Vietnam visa rules (2026): who gets in free, who needs the e-visa

The short version

Citizens of 24 countries — including 12 European ones added on 15 August 2025 — can enter Vietnam visa-free for up to 45 days, a program that runs until 2028. Almost everyone else applies online for a 90-day e-visa (multiple entry) before departure. That policy shift is a big part of why European arrivals are surging (+53% year-on-year in the first seven months of 2026).

If you qualify for visa-free

Your 45 days run from the day you arrive. Count honestly: 45 days allows roughly a 40-day trip with travel margins, or two separate trips if you exit and re-enter (each entry gets its own 45 days). Phu Quoc island has a separate 30-day exemption if you arrive directly from outside Vietnam. Rules and country lists change — always confirm against the official e-visa portal or your foreign ministry before booking flights.

If you need the e-visa

Apply at evisa.gov.vn (the official government portal), pay the fee online, and allow at least 3 working days — longer around Vietnamese holidays like Tet. The e-visa is valid 90 days with multiple entries, so a visa-run to Cambodia or Laos and back is possible without a new application. Use only the official portal: lookalike agencies charge several times the government fee.

Common trip-length traps

Visa-free travelers who plan 'about six weeks' go one week over. E-visa travelers sometimes book a 30-day trip on an old blog's advice and never notice the 90-day regime now allows far longer. If your plan is a multi-month Indochina loop, the 90-day e-visa plus a Cambodia/Laos visa-run is the standard pattern.

FAQ

Do I need a visa for Vietnam?

If you hold a passport from one of the 24 visa-exempt countries, no — for stays up to 45 days (program running until 2028). Otherwise you need a 90-day e-visa from the official portal evisa.gov.vn. Confirm your nationality's status on an official source before you book.

How long does the Vietnam e-visa take?

Officially around 3 working days; allow a week or more around Tet and other holidays. Apply before booking internal transport with fixed dates.

Can I extend my visa-free stay?

Extensions have been possible via immigration offices but are not guaranteed and rules change frequently. The cleaner path is exiting to Cambodia or Laos and re-entering (a fresh 45 days or a fresh e-visa entry).