How to Apply for Vietnam E-visa for Visiting Relatives, Updated 2026

What Is Vietnam E-visa for Visiting Relatives?

Vietnam E-visa for visiting relatives is essentially a Vietnam electronic visa issued to foreign nationals who select visiting relatives as the entry purpose when applying through the online system.

According to Vietnam’s official electronic visa system, E-visa is valid for a maximum of 90 days and may be issued for single entry or multiple entries. Foreign nationals outside Vietnam may apply online by themselves or through a requesting agency or organization.

This E-visa purpose is suitable for foreigners who need to enter Vietnam to visit a spouse, parents, children, relatives or family members for a short period, especially when they do not need to complete the traditional TT family visit visa sponsorship procedure.

Who Can Apply for Vietnam E-visa for Visiting Relatives?

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.

E-visa for visiting relatives is usually suitable for:

• Foreign nationals who are spouses, parents or children of Vietnamese citizens;
• Foreign nationals visiting relatives living in Vietnam;
• Foreign nationals who are family members of foreigners legally residing in Vietnam;
• Foreign nationals entering Vietnam for a short family visit, family event or support of relatives;
• Foreign nationals who do not yet need a traditional TT visa or family-based temporary residence card.

However, applicants must still hold a valid passport, not fall under cases of entry suspension and declare information truthfully and accurately.

How Is E-visa for Visiting Relatives Different From Traditional TT Visa?

Vietnam E-visa for visiting relatives and traditional TT visa may both relate to family visit purposes, but they differ in nature, dossier, validity and procedure.

E-visa for visiting relatives is an electronic visa with the symbol EV, applied online and does not necessarily require a family sponsor in Vietnam to submit a separate sponsorship dossier. Traditional TT visa is a family visit visa under a sponsorship procedure, usually requiring a relative or relevant entity in Vietnam to handle the dossier with the immigration authority.

Important note: E-visa for visiting relatives does not automatically allow the foreign national to obtain a temporary residence card in Vietnam. If a longer stay or TT temporary residence card is needed, relationship proof, sponsor eligibility, current visa status and applicable conversion/residence procedure must be checked at the time of application.

Requirements for Vietnam E-visa for Visiting Relatives

To apply for Vietnam E-visa for visiting relatives, 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;
• Not fall under cases of entry suspension under Vietnamese law;
• Have a suitable entry purpose of visiting relatives;
• Have an intended address of stay in Vietnam;
• Provide information of relatives in Vietnam if required by the form;
• Declare information truthfully, accurately and consistently;
• Use border gates eligible for E-visa entry/exit.

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 E-visa for Visiting Relatives Valid?

Vietnam E-visa for visiting relatives is valid for up to 90 days. Applicants may choose single entry or multiple entries depending on travel needs.

If the foreign national only enters Vietnam once to visit relatives, a single-entry E-visa may be suitable. If multiple entries and exits are needed during the visa validity, for example when visiting family while traveling between Vietnam and another country, a multiple-entry E-visa may be more suitable.

However, the specific granted validity depends on the selected validity dates, application information and assessment result. Applicants should carefully check the start date, end date and entry type after the E-visa is issued.

Ports Eligible for Vietnam E-visa for Visiting Relatives

Vietnam 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 may include 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 E-visa for Visiting Relatives

Vietnam E-visa for visiting relatives is generally not too complicated, but information and photo formats must 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 port information;
• Intended address of stay in Vietnam;
• Information of relatives 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 foreign national has a family relationship with a Vietnamese citizen or a foreigner legally residing in Vietnam, relationship proof such as birth certificate, marriage certificate or equivalent civil status documents should be prepared in case it is needed. Even if the E-visa system does not always require these documents to be uploaded, the declaration must still be truthful and supportable.

How to Apply for Vietnam E-visa for Visiting Relatives Online

Foreign nationals may apply for Vietnam E-visa for visiting relatives online through the official electronic visa system. The basic process includes the following steps:

Step 1: Prepare Photos and Required Information

Before completing the form, the applicant should prepare the portrait photo, passport image, relative information in Vietnam, accommodation address, expected entry/exit dates 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 Visiting Relatives as the Entry Purpose

In the entry purpose section, the applicant selects the option corresponding to visiting relatives. The applicant then enters the intended temporary residence address in Vietnam, province/city of stay and relative information in Vietnam if required by the system.

The accommodation address should be specific, such as the relative’s home address, apartment, hotel or intended place of stay. Vague information may make the application harder to verify.

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;
• 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. E-visa applications are 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 E-visa for Visiting Relatives Fees

Vietnam E-visa for visiting relatives uses the standard E-visa fee levels:

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 E-visa for Visiting Relatives

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;
• 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 E-visa for visiting relatives with traditional TT visa;
• Assuming that E-visa automatically converts into a temporary residence card.

These mistakes may lead to refusal, inability to check results, the need to reapply or difficulty during entry procedures.

Should You Choose E-visa for Visiting Relatives or Traditional TT Visa?

Choosing between E-visa for visiting relatives and traditional TT visa depends on stay needs, family documents and plans in Vietnam.

E-visa for visiting relatives is usually suitable if:

• The foreign national only needs a short stay in Vietnam;
• An online and simple procedure is preferred;
• The relative in Vietnam does not need to submit a sponsorship dossier;
• A stay of up to 90 days is sufficient;
• No temporary residence card or long-term family residence procedure is needed yet.

Traditional TT visa is usually more suitable if:

• The foreign national needs a clearly sponsored family-based stay;
• Relationship documents are available;
• The relative in Vietnam is eligible to sponsor;
• A longer visa duration than E-visa is needed;
• TT temporary residence card may be considered if requirements are met;
• A clear sponsorship basis is needed for future residence procedures.

In simple terms: E-visa for visiting relatives is suitable for short family visits, while TT visa is more suitable for sponsored family-based stays and longer residence plans.

Can Vietnam E-visa for Visiting Relatives Be Extended?

E-visa is not an online extension procedure for foreigners already in Vietnam. If a foreign national is staying in Vietnam under an E-visa for visiting relatives 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;
• TT visa under family sponsorship;
• TT temporary residence card if requirements are met;
• Exiting Vietnam and applying for a new E-visa from outside Vietnam if in-country processing is not available.

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 E-visa for Visiting Relatives Support Service by Nhị Gia

Vietnam E-visa for visiting relatives is relatively convenient to apply for online, but errors may still occur when applicants enter incorrect passport information, select the wrong entry purpose, choose incorrect visa validity, upload unsuitable photos or confuse E-visa with traditional TT 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 E-visa applications for visiting relatives based on each specific case.

Nhị Gia supports clients with:

• Checking whether the case is suitable for E-visa for visiting relatives;
• Advising whether E-visa or traditional TT visa is more suitable;
• Guiding preparation of portrait and passport photos according to requirements;
• Reviewing passport information, entry date, exit date and family visit purpose;
• Supporting E-visa application form completion;
• Tracking results and guiding E-visa printing;
• Advising on handling incorrect information, refusal or reapplication;
• Advising on TT visa, stay extension or TT temporary residence card if a longer stay is needed;
• 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.

If you are a foreign national entering Vietnam to visit relatives, or a family/business in Vietnam supporting a foreign guest with an E-visa application for visiting relatives, 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.