Visitor & short-stay visas
Vietnamese Vietnam Visa Exemption
Citizens of certain countries are exempt from a Vietnam visa under specific conditions, typically for short stays. Whether you qualify depends on your nationality.
Important information
- Official name
- Visa Exemption
- Route type
- Visa-free entry
- Maximum stay (unilateral exemption)
- 45 days
- Cost
- Free
- No visa fee where an exemption applies.
- Where to apply
- No visa application needed; entry conditions checked at the border
Who can apply
- Citizens of countries Vietnam exempts from a visa for short stays
What you can do
- Enter Vietnam visa-free for a short stay, subject to the exemption conditions
Requirements
- Be a citizen of a country Vietnam exempts from a visa (unilateral exemption) or covered by a bilateral visa-exemption agreement
- Hold a passport valid for at least 6 months from your date of entry
- For unilateral visa exemption, have been outside Vietnam for at least 30 days since your last departure
- Not fall under the entry-suspension cases in Article 21 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam
How it works
- If you qualify you do not apply for a visa; you present your passport at the border and are admitted under the exemption
- Citizens of countries Vietnam unilaterally exempts are granted a 45-day temporary-residence period on entry
- The length of stay under a bilateral exemption depends on the agreement with your country, so check the conditions that apply to your nationality before you travel
Frequently asked questions
Citizens of countries Vietnam unilaterally exempts from a visa are granted a 45-day temporary-residence period on entry. Stays under bilateral exemption agreements vary by country. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months, and unilateral-exemption travellers must have been outside Vietnam for at least 30 days since their last departure.
Official sources
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always refer to the official government sources.
Verified against official gov.uk sources · last reviewed 2026-08-21. Information only — not legal advice.
Related Vietnamese visas
- SHORT STAYALL NATIONALITIESSINGLE OR MULTIPLE ENTRYVietnam E-visaAn electronic visa issued through Vietnam's National e-Visa portal to citizens of all countries and territories, on a single- or multiple-entry basis, for tourism, business, study, visiting relatives and similar purposes.View visa details
- BUSINESSCOMMERCIAL TRAVELVietnam Business VisaFor travellers coming to Vietnam to work with Vietnamese businesses; where its conditions are met, the same purpose can also be covered by the e-visa.View visa details
- SHORT STAYEMERGENCY ONLYVietnam Visa on ArrivalGranted on arrival only in emergency situations, such as no nearby Vietnamese mission, complex transit or humanitarian reasons. It is not for regular visitors, who should use the e-visa instead.View visa details