How to Get a Vietnam Visa: The Complete Route Map
There are four legal routes into Vietnam. Picking the wrong one is what turns a simple trip into a border problem, so start here.
Route 1 — Visa exemption
Free, no paperwork, 14 to 45 days depending on nationality. No work allowed, no extension. Check your nationality: exempt countries 2026.
Route 2 — E-visa
Online, no sponsor, up to 90 days, single or multiple entry, 25–50 USD government fee. Best for tourists and short business trips. Details: e-visa service.
Route 3 — Approval letter, visa collected on arrival
Requires a sponsor in Vietnam. Supports every symbol — DL, DN, LD, DT, TT — durations from one month to five years, and it is the only route that leads to a residence card. Details: approval letter service.
Route 4 — Visa at a Vietnamese embassy
The approval letter is sent to a named mission and the visa is issued there before departure. Used where the airline or the nationality requires a visa before boarding.
Choosing
| Your situation | Route |
|---|---|
| Holiday, 2–6 weeks, exempt nationality | Exemption |
| Holiday or short business, not exempt | E-visa |
| Meetings or project work with a Vietnamese company | DN approval letter |
| Employment | Work permit then LD visa |
| Living with family here | TT visa, then TT residence card |
| Investor | DT visa by capital contribution |
Once inside Vietnam: the accommodation files a temporary residence declaration, and you diarise the expiry date.
