Vietnam Visa Exemption 2025: All you need to know

Travelers have always found it delightful to visit a country without a visa. In this regard, Vietnam successfully implements visa waiver policies for tourists.

For tourism purposes, visitors are granted an exemption from a visa for a stay of less than 45 days. So who doesn't need a visa for Vietnam? This article deals with everything regarding an exemption for a Vietnam visa.

Written by Tieu Bao (Local Expert) Updated on 11-03-2025

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1. Visa Exemption: Who Can Travel to Vietnam Without a Visa? Find Out Now!

In some cases, traveling to Vietnam can mean enjoying the benefits of visa exemption, thus enabling one to stay for up to 45 days (entry and exit dates inclusive) without a visa. For holders of passports from the following European countries, it means that you automatically qualify for the visa exemption and need not take any further action:

• France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway

All nationalities may avail themselves of the e-visa for Vietnam for a stay of up to 90 days.

Nevertheless, a visa is required for a stay exceeding 45 days and for nationals of other countries not listed above. Here are three ways to get a visa:

• Classic visa from the Vietnamese Embassy (or Consulate) in your country (see All formalities to obtain a Vietnamese classic visa)
• E-visa applied online through the Vietnamese immigration website (see How to get the Vietnam E-Visa under the new law?)
• Visa on arrival (Before the pandemic, this was the most sought-after option for people who wanted to visit Vietnam. It was because, at that time, Vietnam did not provide the option of applying for an E-visa online. So, basically, this was the only option for tourists visiting Vietnam. However, it is worth noting that elected members have put an option for E-visa in line, which, as a very excellent option, allows tourists to easily fill their application online without needing many documents or an invitation letter from a travel agency. Though this sounds fast-tracked, we recommend this option highly instead of the visa on arrival)

2. How to Benefit from Vietnam Visa Exemption?

For those who qualify for the visa exemption for Vietnam, there's nothing to do in advance of entering Vietnam, such as filling out a Vietnam visa waiver form. Make sure that you're current:

• Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months upon entering Vietnam.
• Your passport must have at least two blank pages.
• Proof of departure: A confirmed ticket to either your home country or another destination, indicating that you will leave Vietnam after 45 days of visa-free stay, is required.

Those entering Vietnam on a visa waiver stamp will get the exemption stamp as follows on their passport:

3. Is it possible to extend the Vietnam visa exemption?

Before Covid, the Vietnam visa exemption could be extended. Currently, this cannot be done. Learn more here.

Those who wish to stay in Vietnam after the end of the exemption period must leave Vietnam for a neighboring country (such as Thailand, Cambodia, or Laos) and return with a new visa exemption.

Previously, there was a 30-day waiting period between two visa-exempt stays in Vietnam; however, this requirement has been lifted since 2022. For eligible nationalities, it is possible to make multiple entries into Vietnam during the 45-day visa exemption, even close together.

Be careful not to exceed your 45-day stay! Otherwise, you risk a fine of $25 per day of overstay. Additionally, those who exceed the validity of a visa in Vietnam may be blacklisted and receive a warning from the Vietnam Immigration Department.

4. Visa Exemption on Phu Quoc Island for Stays of Less than 30 Days

Located at the southernmost tip of the country, in the Gulf of Thailand, Phu Quoc Island is blessed with beautiful beaches. The island is a favorite destination for beachgoers from the region and also from America. The visa exemption on this island has been in place since 2020.

Foreign visitors do not need a Vietnamese visa if they stay on Phu Quoc for a maximum of 30 days. If you wish to enter Phu Quoc without a visa, you must meet the following conditions:

• Your passport must be valid for 6 months from your arrival date in Phu Quoc.
• You must fly from an international country to Phu Quoc via Phu Quoc International Airport. This applies to both direct and layover flights, where your final destination is Phu Quoc. If you have layovers at other international airports in Vietnam before arriving in Phu Quoc, you are still eligible.
• Your stay on the island must be less than 30 days. You must provide proof (round-trip airfare, cruise departure date, etc.) that you will leave Phu Quoc for another country outside Vietnam after 30 days.
• You are traveling to Phu Quoc by sea (boat or cruise) or by air (plane), not by land.

If you plan to visit other destinations in Vietnam after Phu Quoc or wish to stay for more than 30 days, obtaining a visa for Vietnam is mandatory.

5. Vietnam Visa Exemption (5-Year Visa)

The 5-year visa exemption for Vietnam is eligible for Vietnamese nationals living abroad, foreign nationals of Vietnamese origin, spouses/children of Vietnamese nationals or foreign nationals of Vietnamese origin. Follow these steps below to obtain a 5-year visa exemption for Vietnam:

Prepare these documents:

1. Application form for a 5-year visa exemption in Vietnam (Fill out form NA09).
2. Foreign passport or equivalent document with a validity of at least 6 months from the date of entry into Vietnamese territory, and a copy of this document for records.
3. Two passport-sized photos (4x6 cm), one of which should be affixed to the paper form.
4. An authenticated copy of the original documents or documents attached to the original for reference, from one of the following documents:

For Vietnamese nationals living abroad, foreign nationals of Vietnamese origin:

• Birth certificate
• Certificate of Vietnamese nationality
• Decision to renounce Vietnamese nationality
• Certificate of loss of Vietnamese nationality
• Vietnamese passport (valid or invalid)
• Identity card (valid or invalid)
• Family book

For spouses/children of Vietnamese nationals or foreign nationals of Vietnamese origin:

• Marriage certificate
• Birth certificate
• Certificate of relationship with father, mother, children
• Adoption decision

Submit the prepared documents to the issuing authority:

• Vietnamese diplomatic missions and consulates abroad
• The Immigration Department of Vietnam (if you are in Vietnam).

Receive your original passport and the 5-year visa exemption certificate.

Important notes:

• No visa is required for travel to Vietnam for 5 years. Holders of a 5-year visa exemption certificate for Vietnam are allowed to stay in Vietnam for a maximum of 180 days for each visit.
• If they want to stay for more than 180 days without leaving the country, they can extend their visa in Vietnam. The extended duration can be up to 6 months.

6. Work Visa and Exemption from Work Permit

As a foreign national, you must apply for a work visa in Vietnam at the nearest Vietnamese embassy or consulate. However, before applying for the visa and working in Vietnam, your Vietnamese company employer must obtain a work permit in Vietnam on your behalf.

The work permit allows you to work legally in Vietnam for more than three months. However, not everyone employed in Vietnam needs to obtain one. You may be eligible for an exemption from a work permit in Vietnam if you are:

• An owner or contributor to the capital of a limited liability company with capital contribution value in compliance with government regulations.
• Chairman of the board or a member of the board of a joint-stock company with capital contribution value subject to government regulations.
• Heads of representative offices, heads of project offices, or individuals working for a foreign non-governmental organization in Vietnam.
• Working in Vietnam for less than three months.
• Coming to Vietnam for less than three months to address an emergency or technologically complex situation that could affect production, which Vietnamese or foreign experts currently in Vietnam are unable to resolve.
• Lawyers holding a professional card in Vietnam.
• Cases falling under the provisions of an international treaty to which Vietnam is a signatory.
• Foreigners who marry Vietnamese nationals and reside in Vietnamese territory.
• Other special cases authorized by the government.

To assist you in these procedures, you can go through a local travel agency in Vietnam. Feel free to contact us for more specific information.

7. Vietnam Visa Exemption FAQs

• How many times can I benefit from the exemption?

There is no limit on the frequency of entries into Vietnam. For example, you can enter in January with the visa waiver, leave the country within 45 days, and then return in February or even a few days later.

• Can I extend the visa exemption?

No, you cannot extend the exemption. After 45 days, you must leave the country.

• Can I get an e-visa and a visa exemption?

Yes, you can use both. For example, you can enter with an e-visa for 90 days, leave the country to visit neighboring countries, and then return using the visa waiver for another 45 day

• Do I need proof of departure after 45 days?

Yes, you need to show proof of departure, like a flight, bus, or boat ticket to another country, to confirm that you will leave Vietnam after 45 days.

Conclusion

With the information presented in our article regarding the Vietnam visa waiver, we hope that you can organize your trip effectively. Prepare thoroughly and in advance with the required paperwork to ensure a trouble-free experience. By adhering to this requirement, you'll be able to enjoy the peace and explore the cultural and natural richness of Vietnam. Good trip!

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