick answers
I'm only staying a few days. Do I still need a visa?
Yes, unless your nationality is exempt. There is no short-stay exception for visa-required nationalities, except transit without passing immigration.
Can I stay longer than my visa-free period?
Not by extending it. Get an eVisa for longer trips, or leave and re-enter.
Do I need a visa to transit through Vietnam?
Not if you stay airside and don't go through immigration. If you collect bags or leave the airport, you need one. See transit through Vietnam.
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.