Vietnam E-Visa Online from Official Government Website – Fees, Documents & How to Apply

Please note that this blog is only about Vietnam E-Visa Online Application Process. Please note that Vietnam E-Visa is different from Vietnam Visa on Arrival. If you want to know more about all Visa Application processes for Vietnam, you may read our blog here – Vietnam Visa – Types, Fees & How to Apply

Before we start writing for how you can apply for Vietnam E-visa on official government website in less than 15 minutes (yes, believe it !! ) and get final E-visa in your inbox within 3 days, we want to tell you that this blog is not related to any travel/visa agency and we are writing it only to help fellow travellers. It took us tremendous efforts to finally figure out Vietnam Visa process due to number of private Visa agencies/travel websites that have flooded internet making it difficult to find right Visa process for Vietnam and also the official government website (Vietnam Immigration Website) where you can apply for Vietnam E-Visa.

Click here to read all blogs from our Vietnam backpacking trip.

Vietnam Visa – 3 Different Ways to Get Your Visa

There are 3 ways that one can apply and get Vietnam Visa. We are listing all three processes below while also putting our Priority Ranking. You may select the one that suits your travel requirements best. In case, you want to read in detail about all processes (along with comparison across three processes, you can read our detailed blog here – Vietnam Visa – Types, Fees & How to Apply

1. Apply for Vietnam E-Visa Online (Preference 1) – This blog is about Vietnam E-Visa process only. This is the easiest way to get Vietnam Visa for Indians. Not only for Indians but for citizens of all 46 Eligible countries. You only need to apply online directly on Vietnam Immigration Official Government Website and get your E-Visa over email in 3 working days. If you are looking for 30 days Single Entry Vietnam Visa, please go for it without second thought.
2. Vietnam Visa on Arrival (Preference 2) – To get Vietnam Visa on Arrival, one has to go through 2 step process i) Get a Visa Approval Letter through a Private Agency ($6 to $50 – Depends on Agency and how fast you want your letter) ii) Get your Visa Stamp on Arrival in Vietnam ($25 -$50 – Depends on Single/Multi Entry Visa). Vietnam Visa on Arrival is useful in case you are looking for Multi Entry or >30 days Vietnam Visa. (Read more – Vietnam Visa on Arrival – How to Apply, Fees and Requirements)
3. Apply for Vietnam Visa at Vietnam Embassy/Consulate (Preference 3)  – You can apply for Vietnam Visa at Vietnam Embassy/Consulate in your country only. This process is effort intensive with fees being higher compared to both Visa on Arrival and E-Visa processes and we suggest to apply for your Vietnam Visa through Embassy ONLY IF E-Visa or Visa on Arrival do not serve your travel needs. (Read more – How to Apply Vietnam Visa from Vietnam Embassy/ Consulate in India)

We are covering only Vietnam E-Visa process in this blog. Though I applied Vietnam E-Visa on India Passport but process is pretty same for citizens from all 46 countries. In case, you want details about all above processes, we have written a separate detailed blog to help you – Vietnam Visa – Types, Fees & How to Apply

Eligible Countries for Vietnam E-Visa

In Feb 2017, Vietnam launched the E-Visa program to simplify the Visa process. Now citizens of 46 countries, including Indian Tourists, can apply for Vietnam Visa online and get their E-Visa delivered electronically within 3 days. List of eligible countries for Vietnam E-Visa is below (You can refer updated list of countries here).

1. Argentina 2. Armenia 3. Australia 4. Azerbaijan 5. Belarus 6. Bruney 7. Bulgaria 8. Canada 9. Chile 10. China (Not apply to Chinese E-passport holders) 11. Colombia 12. Cuba 13. Czech Republic 14. Denmark 15. Finland 16. France 17. Germany 18. Greece 19. Hungary 20. India 21. Ireland 22. Italy 23. Japan 24. Kazakhstan 25. Korea (South) 26. Luxembourg 27. Mongolia 28. Myanmar 29. Netherlands 30. New Zealand 31. Norway 32. Panama 33. Peru 34. Philippines 35. Poland 36. Romania 37. Russia 38. Slovakia 39. Spain 40. Sweden 41. Timor Leste 42. United Arab Emirates 43. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 44. United States of America 45. Uruguay 46. Venezuela

Vietnam E-Visa Official Government Website

One of the problem that I faced and I think most of us would have faced is to find official government website where one can apply for Vietnam E-Visa. There are so many private websites that it is hard to locate Vietnam Immigration Official Site. 

https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/en_US/web/guest/home or https://immigration.gov.vn/ is the official Vietnam Immigration Department website where you can find all information about Vietnam E-Visa and also apply for one. Both links direct to the same page.

How much does Vietnam E- Visa Cost?

Vietnam E-Visa fee is 25 USD. There is an additional 0.96 USD online payment fee charged by payment gateway (Payoo). So in total – 25.96 USD. This fee is standard for citizens from all 46 eligible countries (including Indian Tourists). You may check Vietnam Immigration Department E-Visa site for any updates on fee here.

This is the cheapest way to get your Vietnam Visa as you directly apply on government website and there is no third party/visa agency/travel agency involved in this process who usually charge an additional fee of around $20 – $50. This is also the reason why they do not want you to know about Vietnam E-Visa Process 🙂

Vietnam E-Visa – What is covered and What is not covered?

If you are looking for i) 30 days ii) Single Entry Tourist Visa and planning to enter Vietnam through one of these 28 international checkpoint Ports (including Airports, Seaports and Landports), then Vietnam E-Visa is perfect for you. So it suffices for most of the people visiting Vietnam as a tourist or short duration trips.

Please note that Vietnam E-Visa would not be right choice if you are looking for a stay longer than 30 days or multiple entry during your stay in Vietnam.

How much time does it take to get Vietnam E-Visa.

It takes only 15 minutes for you to apply for your Vietnam Visa online on Vietnam Immigration Department website. Post that, it takes another 3 days to get your E-Visa online in your email. For me, I had received my Visa within 1.5 working days post online application. With your E-Visa Print out, you can directly head to Immigration once you land in Vietnam.

Documents required to apply for Vietnam E-Visa online

To apply for your Vietnam Visa online, you require soft copies of following documents. Please keep digital/scanned copies of following ready before you start your online application process.

• Portrait Photo (4x6cm): Looking straight and without glasses.
• Passport Data Page: Full page including photo, personal information and ICAO lines.

Once you land in Vietnam, you have to present the printed E-Visa and valid passport at immigration check-point. Please note that you also need to display your E-Visa to Airlines otherwise you will not be allowed to board flight to Vietnam.

How to apply for Vietnam E-Visa: Step by Step Guide

Here is step by step guide to apply for your Vietnam E-Visa online on Vietnam Immigration Official website –

Step 1: Visit Vietnam Immigration Department Website and go through FAQs to understand if E-Visa fits your requirements. Once you are sure of applying for Vietnam Visa online, click on E-Visa issuance Section as highlighted below. This will direct you to Visa application page.

Step 2: On Next page, click either on Foreigner’ section or on ink  ‘personally apply for E-visa’. This will direct you to Visa Application Page.

Step 3: On next page, it will list 3 steps for your Vietnam E-Visa Application. Confirm at the bottom and click Next. You do not have to provide any other detail here. It is to prepare your for the process.

Step 4: Next Page is the the one where you need to upload your photograph, Passport Copy and all details for Vietnam E-Visa Application Process. Please fill all details and check correctly as you can not edit your application once submitted and E-Visa application fee is non-refundable. Though, this page asks you to specify for Entry and Exit Port, but you are free to enter and exit through any of 28 international checkpoints. Post providing all details, click on Review Your Application button and you can review all details (and also edit them again). Please recheck your email id as you will get your Vietnam E-Visa over email.

Step 5: Submission of your application leads you to Payment Page and will also generate a Registration Code to track your application. In case, you do not pay now, you can also come later and complete payment using same Registration Code. Clicking on Pay e-Visa Fee leads you to Payoo Payment Gateway.

Step 6: You can pay a fee of 25 USD and an additional 0.96 USD Payment Fee on Payoo Payment Gateway. Please note that though fee is in USD but deduction would be in Vietnamese Dong.

Step 7: You will get a confirmation for Successful E-Visa Application and you should get your Vietnam Visa in 3 days over email.

How do I check my Vietnam E-Visa Status

You can use your registration code to check the status of your Vietnam E-Visa here. 

This completes your Vietnam E-Visa Online Application Process within 15 minutes directly on Government Official Website. As per communication on website, you have to wait for another 3 days to get you Visa. As of now, there is no Express Service to get your Vietnam E-Visa Faster.

Actually, I got my Visa within 1.5 working days.  I had applied online on Sunday evening and I got an email from Vietnam Immigration Department at 1:42 PM Tuesday with my Visa approved. Application Status on above page changed as ‘Granted Visa’ with a link to download and print my Visa. 

By clicking at down arrow sign, you can download your Vietnam E-Visa.

How does Vietnam E-Visa looks Like?

You get your Vietnam E-Visa as a simple one page PDF. It looks like this. I have deliberately deleted my personal details from the same –

Vietnam E-Visa Experience at Hanoi Airport

First of all, Airlines check for your Vietnam Visa before boarding and you are allowed to board flight only if you either have Vietnam Visa (E-Visa or issued by Embassy) or Visa on Arrival Approval Letter. In case, you do not have any one of them, you will not be allowed to board flight to Vietnam.

With E-Visa, I directly moved to Immigration line (had only 2 people in front of me) and within few minutes, I was on the other side of immigration. A pretty smooth and fast process, I did not face any issue anywhere with Vietnam E-Visa. Officer at Immigration counter only asked me my passport and print out of E-Visa and after a quick check, he put Vietnam Entry stamp on my Passport. Nothing more :). Contrary to this, line for Visa on Arrival was pretty long with almost 20 people in each line. Unfortunately, I could not take any pictures as Photography/ Videography remains prohibited at all immigration points. Below is my Vietnam Entry and Exit Stamp as on my Passport.

Please note that I was again asked E-Visa copy at Immigration during my Exit from Vietnam. So keep your Vietnam E-Visa print out copy handy during Exit also.

Vietnam Ports of Entry that Permit E-Visa Entry

There are 28 Ports that allow foreigners to enter and exit Vietnam using an E-Visa. You may find complete list here. This is far better compared to Visa on Arrival which allows entry to Vietnam only through 5 International Airports.

Vietnam Online E-Visa for Indians

Application Process for Vietnam Online E-Visa for Indians also remains the same. It is a standard process that is applicable to citizens from 46 Eligible countries. So Indian citizens need not to take any additional steps and can apply online easily to get their Vietnam E-Visa online..

Hope this helps you get your Vietnam E-Visa and visit this beautiful country. Please drop us comments below in case you need more information or want to share your experience. We would love to hear from you or guide you in case you need any further assistance.

Happy Exploration !!