A Vietnam Visa on Arrival (VOA) is an alternative method to obtain a visa for Vietnam after you arrive in the country, but with some important pre-arrangements. It's ideal for travelers who prefer to wait to secure their visa or haven't finalized their travel plans. Unlike an e-visa, a VOA is not obtained electronically beforehand.
Here's a breakdown of key points about a Vietnam VOA:
Process:
- Obtain a visa approval letter from a licensed Vietnamese travel agency or online visa service before your flight to Vietnam. This letter confirms your eligibility for a visa.
- Upon arrival at a designated international airport in Vietnam, proceed to the visa on arrival lane.
- Submit your passport, visa approval letter, completed application form (usually provided at the airport), and visa fee (paid in cash in Vietnamese Dong or USD).
- Once approved, you'll receive your visa stamped directly onto your passport.
Important points:
- VOA is only valid for arrival by air at specific international airports in Vietnam.
- Processing times can vary depending on the airport and number of applicants. There may be queues.
- The visa approval letter typically incurs a service fee from the agency you obtain it from.
Here's a comparison of Vietnam e-visa (which is no longer available) and VOA to help you decide which might have been suitable (for past travel or future policy changes):
| Feature |
Vietnam e-Visa |
Vietnam Visa on Arrival (VOA) |
| Application Process |
Entirely online |
Requires a visa approval letter obtained beforehand |
| Processing Time |
3 working days |
Can vary upon arrival at the airport |
| Entry Points |
Designated international airports, land borders, and seaports |
Designated international airports only |
| Convenience |
More convenient; apply from anywhere |
Less convenient; requires pre-arranging approval letter |
| Cost |
Generally cheaper |
May be more expensive due to agency service fee |
There are typically two main types of visas available on arrival in Vietnam
- Tourist Visa on Arrival: This is the most common type of VOA obtained by travelers. It allows for a single or multiple entries into Vietnam for tourism purposes, with a maximum stay duration depending on your nationality (usually up to 30 days).
- Business Visa on Arrival: This VOA is designed for business purposes and can be obtained with sponsorship from a Vietnamese company. It may allow for single or multiple entries and might have a longer validity period compared to a tourist VOA (up to 3 months). In some cases, it can be extended once with sponsorship from the same company.
Here's a table summarizing the two VOA types:
| Feature |
Tourist VOA |
Business VOA |
| Purpose of Visit |
Tourism |
Business |
| Entry Type |
Single or Multiple |
Single or Multiple |
| Maximum Stay Duration |
Up to 30 days (depending on nationality) |
Up to 3 months |
| Sponsorship Requirement |
No |
Yes (from a Vietnamese company) |
| Extension Possibility |
No |
May be possible once with sponsorship |
There are some designated ports of entry for Vietnam Visa on Arrival. Here's a breakdown of the types of entry ports that accept Visa on Arrival:
Airport
- Tan Son Nhat Int'l Airport
- Noi Bai Int'l Airport
- Da Nang Int'l Airport
- Cam Ranh Int'l Airport
- Can Tho International Airport
- Phu Bai International Airport
- Phu Quoc International Airport
- Cat Bi International Airport
- Van Don Airport (Quang Ninh)
- Lien Khuong Airport (Lam Dong)
Use our quick visa search tool to find out if you need a visa, plus the passport requirements for visiting the Vietnam.
Check requirement
Yes, there are a few document requirements for applying for a Vietnam e-Visa:
- Valid Passport: Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your arrival date in Vietnam and have at least two blank pages for visa stamps.
- Passport Photo: You will need a soft copy of a recent passport-size photo that meets Vietnamese Visa photo specifications (typically frontal view, white background, etc.).
- Means of Payment: Have a credit or debit card ready for online payment of the Visa fee.
STEP 1: APPLY ONLINE
Select processing speed and type
STEP 2: RECEIVE VISA APPROVAL LETTER
Receive your visa approval letter and instructions
STEP 3: GET VISA STAMP
Have your visa stamped upon arrival
