Vietnam entry requirements for international travelers in 2025: visa-free, e-visa, and passport rules

Double-check the entry date border officers stamp in your passport — travelers report that incorrect dates are sometimes stamped carelessly.

Russian citizens don't need a visa (visa-free entry), and it's recommended to fill out the arrival card online in advance — in practice, border officials aren't yet asking to see it.

The medical declaration does not have to be filed exactly 72 hours before arrival: it may be submitted no earlier than 72 hours before entry, including immediately before passport control. Even if it is not requested at the border, completing it is recommended because immigration officers may be able to see it electronically.

A visa is tied to a specific passport. If you obtain a new passport, apply for a new visa using the new passport number rather than relying on a visa issued for the old one.

If you enter Vietnam later than your e-visa application date, the visa duration is not extended — the expiry date is fixed at approval and does not shift based on your actual entry date.

In addition to any visa, you need to complete a separate 'Unilateral Exemption' registration form for visa-free entry — this takes about 10 minutes for a group of 4. Border control can see whether you completed it.

A child requires a separate visa regardless of age — one passport, one visa. Even if the child is not occupying their own seat, this rule still applies.

An e-visa is not required for everyone — it is only necessary for those planning to stay longer than 45 days or who want a guaranteed entry. For short stays up to 45 days, Russian citizens can enter visa-free without applying for an e-visa.

If you enter on an e-visa but your child has no visa of their own, the child will receive a visa-free entry stamp for 45 days in their passport at the border, separate from your visa.

For a border run to obtain an e-visa, you must remain outside Vietnam for 4–7 days while the application is processed. Rush processing through agents is possible but significantly more expensive. Another option is to pre-arrange multiple e-visas with staggered validity dates — for example, one valid until the 9th and the next starting from the 11th — so you exit and re-enter on the start date of the new visa.

If your passport has less than 6 months of validity remaining, the airline may deny boarding. Applying for an e-visa in this situation does not fully resolve the issue: the visa will only be approved for the remaining validity of the passport (roughly one month), and this still does not guarantee a smooth check-in.

Russian citizens (and many nationalities) can enter Vietnam visa-free for 45 days. After that, a border run is possible to get a new stamp. An e-visa for 90 days is also available. From July 1, 2026, a medical declaration will be required on arrival.

Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from your entry date. Airlines may ask for proof of onward or return travel at check-in, especially if you are traveling without a visa.

If you enter visa-free for 45 days and simultaneously apply for an e-visa, be aware of a potential complication: if the e-visa application comes back with a correction request rather than approval, your passport is already in the country and you may be asked to exit to complete the visa process.