Private visa agency · Australian owned · IATA TIDS accreditedEvery application checked by a person before it is lodgedFull refund if your visa is late or refused
myvietnamvisas
Sign inStart application
Tourist e-visa
Business e-visa
Before you go
Most popular
Single Entry E-VisaUp to 90 days in Vietnam on one entry. Issued online - no embassy visit. From $69.42.Apply now
Multiple Entry E-VisaCome and go as often as you like for 90 days. From $97.47.Apply now
Every application is checked by a person before it is lodged.Visa types and prices →

Vietnam Visa for South African Citizens

Contents

    As of 2026: South African passport holders need a visa for Vietnam and can get the e-visa online before they fly: up to 90 days, single or multiple entry. It costs A$99 (about R1,146) with MyVietnamVisas, government fee included.

    • Passport valid for at least 6 months after the day you arrive
    • A clear photo or scan of your passport's photo page
    • A recent passport-style photo: white background, no glasses
    Type of visaRequirementMaximum stay
    Visit without a visaVisa requiredN/A
    E-visaEligible90 days
    Visa on arrivalApproval letter neededSet by the letter

    Highlights

    • All South African citizens need a valid visa to enter Vietnam.
    • South African passport holders can apply for the e-visa online: up to 90 days, single or multiple entry.
    • Standard processing is within 8 business days; the price starts from A$99 (about R1,146), government fee included, with faster options available.
    • The e-visa is accepted at 83 international airports, land borders and seaports.

    Do South African passport holders need a visa for Vietnam?

    Yes.

    South African passport holders need a visa to visit Vietnam. This applies whatever the reason for the trip, including:

    • Tourism
    • Business meetings and conferences
    • Visiting relatives or friends

    Can South African citizens get an e-visa?

    Yes.

    It is the most convenient way for South African travellers to get a visa for Vietnam. The whole application is online and the visa arrives by email.

    Validity
    Up to 90 days, single or multiple entry.

    Government fee
    US$25 for single entry or US$50 for multiple entry, set by the Vietnam Immigration Department.

    How to apply
    Apply on the official government portal, evisa.gov.vn, or through a visa agency. If you apply with us, the processing times and fees are as follows:

    Type of visaProcessing timeFee*
    E-Visa - Single Entry (90 days)Standard - within 8 business daysA$99
    Express - 3 business daysA$165
    Urgent - 1 business dayA$245
    Business E-Visa - Single Entry (90 days)Standard - within 8 business daysA$99
    Express - 3 business daysA$165
    Urgent - 1 business dayA$245
    E-Visa - Multiple Entry (90 days)Standard - within 8 business daysA$139
    Express - 3 business daysA$205
    Urgent - 1 business dayA$285
    Business E-Visa - Multiple Entry (90 days)Standard - within 8 business daysA$139
    Express - 3 business daysA$205
    Urgent - 1 business dayA$285

    * Per applicant, in Australian dollars. The fee already includes the government e-visa fee. A$99 is about R1,146 at today's rate.

    Apply for e-visa online

    How to apply from South Africa

    1. Apply online in minutes. Upload your passport photo page and a portrait photo, then pay by card.
    2. We check your file. If the photo or scan won't pass, we message you on WhatsApp before anything goes to immigration.
    3. Your e-visa arrives by email. Print it and show it at check-in and at passport control in Vietnam.

    What South African travellers should know

    South African citizens need a visa for Vietnam. The e-visa is issued online for up to 90 days, single or multiple entry, with nothing to submit to the embassy in Pretoria.

    There are no direct flights, so most itineraries connect through the Gulf or Singapore. Airlines check the visa before the first leg - have it approved before you leave home, not during the layover.

    Can South African citizens get a visa on arrival in Vietnam?

    Not in the way the name suggests. Vietnam's visa on arrival still needs an approval letter arranged through an agent or sponsor before you fly, is only issued at international airports, and means queuing at the visa counter after landing with passport photos and a stamping fee in US dollars. The e-visa is approved before departure, works at airports, land borders and seaports, and lets you walk straight to passport control.

    Airlines check for a visa at check-in, so South African citizens can't simply turn up and pay at the border.

    How Vietnam's visa on arrival really works

    Do you need to go to the Vietnamese embassy in Pretoria?

    No. Vietnam has an embassy in Pretoria, but the e-visa is issued electronically. There is no appointment and you don't hand over your passport: you apply online and the visa arrives by email as a PDF.

    Flying to Vietnam from South Africa

    There are no direct flights from South Africa to Vietnam. Most travellers change planes in Doha, Dubai or Singapore.

    Airline staff check your visa before the first flight, so keep the PDF on your phone and carry a printed copy. Schedules change - check current flights before you book.

    Paying from South Africa

    Prices are set in Australian dollars: A$99 is about R1,146 at today's rate. You pay by debit or credit card. Most major currencies are offered at checkout, and where yours isn't the charge is made in US dollars.

    When to apply

    Standard processing takes up to 8 business days, or 3 business days with express processing for an extra A$66. Urgent processing (1 business day, A$146 extra) covers last-minute trips.

    Vietnam's immigration offices don't work weekends or public holidays, and the Tet holiday in late January or February stops processing for about a week. An e-visa's start and end dates are fixed when it is issued, so apply once your flights are booked - two to three weeks ahead is comfortable.

    Summary

    • South African visitors need a valid passport and a visa to enter Vietnam.
    • The e-visa is available to South African passport holders for up to 90 days, single or multiple entry.
    • Apply two to three weeks before your trip; faster processing is available if you are late.
    • Vietnamese public holidays, especially Tet, slow processing down.
    • The name, date of birth and passport number on the visa must match the passport exactly.

    See also

    Questions and answers

    Frequently asked questions

    1. Do South African citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
    South African passport holders need a visa for Vietnam and can get the e-visa online before they fly: up to 90 days, single or multiple entry. It costs A$99 (about R1,146) with MyVietnamVisas, government fee included.
    2. How much is a Vietnam visa for South African citizens?
    The Vietnam E-Visa - Single Entry (90 days) costs A$99 (about R1,146 at today's rate) through MyVietnamVisas. That includes the Vietnamese government's e-visa fee and our team checking your photo and passport scan before the application is lodged. The multiple-entry version is A$139. Express processing is available for an extra A$66. You can pay by card in most major currencies.
    3. How long can South African citizens stay in Vietnam?
    up to 90 days on an e-visa. The e-visa's start and end dates are fixed when it is issued, and it can't be extended from inside Vietnam - for more time you leave and apply for a new one.
    4. How long does the e-visa take to process?
    Standard processing is within 8 business days. If you fly sooner, choose Express or Urgent processing when you apply. Vietnam's immigration offices are closed at weekends and on public holidays, so leave a margin before departure.
    5. Can South African citizens get a visa on arrival in Vietnam?
    Not in the way the name suggests. Vietnam's visa on arrival still needs an approval letter arranged through an agent or sponsor before you fly, is only issued at international airports, and means queuing at the visa counter after landing with passport photos and a stamping fee in US dollars. The e-visa is approved before departure, works at airports, land borders and seaports, and lets you walk straight to passport control.
    6. Can South African citizens visit Phu Quoc without a visa?
    Yes, for up to 30 days, if you arrive on Phu Quoc directly from abroad - or connect straight through another Vietnamese international airport - and stay on the island for the whole visit. A trip that includes anywhere else in Vietnam needs a visa.
    7. Do I have to visit the Vietnamese embassy in Pretoria?
    No. Vietnam has an embassy in Pretoria, but the e-visa is issued electronically. There is no appointment and you don't hand over your passport: you apply online and the visa arrives by email as a PDF.
    8. Are there direct flights from South Africa to Vietnam?
    There are no direct flights from South Africa to Vietnam. Most travellers change planes in Doha, Dubai or Singapore.
    9. Do I need to fill in a form before arriving in Vietnam?
    Vietnam has introduced an online pre-arrival form. It became compulsory for foreign passengers landing at Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Son Nhat airport on 15 April 2026 and is being extended to other airports. It is free, is completed on the immigration department's website within three days of arrival, and gives you a QR code to show at passport control. It is separate from your visa.