U.S. citizens can apply for a Vietnam e-visa entirely online, without visiting an embassy. The two official portals are Evisa and thithucdientu.gov.vn. Use only these domains. Any other site charging a service fee is a third-party intermediary, not the Vietnamese government.
Quick facts before you start:
- Government fee: $25 for single-entry, $50 for multiple-entry — both are non-refundable
- Official processing time: 3 working days from the date your application and payment are received
One honest warning: third-party "visa services" often charge $50–$150 on top of the government fee and offer no guarantee of faster processing. If you use one, you are paying for form-filling help, not a faster or more reliable result.
Key Takeaways
U.S. citizens can apply for a Vietnam e-visa entirely online through the official portals evisa.gov.vn or thithucdientu.gov.vn, with a government fee of $25 (single-entry) or $50 (multiple-entry) and an official processing time of 3 working days.
| Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Official portals only | Apply at evisa.gov.vn or thithucdientu.gov.vn — third-party sites add fees with no added benefit. |
| Fee and refund policy | $25 single-entry, $50 multiple-entry; both fees are non-refundable if the application is rejected. |
| Processing time | 3 working days from payment receipt; apply at least 2 weeks before departure to allow for reapplication. |
| Passport validity rule | Your U.S. passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned Vietnam entry date. |
| Exact-name rule | Every name and passport number field must match your passport character for character — typos cause rejection. |
| Passportcenter | Use Passportcenter for passport renewal guidance and expedited courier connections before applying for the e-visa. |
Table of Contents
- How to apply for a Vietnam eVisa on the official portal
- Who is eligible and what documents you need ready
- Fees, processing time, and what happens if you need it faster
- Which ports of entry accept e-visas and how long the visa is valid
- What to do at arrival with your Vietnam e-visa
- Common reasons Vietnam e-visa applications get rejected
- Passport checklist for U.S. travelers before applying
- Health advisories and immunization notes for Vietnam travel
- A practical perspective on getting this right
- Your passport needs to be ready before the e-visa
- Sources
How to apply for a Vietnam eVisa on the official portal
The Ministry of Public Security portal outlines the full workflow. Follow these steps in order.
Before you open the portal, prepare these files:
- Color scan of your passport bio-data page (JPEG, under 2 MB, 300 dpi minimum, no glare)
- Passport-style photo: JPEG, white background, face covering 70–80% of the frame, taken within the last 6 months
- Your passport number, full name exactly as printed, date of birth, nationality
- Planned entry and exit dates, and the specific port of entry you will use
Step-by-step application:
- Go to evisa.gov.vn or thithucdientu.gov.vn and select "Apply for e-visa."
- Fill in the online form. Enter your name, passport number, and dates exactly as they appear in your passport. No abbreviations, no nicknames.
- Upload your passport bio-data page scan and your portrait photo.
- Submit the form. The portal will generate an electronic dossier code (also called a registration code). Copy this code and save it in at least two places — your email, a notes app, and a screenshot.
- Pay the fee through the portal's payment gateway. Accepted methods include major international credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard). Keep your payment confirmation email as proof.
- Return to the portal after 3 working days. Enter your dossier code to check your application status.
- Once approved, use the dossier code to download and print your e-visa as a PDF.
Pro Tip: Print two copies of the approved e-visa PDF before you leave home. Keep one in your carry-on and one in your checked bag. A screenshot on your phone is a useful backup, but immigration officers at some ports prefer a physical copy.
If the portal shows a technical error during submission, the U.S. Embassy in Vietnam notes that outages occur periodically. Wait a few hours and retry rather than submitting a duplicate application.
Who is eligible and what documents you need ready
Most U.S. citizens with a standard tourist passport are eligible for the Vietnam e-visa. The Vietnamese government permits foreigners outside Vietnam to apply as long as they are not barred under the exceptions listed in Article 21 of Vietnam's immigration law. The official portal lists restricted categories; if you have any prior immigration violations in Vietnam, check those exceptions before applying.
Document checklist:
- Valid U.S. passport with at least 6 months of validity remaining beyond your planned entry date
- Color scan of the passport bio-data page (the page with your photo and personal details)
- Digital passport-style photo meeting the specs above
- Your full legal name as printed in the passport
- Contact information: email address and phone number
- Intended entry port and exit port
- Planned entry and exit dates
Name and passport number accuracy matters more than almost anything else. A single transposed digit in your passport number or a middle name omitted from the name field is one of the top causes of rejection. Copy each field character by character from your physical passport.
Pro Tip: If your passport expires within 6 months of your planned Vietnam entry date, renew it before applying for the e-visa. The expired passport renewal process can take several weeks through standard channels, so factor that time into your travel planning.
The U.S. Embassy in Vietnam specifically warns that certain passport types — including 12-page U.S. emergency passports — may not be accepted for e-visa entry. Vietnamese immigration decisions are at the discretion of border officers. If you hold a limited-validity or emergency U.S. passport, confirm acceptance with the embassy before you book flights.
Some applicants must use embassy or consular channels rather than the e-visa portal. This includes people who have been denied entry to Vietnam previously or who fall under specific exemption categories. The Vietnam Immigration Department portal at xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn lists these categories in detail.
Fees, processing time, and what happens if you need it faster
| Visa type | Government fee | Entries allowed | Refundable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-entry e-visa | $25 | 1 | No |
| Multiple-entry e-visa | $50 | Unlimited within validity | No |
Both fees are paid directly through the official portal. The official fee schedule confirms these amounts and the non-refundable policy.
Processing time: 3 working days. Working days in Vietnam are Monday through Friday, excluding Vietnamese public holidays. If you apply on a Friday afternoon before a Vietnamese national holiday, your 3-day clock does not start until the next working day. Build in at least 5–7 calendar days between application and departure to absorb any holiday delays.
Payment details:
- Pay only through the portal's built-in payment gateway
- Accepted cards: Visa and Mastercard (international cards work; some domestic-only cards may be declined)
- Save your payment confirmation email — you will need it if there is a dispute or if you need to prove payment when checking status
Non-refundable means non-refundable. If your application is rejected due to a typo, a wrong photo, or an expired passport, the $25 or $50 fee is gone. Reapplying costs the full fee again. Get every field right the first time.
If you need a decision faster than 3 working days: The official portal does not currently advertise a paid expedited lane. Apply as early as possible — at least 2 weeks before travel — to leave room for reapplication if something goes wrong. Third-party services that promise "same-day" approval are not processing your application faster; they are submitting it to the same portal and charging you extra for doing so.
Which ports of entry accept e-visas and how long the visa is valid
The Vietnam e-visa is valid for up to 90 days from the date of entry. Single-entry means you enter once and the visa is consumed. Multiple-entry lets you leave and re-enter Vietnam within the 90-day window as many times as you need.
Not every land border crossing, seaport, or airport in Vietnam accepts e-visas. The official list of approved ports of entry is maintained on the Vietnam Immigration portal. Check it before you book.
Commonly accepted entry points include:
- Noi Bai International Airport (Hanoi)
- Tan Son Nhat International Airport (Ho Chi Minh City)
- Da Nang International Airport
- Phu Quoc International Airport
- Van Don International Airport
- Several major land border crossings and seaports (confirm each on the portal)
Arriving at a port not listed as e-visa-approved is a serious problem. You could be denied boarding by your airline or turned back at the border. If you plan to enter Vietnam overland from Cambodia, Laos, or China, verify your specific crossing is on the approved list before you travel. Your airline may also check this at check-in.
What to do at arrival with your Vietnam e-visa
Arriving with an approved e-visa is straightforward if you have the right documents in hand.
What to bring to the immigration counter:
- Your physical passport (the same one used in the application)
- A printed copy of the approved e-visa PDF with the QR code visible
- A digital backup (PDF saved offline or a screenshot) in case the printed copy is damaged
At the airport, follow signs to the foreigner or international arrivals immigration lane. Hand the officer your passport and printed e-visa. The officer will scan the QR code, verify your details, and stamp your passport with your entry date. The stamp is your official record of legal entry.
If the QR code does not scan, the officer will ask for your dossier/registration code to pull up the record manually. This is why saving that code in multiple places matters. The evisa.gov.vn portal confirms the dossier code is the retrieval key for your approved visa record.
Hotel registration: Most hotels in Vietnam register foreign guests with local police automatically as part of check-in. Hand over your passport when asked — this is routine, not a cause for concern. If you stay in a private rental or with a local host, ask them to complete the registration, as it is a legal requirement.
Common reasons Vietnam e-visa applications get rejected
Rejection is almost always preventable. The most frequent causes:
- Name mismatch: Middle name omitted, name order reversed, or nickname used instead of legal name
- Passport number typo: One wrong digit invalidates the application
- Photo non-compliance: Colored background, sunglasses, hat, low resolution, or face not centered
- Passport validity under 6 months: The portal may accept the submission but the visa will be refused
- Wrong entry port: Selecting a port you do not actually plan to use, or one not on the approved list
- Expired or emergency passport: Some passport types are not accepted (see U.S. Embassy advisory above)
If your application is refused, the portal will show a rejection message linked to your dossier code. Read it carefully. Most rejections are correctable: fix the specific error and reapply, paying the fee again. If you are rejected a second time or believe you fall into an exception category, contact the U.S. Embassy in Vietnam or apply for a visa through the Vietnamese consulate in the U.S.
For urgent travel where 3 working days is not enough time, an in-person consular visa application may be faster. Contact the Vietnamese Embassy in Washington, D.C., or the nearest Vietnamese consulate for current appointment availability.
Passport checklist for U.S. travelers before applying
Your Vietnam e-visa application is only as strong as the passport behind it. Run through this checklist before you open the portal.
- Passport validity: At least 6 months beyond your planned entry date into Vietnam
- Bio-data page scan: Color, high resolution (300 dpi), no shadows or glare, all text fully legible
- Name consistency: Your name on the e-visa application must match your passport exactly, including middle name
- Photo ready: JPEG, white background, recent (within 6 months), face centered
- Payment method: An international Visa or Mastercard that works for online transactions
Pro Tip: Check your current passport processing time before you apply for the e-visa. Standard U.S. passport renewal can take several weeks. If your passport is close to expiry, start the renewal process first — then apply for the e-visa once you have the renewed passport in hand.
If your passport needs renewal before you can apply, Passportcenter has plain-language guides covering the expired passport renewal process and connects travelers who need faster turnaround to registered expedited courier services. Getting passport-ready is the step that most travelers underestimate when planning Vietnam travel.
Health advisories and immunization notes for Vietnam travel
Vietnam does not currently require proof of vaccination for entry, but health requirements can change. Confirm the current rules with the U.S. Embassy in Vietnam and the CDC Vietnam travel health page within 2 weeks of your departure date.
Before you travel, check:
- Routine vaccinations (MMR, Tdap, flu) are current
- CDC-recommended travel vaccines for Vietnam (hepatitis A, typhoid, and others depending on your itinerary)
- Any active health alerts or entry requirements posted by the U.S. Embassy
- Travel health insurance that covers medical evacuation — hospitals in rural Vietnam may have limited facilities
The U.S. Department of State travel advisory for Vietnam is also worth a quick read before departure for any safety or entry updates. Health rules shift faster than visa rules, so a check you did 3 months ago may already be outdated.
A practical perspective on getting this right
The Vietnam e-visa process is genuinely simple when you treat it like a form that demands precision, not speed. The travelers who run into problems are almost always the ones who rush the name field, upload a photo with a gray background, or apply the day before departure and have no time to fix a rejection.
Apply at least 2 weeks out. That gives you 3 working days for processing, a buffer for any portal outages, and time to reapply if something is wrong. Save your dossier code the moment the portal generates it. That code is your only way to check status and retrieve your approved visa — losing it means a support request and potential delays.
One thing most guides skip: confirm your entry port on the official portal before you book your flights, not after. Changing a flight because you selected the wrong port in your e-visa application is an expensive mistake that a 2-minute check prevents.
Your passport needs to be ready before the e-visa
The Vietnam e-visa process moves fast once you start, but it stops cold if your passport is not ready. Passportcenter is a free resource built specifically for U.S. travelers who need clear, no-fluff guidance on passport renewals, expedited processing, and travel document requirements. If you are within 6 months of passport expiry, or if you have never renewed before and are not sure how long it takes, Passportcenter walks you through every step and connects you with registered expedited courier services when time is tight. Get your passport sorted first, then apply for the e-visa with confidence.
Sources
Official portals and government pages to bookmark:
- Procedures for issuing electronic visas at the request of foreigners — Ministry of Public Security portal
- Evisa
- Vietnamese Visas and Entry/Exit — U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Vietnam
- Travel Health — Vietnam — CDC
This article is general information, not a substitute for advice from a qualified lawyer. Consult a qualified legal professional about your own circumstances before acting on anything here.