Vietnam Visa Exemption in 2026: Who Can Enter Without a Visa, and for How Long

A visa exemption lets you enter Vietnam on your passport alone, for a fixed number of days. Whether you get one depends only on the passport you travel on - not where you live or where you fly from.

The current list, with the number of days for each passport, is on our visa requirements by nationality page. It is kept up to date as Vietnam changes the rules. This guide explains the different kinds of exemption and the conditions that come with them.

The four kinds of exemption

1. Vietnam's own 45-day exemption

Vietnam grants this one by government resolution, without asking the other country for anything in return. Holders of these passports can stay up to 45 days: the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Japan, South Korea, Russia and Belarus, plus the twelve European countries added in August 2025 - Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland. Under Resolution 229/NQ-CP those twelve run until 14 August 2028.

The stay was 15 days until August 2023, when Vietnam's amended immigration law raised it to 45 days.

2. Exemptions by agreement

Vietnam has visa exemption agreements with most of its neighbours and a few countries further away:

• 30 days: Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia
• 21 days: the Philippines
• 14 days: Brunei, Myanmar and, since 15 July 2026, Indonesia
• 90 days: Chile and Panama

These follow the treaty, so they can change when it does.

3. Phu Quoc island

Any foreigner can visit Phu Quoc without a visa for up to 30 days, provided they arrive on the island directly - an international flight into Phu Quoc, for example - and stay there. Going on to the mainland needs a visa or an exemption of its own. See how the Phu Quoc exemption works.

4. The five-year visa exemption certificate

People of Vietnamese origin who hold a foreign passport, and the foreign spouses and children of Vietnamese citizens, can apply for a visa exemption certificate. It allows multiple visa-free entries for up to five years (never past the passport's expiry) and is issued through Vietnam's embassies and consulates. It is the simplest option for families who visit often.

The conditions that come with an exemption

• Your passport must be valid for at least six months after the day you arrive.
• The count includes the day you arrive. A 45-day exemption from 1 March ends on 14 April.
• One stay at a time. Each entry gets its own exemption period; what matters is leaving before it ends.
• No work. An exemption is for visits - tourism, family, business meetings. Working needs a work permit and a work visa.
• You enter and leave through an international border gate.

Immigration officers can refuse entry to anyone, exemption or not, so carry proof of your onward or return travel and your first address in Vietnam.

When a visa-free traveller still needs a visa

An exemption covers a short trip. You need a visa if you:

• Stay longer than your exemption allows. Don't count on extending a visa-free stay once you are in Vietnam - arrive on an e-visa instead.
• Leave and come back on the same trip, for example to Cambodia or Laos and back. A multiple entry e-visa covers both entries.
• Travel to work, study or join family for a long stay - see Vietnam visa types.

The Vietnam e-visa is open to every nationality for up to 90 days, single or multiple entry - see the list of e-visa eligible countries.

Overstaying

Staying past the end of an exemption is an overstay, whether by one day or thirty. It is fined on departure, and longer overstays can lead to a ban on returning. Vietnam visa extension and overstay covers what to do if your plans change.

Frequently asked questions

Do Australians need a visa for Vietnam?

Yes. Australia is not on Vietnam's exemption list, so Australians need a visa for every trip. The e-visa for Australians covers up to 90 days.

Do US citizens need a visa for Vietnam?

Yes. The United States has no exemption, so US passport holders need a visa. See the Vietnam visa for US citizens guide.

How long can UK citizens stay in Vietnam without a visa?

Up to 45 days, counting the day of arrival. For a longer stay, arrive on an e-visa.

Is there still a 30-day gap required between visa-free visits?

No. Vietnam no longer requires a gap between visa-free visits; each visit gets its own exemption period. Officers can still question frequent back-to-back visits, so a visa is the safer choice if you are effectively living in Vietnam.

Does visa-free entry apply at land borders?

Yes, at international border gates. Phu Quoc's exemption is the exception - it applies only to arrivals on the island itself.