Vietnam Visa On Arrival
Visa on arrival is a process of obtaining an approval letter from a travel agency in Vietnam to get the visa stamped at an international airport in Vietnam upon arrival. As of now, visa on arrival is applicable only to those traveling in EMERGENCY situations.
Step by step guide
Before you apply
Why choose visa on arrival
See howVisa on arrival is a convenient option for travelers who are unable to apply for a visa in advance through a Vietnamese embassy or consulate, or for those who need to apply for a visa at short notice.
- Convenient - Everything will be done online, no passport sendoff, no documents required.
- Low cost - Relatively cheap in compared to other methods of getting a visa to Vietnam.
- Fast - In emergency cases, it is possible to obtain a visa approval letter in just 2-3 hours.
List of applicable airports
See how- Noi Bai International Airport - HAN
- Da Nang International Airport - DAD
- Tan Son Nhat International Airport - SGN
- Cam Ranh International Airport - CXR
- Phu Quoc International Airport - PQC
- Can Tho International Airport - VCA
- Cat Bi International Airport - HPH
Things to know
See how- Unlike other countries such as Cambodia and Thailand where visas can be obtained upon landing at border gates, Vietnam requires travelers to apply for a pre-approved visa letter through a travel/visa agency in order to get the visa stamp upon arrival.
- The 15 day free visa exemption has been extended to June 2025 for the passport holders from United Kingdom, France, - Spain, Italy and Germany. Travellers from these countries can travel to Vietnam without a visa for 15 days, longer term visas can be obtained through visa on arrival or at the local embassy.
- As of November 2014, visitors who fly directly to Phu Quoc airport and stay on the island are exempt from the entry visa requirement for up to 30 days.
Gather your documents
Make sure your passport has at least 6 months of validity remaining and 2 blank visa pages for visa stamp. If you plan to get a new passport, it is advised that you do it before applying.
Preparing 02 recently taken photos with regular passport size of 4x6cm (2x2in).
A printout and pre-filled entry/exit form to save your time at Vietnam airport.
Apply for your visa
Detailed guide for the visa-on-arrival application process:
- Step 1: Apply online for an approval letter, which may take 3-5 working days for standard processing and 8 working hours for urgent processing.
- Step 2: Receive the approval letter by email and print a hard copy. Prepare 2 passport sized photos, your passport (must be valid for at least 6 months at time of entry) and stamping fee of 25 USD (for single entry visa) and 50 USD (for multiple entry visa) in cash.
- Step 3: Present all above mentioned documents to get your visa stamp upon arrival at an international airport in Vietnam (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh city, Nha Trang, Hai Phong and Da Nang). That it is!
Information for getting a visa on arrival for Vietnam
As of January 2024, a visa on arrival is made available to visitors traveling to Vietnam in emergency cases. If you are NOT in an urgent or emergency situation, it is recommended that you applied for an e-visa instead.
What is visa on arrival?
Vietnam visa on arrival (VOA) or Landing visa is a legit visa type that allows foreigners to collect a visa upon entry to enter and exit Vietnam. If visa at Embassy and e-visa is available for many ports including airport, landport, and seaport, visa on arrival is only available for those who enter Vietnam by air and at one of 8 given international airports in Vietnam.
Instead of getting a visa affixed to passports in advance of the trip, applicants are required to apply for a visa approval letter (also known as pre-approved visa letter or visa invitation letter) via a local visa agency in Vietnam first, then this letter is used to take a visa stamp on the passport upon arrival at the airport.
Visa on arrival in brief
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Pros and cons of applying for a visa-on-arrival
Pros
As its name implies, visa-on-arrival is usually known for its convenience, especially for those who cannot go to the Embassy/Consulate in their country to apply for a visa. Besides, there are a bunch of pros you may not know:
- Convenience: No need to prepare many documents to submit in person at the Embassy, no passport sendoff, Vietnam Landing visa only requires some information for the application form and pre-approved visa letter. Then, the visa stamp will be provided upon your entry. The visa approval letter process is conducted easily online with the support of the local agency.
- Time-saving: Visa on arrival is best for those who do not have time to go to the Embassy. Moreover, this type of visa is best for emergency cases. The urgent visa application may take only 2 - 3 hours.
- Cost-saving: Document preparation fee, postage fee to send documents, or travel costs to the Embassy will be cut off with visa-on-arrival. You just need to pay a stamping fee at the airport to get a visa to Vietnam.
- Various entry types: Multiple entries are available compared with a single entry for an E-visa.
- Eligible applicants: If e-visa is only applied for citizens of 80 countries, Vietnam visa on arrival is available for citizens of all nations if they enter Vietnam by air.
Cons
Besides all the appealing Pros, applicants can consider the following Cons of a visa-on-arrival while traveling to Vietnam.
- No official website: Visa on arrival cannot be applied by foreign individuals themselves. There is no official website for the visa-on-arrival service owned by government organizations or the Vietnam Immigration Department. There must be a third party (a Vietnamese visa agency) involved in the process. They will provide you with the pre-approved visa letter and they are all private organizations/agencies.
- Queuing at the airport: To get your visa stamped, you have to wait in line at the Visa Application counter at the Arrival Immigration area of the airport. This usually takes around 15 - 20 minutes in the low season (May to September). However, it also may last for 30 minutes - 1 hour during the high season (October to April). This is uncontrollable so it might affect your plan after.
- Entry/exit checkpoints: Although 8 out of 10 Vietnam international airports accept visa on arrival, you still have to check if your entry/exit checkpoint is applicable (*).
- Pre-approved visa letter: Since the visa approval letter can be applied to a group of foreigners, the local agency can make a combined approval letter. Hence, you may see other foreigners’ names in your letter.
- Varied visa fee: There is no fixed visa fee for a landing visa since you will pay for 2 kinds of fee. The fee for a pre-approved visa letter is varied depending on your agency and the stamping fee is USD 25 - 50 depending on your visa type (duration of stay, single or multiple entries). Besides, only cash is accepted for the stamping fee at the arrival port.
(*) List of 8 Vietnam international airports allowing visa on arrival:
- Noi Bai International Airport (Hanoi)
- Tan Son Nhat International Airport (Ho Chi Minh City)
- Danang International Airport (Danang)
- Cat Bi International Airport (Hai Phong)
- Cam Ranh International Airport (Khanh Hoa)
- Lien Khuong International Airport (Lam Dong)
- Can Tho International Airport (Can Tho)
- Phu Quoc International Airport (Phu Quoc)
Who is eligible?
If a traditional visa at the Vietnamese Embassy/Consulate is eligible for any citizen in the world, visa on arrival is eligible for following applicants:
- Tourists: Foreigner tourists joining a Vietnam tour organized by a Vietnam travel agency.
- Business travelers: Foreign citizens traveling to Vietnam for business or commercial purposes.
- Transit travelers: Vietnam is one of many destinations in the applicant's journey.
- Foreign crew members who are on the ship at Vietnamese seaports wishing to exit Vietnam through another country's border gate.
- Foreigners and overseas Vietnamese returning to Vietnam to attend a relative's funeral or visit relatives who are seriously ill.
- Foreigners entering Vietnam in urgent cases such as incident handling, rescuing, natural disaster prevention, epidemic prevention or special request from a competent Vietnamese agency.
Conditions / Applicable laws
Although citizens all over the world can apply for a visa on arrival if they travel to Vietnam by air and enter/exit one of 8 designated airports, there are some other conditions that you must comply with as below:
- Foreigners coming from a country without the Vietnam Embassy/Consulate.
- Foreigners residing in other countries and currently not present in the Vietnam territory.
- Foreigners having valid passports with at least 6 months validity in advance of the planned stay in Vietnam.
- Foreigners coming to Vietnam by air and having the entry/exit checkpoints at one of 8 international airports allowing visa-on-arrival.
- Those who are not banned from entering Vietnam as prescribed in Article 21 of the Law on entry, exit, transit and residence of foreigners in Vietnam.
How to apply
Preparation
To get ready for a visa on arrival, you need to prepare all the followings:
- A hard copy of a pre-approved visa letter approved by the Vietnam Immigration Department.
- A visa application form (entry and exit declaration form) provided by the local visa agency (Form NA1).
- 02 photos (4x6 or 3x4, same size, white or plain background, newly taken in 6 months, straight looking, without glasses or scarf) (01 is pasted on the visa application form, 01 is used for presentation if needed).
- A valid passport with a validity of at least 06 months beyond your stay in Vietnam.
- Stamping fee in cash (USD25-50 based on your visa type).
Application
There are things you need to do in advance of your trip and while being at the arrival port to get a visa. Here are 3 steps you need to follow:
- Step 1: Apply for a visa approval letter through a visa agency. The process may take 2 - 5 working days or just 2 - 4 working hours if you choose urgent service.
- Step 2: Receive your visa approval letter along with the visa application form (NA1) by email. Print a hard copy for both documents. Fill up all the information required in the visa application form and prepare 02 passport sized photos, a valid original passport, and stamping fee in cash.
- Step 3: At immigration/landing visa counter at the arrival port, present all documents and things in Step 2 to get your visa stamp.
Processing time and fee
Processing time
Since the pre-approved visa letter is compulsory for a Vietnam visa on arrival, you need to estimate the time to prepare this paper in advance of your trip. The processing time for a pre-approved visa letter varies from a few hours to a few working days. The urgent letter just needs 2 - 4 hours while the regular one takes 2 - 5 days. After you get all the documents needed, it takes you around 15 minutes to 1 hour at the arrival port to get a visa stamped, based on the waiting line.
Fee
There are 2 fees for a visa on arrival. The fee varies on each visa agency and visa type. The shorter time you want to take the visa approval letter, the higher price you pay.
Please refer to the fee for regular service in the following table:
| Type of visa | Service fee by agency (approx) | Stamping fee by Government |
|---|---|---|
| Single Entry (1 or 3 months) | USD 20 - 30 | USD 25 |
| Multiple Entry (1 or 3 months) | USD 25 - 45 | USD 50 |
| Multiple Entry 12 months | USD 60 | USD 135 |
Questions and Answers (34)
I hv applied for e visa for Vietnam, entry Ho chin Minh city on 7th November. We hv to fly to Ho chin Minh on 15th November. In case we don’t receive e visa till the date of departure, can we seek visa on arrival at the airport??
@Manoj, there is no direct visa on arrival at the Vietnam airport; you will need to apply for an approval letter beforehand. Hopefully, you will receive your evisa on time, as Thursday (14-Nov) will be the fourth working day.
Do you need to fill in Arrival Card or M3 Form when you already had E-visa?
@Siew, no, the M3 form is only for visa on arrival. If you already have an evisa, you won’t need to fill out anything else at the Vietnam airport.
Frequently asked questions
1. Should I use "fast track" service to avoid the queue?
No, fast track service is not necessary as it usually takes 15-20 minutes to get a visa stamp at Vietnam airport. If you travel with children or are in emergency cases, you can ask the officers or other applicants for priority. Kindly check out detailed guide on wait time at Vietnam airport.
2. I enter Vietnam by air but want to exit Vietnam by landports. Is this visa acceptable?
No. Landing visa is only acceptable at international airports, not landport or seaport. If you want to exit Vietnam by landports, you should get a regular visa at the Embassy or E-visa.
3. Can I get my visa photos when I arrive?
There are no official photo booths inside the arrival hall at Vietnam airport. However, some travelers have reported using an unprofessional photo service at the airport to get their visa photos taken for around $2 USD each.
4. Which country can get visa on arrival in Vietnam?
Approximately 150 countries and territories can obtain a visa on arrival in Vietnam. Listed below are a few examples from each continent:
- Africa: South Africa
- Asia: South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore..ect
- Europe: France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Switzerland and so on!
- America: United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina..ect
- Oceania: Australia, New Zealand
5. Can I apply for a visa on arrival directly at Vietnam airport?
No, you cannot. To get a visa on arrival at a Vietnamese airport, you need to have a pre-approved visa letter. Without this letter, you will be denied entry and not allowed to board the plane. The process of obtaining a visa on arrival in Vietnam is different from other countries, where visas can be obtained directly at border gates. In Vietnam, you must apply for a pre-approved visa letter through a Vietnamese agency before traveling.
6. Is visa on arrival legit?
Yes. Vietnam Visa on arrival is completely legitimate as a visa at the Embassy or E-visa in accordance to Law on entry, exit and residence of foreigners in Vietnam: (01) Government’s Decree No. 21/2001/ND-CP. (2) Joint Circular No. 04/2002/TTLT/BCA-BNG. Please note that the visa approval letter is obtained from a private agency in Vietnam but is granted by the Vietnam Immigration Department. It is legally used to get a visa stamp at the airport and enter Vietnam.
7. How long does it take to get a visa stamp at the airport?
It may depend on the season and the volume of passengers waiting in line. If you come in the low season (May - September), you may need around 15 - 20 minutes. If you come in the high season (October - April) or in the holidays/festivals, it can take 30 minutes - 1 hour or more.
8. Do I pay both service fee for the approval letter and stamping fee in advance?
No. Service fee for approval letter is paid online for the local agency while stamping fee is paid in cash at the arrival port.
9. What is the official government website for visa on arrival?
There is no official government website for visa on arrival service. You need to contact a Vietnam visa agency to get a pre-approved visa letter authorized by the Vietnam Immigration Department and get the visa stamp at the airport in Vietnam.
10. Is the stamping fee applied for both adults and children?
Yes. Stamping fee is applied for both adults and children. The fee ranges from US$25 to 135 depending on your visa type.
11. Is visa on arrival available at any international airport in Vietnam?
No. Vietnam currently allows visa-on-arrival at 8 international airports in Vietnam including: Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat, Danang, Cat Bi, Cam Ranh, Lien Khuong, Can Tho, and Phu Quoc.
12. Can I get a pre-approved visa letter at the airport?
No. You cannot get a pre-approved visa letter at the airport. You must apply for this letter online via a Vietnam agency in advance of your trip and present it at the airport to board the plane. In case your approval letter is incorrect somehow, you must redo it urgently via the local agency to get on board.
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