How to Get a Vietnam Visa: The Complete Route Map

There are four ways to get a Vietnam visa in 2026: visa exemption (14–45 days depending on nationality), an e-visa you apply for online yourself (up to 90 days, state fee USD 25 or 50), an approval letter obtained by a sponsor in Vietnam (DN, LD, DT, TT, DH and more, with the visa collected at the airport or an embassy), and the 5-year visa exemption certificate for people of Vietnamese origin and their families. Picking the right route at the start decides whether you can later extend or get a residence card. Info Travel advises, checks documents and files for you – WhatsApp +84327828822.

Contents

Do you need a visa for Vietnam?

Is your nationality visa-exempt? Citizens of 24 countries get 45 days under unilateral exemption (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, UK, Russia, Japan, South Korea, the Nordic countries and others; for one group of European countries it covers tourism only). ASEAN citizens get 14–30 days under bilateral agreements. If you stay within that period and do not work, no visa is needed – see exempt countries 2026.
Not exempt, or staying longer for tourism or a short business trip? Apply for an e-visa: up to 90 days, single or multiple entry.
Working, investing, joining family long term or studying? A company, school or relative in Vietnam must obtain an approval letter for the correct visa type (DN, LD, DT, TT, DH). This is the only route that leads to a residence card.
Of Vietnamese origin, or the spouse/child of a Vietnamese citizen? Consider the 5-year visa exemption; each entry allows a stay of up to 180 days.

Visa on arrival is only issued when an approval letter was granted in advance. You cannot simply turn up at the airport and apply.

Travelling as a tourist? If your trip is a holiday, see our dedicated guide on the Vietnam tourist visa: how to get a travel visa, covering 30- or 90-day e-visas, single or multiple entry, fees and visa-free countries.

Route 1 – the Vietnam e-visa

Prepare a passport photo on a white background and a scan of your passport data page (passport valid for at least 6 months).
Complete the online form (NA1a) on the official e-visa portal of the Ministry of Public Security; choose single or multiple entry, entry date and port.
Pay the state fee online: USD 25 (single) or USD 50 (multiple).
Wait for the result: the Law sets 3 working days after a complete application and payment.
Print the e-visa and enter through one of the ports that accept e-visas.

Step-by-step guide: Vietnam e-visa application guide. Avoid look-alike sites that do not end in .gov.vn.

Route 2 – approval letter and visa on arrival or at an embassy

Documents

Sponsor request letter (form NA2 for companies) or family sponsorship form (NA3 for individuals);
Company legal documents and seal/signature registration (NA16) for first-time sponsors;
Copy of the foreigner’s passport;
Proof of purpose: work permit or exemption (LD), capital contribution (DT), family relationship (TT), admission letter (DH).

New forms apply from 1 July 2026 under Circular 70/2026/TT-BCA – see immigration forms.

Steps

The sponsor files with the Immigration Department (in person, by post, or online where eligible).
The Law sets 5 working days for review after a complete file.
Immigration notifies the named Vietnamese embassy/consulate or international airport.
The visa is issued at the embassy before travel, or stamped at the airport on arrival (bring a 4×6 photo, the form and cash for the fee).

More: approval letter service.

Visa durations by type

Code	Purpose	Maximum validity
EV	E-visa	90 days
DL	Tourism	90 days
DN1, DN2	Working with a company	12 months
TT	Family of a resident or citizen	12 months
DH	Study, internship	12 months
LD1, LD2	Employment	2 years
DT1–DT4	Investment (by capital level)	12 months – 5 years

A visa always expires at least 30 days before the passport. Full list: Vietnam visa types.

Vietnam visa fees 2026

State fees under Circular 28/2026/TT-BTC (effective 1 April 2026):

Document	Fee (USD)
Single-entry visa / single-entry e-visa	25
Multiple-entry visa up to 90 days / multiple-entry e-visa	50
Multiple entry, over 90 to 180 days	95
Multiple entry, over 180 days to 1 year	135
Multiple entry, over 1 to 2 years	145
Multiple entry, over 2 to 5 years	155
Child under 14	25
Visa exemption certificate (first issue)	20
Stay extension	10
Residence card (up to 2 / 2–5 / 5–10 years)	145 / 155 / 165

Embassies may apply their own fee schedules. Details: Vietnam visa fees.

Entry conditions at the border

Passport valid for at least 6 months, with blank pages;
A valid visa, e-visa, residence card or exemption certificate – or an exempt nationality;
Entry through the port named on the e-visa or approval;
Not in a refused-entry category (for example deported within the last 3 years or ordered to leave within the last 6 months);
Children under 14 travelling with a parent, guardian or authorised adult.

For a faster arrival, see airport fast track.

After arrival

Temporary residence declaration: your hotel or landlord declares you to the local police – see temporary residence declaration.
Extension: the sponsor applies before expiry; 5 working days – see visa extension.
Residence card: for LD, DT, TT, DH and similar holders staying long term, valid 2–10 years by type – see residence card and card or extension?

Common mistakes

Working on an e-visa or exemption – wrong purpose, and hard to convert without a work permit;
Typos in passport number, date of birth or port on the e-visa – you must reapply and pay again;
Applying on a fake site and paying several times the state fee;
Passport with less than 6 months’ validity;
Overstaying – fined under Decree 282/2025/ND-CP; see overstay fines.

How Info Travel helps

We advise on the right visa, file e-visas, obtain DN/LD/DT/TT/DH approval letters, handle urgent visas and difficult nationalities, and take care of extensions and residence cards after arrival. State fees are listed above; service fees are quoted on WhatsApp +84327828822.

FAQ

Is there a Vietnam visa service near me?

You do not need a local office: Info Travel handles Vietnam visas fully online for travellers in any country. Send your passport scan on WhatsApp/Zalo and we take care of the rest.

How long does a Vietnam visa take?

By law, 3 working days for an e-visa and 5 working days for an approval letter after a complete file. Apply 1–2 weeks before travel, especially in peak season.