Vietnam e-Visa Official Website: Step-by-Step Guide (2026)
Everything you need to apply for a Vietnam e-visa in 2026 — official website, fees ($25/$50), processing times, required documents, and the most common mistakes that get applications rejected.
Vietnam's official e-visa system launched a new portal in November 2024. If you've been searching for "Vietnam e-visa official website" and landed on a third-party service charging $55–$80, you've been overcharged. The government fee is $25 for a single-entry visa — nothing more.
TL;DR
Apply at evisa.gov.vn (the only official portal). Single entry costs $25, multiple entry $50, valid up to 90 days. Processing takes 3–5 working days. Check whether your nationality qualifies for visa-free entry before paying — 35+ countries now enter Vietnam free for up to 45 days.
Step 1: Check If You Even Need a Visa
Before opening the application form, verify your eligibility. As of 2026, Vietnam offers visa-free entry to citizens of 35+ countries:
| Visa-Free Duration | Countries (selected) |
|---|---|
| 45 days | Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, Japan, South Korea, Belgium, Netherlands, Poland, Czech Republic, Switzerland (valid through March–August 2028) |
| 30 days | All ASEAN nations, Russia, Chile, Panama, Belarus |
| 30 days (island only) | Any nationality arriving directly to Phu Quoc island |
If your passport is on this list, you do not need an e-visa. If it is not, continue to Step 2.
Step 2: Go to the Right Website
The official portal is https://evisa.gov.vn
Dozens of commercial websites copy the government's design and use domain names like "evisa-vietnam.com" or "evisa.gov1.vn". They are not official. They charge service fees on top of the government fee. The only URLs where the $25/$50 government rate applies are:
evisa.gov.vn— the only official portal
Step 3: Choose Your Visa Type
| Type | Entries | Max Stay | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-entry e-visa | 1 | Up to 90 days | $25 |
| Multiple-entry e-visa | Unlimited | Up to 90 days | $50 |
The validity period begins on the date you specify in the application — not the date of approval. If you enter an arrival date that has already passed by the time you travel, your visa may be expired at the border.
Step 4: Fill the Application Form
Have these ready before you start:
- Passport (valid for at least 6 months beyond your arrival date, minimum 2 blank pages)
- Passport bio page scan — JPEG, under 2MB
- Portrait photo — 4×6 cm, white background, no glasses, no hat, JPEG, under 2MB
- Confirmed accommodation address in Vietnam (hotel name + address; immigration verifies this)
- Intended entry and exit ports
The field that trips most applicants: Your name must be entered exactly as it appears in your passport's machine-readable zone — including all middle names, using spaces rather than hyphens. A single character mismatch is grounds for rejection at the border, even with an approved visa.
Step 5: Pay and Wait
Fees are paid by international credit or debit card. They are non-refundable regardless of outcome.
Standard processing is 3–5 working days, excluding weekends and Vietnamese public holidays. In peak travel seasons (December–January, April–May), it can stretch to 15 working days. Apply at least 3 weeks before travel.
Upon approval, Vietnam Immigration sends an email notification to the address you provided in the application. Log back into evisa.gov.vn using your application ID, email address, and date of birth to download your e-visa PDF.
Step 6: Download, Print, and Board
When approved, you receive a PDF containing your visa, photo, and a QR code. Print at least one A4 copy.
- Airlines require you to show the printed e-visa before boarding
- A printed copy (A4) is required at all entry points — airports, land crossings, and seaports
- Phone screens are not accepted by Vietnam Immigration
New as of April 2026: Travelers arriving at Tan Son Nhat Airport (Ho Chi Minh City) must complete a pre-arrival declaration at prearrival.immigration.gov.vn before landing and present the resulting QR code to immigration. This is in addition to your e-visa.
The e-visa is valid at over 79 designated entry points — airports, land crossings, and seaports. For the complete list and a guide on which port to choose based on your itinerary, see Vietnam E-Visa Entry Points: Which Port Should You Use?.
The Part Most Travelers Get Wrong
The form asks for your name exactly as it appears in your passport. It asks for your passport number, issue date, and expiry date. It asks for your accommodation address down to the ward level. It requires two separate image uploads — portrait photo and passport data page scan — in specific fields.
Miss any of these details and the result is either a rejected application (with a non-refundable $25 fee) or a mismatch flagged at the border.
How EVisa Helper Fixes This
EVisa Helper is a free Chrome extension that autofills Vietnam e-visa forms from your saved passport data. It reads your passport once — either by typing or by MRZ camera scan — and fills every field correctly on every subsequent application.
- Name format, passport number, issue date, expiry date: filled correctly from stored data
- Works directly on evisa.gov.vn (the official portal)
- Side panel design — the extension stays open alongside the form without covering it
- Your data stays on your device; nothing is uploaded to any server
FAQ
Do I need a visa if I'm just transiting through Vietnam? If you stay airside (do not pass through immigration), no visa is required. If you exit the airport or have a layover requiring you to clear immigration, you need a valid visa or must be from a visa-exempt country.
Can I extend my Vietnam e-visa inside Vietnam? E-visas cannot be extended. You must exit the country and apply for a new one. Multiple-entry e-visa holders can re-enter after a brief departure.
What if my name in the application doesn't match my passport exactly? Immigration officers can and do deny entry for name mismatches. If you notice an error after submission but before approval, contact the immigration authority through evisa.gov.vn to request a correction. After approval, corrections are not possible — you must apply again.
Can I apply if I'm already inside Vietnam? No. The system detects your IP address. Applications submitted from within Vietnam are automatically rejected.
Is the $25 fee the total cost? Yes, if you apply directly at evisa.gov.vn. Third-party agencies charge $55–$80 or more. There is no additional stamping fee at the border for e-visa holders (unlike Visa on Arrival).
The official website is in Vietnamese — is there an English version? Yes. evisa.gov.vn has a full English interface. Use the language selector in the top-right corner.