How to Apply for Vietnam Tourist E-visa for Foreigners, Updated 2026
What Is Vietnam Tourist E-visa?
Vietnam Tourist E-visa is a Vietnam electronic visa issued to foreign nationals entering Vietnam for tourism, sightseeing, leisure or short-term cultural travel purposes.
Legally, E-visa carries the symbol EV. When applying through the electronic visa system, the applicant selects the appropriate entry purpose as Tourism. According to the official E-visa system, Vietnam E-visa is valid for a maximum of 90 days and may be issued for single entry or multiple entries. Foreigners outside Vietnam may personally apply or apply through requesting agencies or organizations.
Who Can Apply for Vietnam Tourist E-visa?
Under current policy, Vietnam grants electronic visas to citizens of all countries and territories if they meet the required conditions. This policy has been applied since Resolution 127/NQ-CP in 2023 and remains an important basis for Vietnam E-visa issuance.
Vietnam Tourist E-visa is usually suitable for:
- Foreign nationals entering Vietnam for tourism, sightseeing or leisure;
- Travelers who want to apply online without sponsorship from a travel company;
- Visitors needing single or multiple entries within a maximum 90-day period;
- Travelers with a clear itinerary, valid passport and no entry restriction;
- Visitors who prefer an electronic visa instead of a traditional sticker visa process.
However, Tourist E-visa is not suitable if the actual purpose is employment, investment, long-term study, temporary residence card application or a more complex sponsored stay. If the entry purpose is no longer purely tourism, a suitable visa type should be checked before applying.
How Is Tourist E-visa Different From Traditional DL Tourist Visa?
Vietnam Tourist E-visa and traditional tourist visa symbol DL may both be used for tourism purposes in Vietnam. However, they differ in application method, visa issuance format and sponsorship requirements.
Tourist E-visa is completed online, and foreigners may apply personally through the official system. Traditional DL visa is usually handled through a sponsorship process or through a suitable travel company/agency/organization in Vietnam.
| Criteria | Tourist E-visa | Traditional DL tourist visa |
| Visa symbol | EV | DL |
| Purpose | Tourism, sightseeing, leisure | Tourism, sightseeing, leisure |
| Issuance format | Electronic file printed by the visa holder | Usually sticker visa or suitable issuance format after sponsorship/approval |
| Application method | Online through E-visa system | Sponsorship, entry approval or submission to competent authority depending on the case |
| Sponsorship requirement | Usually no travel company sponsorship required for self-application | Usually requires suitable sponsor/travel company |
| Maximum validity | Up to 90 days | DL visa validity is up to 90 days under the visa validity framework |
| Entry type | Single or multiple entry | Depending on dossier and authority decision |
| Suitable for | Travelers who want a simple online process and clear itinerary | Cases requiring sponsorship or not suitable for self-applied E-visa |
Requirements for Vietnam Tourist E-visa
To apply for Vietnam Tourist E-visa, foreign nationals should meet the following basic requirements:
- Be outside Vietnam at the time of application;
- Hold a valid passport or international travel document;
- Passport should generally be valid for at least 06 months from the expected entry date;
- Passport should have blank pages for entry and exit stamps;
- Not fall under cases of entry suspension under Vietnamese law;
- Have a suitable tourism entry purpose;
- Have an intended temporary residential address in Vietnam;
- Declare information truthfully, accurately and consistently;
- Enter and exit through ports eligible for E-visa use.
According to the electronic visa portal guidance, E-visa applies to foreigners outside Vietnam and is not a stay extension procedure for foreigners already temporarily residing in Vietnam.
How Long Is Vietnam Tourist E-visa Valid?
Vietnam Tourist E-visa is valid for up to 90 days. Applicants may choose single entry or multiple entries depending on the travel plan.
If the traveler enters Vietnam only once, a single-entry E-visa may be suitable. If multiple entries are needed during the same trip, for example combining Vietnam with Cambodia, Thailand, Laos or another country in the region, a multiple-entry E-visa may be more convenient.
However, applicants must select the correct E-visa start and end dates according to the actual itinerary. If the dates are incorrect, the visa may not be valid at entry or may not cover the full trip.
Ports Eligible for Vietnam Tourist E-visa
Vietnam Tourist E-visa holders must enter and exit through international border gates eligible for E-visa use. Since December 2025, the Vietnamese Government has added 41 more ports, bringing the total number of ports allowing entry and exit with E-visa to 83 under Resolution 389/NQ-CP dated 2 December 2025.
The list includes air, land and sea border gates. When submitting the application, the applicant should select or check the border gate according to the system’s permitted list at the time of application. If the itinerary changes, the E-visa and border gate rules should be checked again before travel.
Documents Required for Vietnam Tourist E-visa
Vietnam Tourist E-visa documents are generally simpler than some traditional visa applications, but information and photo formats must still be prepared correctly.
Commonly required items include:
- Valid passport;
- Clear portrait photo with light/white background and straight face;
- Clear passport data page image showing full information;
- Expected entry and exit dates;
- Entry and exit ports;
- Intended address of stay in Vietnam;
- Tourism entry purpose;
- Email for application information and status check;
- International payment card or payment method accepted by the system.
According to the E-visa system guidance, the applicant must upload the passport data page image and portrait photo; after submitting the application, the system issues a registration code for result checking.
How to Apply for Vietnam Tourist E-visa Online
Foreign nationals may apply for Vietnam Tourist E-visa online through the official electronic visa system. The basic process includes the following steps:
Step 1: Prepare Photos and Required Information
Before completing the application, the applicant should prepare a portrait photo, passport data page image, entry/exit date information, intended accommodation address in Vietnam and payment card.
The passport image must clearly show the full data page, with no glare, no cropped corners and a visible ICAO code line at the bottom. The portrait photo should be recent, straight-facing, without sunglasses and without face covering.
Step 2: Access the Official E-visa System
The applicant accesses the official Vietnam electronic visa system, reads the instructions carefully and starts the application. Applicants should avoid confusing it with private service websites or fake websites with similar interfaces.
Step 3: Upload Portrait Photo and Passport Image
The applicant uploads the portrait photo and passport data page image as required by the system. If the system automatically extracts information from the passport image, every field must still be checked, especially full name, passport number, date of birth and nationality.
Step 4: Enter Personal Information According to the Passport
The applicant enters full name, sex, date of birth, nationality, religion if any, passport number, passport type and other personal information exactly as shown in the passport.
The name should be entered using Latin letters without accents, in the correct order and exactly as shown in the passport. Incorrect or reversed name order may lead to refusal or difficulty at entry.
Step 5: Select Tourism as the Entry Purpose
In the entry purpose section, the applicant selects Tourism. The applicant then enters the intended temporary residence address in Vietnam, province/city of stay and travel information according to the system form.
The accommodation address should be specific, such as hotel name, apartment address, homestay or intended place of stay. Avoid vague entries such as only “Vietnam.”
Step 6: Select Validity, Entry Type and Border Gates
The applicant selects the start date, end date, single or multiple entry option and border gate information according to the system form.
The validity dates should match the actual travel plan. If the start date is too late or the end date too early, the E-visa may not cover the full intended stay in Vietnam.
Step 7: Review Information and Save the Registration Code
Before payment, the applicant should review all information. Key items to check include:
- Full name;
- Passport number;
- Date of birth;
- Nationality;
- Visa validity dates;
- Entry purpose;
- Entry/exit border gates;
- Accommodation address;
- Email.
After submission, the system will issue a registration code. The applicant should save it immediately for payment, result checking and E-visa download after approval.
Step 8: Pay the Fee and Check the Result
The applicant pays the fee online according to system instructions. According to the electronic visa portal, the E-visa fee is USD 25 for a single-entry E-visa and USD 50 for a multiple-entry E-visa.
According to the system guidance, E-visa applications are generally processed in around 03 working days after valid submission and payment. However, actual timing may vary if the application contains errors, information requires verification, the system is overloaded or other requests arise. The applicant should check the result using the registration code, email and date of birth, then download and print the E-visa if approved.
Vietnam Tourist E-visa Fees
Vietnam Tourist E-visa uses the standard E-visa fee levels:
| E-visa type | Entry type | Fee |
| E-visa up to 90 days | Single entry | USD 25 |
| E-visa up to 90 days | Multiple entries | USD 50 |
This fee is paid online and is generally non-refundable if the application is refused, information is entered incorrectly or the applicant cancels the trip. Therefore, all information should be checked carefully before payment, especially passport number, date of birth and visa validity.
Common Mistakes When Applying for Vietnam Tourist E-visa
Common mistakes include:
- Selecting the wrong entry purpose;
- Entering the name differently from the passport;
- Reversing surname and given names;
- Entering the wrong passport number;
- Entering the wrong date of birth;
- Selecting the wrong nationality;
- Selecting incorrect visa validity dates;
- Selecting the wrong single/multiple entry option;
- Selecting the wrong entry or exit port;
- Providing an overly vague accommodation address;
- Failing to save the registration code;
- Uploading a passport image that is overexposed, blurred or missing the ICAO code line;
- Uploading an incorrect portrait photo;
- Applying too close to the flight date;
- Confusing Tourist E-visa with traditional DL visa;
- Assuming that E-visa can be used for every entry purpose.
These mistakes may lead to refusal, inability to check results, the need to reapply or difficulty during entry procedures.
Should You Choose Tourist E-visa or Traditional DL Visa?
Choosing between Tourist E-visa and traditional DL visa depends on entry needs, itinerary, nationality, current residence and dossier handling method.
Tourist E-visa is usually suitable if:
- The foreign national is outside Vietnam;
- The entry purpose is tourism, sightseeing or leisure;
- Online self-application is preferred;
- No travel company sponsorship is needed;
- A stay of up to 90 days is sufficient;
- Entry and exit itinerary is relatively clear.
Traditional DL visa is usually more suitable if:
- A travel company or Vietnam-based entity needs to sponsor the application;
- The foreign national cannot conveniently apply for E-visa personally;
- The case has special factors requiring another process;
- More detailed advice is needed on visa receiving location, entry approval or sponsorship dossier;
- The case is not suitable for self-applied E-visa.
In simple terms: Tourist E-visa is suitable for short-term tourism and online self-application; traditional DL visa is more suitable for cases requiring sponsorship or traditional tourism visa processing.
Can Vietnam Tourist E-visa Be Extended?
E-visa is not an online extension procedure for foreigners already in Vietnam. If a foreign national is staying in Vietnam under a Tourist E-visa and wishes to stay longer, suitable procedures should be checked before the visa expires.
Depending on the case, options may include:
- Stay extension if eligible;
- New visa issuance under a suitable category;
- Purpose conversion if permitted by law;
- Exiting Vietnam and applying for a new E-visa from outside Vietnam if in-country processing is not available;
- Checking another visa category if the stay purpose is no longer tourism.
Travelers should not wait until close to expiry before checking options, because available solutions may be more limited and overstay risks may be higher.
Vietnam Tourist E-visa Support Service by Nhị Gia
Vietnam Tourist E-visa is relatively convenient to apply for online, but errors may still occur if applicants enter incorrect passport information, select wrong validity dates, choose incorrect border gates, upload unsuitable photos or confuse E-visa with traditional DL visa.
With more than 20 years of experience in Vietnam visas, entry approval letters, temporary residence cards, work permits and dossiers for foreigners in Vietnam, Nhị Gia supports clients in preparing and reviewing Tourist E-visa applications based on each specific case.
Nhị Gia supports clients with:
- Checking whether the case is suitable for Tourist E-visa;
- Advising whether E-visa or traditional DL visa is more suitable;
- Guiding preparation of portrait and passport photos according to requirements;
- Reviewing passport information, entry date, exit date and tourism purpose;
- Supporting E-visa application form completion;
- Tracking results and guiding E-visa printing;
- Advising on handling incorrect information, refusal or reapplication;
- Advising on another suitable visa type if the entry purpose is not tourism;
- Maintaining confidentiality of clients’ personal information and dossiers.
Nhị Gia does not guarantee outcomes for every application, as the final decision belongs to the competent authority. However, checking information and preparing the application accurately from the beginning can help reduce errors, save time and support a more proactive entry plan to Vietnam.
Nhị Gia Service Timeline
The E-visa processing time guided by the system refers to the authority’s processing time after the application has been submitted and valid payment completed. It is not the entire actual timeline when clients use Nhị Gia’s dossier support service.
When using Nhị Gia’s service, the actual timeline depends on passport photo quality, portrait photo quality, personal information, how quickly the client provides documents, review/correction needs, payment system issues if any, additional requests and the immigration authority’s processing progress.
Nhị Gia will advise the estimated timeline after reviewing the client’s specific dossier. The service timeline should not be understood as always equal to the system’s 03-working-day processing timeframe, because the actual process also includes consultation, review, standardization and application tracking.
Contact Nhị Gia for Vietnam Tourist E-visa Support
If you are a foreign national entering Vietnam for tourism, sightseeing or leisure, or an enterprise supporting foreign guests with Tourist E-visa applications, you should check eligibility and passport information before submission.
Please contact Hotline 1900 6654 or email info@nhigia.vn for case-specific consultation from Nhị Gia’s specialists.
