Dare Moto Expedition
A river winding past rice fields and forested mountains in central Vietnam
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Visas & entry

Vietnam e-visa for foreign tourists: how to apply

Last checked 5 October 2026

Short answer

Apply online at evisa.gov.vn, the official site of Vietnam’s Immigration Department. An e-visa lasts up to 90 days and costs 25 USD for single entry or 50 USD for multiple entry.[1] It is processed within 3 working days.[4] Citizens of 24 countries, including the UK, much of the EU, Japan and South Korea, can stay 45 days without a visa.[5][6]

Apply at evisa.gov.vn

Also official: thithucdientu.gov.vn. Any other website is not run by the Vietnamese government.[2]

Do you need an e-visa?

Start by checking whether your passport is visa-exempt. These citizens can stay 45 days without a visa, which covers any DME tour:

Until 14 March 2028

Germany, France, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland. Any passport type and any purpose.[5]

Until 14 August 2028, for tourism

Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland.[6]

Other countries, including several in Southeast Asia, have their own exemptions. If yours is not listed, or you are staying longer than 45 days, apply for an e-visa. Travellers from the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, for example, need one.

How to apply

  1. Upload two photos. A recent portrait (4×6 cm, JPG, under 2 MB, white background, facing forward, no hat or glasses) and a photo of your passport’s personal-details page. The system reads your passport details from it; check them carefully.[3]
  2. Fill in the form in English. Write your full name exactly as on the passport’s machine-readable line, in capitals. For a tour, give your first hotel as your address.[2] False answers get the application refused.[3]
  3. Pay online by card. 25 USD single entry or 50 USD multiple entry. The fee is not refunded if the e-visa is refused.[1]
  4. Get your e-visa by email. You can also look it up on the same site with your application code, date of birth and email.[1][3]

Good to know

  • You can apply up to a year before you travel, but not while you are already in Vietnam.[2]
  • Enter and leave through a border gate on the e-visa list. You do not have to leave by the same gate you entered.[2][3]
  • An e-visa is for travel, not work. Working in Vietnam needs a work permit.[2]

Plan ahead: your pre-trip checklist

3+ months before

  • Check your passport. Your e-visa must end at least 30 days before your passport expires.[2] Many airlines also ask for 6 months of passport validity, so renew early if you are close.
  • Sort your riding licence: a 1968 Convention IDP plus your home licence, both with a motorcycle category.
  • Book your tour and flights, and buy travel insurance that covers motorcycle riding.

1–2 months before

  • Apply for your e-visa on evisa.gov.vn. It takes about 3 working days, but holidays such as Tết slow things down, so do not leave it to the last week.[4]
  • Riding near the borders in the far north? Read about the border area permit.

The week you fly

  • Print your e-visa and keep a copy on your phone. Check that every detail matches your passport.
  • Fill in the optional pre-arrival declaration at prearrival.immigration.gov.vn to save time at immigration.[1]
  • Check that your arrival airport is on the e-visa list: Noi Bai (Ha Noi), Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City) and Da Nang all are.[3]

On arrival and on the road

  • Show your e-visa to the immigration officer, then check the stamp in your passport before you leave the desk. If you forget, you may be admitted under a shorter visa-free stay instead.[2]
  • Carry your passport while riding and show it when the authorities ask. Hotels use it to register your stay.[1]

Not sure what you need? Ask us on WhatsApp before you book your flights.

Sources

  1. [1]Immigration Department, Ministry of Public Security. Vietnam e-Visa system: overview, conditions and fees. thithucdientu.gov.vn
  2. [2]Immigration Department, Ministry of Public Security. Vietnam e-Visa system: frequently asked questions. thithucdientu.gov.vn
  3. [3]Immigration Department, Ministry of Public Security. Vietnam e-Visa system: how to apply, photo rules and permitted border gates. thithucdientu.gov.vn
  4. [4]Ministry of Public Security, Public Service Portal. Procedure: issuing an e-visa at the request of a foreigner. dichvucong.bocongan.gov.vn
  5. [5]Government of Vietnam e-newspaper (Chinhphu.vn). Nghị quyết số 44/NQ-CP: visa exemption for citizens of 12 countries. 10 March 2025. xaydungchinhsach.chinhphu.vn
  6. [6]Government of Vietnam e-newspaper (Chinhphu.vn). Nghị quyết 229/NQ-CP: visa exemption under the tourism stimulus programme for 12 countries. 13 August 2025. xaydungchinhsach.chinhphu.vn

This page summarises official Vietnamese sources for travellers. It is not legal advice, and visa rules change. Always check evisa.gov.vn and your nearest Vietnamese embassy before you travel.

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