Vietnam pre-arrival form (PAI) in 2026: is it compulsory?
File it. Official sources disagree on whether the Pre-Arrival Information form is legally required, but we found no report of a fine, and the one consequence every source names is a longer wait at the airport. Use only prearrival.immigration.gov.vn (official PAI site), within 3 days before you land, and save the QR code it gives you. The form does not replace a visa.
Who says what
We could not find the legal text behind this, so the table shows what each source says, with its date. It started as a pilot at Tan Son Nhat in Ho Chi Minh City on 15 April 2026 and has spread since. The later dates do not all say the same thing.
| Source and date | What it says |
|---|---|
| Tuoi Tre News (article), Viet Nam News (article), 17 Apr 2026 | Mandatory at Tan Son Nhat for foreigners using visas. Stated consequence: longer processing at the counter. |
| Ministry of Public Security (notice), 13 May 2026 | Optional for air travelers. Pilot at Tan Son Nhat, more airports to follow. |
| Embassy of India, Hanoi (advisory), 2 Jun 2026 | Voluntary basis. Noi Bai, Da Nang, Cam Ranh and Phu Quoc to follow. |
| Uzbekistan Airways (notice), 22 Jun 2026 | Mandatory for all foreign passengers from 22 June. |
| Embassy of Singapore, Hanoi (notice), 25 Jun 2026 | Encouraged at Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat, Da Nang, Nha Trang and Phu Quoc, on arrival or up to 3 days before. Waits are the stated risk. |
| Government of Canada (travel advice), Updated 19 Oct 2026 | Not a mandatory entry requirement. Encouraged, and it names Tan Son Nhat only. |
| The PAI site itself (site), Read 4 Nov 2026 | Says filing in advance reduces waiting time. No word on a penalty. |
How to fill it in
The site opens with three choices: Create & Submit Pre-arrival Information, Lookup & Update Declaration, and Lookup E-Pass Information. The first asks you to pass a CAPTCHA, which is where we stopped, because we have no trip to declare. We have not seen the fields ourselves.
The Ministry of Public Security says the form takes personal information, visa information and travel details. Viet Nam News adds a passport photo and your accommodation. You get a QR code at the end. Save it or print it for the border gate.
Copy your flight number and booking code straight from your ticket. In the first two weeks the ministry counted 161,596 submissions and 119,854 successes, and it put most failures down to flight number and booking code errors. (Ministry of Public Security, 13 May 2026)
If your flight changes, go back in through Lookup & Update Declaration. The window is short: no earlier than 3 days before you land. Filing at the airport is possible according to the Embassy of Singapore, but that is the queue this form is meant to spare you.
Who can skip it
Viet Nam News excludes Vietnamese passport holders and transit passengers who do not pass through immigration. The ministry describes the form for air travelers, and we found no start date for land or sea gates. If you are crossing from Cambodia, Laos or China by road, check at the time, because this may change.
A layover is a separate question, covered in Vietnam visa for a layover.
Fake sites
The ministry warns about fake PAI sites that steal card details. The official site shows no fee anywhere we looked. If a page asks for your card to file this form, close it.
It is also not a visa application. You still need an eVisa or a visa exemption that fits your passport. Our Vietnam visa checker shows which one applies, and How to spot official Vietnam visa websites explains how to tell government sites from private ones. InTimeVisa is a private agent and does not run this form.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Vietnam pre-arrival form mandatory?
Sources disagree. The Ministry of Public Security called it optional on 13 May 2026 and Canada still says it is not mandatory, while Vietnamese press and an airline notice call it mandatory. We found no report of a fine. File it anyway, because the stated risk is a longer wait.
How early can I file the pre-arrival form?
Up to 3 days before you land. The Ministry of Public Security and the Embassy of Singapore both give that window.
Does the pre-arrival form cost money?
The official site, prearrival.immigration.gov.vn, shows no fee. The ministry warns of fake sites that take card details.
Does the pre-arrival form replace my eVisa?
No. It is a declaration about your trip. You still need a visa or an exemption that fits your passport.
Which airports use it?
Tan Son Nhat first, from 15 April 2026. In June 2026 the Embassy of Singapore listed Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat, Da Nang, Nha Trang and Phu Quoc. Canada's advice, updated in October, still names only Tan Son Nhat.
Do US citizens have to file it?
The US Embassy in Hanoi has published its own notice, which our tools could not open, so read it directly at vn.usembassy.gov before you travel. We found no sign that the form differs by nationality.
Still need the visa itself?
The pre-arrival form is not a visa. InTimeVisa is an independent private agent, not the Vietnamese government.