What to Expect at Vietnam Immigration: A First-Timer’s Guide

Vietnam‘s immigration rules changed dramatically in August 2023, and a surprising number of travellers in 2026 still show up at the airport with outdated information — wrong visa types, expired approval letters, or the mistaken belief they need paper entry forms. This guide walks you through exactly what to expect from the moment you land to the moment you walk out of arrivals, based on the rules as they stand in 2026.

Do You Even Need a Visa?

Before spending a single dollar on a visa application, check whether your passport already gets you in for free. Vietnam’s visa exemption list expanded significantly in August 2023 and remains in effect for 2026.

Citizens of the following countries enter without any visa at all:

• Up to 45 days: Belarus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom
• Up to 30 days: Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand
• Up to 21 days: Philippines
• Up to 14 days: Brunei, Myanmar

The 45-day exemption is the headline change worth knowing. Before August 2023, citizens of the UK, France, Germany, South Korea, Japan, and the Nordic countries only got 15 visa-free days. That has now tripled — enough for a solid trip without touching the visa system at all.

Two rules apply to everyone on the exemption list. First, your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your planned departure date. Second, if you have already entered Vietnam under a visa exemption and want to come back under another exemption, you typically need to wait at least 30 days from your last exit. Re-entering sooner than that usually means you need to arrange an actual visa before you fly.

If your nationality is not on the list above — or you want to stay longer than your exemption allows — you need a visa. Read on.

The E-Visa: Vietnam’s Easiest Entry Option

Since August 2023, the Vietnam e-visa has been available to citizens of every country and territory on earth. That is not a small detail — previously, only a limited list of nationalities could apply. Now anyone can, and the visa itself is far more useful than it used to be.

A Vietnam e-visa in 2026 gives you up to 90 days and can be issued for single or multiple entries. The old 30-day, single-entry restriction is gone.

How to Apply, Step by Step

1. Go to the official portal. The only website you should use is evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn. Dozens of unofficial third-party sites charge two to three times the real fee for the exact same result. The government portal is straightforward — you do not need a middleman.
2. Upload your documents. You need a clear scan of your passport data page (full page, no glare, no cropping) and a passport-style photo — 4×6 cm, white background, facing forward, no glasses, no hat.
3. Fill out the application form. Enter your personal details exactly as they appear in your passport. Any mismatch between your application and your passport — a different spelling, a missing middle name — can cause problems at the immigration counter. Also specify your intended entry and exit points: airports, land borders, or seaports.
4. Pay the fee. Single-entry e-visas cost US$25. Multiple-entry e-visas cost US$50. Major credit and debit cards are accepted — Visa, Mastercard, Amex, JCB.
5. Wait and download. Official processing time is three working days. During busy travel periods it can stretch to five. You will get an email when it is approved. Download the PDF and print it. A physical copy matters — some immigration officers still ask to see the paper document rather than a phone screen.

Visa-on-Arrival: When It Still Makes Sense

Visa-on-arrival (VOA) has been overshadowed by the e-visa expansion, but it has not disappeared. The process works differently — instead of getting approval through an online government portal, you arrange a “visa approval letter” through a third-party visa agent before you fly, then collect the actual visa sticker at the airport.

VOA is only available if you are arriving by air at one of Vietnam’s international airports: Noi Bai (Hanoi), Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City), Da Nang, Cam Ranh (Nha Trang), Phu Quoc, or Cat Bi (Hai Phong). If you are crossing a land border or arriving by sea, VOA does not apply — use the e-visa instead.

The VOA Process

1. Find a reputable visa agent. Sites like vietnam-visa.com and myvietnamvisa.com are commonly used. Agent fees for the approval letter range from around US$6 to US$50 or more depending on how fast you need it. Standard processing takes two working days; urgent services (same day to 24 hours) cost more.
2. Receive and print your approval letter. The agent emails you a PDF. Print it — this is what you present at the VOA counter at the airport.
3. At the airport, go to the VOA counter first. This is a separate counter before the main immigration queues, usually signposted as “Visa on Arrival” or “Landing Visa.” Present your passport, approval letter, two passport-sized photos (4×6 cm, white background), and a completed entry form.
4. Pay the stamping fee in cash. Single entry costs US$25; multiple entry costs US$50. US dollars are the preferred currency. Vietnamese Dong may be accepted but at an unfavourable exchange rate. Credit cards are generally not accepted at the stamping counter, so have physical cash ready before you land.

The stamping process itself can take anywhere from 15 minutes to over an hour when multiple flights arrive at the same time. Factor this into your connection or transfer plans.

What Actually Happens at the Immigration Counter

This is the part that makes first-timers nervous, and it is honestly the most straightforward step of the whole process.

After you disembark and follow the signs toward immigration, the hall splits depending on your visa type. If you have a VOA, break away from the main queue and head to the VOA counter first to get your sticker. E-visa holders and visa-exempt travellers go straight to the main immigration counters.

The immigration counter itself moves efficiently at most major airports. Have your passport open and your printed e-visa ready. The officer scans your documents, takes a look at your photo, and may ask two or three short questions — where are you staying, how long are you visiting, what is the purpose of your trip. These are not interrogations. Brief, direct answers are fine.

One thing that surprises a lot of first-timers: biometrics. At major airports in 2026, you will almost certainly be asked to scan your fingerprints and face at the counter. This is routine. Just follow the officer’s instructions — usually a hand gesture toward the scanner.

The good news if you hold an e-visa or are entering under a visa exemption: paper entry and exit forms are no longer required. That change happened in August 2023 and has remained in place. No more scrambling for a pen on the plane.

Wait times vary widely. At off-peak hours, you can clear immigration in 15 to 30 minutes. When three or four wide-body jets land simultaneously on a Sunday evening, the same process can take 90 minutes or more. Morning arrivals mid-week tend to move fastest.

Clearing Customs and Getting Out of the Airport

Once an officer stamps your passport and hands it back, you follow the corridor to baggage claim. Check the overhead screens for your flight number to find your carousel — the halls at Tan Son Nhat and Noi Bai both run several carousels simultaneously, and walking to the wrong one wastes time.

Customs comes after you collect your bag. The system is straightforward: green channel if you have nothing to declare, red channel if you do. Most travellers walk straight through the green channel without stopping.

You need to use the red channel — and make a declaration — if you are carrying more than VND 15,000,000 (around US$600) in Vietnamese currency, or more than US$5,000 in foreign currency or equivalent. This limit is expected to stay the same through 2026. High-value electronics, large quantities of goods, and anything on Vietnam’s restricted list also require declaration. Prohibited items include drugs, firearms, and certain categories of printed or digital material.

Once you walk into the arrivals hall, the noise and energy pick up fast. The smell of strong Vietnamese coffee from airport café carts drifts through the air, and you will hear the hum of dozens of conversations in half a dozen languages as drivers hold up name signs and families crowd the barriers.

For transport into the city:

• Ride-hailing apps: Download Grab or Be before you land. Both show upfront pricing and let you pay by card, which removes any dispute about the fare. Look for the designated ride-hailing pickup zone — it is usually clearly signposted and separate from the taxi rank.
• Official taxis: Mai Linh and Vinasun are the two most trusted taxi companies. Use their branded cars from the official taxi queue. Decline anyone who approaches you unsolicited inside or outside the terminal.
• Airport buses: Both Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat have public bus routes into the city center for a fraction of the cost of a taxi. Slower, but a legitimate option if you are not in a hurry.
• Pre-booked hotel transfers: Many mid-range and upscale hotels include or offer airport pickups. If your hotel does, take it — your driver will be waiting with your name on a sign and the price is fixed.

SIM card kiosks for Viettel, Mobifone, and Vinaphone sit just inside the arrivals hall at all major airports. Picking one up before you exit is the fastest way to get Grab working and let people know you have landed.

2026 Budget Reality: What Entry Will Cost You

Vietnam’s visa fees are not expensive in absolute terms, but the total cost depends on which route you take.

• Visa-exempt travellers: Free. Zero cost to enter, assuming your passport qualifies and your stay is within the allowed period.
• E-visa (single entry, up to 90 days): US$25 (approximately VND 625,000). This is the government fee paid directly on the official portal.
• E-visa (multiple entry, up to 90 days): US$50 (approximately VND 1,250,000).
• Visa-on-Arrival (agent fee + stamping fee, single entry): US$6–50 for the approval letter, plus US$25 stamping fee at the airport. Total: roughly US$31–75 depending on urgency.
• Visa-on-Arrival (multiple entry): Same agent fee range, plus US$50 stamping fee at the airport.
• Embassy/consulate visa: Fees vary by nationality and visa type. Contact your nearest Vietnamese embassy for the current schedule — this route is typically used for longer stays or special visa categories (student, work, journalist).

The e-visa is almost always the most cost-effective option if you need a visa. You pay the government fee and nothing else.

Mistakes First-Timers Make at Vietnamese Immigration

Most immigration problems are avoidable. These are the ones that come up repeatedly:

• Booking through unofficial e-visa sites. Search “Vietnam e-visa” and the top results are often third-party companies charging US$50–100 for a service that costs US$25 directly from the government. Always start at evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn.
• Not printing the e-visa. The immigration counter expects a physical document. Having it on your phone is a backup, not a substitute. Print before you travel.
• Mismatched details on the e-visa form. Your name, date of birth, and passport number on the application must match your passport exactly. A typo can mean the officer cannot verify your visa in the system.
• Arriving at a different airport or land border than listed on the e-visa. The e-visa application asks for your intended entry point. If your plans change and you enter through a different port, you may be denied. Update the entry gate on your application if your itinerary changes before you travel.
• Showing up for VOA without cash for the stamping fee. The stamping counter does not take cards. US dollars are required. Arriving without cash means either a frantic search for an ATM before the counter or a very uncomfortable conversation with the officer.
• Ignoring the 30-day re-entry rule for visa-exempt travellers. If you leave Vietnam and try to re-enter under another visa exemption within 30 days, you are likely to be refused. This catches people doing quick border runs from neighbouring countries.
• Undeclaring currency above the threshold. Carrying more than US$5,000 and walking through the green channel is a customs violation. Declare it, keep the paperwork, and there is no issue.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I enter Vietnam if my passport expires in four months?

No. Vietnam requires your passport to be valid for at least six months beyond your intended departure date from the country. If your passport does not meet this requirement, you will be denied boarding by your airline before you even reach Vietnam. Renew your passport before you book flights.

What is the difference between a single-entry and multiple-entry Vietnam e-visa?

A single-entry e-visa lets you enter Vietnam once within the 90-day validity period. Once you leave the country, the visa is used. A multiple-entry e-visa lets you enter and exit Vietnam as many times as you like within the 90-day window. It costs US$50 versus US$25 and makes sense for anyone planning side trips to neighbouring countries during their Vietnam stay.

📷 Featured image by Khanh Nguyen on Unsplash.