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Vietnam visa at the border gate

Visa issued at an international border gate

In short

Vietnam does not offer a walk-in visa on arrival for tourists. A visa can be issued at an international border gate only in six situations listed in Article 18 of the Law, and only after a sponsor in Vietnam has obtained approval naming the gate and date. Holidaymakers without such approval should apply for the e-visa instead.

checked 24 October 2026

Key facts

Maximum stay
According to the visa issued, for example up to 90 days for a DL tourist visa
Fee
US$25USD 25 single entry, USD 50 multiple entry up to 90 days; USD 5 for air or sea transit passengers visiting on a tour
Processing time
Sponsor approval within 3 working days (cases a–d) or 12 working hours (urgent cases)
Work
Depends on the visa symbol; tourist visas do not allow work
Where to apply
Sponsor applies in Vietnam; the visa is stamped at the named international border gate

When a visa can be issued at the border

Article 18 of the Law allows a visa at an international border gate if you (a) depart from a country with no Vietnamese visa-issuing mission, (b) travel through several countries before Vietnam, (c) come on a tour organised by an international travel company in Vietnam, (d) are a foreign seafarer on a ship in a Vietnamese port who needs to leave through another gate, (e) come for the funeral of a relative or to visit a seriously ill relative, or (f) enter for emergency response, rescue, disaster or epidemic control, or another special reason requested by a Vietnamese authority.

Case (a) applies only where your country of departure has no Vietnamese mission that issues visas; most other tourists use case (c) on package tours, and relatives use case (e) in family emergencies.

Fees

The same national fee table applies as for embassy visas: USD 25 for a single-entry visa and USD 50 for a multiple-entry visa valid up to 90 days (Circular 28/2026/TT-BTC). Air and sea transit passengers who enter for sightseeing on a programme run by an international travel company pay USD 5. Ask your sponsor in advance whether their service includes the cost of the approval letter.

Pre-approval by the sponsor

The inviting company, travel agency or relative sends the visa request to the Immigration Department and states the name of the border gate, the time of entry and the reason for collecting the visa there. The Department decides within three working days for cases (a) to (d) and within 12 working hours for the urgent cases (e) and (f), then informs the sponsor and the border control unit. The sponsor passes the approval to you before you fly.

  1. Check that your trip fits one of the six cases in Article 18; otherwise apply for the e-visa.
  2. Ask your Vietnamese sponsor or tour operator to file the request with the Immigration Department, naming the gate, entry time and reason.
  3. Receive the approval from your sponsor (within 3 working days, or 12 working hours in urgent cases) and carry a copy.
  4. At the named gate, submit passport and form with photo at the visa desk and pay the fee.
  5. Pass immigration control with the new visa and keep the approval until departure.

At the border gate

On arrival, go to the visa desk before passport control. Hand in your passport and a completed visa application form with a photo; a child under 14 included in a parent's passport is written on the parent's form. The officer checks your details against the Immigration Department notice, issues the visa and collects the fee. Without a matching notice the visa cannot be issued and airlines may refuse boarding.

Documents

Required documents

Identity

  • Passport valid at least 30 days beyond the visa

Travel

  • Copy of the Immigration Department approval obtained by your sponsor, naming the gate and date

Money

  • Cash or card for the visa fee (USD 25 single entry)

Other

  • Visa application form with a photo, completed at the gate

Supporting documents (where they apply)

Family

  • Proof of the funeral or serious illness of a relative, for case (e)

Frequently asked questions

Can I just arrive and buy a visa at Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City airport?

No. A visa at the border is issued only against a prior Immigration Department notice obtained by a sponsor. Without it, use the e-visa.

Is a visa at the border cheaper than the e-visa?

No. Both follow the same fee table: USD 25 single entry, USD 50 multiple entry up to 90 days.

How fast can an emergency approval be issued?

For funerals, visits to seriously ill relatives and emergency response, the Immigration Department decides within 12 working hours of receiving a complete request.

Who can act as my sponsor?

Vietnamese companies and organisations, international travel companies, Vietnamese citizens residing in Vietnam and foreigners holding a temporary or permanent residence card, each within its legal role.

Official sources

Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.

Other visa types for Vietnam

Visits and short stays

Business and self-employment

  • Business visa Maximum stay: Up to the visa validity, at most 1 year
  • Investor visa Maximum stay: Up to 12 months stamped on entry, then a residence card (ĐT1 up to 10 years from 1 July 2026)

Study and training

  • Student visa Maximum stay: DH residence card up to 5 years, at least 30 days shorter than the passport

Work

  • Work visa Maximum stay: Temporary residence of up to 12 months on entry; then a residence card of up to 2 years

Family

Residence

  • Residence permit Validity: ĐT1, UĐ1, UĐ2: up to 10 years; NG3, LV1, LV2, DH and other ĐT: up to 5 years; NN1, NN2, TT: up to 3 years; LĐ, PV1: up to 2 years
  • Permanent residence Validity: Card exchanged every 10 years

Online travel permits

  • e-Visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days, matching the validity printed on the e-visa

Vietnam visa guide