Vietnam 90 day e-visa: how the new rules work for visitors

Vietnam 90 day e-visa rules took effect on 15 August 2023, and they change how many visitors can plan a trip. Reports say an e-visa is now open to all foreign arrivals. It can be used for multiple entries within 90 days. Read on for what this means in practice.

This is general information for planning. Treat it as a summary, not legal advice, since rules can be updated by notice. Confirm details with the official government e-visa portal, or ask an immigration lawyer, before you book.

What changed on 15 August 2023

Before this date, Vietnam issued e-visas that were valid for 30 days and one entry, and only to citizens of 80 countries. The new rule removes that limit. Foreign arrivals of any nationality can now be issued an e-visa. The change was set out in Resolution No. 127/NQ-CP of the Government.

The validity is also longer. The new e-visa is valid for multiple entries within 90 days. That is a big step for people who want more than a short trip, such as a long holiday, a family visit, or a slow trip through several regions. Check the official portal for the longest stay allowed on each entry.

The new e-visa also allows more than one entry. With it, a traveler can leave Vietnam and come back during the validity period without applying again. That helps anyone who plans a side trip to a nearby country in the middle of a longer stay.

Sources: Viet Nam News, "Việt Nam grants e-visas to all foreign arrivals, extends unilateral visa-free stay durations for 13 countries" (vietnamnews.vn, 15 August 2023); VietNamNet, "VN grants e-visas to all foreign arrivals" (vietnamnet.vn/en, 15 August 2023), for the start date, the 90 day validity, the old 30 day single entry e-visa for 80 countries and Resolution No. 127/NQ-CP.

Planning around multiple entry

Plan your trip around how you will use it. Some visitors make one arrival and one departure. Others take a break in the middle, or expect to return soon after leaving. The new multiple entry option suits the second group.

Think about your route before you apply. If you may fly to another country for a few days and then come back, multiple entry saves time and avoids a second application. If your plan is simple, you may never use the extra entries.

Fees are set by the government. We do not list a figure here. Check the amount on the official portal at the time you apply, and be careful with sites that add their own charges for the same form.

Where you can enter

An e-visa holder must use an approved border gate. Reports at the time of the change list 13 airports, 16 land border gates and 13 seaports. The reports give different totals for all entry points, so check the official list before you travel.

Sources: Viet Nam News, "Việt Nam grants e-visas to all foreign arrivals, extends unilateral visa-free stay durations for 13 countries" (vietnamnews.vn, 15 August 2023); VietNamNet, "VN grants e-visas to all foreign arrivals" (vietnamnet.vn/en, 15 August 2023), for the numbers of airports, land border gates and seaports.

Match the visa to your purpose

An e-visa is a convenient way to enter, but it is not a promise that every activity is allowed. If you plan business activity or regular work in Vietnam, ask the Vietnamese embassy or consulate which visa type fits, and whether a work permit is needed.

This point is easy to miss. A traveler who attends a meeting or a conference as a guest has a different need from someone who works on site or earns a wage in the country. If you are unsure which group you belong to, ask the host organization that invites you. Do not guess. A wrong visa type can lead to fines or a refused entry.

For leaders and company teams who travel often, plan the visa step early. Put it in the trip checklist next to flights and hotels, and note the date when each visa ends.

This section is general planning advice and makes no claim beyond the sources listed above.

The new 45 day visa exemption

For some visitors no visa is needed. On the same date, the Government issued Resolution No. 128/NQ-CP, which raises the visa free stay from 15 days to 45 days. The resolution names 13 countries. Citizens of Belarus, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, France and Germany qualify.

If you hold a passport from one of these countries, a short trip may not need any application. If you want to stay past 45 days, the e-visa is the clear next option. The reports say the exemption applies to any passport type and any purpose of entry, as long as you meet entry rules under Vietnamese law. Rules can change, so check the current list with an official source before you rely on it.

Even where no visa is needed, you still need a valid passport and proof that you will leave the country. Border officers can ask for both.

Sources: Viet Nam News, "Việt Nam grants e-visas to all foreign arrivals, extends unilateral visa-free stay durations for 13 countries" (vietnamnews.vn, 15 August 2023); VietNamNet, "VN grants e-visas to all foreign arrivals" (vietnamnet.vn/en, 15 August 2023), for Resolution No. 128/NQ-CP, the 45 day stay, the 13 countries and the 15 August start date.

A short checklist before you apply

Use this list to stay on track. First, check that your passport is valid for the whole trip, with spare months beyond your return date. Second, decide whether you may need to leave and return. Third, pick your entry gate from the approved list. Fourth, apply only on the official government portal. Fifth, print the approval and carry it with you.

If your plan includes business work, stop and check the visa type first. If your plan is leisure or a short visit, the new e-visa gives you more room than before. Validity of 90 days, with the option to enter more than once, is a real change for visitors to Vietnam.

Sources: Viet Nam News, "Việt Nam grants e-visas to all foreign arrivals, extends unilateral visa-free stay durations for 13 countries" (vietnamnews.vn, 15 August 2023), for the points drawn from the reported rules. The checklist is general planning advice.

Sources

Viet Nam News, "Việt Nam grants e-visas to all foreign arrivals, extends unilateral visa-free stay durations for 13 countries" (vietnamnews.vn, 15 August 2023), published 15 August 2023.

VietNamNet, "VN grants e-visas to all foreign arrivals" (vietnamnet.vn/en, 15 August 2023), published 15 August 2023.