Vietnam eVisa FAQ: Cost, Timing, Ports & Exemptions

Updated 2026-07-07

Planning a trip to Vietnam and not sure how the eVisa works? These are the questions travellers ask us most — from who actually needs a visa to which border gates yours will cover. We prepare and lodge your application while the Immigration Department issues the visa, and we're happy to check your exact nationality and travel dates.

Do I even need a visa, or can I enter Vietnam without one?

It depends on your passport. Citizens of the 24 countries under Vietnam's 45-day exemption (Resolution 44/NQ-CP plus the 2025 expansion 229/NQ-CP) can enter with no visa for up to 45 days, and a number of ASEAN and bilateral partners have their own short exemptions. Everyone else — including Chinese, Indian and Taiwanese passport holders — needs an eVisa or another visa arranged before flying. If you're not sure which group you fall into, send us your passport nationality and trip length and we'll tell you straight away.

I'm only going to Phú Quốc — do I still need an eVisa?

Not necessarily. Phú Quốc has its own separate exemption: travellers of any nationality can stay up to 30 days visa-free, provided you arrive on the island directly (by air or sea) and hold an onward ticket out within 30 days. But it only covers Phú Quốc — you can't use it to fly on to Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi or Da Nang. If your trip touches the mainland at all, you'll want the eVisa, and we can arrange that.

Single entry or multiple entry — which should I choose?

Choose single entry if you'll enter Vietnam once and not leave and come back; the government fee is US$25. Choose multiple entry if you plan to pop out to Cambodia, Laos or elsewhere and return during the same trip; that fee is US$50. Both are valid up to 90 days. If you're unsure, multiple entry is the safer buy — you can't upgrade a single-entry visa after it's issued without applying again.

How long does an eVisa take, and can you help if I'm flying very soon?

Officially it's up to 3 working days for a complete, paid application, and in practice most clear in about 3–5 working days — weekends and Vietnamese holidays don't count. If your departure is close, we offer an express option that compresses the same process into a shorter window, sometimes same-day, for an added fee. We prepare and lodge it fast, but the Immigration Department issues the visa, so we never promise an exact hour — tell us your flight and we'll advise honestly whether it's realistic.

Does my eVisa work at any border, or only certain ones?

Only the gates you select on the form. Since December 2025 (Resolution 389/NQ-CP) the eVisa is accepted at 83 ports by air, land and sea — but your specific visa is valid only at the entry and exit gates named on it. All the major airports (Nội Bài, Tân Sơn Nhất, Đà Nẵng) are covered, and the main China land gates (Móng Cái, Hữu Nghị, Lào Cai) are on the list. The costly mistake is turning up at a small local crossing that isn't approved — always confirm your exact route with us before booking non-refundable travel.

Can I enter through a different port than the one I selected?

No — a border officer can only admit you at a gate named on your eVisa, even if another gate is technically eVisa-approved. You can enter through one approved gate and exit through a different one, as long as both are listed on your visa, so a fly-in/land-out plan is fine. But if your travel changes to a gate you didn't select, that generally means a fresh application. Tell us early and we'll make sure the right gates are on there from the start.

What if my name or passport number has a small mismatch?

Every detail must match your passport exactly — full name spelling and order, date of birth, and passport number. Even a single wrong character is one of the most common causes of delay or refusal, and once a visa is issued the data can't simply be edited. This is exactly what we check before lodging: we read your details straight off the bio-page scan so what goes in matches your passport. If you spot a mistake after submitting, contact us immediately — the sooner we catch it, the better.

How much validity and how many blank pages does my passport need?

As a rule your passport should be valid at least six months beyond your intended stay, undamaged, and have blank pages for entry and exit stamps. A torn, water-damaged or heavily worn passport can be refused at the border even with a valid visa. If your passport is close to expiry, renew it first and apply on the new one — the eVisa is tied to the exact passport number you enter.

If my application is refused, do I get my money back?

The US$25 / US$50 government fee is paid to the Immigration Department and is non-refundable, whatever the outcome — that's the government's rule, not ours. What we add on top is our own money-back guarantee: if a properly documented application we lodge is refused, we refund our service fee. Please check the exact terms of the guarantee with us for your case, since a refusal caused by information a client withheld is treated differently.

What actually happens if my eVisa is refused?

A refusal usually means the file had a fixable problem — a photo that failed the spec, a detail that didn't match the passport, or missing information. In most cases you can simply reapply with the issue corrected, which is where we help most: we review why it was declined and re-lodge cleanly. The government fee from the first attempt isn't recoverable, so getting it right the first time matters, and that's what our pre-check is for.

What are the consequences if I overstay my eVisa?

Overstaying is taken seriously and gets more expensive the longer it runs. Under the current rules (Decree 282/2025/NĐ-CP, in force from late 2025) fines range from a few hundred thousand VND for a day or two up to tens of millions of VND for a long overstay, and a serious overstay can also mean deportation and a ban on returning to Vietnam. If you think you'll need more time, sort it before your visa expires rather than at the airport — talk to us early and we'll walk you through the options.

Can I extend or renew my eVisa once I'm inside Vietnam?

In general the eVisa can't be extended online from inside Vietnam — the 90 days is the maximum on a single visa, not a renewable window. The usual routes are to apply for a multiple-entry eVisa from the start, or to do a short 'visa run' (exit, apply for a fresh eVisa, re-enter). If you have a sponsor in Vietnam, converting to a work visa or residence card may be possible, but that must be started before your eVisa expires — check with us for your specific situation.

I'm coming for meetings, not tourism — can I use the eVisa for business?

Yes. The eVisa covers both tourism and business visits such as meetings, conferences and site visits, so you don't need a different visa just because your trip is work-related. What it does not cover is actually taking up employment in Vietnam — paid work for a Vietnamese employer requires a work permit and the right work visa or residence card. If your plan is to work here rather than visit, tell us and we'll point you to the correct route.

Do my children need their own eVisa?

Yes — every traveller needs their own eVisa, including infants and children, each on their own passport with their own government fee. A child can no longer be added to a parent's visa. The requirements are the same: a clear passport bio-page and a compliant photo for each child. We're happy to prepare the whole family's applications together so the details and travel dates line up.

Is InTimeVisa the Vietnamese government or the official eVisa site?

No. InTimeVisa (Văn phòng Chính) is a private consulting firm that prepares, lodges and tracks your application — we are not the government and are not affiliated with it. The visa itself is issued by the Immigration Department through the official portal, evisa.gov.vn. You always pay the official US$25 or US$50 government fee separately, and our service fee is quoted clearly up front so you can see exactly what you're paying for.