Visa On Arrival

If you plan to travel to Vietnam, it’s important to note that a valid visa is required. Fortunately, you can conveniently apply for a visa on arrival online.

Once you’ve submitted your visa application, you can expect to receive an authorization letter within three working days. This letter will enable you to collect your visa at the international airport in Vietnam, saving you the trouble of visiting the Vietnamese embassy

What is a Vietnam Visa On Arrival?

Are you considering visiting Vietnam and wondering how to obtain a visa? The Vietnam visa on arrival is an alternative method to the traditional embassy application.

To obtain this type of visa, you, as the visa applicant, must first apply online for an approval letter (also known as an authorization letter). This letter serves as official permission to enter Vietnam and allows you to have your visa stamped upon arrival at the airport.

To obtain the visa stamp, you will need to present your approval letter along with other required documents, including your passport (with at least 6 months validity), two passport photos, a completed visa application form, and payment for the stamping fees at the airport’s immigration service.

What kind of visa do I need?

When applying for a Vietnam Visa On Arrival, you have the option to choose a single or multiple-entry visa.

A single-entry visa allows you to enter Vietnam once within the visa’s validity period, while a multiple-entry visa allows you to enter and exit Vietnam multiple times during the validity period.

Additionally, you can choose between a 1-month or 3-month visa. A 1-month visa allows you to stay in Vietnam for a maximum of 30 days, while a 3-month visa allows you to stay for up to 90 days

Authorization Letter

The Vietnam Visa Approval Letter, also known as the Authorization Letter, is an official document issued by the Vietnamese Immigration Service, which operates under the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam.

This letter serves as formal authorization for the visa holder(s) to board a flight to Vietnam and have their visa stamped on their passport upon arrival at a Vietnamese airport

This is an example of a visa approval letter: Visa approval letter sample

The Authorization Letter, also known as the Approval Letter, is written in Vietnamese and allows you to obtain a visa upon arrival in Vietnam. There are two versions of the letter: the public version and the private version.

The public version is intended for several travelers and can include people who are not part of the same group. In contrast, the closed or private version includes only your name or the name of your company. Our services provide both public and private letters.

The processing time for a Vietnam Visa On Arrival is a maximum of two working days. However, in many cases, you can receive your visa in as little as one day, making the process quick and straightforward.

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Which documents do I need?

The online application for a Vietnam Visa On Arrival does not require any additional documents. This means that you do not have to scan and email or send any documents by post during the application process.

Once you arrive in Vietnam, there may be some required documents that you must present at the airport. To learn more about these documents, please refer to our website.

Costs for Visa On Arrival

When obtaining a Vietnam Visa On Arrival, there are two fees you must pay: service costs and stamping costs.

Service costs are paid online to entryvietnamvisa.com to receive your visa approval letter. The total cost will depend on the type of visa you require, the number of applicants, and the processing time.

Stamping costs are paid to the immigration service upon arrival at the airport. The stamping fee is $25 for a single entry visa and $50 for a multiple entry visa.

Apply for Vietnam Visa On Arrival

Step 1: Request your visa authorization letter

Completing the online form only takes 5 minutes, and you will be asked to provide the following required information:

  • Full name – Same as in the passport
  • Date of birth
  • Nationality
  • Passport number
  • Date of arrival
  • Type of visa

Step 2: Receive authorization letter by e-mail

After 2 working days (normal service)

  • Receive your visa authorization letter via e-mail (attached with the visa application form)

Then you must:

  • Print this letter and the form,
  • Complete the Vietnamese visa application form,
  • Prepare 2 passport photos of 4×6 cm and cash for the stamp costs,
  • Bundle all the aforementioned items together with your passport.

Step 3: Get a visa stamped on arrival

When you arrive at the airport, please proceed to the Visa On Arrival desk (VOA) and present the required documents, which include:

  • Your passport
  • Visa authorization letter
  • 2 passport portrait photos
  • Vietnam visa application form
  • Cash for stamping costs

After receiving your passport back at the VOA desk, proceed to immigration, where an officer will stamp your visa in the passport. After that, collect your bags and enjoy your time in Vietnam.

Important to know

  • A visa on arrival is not an option if you want to enter Vietnam by land.
  • You can only go to international airports in Vietnam for a visa on arrival.
  • Your authorization letter is not the actual visa. You give this letter on arrival at the airport at the immigration desk and you will receive $ 25 or $ 50 thereafter paying the stamp costs.
  • The following visas are available: 1-month single entry, 1-month multiple entry, 3 months single entry, and 3 months multiple entries.

Frequently asked questions about Visa On Arrival in Vietnam

What if I changed my airport of arrival in Vietnam?

This doesn’t matter at all. The visa authorization letter (to collect a visa upon arrival) works at all 5 international airports in Vietnam (Noi Bai in Hanoi, Cat Bi in Hai Phong, Da Nang in Da Nang, and Cam Ranh in Khanh Hoa, and Tan Son Nhat in Ho Chi Minh City). You can change your arrival between those airports and have the visa stamped without problems.

What if I do not yet know when I will be traveling to Vietnam exactly while completing my application form and the visa authorization letter?

It doesn’t matter at all. In case you are still not sure what your travel dates are, you can specify the planned dates when you complete the VOA Vietnam online application form. But please note that you can enter Vietnam later than the specified arrival date, but that you cannot arrive earlier, so think carefully before entering your dates in the form

Do I have to contact the Vietnamese embassy if I have the authorization letter?

No. When you use a Vietnam visa on arrival (or VOA Vietnam), you have nothing to do with regard to the Vietnamese embassy for your visa for Vietnam.

After you have received the authorization letter by e-mail, you only need to print it together with the attached Vietnam visa application form (formerly known as Entry and Exit Form) and you will get the passport stamped upon arrival at the Vietnam airport by completing these forms showing, original passport, photos and paying for stamping.

Do I have to provide documents to apply for an authorization letter for a visa for Vietnam?

No. You do not have to show a document when you request an authorization letter online for the Vietnamese visa, you only have to provide your details, including:

Your contact details (name, e-mail address);

Your travel dates;

Information from the applicant (full name, passport number, gender, nationality, date of birth, and expiry date of the passport).

Do I have to provide documents to apply for an authorization letter for a visa for Vietnam?

No. You do not have to show a document when you request an authorization letter online for the Vietnamese visa, you only have to provide your details, including:

Your contact details (name, e-mail address);

Your travel dates;

Information from the applicant (full name, passport number, gender, nationality, date of birth, and expiry date of the passport).

When do I need to apply for an on-arrival visa for Vietnam?

Visa On Arrival is only for people traveling to Vietnam by flight. You can only use it if you travel to Vietnam by plane.

How long in advance do I need to request an authorization letter for a Vietnam visa?

Keep in mind that a normal application takes 3 working days. The Vietnam Immigration is closed on weekends. In addition, urgent requests of 1 day, 4 hours, and 1-2 hours are also possible (also only possible during working hours). So keep in mind to submit your application on time.

Can I enter Vietnam earlier than my permitted arrival date in the visa approval letter?

No, you can not. Later is allowed, but earlier arrival is not possible. If you change your plan and want to enter Vietnam earlier than the permitted arrival date, you are advised to request a new visa approval letter.

Can I leave Vietnam later than the starting date assigned in my visa approval letter?

No, you can’t. Earlier is of course allowed, but with a later departure that is not possible. If you want to stay longer than the expiry date of your visa, it is recommended that you apply for a visa extension.

Can I use a Visa On Arrival for my arrival by land or sea?

No that is impossible. A Vietnam Visa On Arrival only applies to air travel, since the visa applicants must get a visa stamp at the airport of arrival in Vietnam. If you want to enter Vietnam by country, you are advised to contact the closest Vietnamese embassy / to apply for a visa.

What is the difference between a single entry visa and a multiple entry visa?

There is a big difference between a single entry visa and a multiple entry visa for Vietnam:
Single entry visa: you may enter Vietnam once during your visa period. After you leave Vietnam, your visa will automatically become invalid.

Multiple visas: you can enter and leave Vietnam many times during the visa’s validity.

Can I pay for stamp services in Vietnam Dong (VND)?

Yes, that’s possible. You can pay for stamp services in VND or AUD, SGD, etc. but USD is strongly recommended to prevent unbalanced exchange rates at the airport.