Ruth Haines
If you're planning a trip to Vietnam and will be arriving at Ho Chi Minh City Airport, you may be wondering if you can get a visa on arrival. The short answer is: it depends. While Vietnam offers a visa on arrival option at its international airports, you must obtain a pre-approved authorization or approval letter beforehand. This means you cannot get a visa directly at the airport without prior approval. Here's what you need to know about getting a visa for Ho Chi Minh City.
Characteristics and Values Table for Ho Chi Minh Visa:
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Visa Requirement | Needed for stays exceeding 24 hours or if leaving the airport |
| Visa Exemption | For citizens of countries on the Vietnam visa-free list |
| Visa Types | E-visa, Visa on Arrival, Transit Visa |
| Visa on Arrival Process | Apply online, obtain approval letter, get visa stamped at airport |
| Required Documents | Passport, approval letter, entry-exit form, passport photos |
| Processing Time | 1-2 working hours to 7-10 working days |
| Fees | Service fee for approval letter, Stamping fee at the airport |
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What You'll Learn
Visa requirements depend on nationality and layover duration
Whether you need a visa to transit through Ho Chi Minh Airport depends on several factors, including your nationality and the duration of your layover.
Firstly, if you are a citizen of a country included in the Vietnam visa exemption list, you will not need a visa to transit through Ho Chi Minh Airport. Secondly, if your layover in Ho Chi Minh City is for no more than 24 hours and you do not leave the international transit area, you will not need a visa. However, if you plan to leave the airport during your layover, even for a short period, or if your layover exceeds 24 hours, you will need to obtain a visa.
To obtain a visa for Ho Chi Minh City, you can apply for an e-visa (electronic visa) online at the official website of Vietnam Immigration or via a third-party agency. The e-visa process can take 3-5 working days, so it is recommended to not book your flight until your visa is approved. Alternatively, you can apply for a visa on arrival, which is available for travelers to Vietnam by air only. This option requires you to obtain a visa approval letter beforehand, either through a travel agency or by applying online, and then get your visa stamped upon arrival at the airport. The visa on arrival option offers flexible processing times, with emergency visas available in as little as 1-2 working hours or even on weekends. However, it is important to note that you cannot obtain a visa directly at the Vietnam airport without an approval letter.
When entering Vietnam through Ho Chi Minh City, it is important to have the necessary documents, including your original passport (valid for at least 6 months following your date of entry and with at least 2 blank pages), the printed visa approval letter, the completed Vietnamese visa application form (Form N1 or NA1), and two passport-size photos (4x6cm). Upon arrival at Ho Chi Minh Airport, go to the "Landing Visa – Cấp thị thực tại chỗ" counter or the "Visa Application Individual" desk to submit your documents and receive your visa stamp. After paying the stamping fee, carefully check the information on your visa before proceeding to Immigration Control.
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Visa-free countries and layovers under 24 hours
If you are a citizen of a country that is included in the Vietnam visa exemption list, you will not need a visa to transit through Ho Chi Minh Airport, provided that you do not leave the airport's international transit area and your layover duration is no more than 24 hours.
For example, if you are flying from New Delhi, India, to Phu Quoc, Vietnam, with a layover in Ho Chi Minh City, you can enter Vietnam without a visa, as long as you do not leave the transit area. However, if you plan to exit the airport during your layover, even for a short period, you will need to obtain a visa.
To obtain a visa for Ho Chi Minh City, you can either apply for an e-visa (electronic visa) online or get a visa on arrival. The e-visa is the easiest way to obtain a visa, as it can be obtained through the official website of Vietnam Immigration or via third-party services.
If you choose to obtain a visa on arrival, you must obtain a visa approval letter beforehand and then get your visa stamped upon landing at the airport. This process is only available for travelers to Vietnam by air and works at all eight international airports in Vietnam, including Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City.
Therefore, if you are eligible for visa-free transit through Ho Chi Minh Airport and your layover is under 24 hours, you can proceed without a visa. Otherwise, it is recommended to check the specific requirements for your nationality and layover duration before your trip to ensure a smooth journey.
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E-visas: Obtaining an e-visa online
An e-visa (electronic visa) is the easiest way to get a visa for Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. It can be obtained online at the official website of Vietnam Immigration Airport or via a third party like Vietnam-visa for customized assistance. The Vietnam E-visa is valid for a maximum of 90 days, single or multiple entries.
To apply for an e-visa, you will need to visit the official website of the Vietnam Electronic Visa Portal. The website address is https://thithucdientu.gov.vn or https://evisa.gov.vn. Here, you can submit your application and check the results. The e-visa fee is paid via an electronic payment gateway as prescribed by the Immigration Department. Please note that the fee will not be refunded if the application is refused.
Before applying for an e-visa, it is important to check whether you need a visa for Vietnam. Nationals of countries included in the Vietnam visa exemption list may not require a visa for a layover at Ho Chi Minh Airport, provided that the layover is less than 24 hours and they do not leave the transit area.
If you are eligible for an e-visa, the process typically involves submitting an application form, providing necessary documents, and making the payment online. The required documents may include a valid passport, visa application form, and passport-type photos. It is recommended to carefully review the requirements and prepare all the necessary documents before submitting your application.
Obtaining an e-visa online can be a convenient option compared to a visa on arrival, especially if you are not in an emergency situation. It allows you to have your visa approved before travelling to Vietnam and can save time at the airport upon your arrival.
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Visa on arrival: Approval letter and stamping process
To obtain a visa on arrival at Ho Chi Minh Airport, you must first acquire an approval letter, also known as a pre-approved visa letter. This letter acts as official permission, allowing you to board your flight and get your visa stamped upon arrival at the airport. The approval letter can be obtained from a travel agency in Vietnam or an online visa centre. It is valid for all eight international airports in Vietnam, including Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City.
The process of obtaining an approval letter typically takes one to two working days, but it can be expedited for an additional fee. Once you receive the letter via email, print it out along with the attached Vietnamese visa application form (Form N1, also known as the entry and exit form). It is important to carefully review the information on the approval letter and ensure that it matches your passport and travel documents.
Upon arrival at Ho Chi Minh Airport, proceed to the "Landing Visa – Cấp thị thực tại chỗ" counter, located on the left side when you enter the immigration hall. Here, you will submit your documents, including your passport, printed approval letter, completed entry-exit form, and two passport-sized photos (4x6cm). You will also need to pay the stamping fee in cash, with the recommended currencies being Vietnamese Dong (VND) or US Dollars (USD).
After submitting your documents, you will need to wait for the Vietnamese officer to process your visa stamp. They will call out your full name when your visa is ready. Check the information on your visa carefully before proceeding to Immigration Control. If there are any errors, report them to the officer immediately.
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Visa extension in Ho Chi Minh City
If you are in Ho Chi Minh City and wish to apply for a Vietnam tourist visa extension or a Vietnam business visa extension, you can visit the Immigration Office in the city. The address is No. 196, Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City. If your case is complicated, it may be referred to the Immigration Department in Ho Chi Minh City instead. The address is No. 333 - 335 - 337, Nguyen Trai Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
To apply for a visa extension, your current visa has to meet some requirements of the Vietnam Immigration Department. For instance, if your current visa is a 1-month single, 1-month multiple, 3-month single, or 3-month multiple entry visa, you are allowed to apply to extend your visa by 1 more month. If your current visa is a 3-month single or 3-month multiple entry visa, you can apply to extend your visa by 3 more months.
Additionally, if you have an NG1, NG2, or NG4-type visa and wish to extend your visa, you will need to request the legal entity that sponsors your entry to submit a Vietnam visa extension form to the Consular Department or the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Foreign Affairs.
To apply for a visa extension, you will need to prepare the following documents:
- A letter or request for a temporary residence extension, providing details such as name, nationality, date of birth, gender, passport number and expiration date, occupation, purpose of entry, and requested duration of extension.
- A passport with a validity of over 30 days from the date of applying for the temporary residence extension.
Please note that you must apply for a visa extension a few days before your visa expiry date. The processing time for a visa extension is typically 7 working days.
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Frequently asked questions
Whether you need a visa to enter Ho Chi Minh City depends on your nationality and the duration of your layover. If you are from a country included in the Vietnam visa-free country list, you do not need a visa. If your layover is less than 24 hours and you do not leave the transit area, you do not need a visa.
There are two ways to obtain a valid visa for Ho Chi Minh City. The first is to obtain an e-visa (or electronic visa) online at the official website of Vietnam Immigration Airport or via a third party. The second is to obtain a visa on arrival at the airport.
To obtain a visa on arrival at Ho Chi Minh Airport, you will need to present the following documents at the "Landing Visa – Cấp thị thực tại chỗ" counter: your passport, a printed-out visa approval letter, a completed entry-exit form, two passport-type photos (4x6cm), and the stamping fee in cash (in USD or VND).
You can obtain a visa approval letter by submitting an application online via a visa center. The processing time can vary from a few working hours to 7-10 working days, depending on the selected visa processing time. Once you receive the approval letter, you can proceed to the airport to get your visa stamped.
No, you cannot obtain a visa directly at Ho Chi Minh Airport upon arrival without an approval letter. If your e-visa is still being processed, you may consider the emergency visa-on-arrival option, which can be obtained in as little as 1-2 hours.
