Vietnam Visa On Arrival 2023 [UPDATED] – Can I Apply for a Visa on Arrival to Vietnam Now?

Vietnam visa on arrival (VOA) is a type of visa that allows travelers to apply for and receive their visa at one of the 06 available international airports in Vietnam. This option is only available for travelers entering Vietnam by air and not for those entering by land or sea. To obtain a visa on arrival, travelers must submit an application and pay a fee online in advance. The pre-approved visa letter will then be sent to the traveler via email and they can use the approval letter to pick up their visa stamp upon arrival at the airport in Vietnam.

Who are eligible

Visa 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. The following groups of people are typically eligible to apply for a visa on arrival:

• Tourists: Foreign travelers who are visiting Vietnam for leisure or holiday purposes are eligible to apply for a tourist visa on arrival.
• Business travelers: Foreign nationals who are visiting Vietnam for business purposes such as attending conferences, meeting clients, or conducting research are eligible to apply for a business visa on arrival.
• Transit passengers: Foreign travelers who are transiting through Vietnam and do not plan to leave the airport are not eligible for a visa on arrival.

Note: Not all nationalities are eligible for a visa on arrival and some may need to apply for a regular visa at a Vietnamese embassy or consulate in their home country. Travelers are advised to check the latest information on visa requirements and the availability of the visa on arrival option before planning their trip to Vietnam.

Visa exemption: Updated list of 2023

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How to apply

Steps required to apply for a Vietnam visa on arrival:

• 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!

List of applicable airports

• Noi Bai International Airport (Hanoi)
• Cat Bi International Airport (Hai Phong)
• Da Nang International Airport (Da Nang)
• Cam Ranh International Airport (Nha Trang)
• Tan Son Nhat International Airport (Ho Chi Minh City)
• Phu Quoc International Airport (Visa on arrival is now available at Phu Quoc international airport (PQC) in case you want to get a visa to visit other cities in Vietnam)

Why choose visa on arrival?

• 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.

Things to know

• Unlike other countries (Cambodia, Thailand..ect) where you can get the visa the directly at border gates upon landing, for Vietnam visa on arrival you are required to apply for a pre-approved visa letter through a Vietnamese agency in order to pick up the visa stamp on 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.
• Effective from November 2014, visitors who fly directly to Phu Quoc airport and just stay in the island for no longer than 30 days will not require an entry visa.
• Recommended reading: 5 Common Mistakes People Make When Applying for a Visa on Arrival to Vietnam.

Additional notes:

• Visa on arrival is applicable for air travel only. If you enter Vietnam by land or cruise, you are required to obtain a full visa before you arrive.
• Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned stay in Vietnam.
• If you travel with children having their own passports, you are also required to pay the same fees as adults.
• The stamping fee at Vietnam airport is payable in cash only, no credit cards are accepted.
• There is

  NO OFFICIAL

  website for visa on arrival service. All websites offering the pre-approved visa letter are private agencies. Do not get confused by bulk of websites with organizational internet domain TLDs (org, gov..ect).

Visa-on-arrival documents:

With the approval letter (Image 1) that you obtain through our service, you are able to get your visa stamp (image 2) on arrival at Vietnam airport.

Visa approval letter of 2020

Visa stamp at Vietnam airport

Business visa on arrival

A foreign national traveling to Vietnam to conduct temporary business needs to apply for a business/working visa (categorized under LD/DN visa type). Please check out business visa page for details.

Visa on arrival fees

The visa on arrival fee will depend on the type of visa you are applying for, below is a sample fee for tourist visa on arrival.

TYPE OF VISASERVICE FEESSTAMPING FEESingle entry – 1 month18 USD25 USDMultiple entry – 1 month23 USD50 USDSingle entry – 3 month28 USD25 USDMultiple entry – 3 month43 USD50 USDMultiple entry – 12 month (US passports)60 USD135 USD

The stamping fee is payable by cash at Vietnam airport in Vietnamese Dongs and US dollars (credit cards are not accepted). Please see our fee page for more detailed instructions.

Visa-on-arrival counter photos:

Visa Counter Signs

When you land at Hanoi airport, you will see a sign for transfer or visa counters. If you hold a passport with visa-free entry or already have an advance visa, you can go straight to the Arrival Immigration, otherwise you need to turn left for the visa on arrival counters.

Visa Application Counter

Customers are handling visa application to the Immigration officers (Noi Bai International Airport, Hanoi)

Applicants will go to the next counter to pay for the stamping fee. If you are arriving Vietnam during shower season (late May to early August), the wait time is often no longer than 15 minutes as the number of international arrivals is low.

Visa Policy Updates

1. As of Jan 06, 2023, e-visa applications are available for nationals from 80 countries. Visa exemptions are also resumed for the citizens of South Korea, Belarus, Russia, Japan, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy.

2. Visa on arrival programs are limited only to those who go on a tour with a local organizer in Vietnam.

3. Do you plan to visit Vietnam in coming months? Please email us [email protected], we will keep you updated when visa on arrival is available again for foreigners.

4. There are no change in visa-on-arrival policy in compared to 2022, visa on arrival is still limited.

This page is updated on January 30, 2023

Frequently asked questions

Is visa on arrival legitimate?

YES, Visa-on-arrival (VOA) is legitimate and the Issuing authority is the Immigration Department. You can check out the Ordinance 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.

Is visa on arrival available at Phu Cat airport?

Visa on arrival is currently offered at international airports. As a result, there is no visa counter at Phu Cat Airport (UIH – Quy Nhon) which only handles domestic flights within Vietnam.

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.

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.

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

How much is a visa on arrival in Vietnam?

As of 2023, the stamping fee for a single entry visa on arrival in Vietnam is 25 USD, and for multiple entry it is 50 USD. The service fee, payable online, varies and is not standardized.

How long does it take to get my visa stamp at Vietnam airport?

It usually takes about 15-30 minutes to receive your visa stamp at the landing counter upon arrival. However, if you are arriving during holiday season with large number of arrivals, please expect a longer wait time. To save your time at Vietnam airport,  It is recommended that you prepare all the required documents before you go.

Can I can get the visa directly at Vietnam airport?

No, you can not. In order to obtain your visa on arrival, you must apply online for an approval letter (pre-approved visa letter) through a travel agency.

I pay online already, do I need to pay on arrival as well?

Yes, visa on arrival involves two types of fees: (01) service fee for obtaining an approval letter: (02) stamping fee payable by cash at Vietnam airport.

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.

Can I extend my visa once I am in Vietnam using this visa on arrival?

In most cases, you are able to extend and renew your visa once you are in Vietnam. There are a few reasons for a visa extension refusal: (01) applicants overstay their visas. (02) applicants have problems with their past entries (overstay, wrong entry purpose).

Contact sales if you have additional questions.

Contact support if you already submitted your visa application on our website.

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