Vietnam Visa Rule Changes in 2026: What Is New for Travellers

Vietnam changes its entry rules by government resolution, usually with little notice. This page lists the changes that affect visitors, newest first. We update it when something moves; check the date at the top against your travel dates.

What changed in 2026

23 July 2026 - Timor-Leste visa waiver agreed, not yet in force

Vietnam and Timor-Leste signed an agreement for visa-free stays of up to 30 days for ordinary passport holders. It takes effect only after both governments complete their internal procedures, so Timorese travellers still need a visa until that is announced.

15 July 2026 - Indonesians: 14 days visa-free, down from 30

Indonesian passport holders visiting for tourism or family now get a visa-free stay of up to 14 days rather than 30. Longer visits need an e-visa.

1 July 2026 - New long-stay visas for technology talent

Vietnam introduced two visa categories: UD1, for highly skilled digital-technology and specialist professionals, and UD2, for their spouses and children under 18. Both can be valid for up to five years. These are sponsored visas aimed at people moving to Vietnam to work, not travel visas, and they are not applied for through the e-visa system.

15 April 2026 - Pre-arrival form at Ho Chi Minh City airport

Foreign passengers arriving at Tan Son Nhat International Airport must complete an online pre-arrival declaration and show its QR code at passport control. It is free and separate from the visa, and it is being extended to other airports. How to complete the pre-arrival form.

What changed in 2025

2 December 2025 - 41 more e-visa entry points

Resolution 389/NQ-CP added 41 international border gates to the list where e-visa holders may enter and leave, taking the total from 42 to 83. Entry points for e-visa holders.

15 August 2025 - Twelve more European countries visa-free

Under Resolution 229/NQ-CP, citizens of Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland can stay for up to 45 days without a visa. The measure runs from 15 August 2025 to 14 August 2028.

30 January 2025 - Vietnam and Belarus waive visas for each other

A mutual agreement took effect for ordinary passport holders of both countries.

The 2023 changes that still shape everything

Most of what makes Vietnam easy to visit today dates from 15 August 2023:

• E-visas for every nationality. Before then only 80 countries qualified.
• 90-day e-visas, up from 30.
• Multiple-entry e-visas, where previously only single entry was offered.
• 45-day visa-free stays, up from 15, for the countries covered by Vietnam's one-sided waiver - including the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan and South Korea.

If a guide or forum post describes 30-day single-entry e-visas or a 15-day exemption, it was written before these changes.

What has been discussed but not introduced

Vietnamese officials and the travel industry have floated several ideas in the past two years: visa-free entry for more nationalities, long-validity "golden" visas for investors and long-stay visitors, and waivers for particular groups of travellers. Until a resolution is issued with a start date, none of these change what you need to board a flight. We add them above when they do.

What this means if you are travelling soon

• Check your passport's current rule - the visa-free list is not the same as it was a year ago. Requirements by nationality.
• Apply for an e-visa if you need one, two to three weeks ahead.
• Complete the pre-arrival form within three days of landing.
• Rely on dated, official information. Rules are set by the Vietnamese government and published by its immigration department; your own government's travel advice is the best second source.

Frequently asked questions

Has Vietnam made Australia visa-free?

No. Australian passport holders still need a visa for Vietnam. Vietnam visa for Australians.

Has Vietnam made the United States visa-free?

No. American passport holders still need a visa.

Is the 90-day e-visa still available?

Yes. The 90-day single-entry and multiple-entry e-visas introduced in August 2023 remain the standard visas for visitors.

Did the e-visa fee change in 2026?

The government fee remains US$25 for single entry and US$50 for multiple entry.