Vietnam e-visa for US citizens

After a long pause due to COVID 19 pandemic, the Vietnamese government has resumed the e-visa policy from March 15, 2022. We are happy to inform that, from August 15th, 2023 the US citizens are eligible for Vietnam e-visa.

How to obtain a Vietnam visa for US citizens?

At present, there are 3 ways to obtain a visa for Vietnam, consisting of:

• Obtain a maximum 90 days Vietnam e-visa with single or multiple entry.
• Obtain the visa at Vietnam Embassy or Consulate in United States;
• Obtain the Vietnam visa on arrival. It is beneficial for those whose e-visa is pending or denied at very last minute and they need a concrete solution to ensure that they will receive a Vietnam visa in time. However, visa on arrival is applicable for the entries via airport only;

The first option is made offline at the Vietnam Embassy or Consulate in United States while the visa on arrival and e-visa are made online totally. In this post, you can find the brief description of two online options as well as the difference between them:

Item	Visa on arrival	Vietnam e-visa
Issued by	Vietnam Immigration Department	Vietnam Immigration Department
Beneficiaries	All the US citizens travel to Vietnam via international airports	All the US citizens travel to Vietnam via international airports, land border gates or sea ports
Purpose of visit	Vacation, business, family or friend visit, and others	Vacation, business, family or friend visit, and others
Visa validity	1 month single entry;	90 days single or multiple entry
Visa fee	Depending on each nation (from US $30 + stamping fee, refunded in case your visa application is denied	US $45, non-refundable in case your visa application is denied. No stamping fee is required.
Processing time	3 - 5 working days (normal service), 1 working day or even 4 hours, 2 hours (rush service) to receive the visa approval letter	3 - 5 working days (normal service), 1 working day or even 4 hours, 2 hours (rush service) to receive e-visa
Entry ports	Any Vietnamese international airports	13 international airports, 16 land border gates, and 13 seaports across Vietnam
Warning	It may, but just sometimes, take you up to 1 hour or longer to get visa stamped at Vietnam airport if there are too many people arriving at the same time. Normally, it takes 15 - 30 minutes.	As this kind of visa is quite newly launched, of which some certain airlines or even immigration staff at the airports may have not been aware and therefore may refuse it, you should check with your airlines in advance to avoid this. More common issues may come with e-visa here.

How to apply for Vietnam e-visa from United States?

The conditions for the United States passport holders to be granted an e-visa according to the Vietnamese laws:

• The foreigners are outside of Vietnam, enter the country via 13 international airports, 16 land border gates and 13 seaports across Vietnam;
• Holding a valid passport with a minimum validity of 6 months following the arrival date to Vietnam;
• Not being blacklisted due to violation of Vietnamese laws in the past;
• Not falling into the cases of suspension from entry prescribed in Article 21 of Law on foreigners’ entry into, exit from, transit through, residence in Vietnam.

The US applicants satisfy above regulation can make an application for Vietnam e-visa. They will need to follows 3 steps below:

• Step 1: Complete our visa application form with the passport details, the date of arrival and the entry port. A passport size photo and recent taken portrait are required. The photos must be stored in less than 2MB file of JPG or PNG format. The portrait must be taken within 6 months, straight looking with no glasses and plain background;
• Step 2: Pay the service fee with your credit/debit card and get the application code;
• Step 3: Use the code to check the result. If it is approved, please print off e-visa and bring a hard copy along with passport to get on the plane and get entry permit at the entry gates.

The normal processing time for an e-visa is 3 - 5 working days. A PDF file of the visa will be sent to successful applicants to print off and use at the entry gates. Sometimes, it takes longer and the applicants may not get an e-visa on time for their trip. So that, you are recommended to make an application as soon as possible. If you could not get the e-visa on time and your flight is arriving, you can select an urgent visa service. An emergency e-visa service can be done within 2 working days, 1 working days or even 4 working hours absolutely.

What are the concerns or issues of Vietnam e-visa you should know?

Obviously, e-visa is an improvement in many ways for a better visa service of Vietnam. It’s legal, convenient with easy to follow procedures but there are just some small difficulties of e-visa you should be aware of:

• There is only 90 days and single entry option is available on e-visa system. If you need to stay longer in the country you must do visa run by going to Laos, Cambodia, Thailand or any 3rd countries.
• The processing time for an e-visa is 3 - 5 business days or even longer, it is totally annoyed if you really need an e-visa done in a short time.
• The fee once paid will not be returned if your visa application get rejected or the e-visa contains mistakes.
• You can not change the information on e-visa after it is issued. So that, you are suggested to check the visa information carefully to ensure there is no mistake. Any unmatching information may make your boarding declined at departure ports.
• When applying for Vietnam e-visa, you may receive a request from the Vietnam Immigration Department to amend the visa information or update photos. The request can be repeated several times that may harm your trip if the visa cannot be completed on time.

What should you do if you don't get the e-visa within 3 - 5 working days?

Some US applicants complain that they don't receive their e-visa from Vietnam Immigration Department within 3 - 5 working days as they are informed. The visa status always returns "in processing" mode even the visa application has been submitted for a week or even 10 days. Some of them tried to contact with the Vietnam Immigration Department via website contact page and telephone, email but unsuccessful. We understand your situation and you should follow the instruction below:

• Track your e-visa status on the government's website by entering given code and email correctly;
• If you don't receive the e-visa within 3 - 5 working days as you are informed, please try to contact the Vietnam Immigration Department via email phongqlxnc@vnn.vn or telephone number: (+84)243.8264.026 in Hanoi; (+84)7511.3823.383 in Da Nang or (+84)283.8244.075 in Ho Chi Minh City.
• If you are not hurry, you can wait for more several days in case they accidentally missed your e-visa application;
• If you don't have time as the date of travel is coming soon, you should contact us as soon as possible to speed up the current visa application or expedite a visa on arrival instead. You will definitely get an e-visa (or visa approval letter for visa on arrival) within 2 days, 1 working day or even 4 working hours, ready for boarding the plane.

• Current Vietnam visa fee in Washington DC, United States (US)
• Vietnam visa fee for US citizens changed from August 24, 2016

If you have any further queries, comments or feedback, please kindly call us by phone/whatsapp +84-912-685-141 or send an email to vietnamvisabooking@gmail.com. We are happy to assist you at our best.

Related information

• Vietnam Embassy in United States
• Vietnam visa requirements for US citizens
• How to apply for Vietnam visa from United States?
• Getting rush Vietnam visa from United States
• Useful information about Vietnam visa and tips
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