Vietnam E Visa Application & Requirements

In this article, we're tackling the basics of pricing, processing times, the files you’ll need, visit duration particulars, and typical blunders made when filling out an application.

Getting Your Vietnam E-Visa Started

You’re probably all geared up to travel to Southeast Asia, Vietnam, and with good reason. Vietnam has an abundance of picturesque places, a beautiful culture, and wonderful people. Whether you're traveling for work or on holiday, with all this excitement, it's easy to miss a few important basics. These next tips will go a long way toward helping create a smooth process.

Vietnam E-Visa Requirements: Here's What You Need

Before you start your Vietnam e-visa application, you'll also need some important paperwork on hand. This part matters because if any of these necessary files are missing in the application, it could result in delays or, worse, invalidate your application.

What Documents Do You Need for the Vietnam E-Visa?

E-visas are processed by the Vietnam immigration department based in Hanoi. To apply for yours, you’d have to provide a passport valid for at least half a year beyond your entry date. Your passport information must be valid and presented with a color-scanned copy. Besides having your passport ready a few months in advance, you’ll also need your intended entry and exit dates, your accommodation address, and, of course, money to process the payment.

What Are the Photo Requirements for the Vietnam E-Visa?

When it comes to photos, errors are definitely not that uncommon. In fact, they tend to be one of the main reasons for application rejections. To make certain you don't fall into the same situation, steer clear of submitting selfies or using backgrounds that are not plain white. While selfies seem convenient with a "point and snap" on your phone, they don't provide the standard professional look required.

Easy to Follow Application Process

It's best to use the official Vietnamese government e-visa sites, such as the Public Services Portal of the Ministry of Public Security or the Ministry of Public Security Immigration Department, for your application. You'll save yourself from dealing with potentially unscrupulous companies roaming online. Once you’re there, you can complete the requirements for your e-visa application.

Access The Vietnam E-Visa Portal

Once you've accessed the authorized portal, you’ll find all the tools you need to start your application. The site is available in English and is simple and user-friendly.

Agree to The Terms and Conditions

After reading the terms and conditions, you can check off the declaration box confirming that you’ve done so. Once you click "Agree," it will proceed to the next step, where your personal credentials are needed.

Enter Your Personal Data

It matters to fill in your details exactly as they appear in your passport, like your name, date of birth, nationality, gender, and anything else on the bio page. Another problem many applicants face comes from using inverted names. Even though names are written this way in Vietnam, they should appear as they are on your legal documents.

Upload Your Files

Next, upload both your passport bio-data page scan and your passport photo. The portal will automatically flag any file size errors, but it won't detect bad image quality, which can be an issue. The photo should be "crisp," non-blurry, and unobstructed before uploading.

Enter Your Travel Details

You’ll also need to provide your travel itinerary details. The details should include your entry and exit dates within the 90 days of your stay. The port of entry (seaport, land border, or airport), the reason for visiting Vietnam, and an accommodation address.

Double Check Your Application

After completing the online application, the portal will populate a full summary. Once the summary appears, you can use the opportunity to double-check that all the information is correct. Any errors, even the smallest ones, in your names, passport number, or entry port details are very difficult to correct after you've already sent it.

Make Your Visa Payment

You can choose from two e-visa types. The single-entry Vietnam e-visa is USD 25, and the multiple-entry one is USD 50. Once you've completed the payment, you should receive an immediate payment confirmation. It helps to keep in mind that the E-Visa is non-refundable, even if the application was rejected.

Download Your Approved E-Visa

The last step in the process is downloading the PDF. At the same time, have at least two printed copies to carry alongside your passport.

What Is the E-Visa Processing Time?

Processing times are usually affected by bank holidays, weekends, and other special factors that might take priority. For the most part, the standard processing time is estimated at 3 business days. Getting your E-Visa can bring about mixed feelings, especially if you’re not sure what to expect or have to wait it out. Thankfully, you can easily check your e-visa status online at any time. It's also helpful to apply at least 2 weeks before departure to account for any Vietnamese public holidays or potential resubmission requirements.

How to Check Your Electronic Visa Status

You can easily track your e-visa status on the official portal at any time.

Once you’re signed in, you can click on “look up e-visa,” and you will be able to put your details in, like your passport number and application reference number. After completing this step, the system should populate your visa’s particulars if it's available. It takes about three business days to see any information, and checking before the three days have passed will return “blank” results.

When the results are available, they should either reflect as “approved,” “processing,” or “rejected.”

The Vietnam e-visa 90-day change during 2023, was a huge leap in the way travelers could apply for their visa online. With a multiple-entry visa, you’re allowed to leave and re-enter the country within the allotted 90 days. The “timer” on your 90 days starts on entry. If you want to extend your visa, note that e-visas cannot be extended in Vietnam. Instead, you must exit the country and reapply.

Below is an example of the 90-Day Vietnam E-Visa for perspective  

What Are the Most Common Vietnam E-Visa Slip-Ups to Avoid?

Errors happen all the time, and this is normal. Still, even the smallest mistakes during the application process can cause major delays and immigration issues with the visa. Some of the worst scenarios are complete rejections. Here are some of those mishaps to avoid when applying for your e-visa.

Avoid Using Inverted Name Formats

In Vietnam, the family name is usually placed first before the first and second names. Some applicants assume it’s correct to have the name inverted as well, which can cause problems. The portal requires your name exactly as it appears on your passport, which for many people is their given name first and their family name last. For instance, “Mitchell Sarah” should be “Sarah Mitchell.”

Photo Best Practices

Photo issues are not uncommon in visa applications; that’s why using a professional photo kiosk helps. Avoid a white background, selfies, or wearing obscuring items like glasses and hats. As for the size, avoid uploading files larger than 2 MB.

Passport Expiry Oversight

Your passport must be at least valid for a minimum of 6 months before you land in the country. The validity date of your passport is always checked at the airline’s check-in desk rather than on the visa portal. It’s easy to miss this, so you may only discover the issue on the day you travel.

Using Third-Party Sites

Fly-by-night “dodgy” sites can charge a massive 50USD –150 USD extra for the same services that cost 25 USD through the government process. Always use authorized government websites for your application process.

Using an Obstructed Passport Scan

The immigration officer must be able to read every character on your bio-data page. You should scan it at a minimum of 300 DPI in color.

Using the Inaccurate Entry Port

Even if it was by accident, entering the wrong point of entry raises flags. If your travel plans change after approval, your only option is to reapply with the correct port of entry.

Not Printing a Physical Copy

Vietnam immigration officers expect a physically printed copy of your e-visa. Showing it on a phone screen won’t be accepted. Having at least two copies is good.

Quick Checklist Before You Submit Your Vietnam E-Visa Application

• Your passport is valid for at least more than six months beyond the entry date
• You’re using a white-background passport photo in JPEG format, less than 2MB
• You have  a clear color scan of your passport bio-data page
• The name entered matches your passport and is not inverted
• You have the correct port of entry selected
• All your dates are correct and in the allocated period
• You've used a valid and verified email address
• You’re only applying on the official government portal

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