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.
Dozens of third-party sites charge $50–$150+ to process a Vietnam e-visa that costs $25 or $50 through the official portal. The official site is evisa.gov.vn — operated by the Vietnam Immigration Department under the Ministry of Public Security. Any site charging more than the government fees is adding a service fee you don't need to pay. Apply directly; the process is simple enough that there's no reason to use an agent for a standard tourist e-visa.
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.
When applying, you'll choose a specific port of entry (e.g., Noi Bai airport, Tan Son Nhat airport, Moc Bai land border). You are required to enter through that port. However, your exit port is flexible — you can leave Vietnam through any of the 83 approved international checkpoints regardless of where you entered. If your plans change before you fly, apply for a new e-visa with the correct entry point — it's $25/$50, not worth the stress of arriving at the wrong port.
Since April 15, 2026, foreign passport holders arriving through Vietnam's digital arrival card system must complete an online pre-arrival declaration within 72 hours before landing — whether visa-exempt or e-visa holder. What started as a Tan Son Nhat (SGN, Ho Chi Minh City) pilot has expanded quickly: by June 2026 the requirement also covers Noi Bai (Hanoi), Da Nang, Cam Ranh (Nha Trang), and Phu Quoc airports, plus the Dong Dang land border and several seaports. Submit through Vietnam's official portal — you receive a QR code to show at immigration alongside your passport. Check the current airport list before you travel, since the rollout has been expanding faster than most guides track.
Select "For foreigners outside Vietnam applying for an e-Visa personally." Have your passport scan, photo, and card ready before you begin. 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.
Single: $25 · Multiple: $50Vietnamese public holidays will extend this. Apply at least 2 weeks before travel for buffer. "Working days" means Vietnam business days in UTC+7. Your approval arrives by email as a PDF.
Allow 2 weeks for safetyPrint your approved e-visa. Most airlines will ask to see it at check-in. At immigration, present it alongside your passport — the officer stamps your permitted stay and you're in.
Note: US 12-page emergency passports may be rejected — apply with your standard passportVOA technically still exists for air arrivals — it requires a pre-approval letter from a Vietnamese travel agency, then 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 for an extreme last-minute situation.
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, you need your e-visa.
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.
British passport holders are among the 24 nationalities currently entitled to 45 days visa-free entry to Vietnam. No digital-arrival-card-style pre-approval letter beyond the standard arrival declaration, no application — just show up with a valid passport. If you want to stay longer than 45 days, apply for an e-visa (90 days) before your trip instead of using the exemption.
Active through March 2028. Germany, France, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland — approved under Resolution 44/NQ-CP from March 2025.
Active through August 2028. Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland — approved under Resolution 229/NQ-CP from August 2025.
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. Duration varies by bilateral arrangement.
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.
Overseas Vietnamese nationals and direct family members can apply for a 5-year visa exemption certificate through their nearest Vietnamese embassy. Up to 180 days per visit, multiple entries.
Visa-free exemptions cannot be extended from within Vietnam. If you arrive on a 45-day exemption and want to stay longer, your options are: exit Vietnam and re-enter on a fresh exemption (subject to limits), or — better — apply for a 90-day e-visa before you arrive and skip the exemption entirely.
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. Apply 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 — available to all nationalities through evisa.gov.vn at the same $25/$50 government fee.
| Passport | Access | Duration | Route if staying longer |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK, Germany, France + Group 1 & 2 | Visa-Free | 45 days | E-visa ($50 multiple-entry, 90 days) before travel |
| Belarus | Visa-Free | 30 days (bilateral) | E-visa for longer stays |
| ASEAN members | 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 | Exit and reapply; no in-country extension |
| All other nationalities | E-Visa Available | Up to 90 days | 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) — not permanent legislation. If you're planning a long-term stay that crosses one of those dates, factor in potential policy changes. US, Canadian, and Australian passport holders often discover the exemption list the hard way — the $25 e-visa is the correct, uncomplicated solution.
Vietnam has no dedicated digital nomad visa and no retirement visa as of mid-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.
Multiple sources and the Vietnam Immigration Department confirm: there is no standalone digital nomad visa in Vietnam. A 10-year Golden Visa was proposed by Vietnam's Tourism Advisory Board in April 2025 and is still in discussion. The 5-year Talent Visa launched as a concrete outcome of those discussions but targets specific professional sectors with sponsorship requirements — not independent remote workers. Most nomads use the 90-day e-visa and do regular border runs — see the Visa Run tab.
Foreign nationals working in Vietnam must hold a valid work permit issued by MOLISA. The permit is tied to a specific employer and role.
Investor categories (DT1–DT4) tied to registered capital amounts, and business visas (DN1–DN2) for those sponsored by a registered Vietnamese company.
The closest Vietnam has to a long-term residency document for foreigners. Issued alongside a qualifying visa, typically running 1–5 years depending on the underlying basis.
Vietnam's Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners explicitly bars foreigners on tourist visas from "labour activities." HCMC's Department of Labour classifies remote online work on a tourist visa as illegal employment, with administrative fines of ₫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 has increased with 2026's immigration tightening.
In April 2025, Vietnam's Tourism Advisory Board formally proposed a 10-year "Golden Visa" aimed at affluent individuals, retirees, and professionals seeking long-term residency. As of this survey, 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) — not a self-applied route. Check Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security website for 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. 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 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 is worth the paperwork.
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.
Vietnam's e-visa system has no in-country extension mechanism. Once your 90-day e-visa expires, you must have already exited and reapplied from abroad. The processing window of 3–5 working days means you need to be outside Vietnam during that time. Plan this exit at least 2 weeks before your e-visa expires.
Go to evisa.gov.vn. Select your intended next entry date and entry port. Pay $50 for the multiple-entry option for flexibility.
Don't let it run to zero. Leave while your current e-visa is still valid — even a day before expiry is fine.
Most nomads go to Cambodia, Thailand, or Laos. Spending a few nights looks less like an automated process to immigration officers than a same-day turnaround.
Print the new approval, present it with your passport at the entry port you selected — the clock starts fresh from this re-entry date.
Phnom Penh and Siem Reap are the top choices. Quick flight from Hanoi or HCMC, or a bus via Moc Bai land border. Cambodians get an e-visa on arrival for $30. Easy to spend 2–3 nights and return.
Bangkok is a common run for HCMC-based nomads. Also serves double duty for errands (new SIM, tax paperwork, dentist) easier there than in Hanoi.
Vientiane is a calmer run used by Hanoi-based nomads — shorter flight time than Bangkok, cheaper, genuinely worth a few days.
If you enter Vietnam under a visa exemption (rather than an e-visa) via a land crossing, immigration limits visa-exempt land border entries to 2 per calendar year. Officers at busy land crossings like Moc Bai have turned back travelers attempting a third reset in the same year. This limit applies to visa-exempt entries specifically — e-visa holders cycling at land borders are on e-visa rules. The practical advice: use an e-visa for your Vietnam stays rather than cycling visa-exempt entries through a land border.
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 paying more attention to how foreigners use the country's immigration system. The cycling approach isn't going away soon, but regional trend lines — 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 ₫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.
Vietnam's previous maximum overstay fine was ₫20 million (~$760). Under Decree 282/2025 (effective December 15, 2025), that ceiling doubled to ₫40 million (~$1,520). Decree 59/2026/ND-CP (effective April 1, 2026) added a new provision: foreigners who commit immigration violations, including overstay, and cannot pay their fines can be immediately deported. The "no pay, no exit" detention model has been replaced with "deport immediately if unable to pay." This is not the Vietnam of a few years ago where a small daily fine handled everything quietly.
| Overstay duration | Fine range (VND) | Approx. USD | Additional consequences |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–15 days | 500,000 – 2,000,000 | ~$19 – $76 | Warning Fine payable at airport for very short overstays |
| 16–29 days | 5,000,000 – 10,000,000 | ~$190 – $380 | Deportation possible Exit visa required |
| 30–59 days | 10,000,000 – 15,000,000 | ~$380 – $570 | Deportation likely Exit visa · potential blacklist |
| 60–89 days | Up to 20,000,000 | Up to ~$760 | Deportation Entry ban 1–5 years |
| 90 days – 6 months | Up to 25,000,000 | Up to ~$950 | Deportation Entry ban 1–5 years |
| 6 months – 1 year | Up to 30,000,000 | Up to ~$1,140 | Deportation Extended entry ban |
| Over 1 year | Up to 40,000,000 | Up to ~$1,520 | Deportation Potential permanent ban |
USD conversions approximate at ~₫26,260/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, Decree 59/2026 — confirmed current as of July 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 — 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: 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 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 HCMC: 4 Le Duan Boulevard, District 1. Tel: +84-28-3520-4200. American Citizen Services at both locations.
vn.usembassy.gov →Central Building, 4th Floor, 31 Hai Ba Trung, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi. British Consulate General HCMC: 25 Le Duan Boulevard, District 1. Emergency consular assistance and travel documents.
gov.uk/world/vietnam →8 Dao Tan Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi. Tel: +84-24-3774-0100. Australian Consulate-General HCMC: 20th Floor, Vincom Center, 47 Ly Tu Trong, District 1.
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 citizen services available 24/7 through Global Affairs Canada.
international.gc.ca/vietnam →29 Tran Phu Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi. German Consulate General HCMC: 126 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, District 3. Passport, notarial, and consular services.
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. Handles visa extensions, exit visas, overstay resolution, TRC applications, and work-permit-related immigration matters for those based in the north.
161 Nguyen Du Street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, HCMC. Handles all immigration matters for those based in the south. Bring passport, explanation letter, and supporting documents for overstay resolution. Da Nang Immigration: 7 Tran Quy Cap Street, Da Nang.
All Vietnam e-visa applications are submitted at evisa.gov.vn. 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. Publishes current visa-free country lists and bilateral agreement status.
US State Department 24-hour emergency line for Americans abroad: +1-888-407-4747 (from US) or +1-202-501-4444 (from Vietnam). US Embassy Hanoi direct: +84-24-3850-5000. US Consulate HCMC direct: +84-28-3520-4200.
Every topic covered in depth — pick any deep dive and go straight in.
E-visa, visa-free countries, long-stay options, visa run cycling, and overstay consequences.
Hanoi vs Ho Chi Minh City vs Da Nang vs Hoi An. Real monthly budgets by city and lifestyle.
Read the guide →Renting process, foreigner ownership rules, neighbourhood guides for Hanoi and HCMC.
Read the guide →International hospitals, specialist care, dental, and health insurance options for expats.
Read the guide →City transport, the Reunification Express train, domestic flights, and motorbike reality.
Read the guide →Electricity, water, internet providers, mobile SIMs, and what a typical utility bill looks like.
Read the guide →TRC requirements, best banks, VietQR, e-wallets, and the 2026 biometric transfer rules.
Read the guide →Street food culture, bia hoi, cà phê, dining out, markets, and food delivery apps.
Read the guide →Hoi An tailors, markets, crafts, bargaining tactics, and spotting fake goods.
Read the guide →Back to the Vietnam hub or the full Country Atlas.