Vietnam’s e-visa system lets eligible travelers apply online for a visa before arrival, rather than arranging a visa through an embassy or consulate. It’s a genuinely useful option for a growing list of nationalities, but it’s also one of the most commonly scammed visa processes online — numerous non-government sites mimic the official portal’s look to charge inflated “service fees.” Here’s what the e-visa actually involves in 2026.
Who’s eligible
Vietnam’s e-visa is available to a long list of nationalities (expanded in recent years to cover most of the world), issued for tourism, business, and some other short-stay purposes. A smaller number of nationalities get visa-free entry for short stays under bilateral agreements instead and don’t need an e-visa at all for those trip lengths. Because eligibility lists and visa-free agreements are updated periodically, check your nationality’s current status on the official portal before assuming you qualify or need to apply.
Fees and where to apply
The e-visa fee is widely reported as:
- USD 25 for a single-entry e-visa
- USD 50 for a multiple-entry e-visa
paid by credit or debit card directly on the application portal. Apply only through the official
government site. The portal has changed domains at least once recently — it moved from
xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn to new addresses (reported as evisa.gov.vn and thithucdientu.gov.vn) in late
2024. Because the URL has shifted and many copycat sites exist, search for “Vietnam e-visa
official” close to your application date and verify you’re on a .gov.vn domain rather than
clicking a result from a travel-agency or forwarding site, several of which charge double or
triple the government fee for the same service.
Validity and stay length
Most current sources describe e-visa validity as up to 90 days, available as single-entry or multiple-entry. A small number of older or nationality-specific pages describe a 30-day maximum, which appears to apply to a different or outdated visa category rather than the current standard e-visa — your approval letter, not a general guide, is the authoritative source for your specific permitted stay. The entry date on your approved e-visa is fixed (you can’t enter earlier than that date), but you can generally exit any time before the visa’s expiration.
What you’ll need to apply
- A digital passport photo (commonly specified as 4×6cm, JPG format, under 2MB).
- A clear photo or scan of your passport’s biographical page, with all details legible.
- A valid credit or debit card for the application fee.
- Passport validity — plan for at least 6 months of remaining validity beyond your entry date; some 2026 guidance describes this being enforced more strictly, though confirm current practice.
Processing time
Standard e-visa processing is commonly reported at 3–5 working days, though guidance consistently recommends applying with a buffer — roughly 7–10 days before travel — rather than at the last minute, since processing can occasionally run longer during peak travel periods.
A note on arrival requirements
Some 2026 guidance mentions additional entry steps at certain airports, such as a digital arrival declaration to be completed shortly before landing. Airport-specific or newly introduced requirements like this change faster than general visa rules, so check the official portal or your airline shortly before departure for anything beyond the e-visa itself.
This is not legal advice
Vietnam’s e-visa fees, validity lengths, and portal address have all changed within the past two years, and policy can shift again. Nothing here is legal advice — confirm current requirements, fees, and the correct application URL directly on Vietnam’s official e-visa portal before applying or paying.
Planning a Southeast Asia trip with multiple visa requirements to track? Join the VisaMet waitlist for plain-language updates as rules change.