Vietnam Visa on Arrival 2026: Complete Guide to the Approval Letter, Fees and Airport Steps

We are a private visa service, not the Vietnamese government. Vietnam Immigration decides every visa. The rules below were confirmed by our operations team in November 2026.

Vietnam visa on arrival at a glance

In short: visa on arrival suits short trips of up to 15 days. For a longer stay, multiple entries or a business trip with several visits, choose the Vietnam e-visa instead (up to 90 days, single or multiple entry).

Visa on arrival or e-visa: which one should you choose?

Since August 2023, every nationality can apply for the e-visa, so for most travellers the e-visa is the simpler choice. Visa on arrival is still the better option in a few cases:

Chinese e-passports: why visa on arrival is often the easier choice

Vietnam does not stamp visas into Chinese mainland e-passports that print the nine-dash line map. Instead, it issues a separate paper visa, called a loose-leaf visa (另紙簽), at the visa-on-arrival counter. This applies to e-visa holders too:

• With a visa on arrival: you receive a 15-day, single-entry loose-leaf visa and pay the USD 25 stamping fee.
• With an e-visa: the e-visa is converted to a loose-leaf visa free of charge, with the same validity and entries as your e-visa (for example, a 90-day multiple-entry e-visa becomes a 90-day multiple-entry loose-leaf visa).

For a short trip, many Chinese travellers choose visa on arrival, because they have to stop at the counter in any case. Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR and Taiwanese passports do not need a loose-leaf visa. Read more in our guide to the loose-leaf visa (in Chinese).

What is the visa approval letter?

The visa approval letter is an official letter issued by the Vietnam Immigration Department. It shows the traveller’s name, date of birth, nationality, passport number, entry date and entry port. It is the document that lets you:

• board your flight: airlines check for it at check-in, because without it you cannot get a visa on arrival;
• collect your visa at the visa-on-arrival counter in Vietnam.

The letter is not the visa itself. Print it (colour is not required) and keep a copy on your phone. You can only get it through a travel agency or visa service, not from Vietnam’s e-visa portal or an embassy.

How to get a Vietnam visa on arrival in 4 steps

1. Apply online. Fill in our application form: nationality, passport details, entry date and entry port, and upload a scan of your passport’s information page. Choose the processing time.
2. Pay. Pay by PayPal (cards accepted) or Alipay. You receive a confirmation email at once, so check your details in it.
3. Receive the approval letter by email. Print it and keep it with your passport.
4. Collect the visa on arrival. At the visa-on-arrival counter, hand in your passport, approval letter, NA1 form with photo, spare photo and USD 25 in cash. When your name is called, collect your passport with the visa, check it, then go to passport control.

Processing times and prices for the approval letter

The service fee does not include the USD 25 stamping fee, which you pay in cash at the counter. Vietnam Immigration works Monday to Friday, so the urgent visa on arrival is available on working days only. At weekends and on Vietnamese public holidays, only a new e-visa can be processed, through our urgent visa service. See all prices on our Vietnam visa fees page.

Total cost example: a standard visa on arrival costs the 4-working-day service fee above plus USD 25 at the airport. Compare it with the e-visa price on the fees page before you choose.

What to bring for your visa on arrival

Children: every traveller, including babies, needs their own visa, their own NA1 form and photo, and pays the stamping fee.

Where can you collect a Vietnam visa on arrival?

You collect the visa at the entry port written on your approval letter, so choose your real entry point when you apply. Our application form lists these ports:

Airports (13): Noi Bai (Hanoi), Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City), Da Nang, Cam Ranh (Nha Trang), Phu Quoc, Cat Bi (Hai Phong), Van Don (Quang Ninh), Can Tho, Phu Bai (Hue), Tho Xuan (Thanh Hoa), Dong Hoi (Quang Binh), Phu Cat (Binh Dinh) and Lien Khuong (Da Lat).

Seaports (13): Hon Gai, Cam Pha, Hai Phong, Nghi Son, Vung Ang, Nha Trang, Da Nang, Quy Nhon, Dung Quat, Vung Tau, Ho Chi Minh City, Duong Dong (Phu Quoc) and Chan May.

Land borders (16): Tay Trang, Na Meo, La Lay, Mong Cai, Huu Nghi, Lao Cai, Nam Can, Cau Treo, Cha Lo, Lao Bao, Bo Y, Moc Bai, Xa Mat, Tinh Bien, Song Tien and Ha Tien.

The new Long Thanh International Airport is not yet on the list.

At the airport: what happens at the visa-on-arrival counter

The visa-on-arrival counter is in the arrivals hall, before passport control. Its sign varies by airport, for example “Visa on Arrival” in Hanoi, “Landing Visa” in Ho Chi Minh City and “Visa Issuing Office” in Da Nang.

1. Go to the counter first. Do not queue at passport control without a visa.
2. Hand in your documents: passport, approval letter, NA1 form with photo, spare photo.
3. Pay USD 25 when you are asked to.
4. Wait for your name to be called. When a large flight or tour group arrives together, this can take a while.
5. Check your visa before you leave the counter: name, date of birth, passport number, dates. A mistake is much harder to fix after passport control.
6. Go to passport control with your passport and visa.

Pre-arrival declaration: because you only receive your visa at the counter, you cannot complete the pre-arrival declaration with your visa details before you fly. Get your visa at the counter first, then complete the declaration if you are asked to.

To skip the queues, you can book our airport fast track: our staff meet you before the visa-on-arrival counter and take you through the priority lane. Fast track does not include the visa or the stamping fee.

Common mistakes that cost travellers their visa on arrival

• Flying without the approval letter. The airline will not let you board.
• Wrong entry port. Your letter is only valid at the port you chose.
• Forgetting cash. Bring USD 25 per person in cash, ideally in small notes.
• No photo, or the wrong photo. Bring 2 recent photos with a white or blue background.
• Expecting more than 15 days. If you need longer, apply for an e-visa before you travel.
• Not checking the visa at the counter. Check every detail before you walk away.

Refunds

If Vietnam Immigration rejects your application, or the approval letter arrives later than the processing time you paid for, we refund the amount we received (PayPal keeps its fee, about 5%). See the full refund policy.

Vietnam visa on arrival: FAQ

How long is a Vietnam visa on arrival valid?

Up to 15 days, single entry. Longer or multiple-entry visas on arrival are no longer issued.

How much does a Vietnam visa on arrival cost?

Two parts: our service fee for the approval letter (from 30 USD for 4 working days) and the USD 25 stamping fee, paid in cash on arrival.

Can I get a visa on arrival without an approval letter?

No. You need the approval letter before you fly. Airlines check it at check-in.

Can I apply for a visa on arrival on the government website?

No. The official portal evisa.gov.vn issues e-visas only. A visa on arrival is arranged through an agency.

Is visa on arrival available at land borders and seaports?

Yes, at the land borders and seaports listed above. Choose the right port when you apply, because the letter is only valid there.

Can I get a visa on arrival at the weekend?

The approval letter is processed on Vietnamese working days only. If you fly at the weekend, order on a working day beforehand, or apply for a weekend e-visa instead.

I hold a BN(O) passport. Which visa do I need?

A visa on arrival, because BN(O) passports cannot use the Vietnam e-visa. See our BN(O) guide.

Do children need a visa on arrival?

Yes. Every traveller needs their own visa, NA1 form, photos and stamping fee.

Before you land, read our Vietnam entry procedure guide and our Vietnam customs rules guide.

Rules confirmed by our operations team and prices checked against our order form on 8 November 2026.