Vietnam Visa Requirements 2026 (Documents, Photo & By Nationality)

What do I need to prepare to get a visa to Vietnam? Vietnam visa requirements are not the same for every traveler: your nationality, length of stay, and entry purpose can determine what you need to provide in your application. Find out which rules apply to you, what documents you need, and the key requirements to check before your trip

What are the core Vietnam visa requirements?

Every Vietnam visa applicant needs a valid passport, a compliant photo where required, and accurate personal and entry information. Additional documents may be required depending on the type of visa and purpose of travel.

According to Ministry of Public Security Service Portal, main documents include:

• Visa application form: Depending on the visa type and application route, applicants may need to complete the appropriate visa application form, such as form NA1, NA2, or NA3.
• Valid passport: Your passport should be valid for at least 06 months from your expected date of entry into Vietnam. 
• Passport photo: A recent passport-style photo, size 4x6 cm is required. If you apply for e-visa, a digital photo is enough, if you apply for an embassy visa, you must print 2 copies of your photo.
• Supporting documents: Some visa categories require additional documents related to your purpose of entry, such as employment, investment, study, or sponsorship.
• Visa fee: Applicants must pay the applicable government visa fee, starting from $25. The e-visa fee is not refunded if the application is refused.
• No entry ban: Not fall under any of the cases subject to entry denial under Article 21 of Law No. 47/2014/QH13, such as security violations, being wanted by law enforcement authorities, or using forged documents.

Common requirement for Vietnam visa (Source: collected)

Specific requirements by visa type

The documents for the Vietnam visa you need also depend on your purpose of entry. A tourist traveler normally has a simpler application than someone entering Vietnam for work, investment, study, or another specific purpose.

The exact supporting documents can vary according to the applicant's circumstances and the specific visa category. If your purpose of entry requires a sponsor or supporting organization in Vietnam, additional documentation may be necessary.

Specific requirements for Vietnam visa depend on visa type (Source: collected)

Vietnam visa requirements by nationality

Document and eligibility rules can vary by passport, so check your nationality before choosing an application route.

Nationality is particularly relevant because Vietnam has different entry arrangements for different passport holders. Some travelers may enter Vietnam without a visa, while others need to obtain a visa before traveling. Passport type (ordinary or diplomatic passport) can also affect visa-exemption status, so travelers should check the rules applicable to the passport they will actually use for entry.

Before applying, check:

• Whether your nationality is eligible for visa-free entry for your intended stay.
• Whether your passport is eligible for a Vietnam e-visa.
• Whether you are using an ordinary passport or another type of travel document.
• Whether your purpose of entry allows you to use an e-visa or requires another visa route.
• Whether your intended entry and exit checkpoints accept the type of visa you are applying for.

If you are unsure which route applies to you, check your nationality-specific Vietnam visa requirements before submitting an application using the [Check requirement] section at the end of this page.

Vietnam grants visa-exemption for over 30 countries (Source: collected)

Related blog post: Vietnam Visa Guide: Essential Tips for Obtaining a Vietnam Visa 

Photo & passport specifications

Vietnam visa photo standards should be followed carefully because an incorrect or unclear photo can make your application rejected. For e-visa and other online applications, digital photo file is required, while applications made through a Vietnamese embassy or consulate requires 2 printed copies size 4x6cm

Photo requirement checklist

• Recent photo: The photo should be taken no more than 06 months before the application.
• Photo size: The standard size is 4 x 6 cm. For digital submission, ratio 4:6, or 600x900 pixel
• Face position: Look directly at the camera with your face centered in the image.
• Facial expression: Keep a neutral facial expression, no smiling
• Ears: Both ears should be clearly visible where required by the applicable photo standard.
• Accessories: Do not wear any accessories, including glasses, hat, ear ring
• Background: Use a plain white background with even lighting.

For Vietnam e-visa applications, the Immigration Department requires applicants to upload a portrait photo and a passport data-page image. The official application system also specifies file-size requirements for these digital uploads.

Common visa photo rejection reasons

Use these tips to avoid application rejection because of photo issues

• The image is blurry or has insufficient resolution: Use a good-quality camera or smartphone to take a clear, high-resolution photo.
• Poor lighting makes the face too dark or too bright: Make sure the lighting is bright enough and positioned directly in front of your face to avoid harsh shadows.
• The photo has an incorrect aspect ratio or does not meet the required dimensions: Use a photo-editing or cropping tool to adjust the image to the required ratio and dimensions.
• The ears or facial features are not clearly visible: Take the photo at least 3 meters away so both ears and your facial features are clearly visible. Taking the photo too close can also distort the shape of your face.
• The background is not plain or contains distracting objects: Take the photo against a plain white background. Use a photo-editing tool to remove the background.

Make sure your photo meets the requirement

How much fee is required for a Vietnamese visa?

The amount you pay depends on the visa route and the services you use. Government visa fees are separate from private service fees, urgent processing fees, and other assistance charges.

For Vietnam e-visas, the current standard government fee is:

The government visa fee is non-refundable if the application is refused.

The above costs do not include other fees such as notary fees, consular legalization, document printing, urgent processing, etc.

Urgent Vietnam visa service fees

If you need your Vietnam visa faster than standard processing, an urgent visa service may involve an additional service fee. At UrgentVisaToVietnam, available expedited processing options include:

These expedited fees are service charges for urgent processing and should not be confused with the Vietnamese government's visa fee. The exact option available can depend on your application, timing, and the documents you provide

E-visa vs visa on arrival: is there any difference in requirements for Vietnam visa?

While both routes can involve an online application, the documents and process are different. An e-visa is issued electronically by Vietnam's Immigration Department, while visa on arrival involves obtaining an approval letter before traveling and completing the visa issuance process at a Vietnamese international airport.

Vietnam's Immigration Department currently states that e-visa applications require a passport data-page image and portrait photo, followed by online payment. Once approved, the e-visa should be printed for entry and exit.

Because the application requirements can differ according to the applicant and visa category, travelers should check the applicable route before relying on a visa on arrival, particularly if their flight is approaching.

There are differences in E-visa and Visa on Arrival requirement

Fulfill requirements for Vietnam visa under urgency pressure

If your flight is imminent, preparing your documents and submitting the application correctly becomes especially important. A small mistake in your passport information, photo, entry details, or supporting documents can create additional delays when you have very little time left.

Instead of trying to prepare everything yourself under time pressure, you can use an urgent visa service to help check and organize your application. Our team can help review your documents, identify common application errors, and follow the processing timeline closely so you have the best available chance of receiving your visa before departure.

The key is to choose a processing option that matches your actual flight schedule. If you still have several working days before departure, a standard or less urgent option may be sufficient, while travelers with an imminent flight may need a faster processing tier.

Contact visa agencies to help you when flight is approaching (Source: collected)

Why trust UrgentVisaToVietnam for your Vietnam visa requirements?

Our requirement checks are based on more than 15 years of experience and 56,000+ processed applications, with a 99.68% success rate. This experience gives our team familiarity with common Vietnam visa requirements and application issues, including various rejection reasons.

We help travelers review their application details and documents before submission so common mistakes can be identified earlier. Our team also keeps up with changes to Vietnam visa requirements and provides support throughout the application process, helping travelers reduce avoidable delays and additional costs.

With urgent processing options available, our team can also help travelers who have already booked flights and need to resolve their visa requirements within a limited timeframe, as fast as in 1 hour. If we fail to meet the promised timeline, we will refund 100% of the service fee.

If you are unsure which Vietnam visa route or processing time is right for your trip, contact our visa specialists for assistance with your application:

Tel: +84.904.879.729

Tel: +1 (778) 788 2310

Email: [email protected] 

Address: No10A, Sai Dong, Long Bien, Hanoi

Check Vietnam visa requirement by country