How to Apply for a Vietnam E-Visa – Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Vietnam's e-visa now grants up to 90 days of multiple-entry access — and the entire application takes less than 20 minutes online. No embassy queue. No agent fee. Just you, your passport, and the official government portal.

But here's the problem: dozens of fraudulent websites impersonate the Vietnamese government's portal, charging travelers $100–$300 for a visa that costs a maximum of $50 when applied for directly. Many applicants realize the mistake only when they're overcharged — or worse, when their "visa" turns out to be invalid.

This guide cuts through the confusion. It covers everything you need to know about how to apply for a Vietnam e-visa, using only the verified official platform, with zero guesswork and zero scam risk.

This guide reflects the latest Vietnam Immigration regulations and official portal procedures as of 2025.

What Is the Vietnam E-Visa?

The Vietnam e-visa (Electronic Visa) is an official travel authorization issued by the Vietnam Immigration Department. It is linked digitally to your passport and must be printed out and presented upon arrival.

Key facts at a glance:

• Validity: Up to 90 days per entry

• Entry types: Single entry or multiple entry

• Eligibility: Citizens of all countries and territories worldwide are eligible — no exceptions

• Purpose of visit: Tourism, business, transit, or visiting relatives

Since August 2023, Vietnam significantly expanded the e-visa policy, extending validity from 30 to 90 days and opening eligibility to all nationalities. This made Vietnam one of the most accessible destinations in Southeast Asia for long-stay Vietnam eco-tourism and business travel.

The Only Official Vietnam E-Visa Websites

CRITICAL SCAM WARNING — Read Before You Proceed

This is the most important section of this entire guide. A Google search for "Vietnam e-visa application" returns dozens of third-party agency websites designed to look identical to the government portal. These sites:

• Charge $80–$300+ in "service fees" on top of the official visa fee

• May submit your application incorrectly, causing rejection or delays

• Often harvest your passport data for unknown purposes

• Have no legal affiliation with the Vietnamese government

The ONLY two legitimate official URLs are:

• https://evisa.gov.vn (Primary official portal)

• https://thithucdientu.gov.vn (Secondary official portal — same system)

Both are operated directly by the Vietnam Immigration Department, Ministry of Public Security. Bookmark one of these links now and access only from there.

Official Vietnam E-Visa Fees (Non-Refundable):

• Single Entry (up to 90 days): $25 USD

• Multiple Entry (up to 90 days): $50 USD

If any website quotes you a higher price, you are on a third-party agency site — close the tab immediately.

Document Checklist Before You Apply

Prepare all of these before starting your application. The portal has a session timeout, and incomplete submissions cannot be saved.

Passport Requirements

• ✅ Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended entry date

• ✅ Full bio-data page scan or photo — clear, no glare, no shadows

• ✅ File format: JPG or JPEG only

• ✅ File size: Under 2MB

• ✅ All four corners of the passport page must be fully visible

Portrait Photo Requirements

• ✅ Size: 4 x 6 cm

• ✅ Background: Plain white only

• ✅ Face: Front-facing, neutral expression

• ✅ No glasses, no hats, no face coverings

• ✅ File format: JPG or JPEG only

• ✅ File size: Under 2MB

• ✅ Photo must be recent (taken within the last 6 months)

Payment & Travel Details

• ✅ A valid international credit or debit card (Visa, Mastercard, JCB accepted)

• ✅ Your temporary accommodation address in Vietnam (hotel name, street, city)

• ✅ Intended entry port (airport, land border, or seaport)

• ✅ Intended exit port (can differ from entry port)

Pro Tip: Look up your hotel address and planned entry/exit ports before starting the form. These fields cannot be easily changed after submission.

Step-by-Step Application Guide

Step 1: Upload Your Passport Photo & Auto-Parsing

Navigate to https://evisa.gov.vn and select "Grant E-Visa for Foreigners."

Upload your passport bio-data page image first. The system uses optical character recognition (OCR) to automatically extract your:

• Full name

• Passport number

• Date of birth

• Nationality

• Passport expiry date

Always verify the extracted data manually — OCR errors are common with non-Latin scripts or worn passports. A single character mismatch can cause your visa to be denied at the border.

Step 2: Fill Out the Application Form

This is where most mistakes happen. Pay close attention to these fields:

Full Name: Enter exactly as it appears in your passport machine-readable zone (MRZ). Do not swap given name and surname — this is the most common rejection cause.

Religion: This field is mandatory. If you don't practice a religion, select "None" or "No Religion."

Entry & Exit Checkpoints: Choose carefully. Once your visa is approved, these ports are fixed and cannot be changed. If you enter through a port not listed on your visa, you will be denied entry.

Intended length of stay: Enter the actual number of days you plan to stay — up to 90.

Step 3: Review Your Application & Save the Registration Code

Before proceeding to payment, the system will display a full summary of your application. Review every single field one more time against your physical passport.

Once you click "Confirm," the system generates a Registration Code (Application ID).

Save this code immediately. Screenshot it, write it down, email it to yourself. This is the only way to track your application status or retrieve your approved visa. Losing this code means losing access to your application.

Step 4: Make the Payment

The portal redirects you to the payment gateway. Official accepted cards include Visa, Mastercard, and JCB.

Common payment issues and fixes:

• Card declined: Many local/domestic bank cards are not enabled for international transactions. Use an internationally enabled card or a prepaid travel card (Wise, Revolut, etc.)

• 3D Secure authentication: Your bank may send an OTP. Have your phone ready.

• Page timeout: If the payment page freezes, do not attempt to pay again immediately. Wait 30 minutes and check your application status first — duplicate charges do occur.

After successful payment, you will receive a payment confirmation email. Keep this as proof of transaction.

Step 5: Check Your Application Status & Print the E-Visa

Return to the official portal and enter your Registration Code to check status. Processing typically takes 3 working days, but can vary.

Status definitions:

• Pending: Application is under review

• Approved: Your e-visa is ready to download

• Amended: The department has flagged an error — log in to review and correct

• Denied: Application rejected (see FAQ below)

Once approved, download the PDF e-visa immediately and print a physical copy. Many Vietnamese border officials still require a printed copy. Store the PDF as a backup on your phone.

Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Rejection

These are the real-world errors that cause the most rejections and delays — drawn from firsthand applicant experience and immigration consultant reports.

1. Name Order Mismatch Your form input must match the MRZ (machine-readable zone) at the bottom of your passport bio-data page — not the visual display at the top. These sometimes differ.

2. Low-Quality Passport Scan A dark, blurry, or glare-affected photo is the #1 technical rejection cause. Use good lighting and scan on a flat surface. A free scanner app (like Adobe Scan) produces better results than a camera photo.

3. Wrong Entry Port Selected Your approved e-visa specifies entry and exit ports. If you fly into Noi Bai (Hanoi) but your visa lists Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City), you will be denied boarding or refused entry. Double-check this against your confirmed flights.

4. Applying Too Close to Your Travel Date The official processing time is 3 working days. In practice, peak seasons (Tet, summer) see backlogs of 5–7 days or more. Apply at least 1–2 weeks before your travel date as a hard rule.

5. Portrait Photo Errors Shadows, a colored background, glasses, or a slightly cropped face are all grounds for technical rejection. Re-read the photo requirements before uploading.

Ready to Apply? Here's Your Quick Summary

Applying for a Vietnam e-visa is genuinely straightforward when you use the right source. To recap the essential steps:

• Go only to https://evisa.gov.vn or https://thithucdientu.gov.vn

• Prepare a clean passport scan, a compliant portrait photo, your accommodation address, and your entry/exit ports

• Fill in the form carefully — name order, religion, and port fields are the most error-prone

• Save your Registration Code the moment it appears

• Pay using an internationally enabled card

• Apply at least 1–2 weeks early to account for potential processing delays

• Print your approved e-visa and carry it to the border

Vietnam is waiting — and with the 90-day multiple-entry e-visa, you have more than enough time to explore everything from the limestone caves of Phong Nha to the wetlands of the Mekong Delta.

Have a question about a specific error or status message you're seeing? Drop it in the comments below — our team reviews every question and responds with practical, experience-backed guidance. Safe travels!

Last updated: 2025. This guide is for informational purposes only. Always verify current regulations directly at the official Vietnam Immigration Department portal.