Vietnam Visa Costs: What You Need to Know in 2024

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Vietnam visa costs are frequently updated and where once there were only a handful of visa options, the list has now become extensive.

From work permits to investment visas to tourist visas there are now a myriad ways you can enter and stay in Vietnam. These do, however, come at a cost.

Who determines Vietnam visa fees?

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Vietnam visa fees are determined by the Ministry of Finance and are updated regularly through Circulars issued by the ministry.

The information herein is taken from Circular No. 25/2021/TT-BTC dated April 7, 2021, amended by Circular 62/2023/TT-BTC dated October 3, 2023. All amendments came into effect after November 18, 2023.

Who pays Vietnam visa costs?

Vietnamese employers will usually cover the visa costs of their employees.

Foreign visitors to Vietnam cover the visa costs for tourist visas either at the airport or through Vietnam’s e-visa system.

Who collects Vietnam visa fees?

There are a number of institutions in Vietnam empowered to collect visa fees. They are:

  • The Immigration Management Department (Ministry of Public Security);
  • Police authorities, Commanders of Border Guards of provinces and central-affiliated cities;
  • The Department of Consular Affairs, Department of Foreign Affairs of Ho Chi Minh City (Ministry of Foreign Affairs);
  • Police authorities of districts, towns, cities of provinces and centrally run cities; and
  • Police authorities of communes, wards, towns (capable of issuing immigration documents).

Vietnam visa costs

No. Entry Type Cost
1 Single-entry visas US$25
2 Multiple-entry visas  
  Valid for 90 days or less US$50
  Valid for 90 to 180 days US$95
  Valid for 180 days to 1 year US$135
  Valid for 1 to 2 years US$145
  Valid for 2 to 5 years US$155
  Visas issued to individuals under 14 years of age (regardless of length) US$25
3
  • Transferring visa value, temporary residence card, and valid temporary residence period from the old passport to the new one; or
  • Transferring visa value, valid temporary residence period from the old separate visa (see below section) (which has run out of stamp space: Entry verification, exit verification, temporary residence certificate, temporary residence extension) to the new separate visa.
 US$5
4 Written visa exemption US$10
5 Temporary residence cards  
  Valid for 2 years or less US$145
  Valid for 2 to 5 years US$155
  Valid for 5 to 10 years US$165
6 Extension of temporary residence US$10
7 New issuance/re-issuance of temporary residence cards US$100
8 Issuance of permit for entering prohibited areas, border areas; permit for Laotian nationals to use border laissez-passers to enter Vietnamese provinces. US$10
9 Visas for passengers in transit traveling by airway and/or seaway to visit and tour (according to Article 25 and Article 26 of Law on Immigration, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam dated June 16, 2014). US$5
10 Visas based on lists of approved personnel of immigration management bodies in case of foreigners visiting, touring by seaway or transiting by seaway wish to travel inland to visit, tour under programs organized by international tourism enterprises in Vietnam; members of foreign military watercraft traveling under official operations of visits that stretch beyond provinces and central-affiliated cities where the watercraft anchors. US$5
11 Immigration permit for foreigners residing in Vietnam permanently without passports.

VND 200,000

(approx. US$8)
12 Permit for individuals who have entered border economic zones via border laissez-passers to visit other places in the provinces. US$10

What is a separate visa?

Regulation concerning separate visas is promulgated under the Law on Foreigners’ Entry in, Exit from, Transit through and Residence in Vietnam 2014, amended by Law No. 51/2019/QH14 dated November 25, 2019, and Law No. 23/2023/QH15 dated June 24, 2023.

Accordingly, a separate visa is a form of visa in addition to a passport-issued visa and an electronic visa issued in the following cases:

  • The passport already running out of visa pages;
  • The passport of a country that has not established diplomatic relations with Vietnam;
  • Documents valid for international travel;
  • Diplomatic, defense, and security reasons;
  • Lists issued by immigration authorities with respect to foreigners visiting and traveling or transiting by the sea, who wish to enter inland for visiting and tourism purposes according to programs organized by international tourism enterprises in Vietnam; and
  • Members of foreign military ships travel under official programs when they travel outside the central-affiliated cities and provinces where their ships anchor.

FAQ - Vietnam Visa Cost

How long does it take to apply for a Vietnam visa?

Applying for a Vietnam visa can take anywhere from a couple of hours to a few weeks, depending on the visa you are applying for. Having your documents prepared in advance can help make this process as smooth as possible.

How long does it take to get a visa after applying?

The time it takes to receive a visa for Vietnam after a successful application can vary. An e-visa can take a few days, while work and investor visas can take a few weeks up to months, depending on the complexity of the application.

Which nationals can enter Vietnam without a visa?

As of 2024, citizens of 25 countries can travel to Vietnam and remain in the country for 14 to 45 days (depending on nationality) without having to apply for a visa. Please read this article if you want to learn about Vietnam’s visa exemption.

In which cases does a refund occur?

Refunds occur when fee payers have submitted fees but are found ineligible for passports, laissez-passers, or AB stamps. In these instances, the fee collectors will issue a refund upon notifying the fee payers of the application outcome.

However, no refund will be provided under the following circumstances:

  • Fee payers reject the application results after being deemed ineligible for passports, laissez-passers, or AB stamps.
  • Fee payers have paid for visas or other documents permitting immigration or residence for foreigners but are ineligible or reject the application results.

How much does a Vietnam visa cost?

Single entry tourist visas start at US$25. This goes up to US$155 for a visa valid for two to five years. Ultimately the cost will depend on which visa you need for what purpose and for how long.

(This article was last updated October 4, 2024.)

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