Vietnam Visas in 2026: the 90-Day E-Visa for Tourists and Remote Workers

Vietnam runs one of the simplest visa systems in Southeast Asia for remote workers and long-stay travellers: a single electronic visa, open to every nationality, valid for up to ninety days. There is no separate digital-nomad permit — the e-visa is the route most location-independent workers use. This hub sets out what it costs, how long it takes and where the practical traps are, based on the official Immigration Department portal. Figures were last verified on 30 August 2026.

The 90-day e-visa at a glance

• Open to citizens of all countries and territories since August 2023 — there is no eligibility shortlist.
• Valid for up to 90 days from the start date you choose; single or multiple entry.
• Official fee USD 25 single-entry, USD 50 multiple-entry, paid on the government portal.
• Processing time is 3 working days from a complete application (excluding weekends and Vietnamese holidays).
• Apply only through evisa.gov.vn, the Ministry of Public Security's official site.

The e-visa fee is non-refundable even if the visa is not granted, so get the details right first time. Applications are rejected for blurry passport scans, photo mismatches or a declared entry point you do not actually use. Apply only on evisa.gov.vn, the Ministry of Public Security's official portal.

Single or multiple entry?

The multiple-entry e-visa exists for exactly one scenario: leaving and coming back within your ninety-day window. The classic case is a side trip to Cambodia or Laos in the middle of a Vietnam stay — on a multiple-entry visa you walk back in on the same document. If you will make one continuous trip, save the twenty-five dollars and take the single-entry. If there is any realistic chance of a border run, pay for multiple entry up front rather than applying twice.

How to apply, step by step

• Fill in the form on the official portal: passport details, your entry and exit dates, and your exact entry checkpoint.
• Upload a scan of the passport data page and a passport-style photo (portrait, plain background).
• Pay the fee by card through the portal's payment gateway.
• Wait 3 working days, then check status with your registration code and download the e-visa PDF.
• Print at least one copy — airlines check it at boarding and immigration wants the paper, not a screenshot.

Vietnam also asks arriving travellers to complete a pre-arrival form on the official prearrival.immigration.gov.vn site before landing, which speeds up the entry queue.

Entry and exit must be through designated international border gates — the list covers major airports including Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, plus dozens of land and seaports. If you plan to cross by land, confirm your specific crossing accepts e-visa holders before you book anything else.

Do you even need one? The 45-day exemption

Citizens of around thirteen countries — including the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Nordic countries, Japan, South Korea and most of Southeast Asia — enter visa-free for up to 45 days under Vietnam's unilateral exemption. That covers a standard holiday but not a working stay, and exempt entries are for tourism only. For anything longer, or any work-adjacent stay, apply for the e-visa like everyone else. The current country list is published on the official e-visa portal.

Working remotely on an e-visa

Be clear-eyed about what this document is: a tourist-class visit visa. Vietnam has no dedicated digital-nomad permit yet, and the e-visa does not authorise local employment or paid work for Vietnamese companies. Remote work for a foreign employer or clients is the grey area effectively everyone in the cafe scene lives in; enforcement against individuals is rare, but the honest framing matters when you plan taxes and onward travel. Longer-term options — business visas with a sponsor, work permits, or the new talent-visa category aimed at skilled professionals — need a Vietnamese host organisation and sit outside this guide.

Extending or renewing

E-visas cannot be extended inside Vietnam. When the ninety days end, you leave — the standard move is a short hop to Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Siem Reap or Vientiane — and apply for a fresh e-visa before returning. Because processing takes three working days, time the renewal around the trip rather than expecting same-day turnaround at the border.

Where nomads actually base themselves

Da Nang is Vietnam's established digital-nomad base — beach-city balance, growing coworking scene and direct international flights. Hanoi suits longer cultural immersion and lower costs, and Ho Chi Minh City is the pick for energy and networking. See our Da Nang /live/ guide and Hanoi /live/ guide for verified rent, internet-speed and monthly-cost figures.

Compare with the neighbours

Thailand answers Vietnam's simplicity with a purpose-built five-year Digital Nomad Visa (DTV); Malaysia counters with DE Rantau, the region's cheapest dedicated nomad pass. Read our Thailand visa hub and Malaysia visa hub to weigh all three, and watch for Indonesia's E33G remote-worker visa as we cover it next.