Vietnam Visa from UAE – eVisa Requirements, Fees, 90-Day Validity & Application Guide 2026

START WITH PASSPORT NATIONALITY, NOT UAE RESIDENCE

Who Needs a Vietnam Visa When Travelling from the UAE?

Vietnam maintains visa-exemption arrangements for certain nationalities and passport types, including unilateral 45-day exemptions for selected countries and bilateral exemptions under international agreements. The current ordinary-passport exemptions do not extend automatically to every resident of the UAE.

The Vietnam Embassy in Abu Dhabi’s published exemption table shows the United Arab Emirates with exemptions for diplomatic and official/service passports under the bilateral arrangement, but not an exemption for an ordinary UAE passport. India and Pakistan similarly show bilateral exemptions for diplomatic/official categories while ordinary passports are not marked exempt.

Therefore, an ordinary UAE citizen travelling to Vietnam for a normal holiday should not assume visa-free entry simply because of UAE nationality. An Indian or Pakistani citizen living in Dubai or Abu Dhabi should likewise not assume the Emirates ID removes the visa requirement.

The good news is that nationality no longer creates an eVisa-access barrier. Vietnam’s government confirmed that from 15 August 2023 eVisas are available to citizens of all countries and territories, which means ordinary UAE, Indian and Pakistani passport holders can use the official eVisa route when they need a visa.

EMIRATI TRAVELLERS

Vietnam Visa for UAE Citizens

For an ordinary UAE passport used for tourism, Vietnam’s current visa-exemption table does not show a general ordinary-passport exemption. The UAE row lists bilateral exemption treatment for diplomatic and official/service passports rather than ordinary passports.

An Emirati tourist can therefore use the same official eVisa system available to all nationalities. There is no need to use a third-party visa website merely because the traveller holds a UAE passport.

For a straightforward holiday, select the eVisa dates and entry type that match the itinerary. If you will enter Vietnam once and then leave for home, a single-entry visa is normally sufficient. If you plan to leave Vietnam—for example for Cambodia, Thailand, Singapore or another country—and then re-enter during the same trip, choose a multiple-entry eVisa that covers the full travel period.

Diplomatic, official or special-purpose travel can fall under different bilateral rules. If that is your case, do not use the tourist guidance on this page as the final answer; verify the relevant passport category with the Embassy of Vietnam in Abu Dhabi.

INDIAN PASSPORT + UAE RESIDENCE

Vietnam Visa for Indian UAE Residents

Indian ordinary-passport holders living in the UAE normally need a visa for a standard Vietnam trip because India is not shown as visa-exempt for ordinary passports in Vietnam’s current general exemption table.

UAE residence does not remove that requirement. An Indian resident of Dubai is still entering Vietnam on an Indian passport and should use the rule that applies to that passport.

Vietnam’s eVisa system is available to all nationalities, so an Indian passport holder can apply directly online without a Vietnamese tourist sponsor for the normal independent eVisa route. The current fees are USD 25 for single entry and USD 50 for multiple entry, with validity of up to 90 days.

Do not confuse the eVisa’s maximum validity with the exact length you should request. Apply for the dates needed for the real itinerary and make sure the passport remains valid for more than six months as required by the Immigration Department’s eVisa eligibility guidance.

PAKISTANI PASSPORT + UAE RESIDENCE

Vietnam Visa for Pakistani UAE Residents

A Pakistani ordinary-passport holder residing in the UAE should also plan on obtaining a Vietnam visa for a normal tourist trip. Pakistan’s row in Vietnam’s current exemption table does not show a general ordinary-passport visa exemption.

Unlike countries where eVisa access is restricted by nationality, Vietnam’s current policy is broad: all foreigners, regardless of nationality, can apply for an eVisa. That means a Pakistani passport holder in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah or another emirate can use the government electronic-visa route.

The eVisa process is online and does not require a routine visa appointment at the Vietnam Embassy in Abu Dhabi. The applicant uploads the passport data page and portrait, pays the government fee online and checks the result using the application details.

If the purpose is employment, long-term study, sponsored work, residence or another activity outside ordinary visitor use, do not assume a tourist eVisa is enough. Use the immigration/consular route that matches the purpose and the sponsoring organisation where required.

THE MAIN ROUTE FOR VISA-REQUIRED TOURISTS

Vietnam eVisa: 90 Days, Single or Multiple Entry

Vietnam’s Immigration Department describes the electronic visa as a visa issued through its electronic system. The current framework allows an eVisa to be valid for a maximum of 90 days and to be issued for either single entry or multiple entry.

A single-entry eVisa is appropriate when you will enter Vietnam once and leave once. Once you exit, that single-entry permission has been used even if there were unused days left on the calendar validity.

A multiple-entry eVisa is the better fit when you will cross out of Vietnam and come back during the visa’s valid period. This is common on Southeast Asia itineraries that combine Vietnam with Cambodia, Laos, Thailand or Singapore.

The visa’s validity dates matter. Do not book an arrival before the visa’s start date or assume the visa starts only when immigration stamps you in. The electronic visa is issued with a defined validity period. Your travel must fit inside it.

The eVisa does not authorise every activity. Tourism, visits and other permitted short-stay purposes are different from employment. Work in Vietnam can require employment-related immigration and labour permissions.

DO NOT PAY A LOOKALIKE WEBSITE

The Official Vietnam eVisa Website Changed in November 2024

Vietnam Immigration announced that from 08:00 on 11 November 2024, the electronic visa portal would operate on two new government domains: evisa.gov.vn and thithucdientu.gov.vn.

The government’s November 2024 guidance specifically identifies evisa.gov.vn as being managed by the Immigration Department under Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security.

That distinction matters because search results contain many commercial websites with 'Vietnam visa' or 'eVisa' in the domain. A private service can charge additional assistance fees and may ask for the same data you could submit directly on the government portal.

Before entering your passport number or card details, inspect the domain. For a direct government eVisa application, use the official government portal rather than assuming the first sponsored search result is the immigration authority.

THE STANDARD EVISA FILE IS LIGHTER THAN MANY EMBASSY VISAS

Vietnam eVisa Requirements for UAE-Based Travellers

Vietnam Immigration’s current eVisa eligibility guidance states that the applicant must be outside Vietnam, hold a passport valid for more than six months and not fall within statutory categories that prevent entry.

The application workflow asks for the passport data-page image and a portrait photograph. It also asks for personal details, intended travel information and information about trip expenses and health insurance.

For the self-applied tourist eVisa route, the official workflow does not list a bank statement, UAE salary certificate or NOC as universal attachments. That is important because generic visa websites often add documents that are not part of the standard eVisa upload step.

Your UAE residence evidence is not the document that decides Vietnam eVisa eligibility. You should of course travel lawfully from the UAE and make sure your UAE re-entry/residence status is valid for your return, but the Vietnam eVisa itself is tied primarily to the passport and application information.

EVISA PHOTO ≠ PAPER CONSULAR PHOTO

Vietnam Visa Photo Size and Upload Rules

For the online eVisa, the current Immigration Department application workflow requires a portrait photo with the applicant looking straight ahead and not wearing glasses, plus a passport data-page image. The portal’s published upload guidance says the portrait image must be under 50KB and the passport image under 200KB.

The online eVisa workflow shown by Immigration does not express the portrait requirement as a physical 4×6 cm print. That 4×6 cm standard appears in Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs guidance for a paper/consular visa application, where the photo should be recent, front-facing, without a hat or dark/tinted glasses, with both ears visible and a white or bright background.

If you are applying for the eVisa, follow the digital requirements shown by the live eVisa portal rather than resizing a file solely because a blog says 'Vietnam visa photo must be 4×6'. If you are applying for a paper visa through a consular authority, follow the consular 4×6 cm standard.

Do not reuse a blurry passport-style selfie with shadows, sunglasses or a cropped face. The Immigration portal warns that missing, incorrect or unidentifiable information can cause the application not to be accepted.

GOVERNMENT FEE IS SIMPLE; TIMING DESERVES A BUFFER

Vietnam eVisa Cost and Processing Time

Vietnam Immigration currently charges USD 25 for a single-entry electronic visa and USD 50 for a multiple-entry electronic visa. These are government eVisa fees, not the final price quoted by a private travel or visa-assistance company.

The Immigration Department states that the eVisa fee is not refunded if an application is refused. Treat the payment as an application-processing fee, not as a purchase guaranteeing approval.

The current Immigration application instructions state that the application is processed in three working days. That is the official processing reference—not a guarantee that every file will be approved exactly three business days after payment.

Incorrect passport details, an unreadable photo, an unclear name, missing information or a request for correction can extend the real timeline. Weekends and public holidays also matter. For a paid international trip, apply with a reasonable margin rather than submitting three working days before your flight and assuming nothing can go wrong.

THE NORMAL TOURIST ROUTE IS FULLY ONLINE

How to Apply for a Vietnam eVisa from Dubai or Abu Dhabi

1. 01

   Check whether your passport is already exempt

   Use Vietnam’s current exemption table first. If your ordinary passport is not exempt, continue to the eVisa. UAE residence by itself is not the exemption test.

2. 02

   Open the official government eVisa domain

   Use evisa.gov.vn or thithucdientu.gov.vn. Avoid confusing commercial lookalike domains with Vietnam Immigration.

3. 03

   Prepare the passport and portrait files

   Use a passport valid for more than six months. Prepare a clear data-page image and straight-facing portrait without glasses in the file sizes accepted by the live portal.

4. 04

   Enter your identity exactly as shown in the passport

   Use passport spelling and the international/ICAO form of the name where the application requests it. Check passport number, nationality, date of birth and expiry carefully.

5. 05

   Choose your visa dates and single/multiple entry

   Cover the whole itinerary. Choose multiple entry if you will leave Vietnam and return within the same trip.

6. 06

   Select an approved entry/exit checkpoint

   Choose the port that matches the travel plan and confirm it is in the current eVisa checkpoint network.

7. 07

   Review the application before payment

   A one-character passport-number or name error can create a serious problem. The government warns that missing or incorrect/unidentifiable information can prevent acceptance.

8. 08

   Pay the government eVisa fee

   USD 25 for single entry or USD 50 for multiple entry under the current fee schedule.

9. 09

   Save the electronic application/registration code

   Do not rely only on your browser session. The code is required for checking the result.

10. 10

    Check the result and print the approved eVisa

    Use the portal’s result function. The Immigration instructions tell approved applicants to print the eVisa for entry and exit.

11. 11

    Travel with the same passport used for the application

    The visa is issued against the passport information entered. If the passport changes before travel, verify whether a new visa is required.

SAVE THE APPLICATION CODE AT THE MOMENT YOU SUBMIT

How to Check Vietnam eVisa Application Status

Vietnam Immigration’s eVisa instructions state that the applicant receives an electronic application/registration code after successfully completing the application stage.

The published status-check workflow uses the registration code together with the registration email and date of birth. If the application is approved, the traveller can print the eVisa from the system.

If you lose the code or encounter a technical issue, the Immigration Department’s support form asks for identifying information such as name, passport number, nationality and registration email together with the problem description.

Do not interpret 'no result' as an automatic refusal. First verify that you are using the correct registration code, email and date of birth and that the official processing period has elapsed.

THE NETWORK EXPANDED SIGNIFICANTLY IN DECEMBER 2025

Where You Can Enter Vietnam with an eVisa

Vietnam’s eVisa can be used only through international border gates designated by the Government. This is important for travellers arriving by air, crossing from Cambodia or Laos by land, or entering on a cruise.

In December 2025 the Government added 41 border gates under Resolution No. 389/NQ-CP, bringing the total eVisa entry/exit port network to 83. That means older pages listing only the original airport and land-border set are incomplete.

For most UAE-based tourists flying into Vietnam, the practical airports include Noi Bai in Hanoi, Tan Son Nhat in Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Cam Ranh, Phu Quoc, Cat Bi, Can Tho, Phu Bai, Van Don, Tho Xuan, Dong Hoi, Phu Cat and Lien Khuong. The December 2025 expansion additionally included Vinh and Chu Lai, with Long Thanh and Gia Binh listed once they come into operation.

The expanded network also covers many land and sea border gates. If your itinerary includes Cambodia, Laos, China or a cruise, confirm the exact crossing in the current official list before applying and again before travel.

A SPECIAL 30-DAY ISLAND RULE

Can You Visit Phu Quoc Without a Vietnam Visa?

Vietnam maintains a specific visa exemption for foreign passport holders visiting Phu Quoc. Government guidance states that foreign tourists may stay on Phu Quoc for up to 30 days without a visa under the applicable conditions.

The December 2025 Government update describes the exemption as applying where foreign tourists remain on the island throughout the stay. Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also notes the Phu Quoc exemption for foreign passport holders for no more than 30 days, including certain international transit arrangements before continuing to the island.

The important limitation is the destination. If you want to combine Phu Quoc with Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang or another mainland destination, do not assume the Phu Quoc exemption automatically covers that wider Vietnam itinerary. Obtain the appropriate Vietnam visa/eVisa for mainland travel unless another exemption applies.

If your holiday is genuinely only Phu Quoc, confirm the flight routing and current exemption conditions before departure. A domestic connection that requires you to enter mainland Vietnam can change the practical immigration situation.

DO NOT BUILD A NORMAL TOURIST TRIP AROUND AN OLD VOA BLOG

Does Vietnam Still Have Visa on Arrival?

Vietnamese law does provide for visa issuance at international border gates in defined circumstances, but this should not be confused with a general tourist promise that any visa-required traveller can simply fly to Vietnam and buy a visa after landing.

Current Government guidance lists specific border-gate visa cases, including travellers departing from a country without a competent Vietnamese visa authority, people who have travelled through other countries before Vietnam, travellers entering on tours organised by Vietnamese international tourism agencies, foreign crew members, urgent family cases such as a funeral or serious illness, and emergency/rescue situations requested by competent Vietnamese authorities.

For an ordinary UAE-based tourist who is visa-required, the eVisa is the straightforward current route. Obtain the approval before boarding instead of arriving at a Vietnamese airport hoping the border officer will treat you as a routine VOA case.

If a travel company sells a 'visa on arrival' service, ask exactly which legal route and pre-approval it is arranging. Do not assume the label means no advance authorisation is needed.

DO NOT ASSUME A 90-DAY EVISA CAN BE EXTENDED WITH ONE CLICK

Can a Vietnam eVisa Be Extended?

Vietnam Immigration’s portal does not describe the standard eVisa as an automatically extendable online product. Instead, it states that eVisa holders who are already in Vietnam may be considered for a new visa if they are invited or guaranteed by an authority, organisation or individual in Vietnam in accordance with the immigration law.

That wording is important. It means you should not plan a long stay on the assumption that you can simply press 'extend' near the expiry date. If you need more time for work, study, business, family or another lawful reason, start the correct sponsored/guaranteed process before the existing permission expires.

For tourism, choose the requested eVisa period realistically at the start. Vietnam can issue the eVisa for up to 90 days, which removes the need for many travellers to plan a short visa and then seek an uncertain extension.

If you leave Vietnam after using a single-entry visa, the permission has been consumed. A later return needs another valid entry basis unless you originally obtained a multiple-entry eVisa covering the return.

EVISA MEANS NO ROUTINE EMBASSY APPOINTMENT

Do You Need a Vietnam Visa Appointment or Biometrics in the UAE?

A normal self-applied Vietnam eVisa is completed online. Vietnam Immigration’s published process covers uploading the portrait and passport page, entering information, paying the fee, checking the result and printing the eVisa. It does not require a routine in-person appointment at the Abu Dhabi embassy for the standard eVisa.

The eVisa process also does not describe a separate biometric-enrolment appointment in the UAE. Border authorities can of course inspect the passport and verify the traveller when entering Vietnam.

An embassy appointment or consular submission can still be relevant if you are applying for a different visa type, have an unusual travel document, require consular assistance, or are following a sponsored/official route outside the normal eVisa process.

Do not pay an 'appointment fee' to a third party for a standard eVisa unless you have consciously chosen a private assistance service. The government eVisa itself is designed for direct electronic application.

MOST EVISA PROBLEMS ARE PREVENTABLE DATA PROBLEMS

Common Vietnam eVisa Mistakes to Avoid

CHECK THE APPROVAL, NOT JUST THE APPLICATION RECEIPT

Vietnam Pre-Flight Checklist for Travellers from the UAE

1. 01

   Confirm that the eVisa is approved

   An application receipt or payment confirmation is not the same as an issued visa.

2. 02

   Compare every identity field with the passport

   Check spelling, passport number, nationality, date of birth and document validity.

3. 03

   Check the visa start and end dates

   Make sure both arrival and intended departure fit within the permission.

4. 04

   Check single or multiple entry

   A side trip outside Vietnam can invalidate your plan if you only have single-entry permission.

5. 05

   Verify your airport or border gate

   Use a checkpoint in the current approved eVisa network and confirm the itinerary still matches the application.

6. 06

   Print the eVisa and save an offline copy

   Vietnam Immigration instructs approved applicants to print the eVisa; keep an electronic copy as backup.

7. 07

   Check your UAE return status

   If you live in the UAE, make sure your passport and UAE residence/re-entry position will still be valid when you return.

WHEN YOU NEED CONSULAR HELP RATHER THAN A STANDARD EVISA

Vietnam Embassy in Abu Dhabi

Vietnam’s Embassy in the UAE is located at Villa 147, Salama Bint Butti Street (Street 23), Al Mushrif, Abu Dhabi.

The embassy currently publishes telephone +971 2 449 6710 and email vnemb1@emirates.net.ae. Its staff-information page lists consular opening hours from 09:00 to 13:00 Monday to Thursday and 09:00 to 12:00 on Friday.

For a routine eVisa, start with the Immigration Department’s online portal rather than travelling to the embassy. Contact the mission when your case involves a non-standard passport/document, diplomatic/official travel, consular visa route, document legalisation or another issue outside the direct eVisa process.

For an eVisa-system technical problem, Vietnam Immigration also provides an online support form where the applicant can submit the passport number, nationality, registration email and description of the problem.