Owais Crawford
Vietnam offers a convenient visa-on-arrival option for travellers 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. This option is available at 8 international airports in Vietnam, including Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang, Hai Phong, and Da Nang. Travellers can obtain a visa approval letter from a local travel agency or online in as little as 2-3 hours, which they then present at the airport to get their visa stamped upon arrival. The visa approval letter works for all nationalities and can be obtained for a fee of USD 25 for a single-entry visa and USD 50 for a multiple-entry visa.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Visa type | Visa on Arrival (VOA), E-visa, Visa exemption |
| Who can use it? | All nationalities |
| Where can it be used? | 8 international airports in Vietnam: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang, Hai Phong, Da Nang, Cam Ranh, Phu Quoc, Da Lat, and Can Tho |
| Documents required | Passport, visa approval letter, photos, entry/exit form |
| Cost | USD 25 for a single-entry visa, USD 50 for multiple entries |
| Processing time | Standard processing: 5-10 days, urgent processing: 1-3 days |
| Other benefits | Convenient, low cost, fast |
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What You'll Learn
The visa on arrival process
To obtain a visa on arrival, you must first apply for a visa approval letter, also known as a pre-approved visa letter or visa invitation letter, from a local travel or visa agency in Vietnam. This letter is essentially an approval for a visa that will be stamped onto your passport upon arrival at the airport. The visa approval letter can be obtained online through the agency and typically takes 3-5 working days for standard processing, although urgent processing options are available for an additional fee. The letter will be sent to you via email, which you must then print out.
Once you have the visa approval letter, you can proceed to the visa counters at the airport upon arrival. Here, you will be required to present your original passport, photos, and the visa approval letter. There will be a stamping fee, which is typically USD 25 for a single-entry visa and USD 50 for a multiple-entry visa, valid for up to three months. The stamping fee must be paid in cash.
It is important to note that the visa on arrival process is not applicable to all travellers. As of 2025, passport holders from the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, and Germany are exempt from visa requirements for stays of up to 15 days. Additionally, visitors flying directly to Phu Quoc Airport and staying on the island are exempt from visa requirements for up to 30 days.
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Visa approval letters
Vietnam has a visa on arrival (VOA) system, which is a legitimate visa type that allows foreigners to collect a visa upon entry to enter and exit Vietnam. This is available at eight international airports in Vietnam: Noi Bai in Hanoi, Cat Bi in Hai Phong, Da Nang in Da Nang, Cam Ranh in Khanh Hoa, Tan Son Nhat in Ho Chi Minh City, Phu Quoc in Phu Quoc, Lien Khuong in Da Lat, and Can Tho in Can Tho City.
To obtain a visa on arrival, you must first obtain a visa approval letter, also known as a pre-approved visa letter or visa invitation letter. This can be done through a local visa agency or travel agent in Vietnam, or online. The visa approval letter can be obtained in as little as 2-3 hours in emergency cases or 3-5 working days for standard processing. The letter is valid from the arrival date granted, so it is recommended to apply for the letter at least three working days before arrival for a tourist visa or seven working days for a business visa.
Once you have the visa approval letter, you can proceed to the visa on arrival counters at the airport. You will need to present the letter, along with your passport, photos, and pay the stamping fee to obtain your visa. The stamping fee is USD 25 for a single-entry visa and USD 50 for a multiple-entry visa valid for up to three months.
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Visa stamping
Vietnam offers a visa on arrival (VOA) option, also known as a landing visa or airport visa, which is a convenient alternative way to obtain valid permission to visit Vietnam. It is available at eight international airports in Vietnam: Noi Bai in Hanoi, Cat Bi in Hai Phong, Da Nang in Da Nang, Cam Ranh in Khanh Hoa, Tan Son Nhat in Ho Chi Minh City, Phu Quoc in Phu Quoc, Lien Khuong in Da Lat, and Can Tho in Can Tho.
To obtain a visa on arrival, you must first apply for a visa approval letter (also known as a pre-approved visa letter or visa invitation letter) from a local visa agency in Vietnam. This letter is then used to obtain a visa stamp on your passport upon arrival at the airport. The visa approval letter can be obtained in as little as 2-3 hours in emergency cases and typically takes 3-5 working days for standard processing and 8 working hours for urgent processing. It is valid from the arrival date granted, not from the date of application or receipt of the letter. The latest time to apply for a visa approval letter is 3 working days for a tourist visa or 7 working days for a business visa to avoid urgent processing costs.
Once you have the visa approval letter, you can present it at the airport to obtain your visa stamp. You will need to show your original passport, photos, and pay the stamping fee, which is USD 25 for a single-entry visa and USD 50 for a multiple-entry visa valid for up to 3 months. Your passport must have at least 6 months of validity remaining and 2 blank visa pages for the visa stamp. It is recommended to prepare 2 recently taken passport-size photos (4x6cm or 2x2 inches) and a pre-filled entry/exit form to save time at the Vietnam airport.
The visa on arrival option is available to all nationalities, but it is important to note that Vietnam requires travellers to obtain a pre-approved visa letter through a travel/visa agency before arriving in the country. Unlike countries such as Cambodia and Thailand, where visas can be obtained directly at border gates, Vietnam's visa on arrival requires prior approval.
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E-visas
The Vietnamese Immigration Department issues E-visas to foreigners through an online application process. E-visas are issued with a validity period of up to 90 days, with one entry costing $25 USD and multiple entries costing $50 USD, payable via bank transfer. E-visa holders may enter and exit Vietnam through 42 designated international border gates, including all international airports. The Vietnam E-visa is accepted at numerous international airports, land border crossings, and seaports.
To apply for an E-visa, you will need a recent passport-style photo and a clear scan of your passport data page, showing at least six months of validity remaining. Processing times vary, with standard processing taking 5-10 days, and urgent processing delivering your E-visa in as little as one day.
The E-visa is a convenient alternative to the Visa on Arrival option, which requires travellers to obtain a Visa approval letter beforehand and get a Visa stamp at one of Vietnam's international airports. The Visa on Arrival option is only available in emergency situations and for travellers who are unable to apply for a Visa in advance through a Vietnamese embassy or consulate.
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Passport requirements
To enter Vietnam, you must have a passport with at least six months of validity remaining and two blank visa pages for the visa stamp. You will also need to provide two recently taken passport-sized photos (4x6cm or 2x2 inches).
If you are a passport holder from the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, or Germany, you can travel to Vietnam without a visa for up to 15 days. For longer stays, you can obtain a visa on arrival or at the local embassy.
If you are flying directly to Phu Quoc Airport and staying on the island, you are exempt from the entry visa requirement for up to 30 days.
All nationalities can apply for a visa on arrival in Vietnam, but you must obtain a visa approval letter in advance through a local travel agency or visa agency in Vietnam. This letter is then used to get a visa stamp on your passport upon arrival at the airport. The visa approval letter can be obtained in as little as 2-3 hours in emergency cases. However, it is recommended to apply at least three working days in advance to avoid urgent processing costs.
The visa approval letter works at all eight international airports in Vietnam, including Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang, Hai Phong, Da Nang, Cam Ranh, Phu Quoc, Da Lat, and Can Tho. At the airport, you will need to present your visa approval letter, passport, photos, and pay the stamping fee to obtain your visa.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can get a Vietnam visa at the airport. This is known as a 'visa on arrival' or landing visa. However, you must obtain a visa approval letter in advance and present it at the airport to get your visa stamped on arrival.
You can apply for a visa approval letter online through a local visa or travel agency in Vietnam. The processing time varies depending on the type of visa and can take up to 5-10 days for standard processing and as little as 1-3 days for urgent processing.
To get your visa stamped at the airport, you will need to present your visa approval letter, passport, photos, and pay the stamping fee. The stamping fee is typically USD 25 for a single-entry visa and USD 50 for a multiple-entry visa.
Visa on arrival is available at all 8 international airports in Vietnam, including Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang, Hai Phong, and Da Nang.
