Last updated: June 2026
American, Canadian, and Australian citizens all need an e-visa — $25 for single entry, $50 for multiple entry, 90 days, applied entirely online in 3–5 working days. UK nationals and 24 European and Asian countries get 45 days visa-free. There is no dedicated digital nomad visa and no retirement visa — here's the honest picture of how long stays actually work in 2026.
Vietnam's e-visa is available to citizens of all countries and territories. It's applied for entirely online, requires no embassy visit, and is accepted at 83 international entry and exit points including every major international airport. For US, Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand citizens, this is your entry route — there is no visa-free arrangement for these nationalities.
Both options grant a maximum stay of 90 days from your entry date. The multiple-entry e-visa lets you exit and re-enter Vietnam during the same 90-day window — useful if you're hopping to Cambodia or Thailand mid-trip. The 90 days begins from your first entry, not from the visa's start date.
The application is fully online. Gather these before you start — the portal times out and a half-submitted application can be annoying to recover.
Select "For foreigners outside Vietnam applying for an e-Visa personally." Have your passport scan, photo, and card ready before you begin. The form asks for your nationality, passport details, proposed entry date, entry port, and Vietnamese accommodation address. Double-check everything — discrepancies between your e-visa and passport will cause issues at immigration.
Single entry: $25 USD. Multiple entry: $50 USD. Payment via Visa, Mastercard, or JCB. Once paid, you'll receive a reference number — keep this. Processing begins from this point.
Single entry: $25 · Multiple entry: $50Standard processing is 3–5 working days. Vietnamese public holidays will extend this. Apply at least 2 weeks before travel to give yourself buffer. "Working days" means Vietnam business days in UTC+7 — factor in the time difference. Your approval arrives by email as a PDF document.
Processing: 3–5 working days (allow 2 weeks for safety)Print your approved e-visa. Most airlines will ask to see it at check-in. At Vietnamese immigration, present your e-visa alongside your passport. The officer checks your e-visa, stamps your passport with your permitted stay, and you're in. Keep your e-visa document for the duration of your trip.
Note: US 12-page emergency passports may be rejected — apply with your standard passportVisa on Arrival technically still exists for air arrivals — it requires a pre-approval letter from a Vietnamese travel agency, then you pay a stamping fee at the airport counter. In practice, the e-visa is cheaper, faster, and available at land borders too. VOA is only an advantage if you have an extreme last-minute situation and an agency can turn around an approval letter in under 24 hours. For everyone else: e-visa.
Phu Quoc island has a special exemption: all nationalities — including those that normally require a visa — can visit Phu Quoc visa-free for up to 30 days, provided they stay on the island. The moment you travel to mainland Vietnam (Saigon, Hanoi, anywhere else), you need your e-visa. If your trip is purely Phu Quoc beach time, you can skip the e-visa process entirely.
The Vietnam e-visa system is genuinely one of the better-designed in Southeast Asia — it's fully online, it works, it's cheap, and it's available to everyone. The one friction point is the entry port selection: you must choose where you're flying into before you apply, and if your flight changes, you technically need a new e-visa. In practice, some travelers have entered at a different port than listed without issue, but the rules say you should match. The safer, cheaper, and more honest approach is to apply once you've booked a fixed-entry flight. Apply 2 weeks out; process in 3–5 days; no agency needed.
Vietnam has significantly expanded its visa-free entry programme since 2023. As of 2026, citizens of 38+ countries can enter without a visa for 30 or 45 days. The United States, Canada, and Australia are not on any of these lists — American, Canadian, and Australian travelers must use the e-visa system regardless of trip length.
Germany, France, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland — approved under Resolution 44/NQ-CP from March 2025.
Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland — approved under Resolution 229/NQ-CP from August 2025.
Belarus holds a separate bilateral agreement (effective January 2025). 30-day visa-free entry — not 45 days. Separate from both EU expansion groups above.
Citizens of Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Brunei, Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar are covered under ASEAN agreements. Duration varies — most receive 21–30 days depending on bilateral arrangements.
Every nationality — including those requiring a standard e-visa — can visit Phu Quoc island visa-free for 30 days. Only valid if you stay on the island. Mainland Vietnam requires the standard e-visa or visa exemption.
Overseas Vietnamese nationals and their direct family members can apply for a 5-year visa exemption certificate through their nearest Vietnamese embassy. Holders may stay up to 180 days per visit, multiple entries.
The United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are not covered under any current Vietnam visa-free arrangement. Citizens of these countries must apply for an e-visa regardless of trip length — even for one day. There is no "just pop in for a weekend" exemption. Apply for the e-visa at evisa.gov.vn before you travel.
Citizens of all African countries, all Middle Eastern countries, most Latin American nations, and most Asian nations not specifically listed in bilateral agreements require an e-visa or embassy-issued visa. The e-visa is the correct route — it's available to all nationalities through evisa.gov.vn at the same $25/$50 government fee regardless of passport.
| Passport | Access | Duration | Route if Staying Longer |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK, Germany, France + Group 1 & 2 | Visa-Free | 45 days | Apply for e-visa ($50 multiple-entry, 90 days) before travel |
| Belarus | Visa-Free | 30 days (bilateral) | E-visa for longer stays |
| ASEAN members (Singapore, Thailand, etc.) | Visa-Free | 21–30 days (varies) | E-visa or in-country extension (where available) |
| US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand | E-Visa Required | Up to 90 days (e-visa) | Exit and reapply; no in-country extension for e-visas |
| All other nationalities | E-Visa Available | Up to 90 days (e-visa) | Exit and reapply |
| All nationalities — Phu Quoc only | Visa-Free (island) | 30 days | E-visa for mainland Vietnam travel |
The expansion of Vietnam's 45-day exemption to include all of Group 2 Europe in August 2025 was a meaningful policy shift. If you hold one of the 24 qualifying passports, Vietnam is now genuinely easy to get into — easier than Thailand (30 days) and far easier than Indonesia (VoA required). The wrinkle: the exemptions are confirmed through fixed end dates (March 2028, August 2028). Vietnam has renewed these schemes before, but they're not permanent legislation. If you're planning a long-term stay that crosses one of those expiry dates, factor in potential policy changes. US, Canadian, and Australian passport holders often discover the exemption list the hard way and feel the sting — the $25 e-visa is the correct, uncomplicated solution.
Vietnam has no dedicated digital nomad visa and no retirement visa as of June 2026. A "Golden Visa" proposal made news in April 2025 and a 5-year Talent Visa has launched for specific professional categories — but for the vast majority of remote workers, expats, and retirees, the reality is either 90-day e-visa cycling, a formal work permit, or an investor-backed visa. Here's what each actually requires.
Foreign nationals working in Vietnam must hold a valid work permit issued by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA). The permit is tied to a specific employer and role. Two categories cover most professional positions.
Vietnam's visa system includes investor categories (DT1–DT4) tied to registered capital amounts, and business visas (DN1–DN2) for those sponsored by a registered Vietnamese company.
A Temporary Residence Card is the closest Vietnam has to a long-term residency document for foreigners. It's issued alongside a qualifying visa (work permit, investor, family) and typically runs 1–5 years depending on the underlying basis. TRC holders can open Vietnamese bank accounts and register addresses — things tourist e-visa holders cannot do cleanly.
Vietnam's law (Article 8.2 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners) explicitly bars foreigners on tourist visas from "labour activities." Ho Chi Minh City's Department of Labour classifies remote online work on a tourist visa as illegal employment, with administrative fines of VND 15–25 million (~$600–$1,000). In practice, enforcement specifically against independent remote workers generating zero Vietnamese-source income is minimal — but the legal risk exists, and it has increased with Vietnam's 2026 immigration tightening. Anyone with employment contracts, regular income receipts, or business registration documentation should consider a proper work permit or DN visa route.
In April 2025, Vietnam's Tourism Advisory Board formally proposed a 10-year "Golden Visa" to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, aimed at affluent individuals, retirees, and professionals seeking long-term residency. As of June 2026, the Golden Visa has no official launch date, no application portal, and no published eligibility criteria. What has launched is a 5-year Talent Visa for individuals sponsored by Vietnamese institutions in designated professional sectors (technology, innovation, culture). This is not a self-applied route — it requires institutional sponsorship and formal approval. Check Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security website for any updates before planning around either programme.
Vietnam is genuinely popular with digital nomads and long-term expats — the cost of living is excellent, the cities are energetic, and the food makes you want to stay forever. But the visa infrastructure hasn't caught up with the reality of how people actually use the country. There's no Malaysia-style DE Rantau pass, no Thailand-style DTV. Most expats doing long stays are on 90-day e-visa cycles with border runs to Cambodia or Thailand. That works — it's what thousands of people do routinely — but it doesn't give you stable residency rights, banking access, or a legitimate work status. If Vietnam is your base for a serious year-plus stretch, exploring the DN visa via a licensed agency or the work permit route through a local company is worth the paperwork. The e-visa cycling option is covered in full detail in the next tab.
Vietnam's e-visa cannot be extended from inside the country. Once your 90 days are up, you must exit, apply for a new e-visa from abroad, wait 3–5 working days for approval, then re-enter. Thousands of digital nomads and long-term travellers cycle through this process routinely. Here's the mechanics, the common run destinations, and what to watch for.
Go to evisa.gov.vn. Select your intended next entry date and entry port. Pay $50 for the multiple-entry option — it gives you more flexibility during the 90-day window. Processing takes 3–5 Vietnamese working days.
Don't let it run to zero. Leave Vietnam while your current e-visa is still valid — even a day before expiry is fine. Your new e-visa should already be approved and sitting in your email by this point.
Most nomads go to Cambodia (Phnom Penh or Siem Reap), Thailand (Bangkok), or Laos (Vientiane). You don't need to stay long — some people cross back the same day, though spending a few nights is more comfortable and looks less like an automated process to immigration officers.
Print the new e-visa approval document, present it with your passport at the entry port you selected, and you're in for another 90 days. The clock starts fresh from the date of this re-entry.
Phnom Penh and Siem Reap are the top choices. Quick flight from Hanoi or HCMC, or a bus via Moc Bai land border from Ho Chi Minh City. Cambodians get an e-visa on arrival for $30. Easy to spend 2–3 nights and return.
Bangkok is a common run for Ho Chi Minh City based nomads. Also serves double duty if you want to handle other errands (new SIM, tax paperwork, dentist) that are easier in Bangkok than Hanoi. Slightly more expensive than Cambodia for the trip itself.
Vientiane is a calmer run option used by Hanoi-based nomads — shorter flight time than Bangkok, cheaper, and Laos is genuinely worth a few days. Less popular than Cambodia but a good option if you want a change of pace.
Vietnam's visa run culture is real, it's enormous, and it works — for now. Thousands of nomads and long-term expats cycle in and out every quarter with no issue. But Vietnam's 2026 immigration tightening (Decree 282/2025 on overstay fines, Decree 59/2026 on deportation) signals a government that's paying more attention to how foreigners use the country's immigration system. The cycling approach is not going away soon, but the trend lines in the region — particularly Thailand's clampdown on long-term tourist-status residents — suggest Vietnam could tighten the screws on repetitive cycling at some point. If you're building a serious long-term life in Vietnam, the e-visa cycling route is a planning risk as much as it is a convenience. A DN business visa via sponsorship is more stable, even if more expensive.
Vietnam doubled its maximum visa overstay fines under Decree 282/2025, effective December 15, 2025. The new cap is VND 40 million (approximately $1,520 USD). Overstays of 16 days or more now trigger formal deportation authority. A further decree (No. 59/2026/ND-CP, effective April 1, 2026) allows immediate deportation for those unable to pay fines. Track your visa expiry date.
| Overstay Duration | Fine Range (VND) | Approx. USD | Additional Consequences |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–15 days | VND 500,000 – 2,000,000 | ~$19 – $76 | Warning issued · Fine payable at airport for very short overstays |
| 16–29 days | VND 5,000,000 – 10,000,000 | ~$190 – $380 | Deportation possible · Exit visa required · Fines doubled vs prior decree |
| 30–59 days | VND 10,000,000 – 15,000,000 | ~$380 – $570 | Deportation likely · Exit visa · Potential blacklist |
| 60–89 days | Up to VND 20,000,000 | Up to ~$760 | Deportation · Entry ban 1–5 years |
| 90 days – 6 months | Up to VND 25,000,000 | Up to ~$950 | Deportation · Entry ban 1–5 years |
| 6 months – 1 year | Up to VND 30,000,000 | Up to ~$1,140 | Deportation · Extended entry ban |
| Over 1 year | Up to VND 40,000,000 | Up to ~$1,520 | Deportation · Potential permanent ban |
USD conversions approximate at ~VND 26,000/USD. Fines are paid in VND at Immigration Department offices. For overstays of 1–2 days, fines can sometimes be paid directly to immigration officers at the airport on departure. For anything longer, go to the Immigration Department first. Source: Decree 282/2025, Vietnam News, Vietcetera — confirmed December 2025 / April 2026.
The Immigration Department has discretion to reduce or waive fines for overstays caused by events genuinely outside your control. Acceptable circumstances include hospitalisation (requires a medical report from a Vietnamese hospital), flight cancellations (requires airline documentation), and lost passport situations (requires a police report). All supporting documents must be translated into Vietnamese by a certified state notary office inside Vietnam. Submit these alongside your explanation letter to the Immigration Department — do not just show up at the airport and expect leniency without documentation.
Vietnam's overstay rules changed substantially in December 2025 and April 2026. The fine amounts have doubled, deportation authority kicks in at 16 days instead of being a last resort, and the "pay or get deported immediately" mechanism is new. None of this is obscure — it was covered in Vietnamese and English-language media. The practical impact for tourists and nomads: the old approach of "I'll figure out the exit fine at the airport" only works cleanly for overstays of 1–2 days. Anything longer is a meaningfully worse situation than it was in 2024. The e-visa system is cheap and fast enough that there's really no good reason to overstay. Set the reminder, plan the exit.
Foreign embassies for citizen emergencies, and the Vietnamese immigration offices you'll need for visa extensions, overstay resolution, and TRC applications.
170 Ngoc Khanh, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi. Tel: +84-24-3850-5000. US Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City: 4 Le Duan Boulevard, District 1. Tel: +84-28-3520-4200. American Citizen Services available at both locations for emergency passports, notarial services, and emergencies.
vn.usembassy.gov →Central Building, 4th Floor, 31 Hai Ba Trung, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi. British Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City: 25 Le Duan Boulevard, District 1. Emergency consular assistance, travel documents, and citizen services.
gov.uk/world/vietnam →8 Dao Tan Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi. Tel: +84-24-3774-0100. Australian Consulate-General in Ho Chi Minh City: 20th Floor, Vincom Center, 47 Ly Tu Trong, District 1. Emergency consular services and citizen assistance.
vietnam.embassy.gov.au →31 Hung Vuong Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi. Tel: +84-24-3734-5000. Canada operates through the embassy in Hanoi for most consular services. Emergency Canadian citizen services available 24/7 through Global Affairs Canada.
international.gc.ca/vietnam →29 Tran Phu Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi. German Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City: 126 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, District 3. Passport services, notarial services, and consular assistance for German nationals.
hanoi.diplo.de →Vietnam hosts embassies from most Western countries in Hanoi, with consulates general in Ho Chi Minh City for the largest missions. Find the full directory through Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
mofa.gov.vn →44-46 Tran Phu Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi. The Hanoi immigration office handles visa extensions, exit visas, overstay resolution, TRC applications, and work permit-related immigration matters for those based in the north. The e-visa official portal is evisa.gov.vn and is managed nationally by the Immigration Department under the Ministry of Public Security.
161 Nguyen Du Street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Handles all immigration matters for those based in the south. For overstay resolution, bring your passport, explanation letter, and any supporting documents. Da Nang Immigration: 7 Tran Quy Cap Street, Da Nang.
All Vietnam e-visa applications are submitted at evisa.gov.vn — the Vietnam Immigration Department's official e-visa system. Government fees: $25 single entry, $50 multiple entry. Any site charging more is adding an unnecessary service fee. Processing: 3–5 working days standard.
For visa exemption information, bilateral agreements, and embassy directory: mofa.gov.vn. The MOFA publishes current visa-free country lists and bilateral agreement status. Useful for confirming whether your nationality's exemption has been extended or modified.
Every topic covered in depth — pick any deep dive and go straight in.
Hanoi vs Ho Chi Minh City vs Da Nang vs Hoi An. Real monthly budgets by city and lifestyle.
Read the full guide →E-visa, visa-free countries, long-stay options, visa run cycling, and overstay consequences.
You are here →Renting process, foreigner ownership rules, neighbourhood guides for Hanoi and HCMC.
Read the full guide →International hospitals, specialist care, dental, and health insurance options for expats.
Read the full guide →City transport, the Reunification Express train, domestic flights, and motorbike reality.
Read the full guide →Electricity, water, internet providers, mobile SIMs, and what a typical utility bill looks like.
Read the full guide →Street food culture, bia hoi, cà phê, dining out, markets, and food delivery apps.
Read the full guide →Hoi An tailors, markets, crafts, bargaining tactics, and spotting fake goods.
Read the full guide →