Vietnam Pre-Arrival Form: How to Complete the Online Arrival Declaration

Vietnam has started collecting arrival details online before travellers land. The pre-arrival information form replaces the questions an officer would otherwise key in at the desk, and gives you a QR code to show at passport control.

It is not a visa and does not replace one. It is an extra, free step.

Where it applies

The form became compulsory for foreign passengers arriving at Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) in Ho Chi Minh City on 15 April 2026.

It is being extended. Australia's Smartraveller advice says travellers entering through international airports such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Phu Quoc are encouraged to complete it, that it is expected to reach more airports and land borders, and that no timetable has been confirmed. You may also be asked to fill it in on arrival if you have not.

The practical advice: complete it whichever airport you are flying into. It costs nothing and removes the risk of being sent to the back of the queue to do it on your phone.

Who has to complete it

• All foreign passport holders, including travellers entering visa-free, e-visa holders and visa-on-arrival travellers
• Overseas Vietnamese entering on a visa

Not required for:

• Vietnamese passport holders
• Transit passengers who stay in the international transit area

Each traveller needs their own submission, including children.

When to do it

Within three days (72 hours) before you arrive. Do it after your e-visa has been issued, because the form asks for the visa's number and issue date.

What you need to hand

• Your passport: full name as printed, number, nationality, date of birth
• Your visa details: the e-visa number and its issue date, or the type of visa exemption you are entering under
• Your flight: airline, flight number and arrival date
• Your address in Vietnam: the hotel's name and address for your first night

How to complete it

1. Go to the Vietnam Immigration Department's pre-arrival site: prearrival.immigration.gov.vn
2. Choose the option to create and submit pre-arrival information.
3. Enter your passport, visa, flight and accommodation details.
4. Review them against your passport and e-visa, then submit.
5. Save the QR code. Take a screenshot and keep the PDF. Printing a copy is a sensible backup.

Use the official site only. It is free; any site charging a fee for this form is a third party.

Two things that trip people up

"Visa issue date cannot be after the expected arrival date." The form will not accept a visa issue date later than your arrival date. That is correct - your visa has to exist before you land - so check you have entered the issue date from the e-visa, not its expiry date.

Choosing the visa exemption type. Visa-free travellers are asked which kind of exemption they are entering under. Passports covered by an agreement between two governments - Malaysia and Vietnam's other ASEAN neighbours, for example - choose the bilateral option. If you are not sure which applies to your passport, check your nationality or ask us before you submit.

At the airport

Show your passport and visa as usual. When asked, show the QR code on your phone or on paper. The officer scans it and your details are already on screen.

Frequently asked questions

Is the pre-arrival form the same as an e-visa?

No. The e-visa is your permission to enter. The pre-arrival form is an arrival declaration. Most travellers need both.

Does the pre-arrival form cost anything?

No. It is free on the official immigration website.

What if I forget to do it?

You can be asked to complete it on arrival before you are processed, which means doing it on your phone in the hall. It is quicker to do it at home.

Do I need it for Hanoi or Da Nang?

The rollout began in Ho Chi Minh City and is being widened airport by airport. Complete it wherever you land - it takes a few minutes and is accepted everywhere it is in use.

Do you complete the form for me?

The form asks for flight details and a visa number that only exist close to travel, so it is completed by the traveller. We send a reminder and the link with your e-visa.