How to Apply for Vietnam Business E-visa for Foreigners, Updated 2026
What Is Vietnam Business E-visa?
Vietnam Business E-visa is an electronic visa issued to foreign nationals entering Vietnam for business activities, commercial purposes, working with partners, attending meetings or conferences, conducting market research, signing contracts or carrying out other suitable short-term activities.
Legally, E-visa carries the symbol EV. When applying through the electronic visa system, the applicant should select an entry purpose that matches the actual need, such as business activities, working with Vietnamese enterprises/organizations or another corresponding purpose shown in the system form.
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 Is Vietnam Business E-visa Suitable For?
Business E-visa is usually suitable for foreign nationals who need to enter Vietnam for a short period to conduct work-related, commercial or cooperation activities with organizations or enterprises in Vietnam.
Business E-visa may be suitable for:
- Foreign nationals visiting Vietnam to meet business partners;
- Specialists, managers or business representatives entering Vietnam for short-term work;
- Participants in conferences, seminars, exhibitions or trade events;
- Visitors conducting market research or exploring cooperation opportunities;
- Persons entering Vietnam to sign contracts, exchange professional information or work with Vietnamese enterprises;
- Persons needing single or multiple entries within a maximum 90-day period for business schedules.
However, Business E-visa should not be used as a substitute for work visa, work permit, temporary residence card or long-term visa categories if the foreign national actually works regularly, receives salary, holds a position in a Vietnamese enterprise or needs long-term stay. In such cases, a more suitable visa and procedure should be reviewed before proceeding.
How Is Business E-visa Different From DN1/DN2 Business Visa?
Business E-visa and traditional DN1/DN2 business visas may both relate to business activities, work trips or working with enterprises in Vietnam. However, these visa groups differ in visa symbol, application method, sponsorship requirements and intended use.
| Criteria | Business E-visa | DN1/DN2 Business Visa |
| Visa symbol | EV | DN1 or DN2 |
| Purpose | Business, commercial activities or short-term work with partners/enterprises in Vietnam according to the declared system purpose | Working with legally established enterprises/organizations or conducting commercial activities under DN1/DN2 |
| Issuance format | Electronic file printed by the visa holder | Usually issued under sponsorship/entry approval procedure or another suitable format depending on the dossier |
| Application method | Online through E-visa system | Sponsored by an enterprise/organization in Vietnam through immigration procedure |
| Sponsorship requirement | Usually no separate entry approval letter for self-applied E-visa | Sponsorship dossier/entry approval is required |
| Vietnamese enterprise documents | Usually requires partner/organization information if requested by the form | Legal documents of the sponsoring enterprise/organization are required |
| Maximum validity | Up to 90 days | DN1/DN2 visa validity is up to 12 months |
| Suitable for | Short business trips, online process, clear itinerary | Cases requiring clear enterprise sponsorship, longer duration or enterprise-based processing |
| Follow-up procedure possibility | Not automatically a basis for temporary residence card; eligibility for conversion/residence documents must be checked | May be more suitable for some follow-up dossiers if sponsorship continues and requirements are met |
Requirements for Vietnam Business E-visa
To apply for Vietnam Business 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 business, commercial or short-term work entry purpose;
- Provide information about the organization, enterprise, partner or work location in Vietnam if required by the form;
- 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 E-visa system guidance, electronic visas are issued to foreigners outside Vietnam, not to foreigners currently temporarily residing in Vietnam for stay extension purposes.
How Long Is Vietnam Business E-visa Valid?
Vietnam Business E-visa is valid for up to 90 days. Applicants may choose single entry or multiple entries depending on the business schedule.
If the foreign national enters Vietnam only once for meetings, contract signing or short-term work, a single-entry E-visa may be suitable. If multiple entries are needed during the same validity period, for example combining Vietnam work with regional business trips, a multiple-entry E-visa may be more convenient.
Applicants must select the correct E-visa start date, end date and entry/exit ports according to the actual itinerary. If the information on the E-visa does not match the travel plan, the foreign national may encounter difficulties during entry or exit procedures.
Ports Eligible for Vietnam Business E-visa
Vietnam Business E-visa holders must enter and exit through international border gates eligible for E-visa use. On 2 December 2025, the Government issued Resolution 389/NQ-CP supplementing the list of international border gates allowing foreigners to enter and exit with electronic visas.
The E-visa port list has expanded compared with the previous period. 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 information and border gate rules should be checked again before travel.
Documents Required for Vietnam Business E-visa
Vietnam Business E-visa documents are generally simpler than DN1/DN2 business visa applications under enterprise sponsorship, 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;
- Entry purpose suitable for business/work-related activities;
- Information of the company, partner, organization or work location in Vietnam if required by the form;
- Email for application information and status check;
- International payment card or payment method accepted by the system.
If the trip involves contract signing, conferences, seminars, market research or working with partners, the applicant should prepare supporting information such as invitation letter, working schedule, partner information, hotel booking or business itinerary for clarification if needed.
How to Apply for Vietnam Business E-visa Online
Foreign nationals may apply for Vietnam Business E-visa online through the official electronic visa system. The basic process includes the following steps:
Step 1: Prepare Photos, Passport and Business 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, company/partner information 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: Enter Business Information in Vietnam
In the entry purpose section, the applicant selects the option matching the actual business purpose, such as Business activities or Working with Vietnamese enterprises/organizations, depending on the options shown in the system.
The applicant then enters related information such as:
- Name of company, organization or partner in Vietnam if required by the form;
- Address of the company/organization in Vietnam;
- Intended accommodation address;
- Province/city of stay;
- Working schedule or business itinerary if available;
- Contact information in Vietnam if required by the system.
Business information should be specific, clear and consistent with the stated entry purpose. Applicants should provide the full name of the company/partner in Vietnam, working address, accommodation address and expected business schedule to help reduce errors during application review.
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;
- Company/partner information in Vietnam;
- 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 Business E-visa Fees
Vietnam Business 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, visa validity and entry purpose.
Common Mistakes When Applying for Vietnam Business 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 insufficient company/partner information in Vietnam;
- 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 Business E-visa with DN1/DN2 visa;
- Assuming that Business E-visa can automatically be converted into a temporary residence card.
These mistakes may lead to refusal, inability to check results, the need to reapply or difficulty during entry procedures.
Can Business E-visa Be Converted to a Work Visa or Temporary Residence Card?
It should not be understood that holding a Business E-visa automatically allows a foreign national to convert to a work visa or temporary residence card in Vietnam. Visa purpose conversion, new visa issuance or temporary residence card issuance is only considered if the case is permitted by law and supported by sufficient documents.
Under the current legal framework, visa purpose generally cannot be converted except in certain prescribed cases. Cases usually requiring review include having documents proving investor status or representative status of a foreign organization investing in Vietnam; documents proving family relationship; being invited/sponsored by an agency or organization to work and having a work permit or work permit exemption confirmation; or entering with an E-visa and having a work permit/work permit exemption confirmation. This should be reviewed based on the actual dossier and regulations applicable at the time of implementation.
If a foreign national is in Vietnam under a Business E-visa and later needs to work officially, the enterprise should check:
- Whether the foreign national needs a work permit or work permit exemption confirmation;
- Whether the sponsoring enterprise is eligible to employ foreign workers;
- Whether the current entry purpose matches the intended dossier;
- Whether the case is eligible for purpose conversion or new visa issuance;
- Whether the person is eligible for a temporary residence card under work, investment, family or another suitable category.
In summary, conversion from Business E-visa to work visa or temporary residence card may be considered in certain cases, but it is not automatic and should not be guaranteed before reviewing the specific dossier.
Should You Choose Business E-visa or DN1/DN2 Visa?
Choosing between Business E-visa and DN1/DN2 visa depends on entry purpose, stay duration, sponsorship needs, work plan and follow-up procedures in Vietnam.
Business E-visa is usually suitable if:
- The foreign national is outside Vietnam;
- The purpose is short business trip, meeting, market research, contract signing or working with partners;
- Online procedure is preferred;
- A stay of up to 90 days is sufficient;
- No entry approval letter or DN1/DN2 enterprise sponsorship is needed yet;
- There is no immediate need for temporary residence card or long-term labor dossier.
DN1/DN2 visa is usually more suitable if:
- A Vietnamese enterprise needs to clearly sponsor the foreign national;
- The foreign national needs to stay longer than 90 days;
- The case involves working with enterprises/organizations in Vietnam under DN1;
- The case involves service offering, commercial presence establishment or activities under international treaties under DN2;
- There is a plan for follow-up procedures such as new visa issuance, stay extension or another enterprise-sponsored dossier;
- The dossier requires a stronger legal basis from the Vietnamese enterprise.
In summary: Business E-visa is suitable for short business trips and online procedure; DN1/DN2 visa is more suitable for cases requiring clear enterprise sponsorship or longer stay/work plans.
Vietnam Business E-visa Support Service by Nhị Gia
Vietnam Business E-visa is relatively convenient to apply for online, but errors may still occur if applicants enter incorrect passport information, select the wrong entry purpose, provide unclear company/partner information, choose incorrect validity dates, select wrong border gates or confuse Business E-visa with DN1/DN2 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 Business E-visa applications based on each specific case.
Nhị Gia supports clients with:
- Checking whether the case is suitable for Business E-visa;
- Advising whether Business E-visa or DN1/DN2 visa is more suitable;
- Guiding preparation of portrait and passport photos according to requirements;
- Reviewing passport information, entry date, exit date and business purpose;
- Checking company, partner, organization or work location information in Vietnam;
- 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 suitable for E-visa;
- Providing preliminary advice on work visa, work permit and temporary residence card directions if long-term work/stay is needed;
- Maintaining confidentiality of personal information, enterprise dossiers and business trip information.
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.
If you are a foreign national entering Vietnam for business, partner meetings, trade events, market research, or an enterprise supporting foreign guests, experts or partners with Business 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.
