Vietnam Visa Exemption & E-Visa: Do You Need One?

Planning a trip to Vietnam and not sure about the paperwork? Good news: many travelers don’t need a visa at all. This guide breaks down the Vietnam visa exemption list for 2026, who has to apply for an e-visa, how much it costs, and the brand-new health declaration that becomes mandatory on 1 July 2026 — so you arrive without a single surprise at the border.

Updated on the 20/06/2026

Vietnam’s rules changed a lot in the last two years (most European nationals jumped from 15 to 45 days), so anything you read from 2023 is probably out of date. Here’s the current picture, country by country.

Updated for 2026

Do you need a visa for Vietnam?

Pick your passport country and find out in one second.

Your passport

🩺 New since 1 July 2026: every traveler must file an online health declaration within 7 days before arrival (separate from the SGN/Phú Quốc Digital Arrival Card).

✈️ Always carry proof of onward travel. Airlines can deny boarding without it — a confirmed (or refundable) exit ticket within your allowed stay does the job. You can grab one on Trip.com.

Rules change often. Always confirm on the official portal evisa.gov.vn before you book.

Vietnam visa exemption: who skips the visa

As of 2026, citizens of 38 countries enter visa-free — just a valid passport (6+ months, 2 blank pages). The stay depends on your nationality:

45 days: most of Europe (UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and many more), plus Japan and South Korea.
30 days: Vietnam’s ASEAN neighbours — Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia.
90 days: Chile and Panama.

Two things catch people out:

The US, Canada and Australia are not exempt — they need an e-visa, even for a short trip.
A few European countries aren’t on the list either (Portugal, Austria, Greece, Ireland). Don’t assume EU = visa-free — check your exact passport in the tool above, and see the full table at the bottom of this page.

The Vietnam e-visa (for everyone else)

Not exempt, or want to stay longer? The e-visa is fully online — no embassy visit:

Up to 90 days, single or multiple entry.
Fee: ~$25 single / $50 multiple.
Processing: 3–5 business days.
Where: the official portal only — evisa.gov.vn.

Apply only through the official site: dozens of look-alike pages charge double for the same visa. Apply about a week ahead, more around Tết. Once you land, here’s how to withdraw cash without ATM fees.

New for 2026: the mandatory health declaration

Most older guides miss this. Under Decree 165/2026, from 1 July 2026 every traveler — whatever their nationality — must file an online health declaration within 7 days before entering, leaving or transiting Vietnam. It’s separate from the Digital Arrival Card (used at Tan Son Nhat and Phú Quốc, within 72 hours of arrival), so flying into those airports may mean completing both. As of mid-2026 the official portal wasn’t published yet — check the immigration announcements close to your trip. It’s a quick form, just don’t forget it.

Proof of onward travel — the real gotcha

Because exemptions are for temporary stays, airlines (more than immigration) often want to see you’ll leave within your window — no onward ticket, no boarding. Keep a confirmed or refundable exit ticket; you can grab a cheap one on Trip.com. It’s also the moment to sort travel insurance with SafetyWing and a Vietnam eSIM with Airalo.

Staying longer & Phú Quốc

When your stay runs out, either apply for an e-visa before it ends, or do a visa run — leave to a neighbour and re-enter on a fresh exemption (the old 30-day wait was scrapped in 2020). Popular routes are overland to Cambodia or up to Laos; you can book the cross-border bus or train on 12Go, and our Laos visa guide covers that side. Overstaying costs ~$25/day in fines, so don’t.

One handy exception: if Phú Quốc Island is your only stop, you get 30 days visa-free regardless of nationality (US, Canada, Australia included), as long as you arrive directly and stay on the island.

Vietnam visa FAQ

Do US citizens need a visa for Vietnam? Yes. The US isn’t exempt, so Americans apply for an e-visa (up to 90 days, $25 single / $50 multiple) on evisa.gov.vn before flying.

How long can EU citizens stay without a visa? Most major EU nationalities get 45 days. But Portugal, Austria, Greece and Ireland are not exempt and need an e-visa — check your specific passport.

How much is a Vietnam e-visa? About $25 single entry, $50 multiple entry, valid up to 90 days, processed in 3–5 business days on the official portal.

What is the new health declaration? From 1 July 2026, all travelers must file an online health declaration within 7 days before crossing the border, separate from the Digital Arrival Card.

Do I need a return ticket? Airlines often ask for proof of onward travel within your allowed stay before boarding, so keep a confirmed or refundable exit ticket.

Full Vietnam visa exemption table (2026)

Allowed stay	Passports
45 days, visa-free	UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Russia, Belarus, Japan, South Korea, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland, Poland, Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Luxembourg
30 days, visa-free	Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan
21 days, visa-free	Philippines
14 days, visa-free	Brunei, Myanmar
90 days, visa-free	Chile, Panama
E-visa required (up to 90 days)	USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Portugal, Austria, Greece, India, China, Taiwan, Brazil, Mexico, UAE — and all other nationalities

Rules change often — always confirm on evisa.gov.vn before booking.

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