Vietnam Visa from UAE: e-Visa and Visa on Arrival Guide

Vietnam Visa from UAE: e-Visa and Visa on Arrival — Which Option Should You Use?

UAE residents can get a Vietnam visa through two main routes: the Vietnam e-Visa, applied for online before departure, or the Visa on Arrival (VOA), which requires pre-arrangement and is only available at international airports. The e-Visa is the simpler, more affordable option for most travellers from the UAE, costing USD 25 for either a single or multiple-entry visa valid for 90 days. Both options are open to travellers regardless of their passport nationality, provided their country is eligible.

What is the Vietnam e-Visa and who is eligible?

The Vietnam e-Visa is an official electronic visa issued by the Vietnamese Immigration Department. It is valid for up to 90 days and covers both single and multiple entries. As of 2023, Vietnam expanded its e-Visa programme to cover nationals from all countries, which means virtually every UAE resident, regardless of passport nationality, can apply.

The e-Visa allows entry through over 13 international airports, 16 land border gates, and 13 sea border gates in Vietnam. If you are flying into Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, or Phu Quoc, the e-Visa is accepted without any issue.

Key facts about the Vietnam e-Visa:

• Cost: USD 25 per person, paid online by card
• Validity: Up to 90 days from your requested entry date
• Entries: Single or multiple entry (both at the same price)
• Processing time: 3 business days (some applications are processed faster)
• Where to apply: The official Vietnam e-Visa portal at evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn

You do not need to visit an embassy or consulate to apply. The entire process is online, and the approved visa is sent to your email as a PDF to print or save on your phone.

How do you apply for a Vietnam e-Visa from the UAE?

The application process takes around 20 minutes and requires a few standard documents. Here is the step-by-step process:

Step 1: Gather your documents

Before starting your application, have the following ready:

• A valid passport with at least 6 months of validity beyond your intended entry date
• A recent passport-sized photo in JPEG format (white background, face clearly visible)
• A scan of your passport's biographical data page
• Your intended entry and exit dates for Vietnam
• Your intended entry and exit points (airport or border gate)
• A valid debit or credit card to pay the USD 25 fee

Step 2: Complete the online form

Visit the official Vietnam e-Visa portal and fill in your personal details exactly as they appear in your passport. Select your entry point, visa type (single or multiple entry), and your travel dates. Upload your photo and passport scan.

Step 3: Pay the fee and submit

Pay USD 25 by card. After payment, you receive a reference code to track your application. Processing takes around 3 business days.

Step 4: Download and print your e-Visa

Once approved, download the e-Visa PDF from the portal using your reference code. Print a copy to present at immigration, or save it digitally. The visa number on the document is what the immigration officer verifies on arrival.

Do you need a flight reservation to apply for the Vietnam e-Visa?

The Vietnam e-Visa application form asks for your intended entry and exit dates and your entry point, but it does not require you to upload a confirmed, paid flight ticket as a mandatory document. That said, having a confirmed itinerary ready before you apply is sensible, as the dates you enter on the form become the parameters of your issued visa.

Where a flight reservation becomes practically important is at the airport check-in counter in the UAE. Airlines flying to Vietnam are required under their carrier liability obligations to ensure you hold valid onward travel documents. If you have not yet booked a return ticket, the check-in agent may ask for proof of onward travel before boarding you.

For travellers who have not finalised their return dates or who plan a multi-country itinerary, a verified flight reservation from Dummy Ticket 365 is a practical solution. Starting from USD 13, Dummy Ticket 365 issues a genuine flight reservation with a valid PNR code in standard airline booking format, delivered to your inbox within minutes. The reservation is not a paid ticket and cannot be used for boarding, but it satisfies the proof-of-onward-travel requirement at check-in and can be used to complete visa applications where an itinerary is needed. Dummy Ticket 365 also issues verified hotel reservations accepted as proof of accommodation, which is useful if you need to show where you plan to stay.

What is the Vietnam Visa on Arrival and how does it work?

The Visa on Arrival (VOA) is a stamp visa collected at one of Vietnam's international airports on arrival, but it is not truly issued on the spot. You must obtain a pre-approval letter before you travel, and without it, you cannot get the VOA stamp. This is the key difference from a true visa-on-arrival that some countries offer.

The process works like this:

• You apply through a licensed Vietnamese visa agency (not the official government portal) and pay a service fee, usually USD 6 to USD 25 depending on the agency
• The agency processes your approval letter through the Vietnamese Immigration Department, which typically takes 2 to 4 business days
• You receive an approval letter by email, which you print and carry with you on your flight
• On arrival at the airport in Vietnam, you go to the visa-on-arrival counter, present your approval letter, passport photos, and the required stamping fee (USD 25 for a single-entry visa, USD 50 for a multiple-entry visa), and your visa stamp is placed in your passport

The VOA is only available at these international airports: Noi Bai (Hanoi), Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City), Da Nang, Cam Ranh (Nha Trang), and Phu Quoc. It is not available at land or sea borders.

e-Visa vs Visa on Arrival: which is better for UAE travellers?

For most UAE residents, the e-Visa is the better choice. Here is a direct comparison:

• Cost: e-Visa is USD 25. VOA costs the agency service fee (USD 6 to USD 25) plus the stamping fee on arrival (USD 25 single entry, USD 50 multiple entry), making total VOA costs higher.
• Convenience: The e-Visa is entirely online with no additional steps on arrival beyond showing your printed document at immigration. The VOA requires managing both an agency relationship and the on-arrival stamping queue, which can be long at peak times.
• Flexibility: The e-Visa is accepted at airports, land borders, and sea ports. The VOA is airport-only.
• Processing time: Both take around 3 business days, so there is no speed advantage to the VOA.
• Risk: Using unofficial VOA agencies carries a small risk of scams or incorrect approval letters. The e-Visa portal is government-operated.

The VOA made more sense before Vietnam expanded its e-Visa programme. Now that e-Visas are available to all nationalities and cover multiple entries for 90 days at USD 25, the VOA offers no meaningful advantage for travellers departing from the UAE.

What documents do UAE residents need for a Vietnam visa application?

Whether you apply for an e-Visa or a VOA, the document requirements are similar. Here is what you need:

• Valid passport: At least 6 months of remaining validity beyond your planned exit date from Vietnam. The passport must have at least one blank page for any stamps.
• Passport photo: A recent colour photo with a white background, taken within the past 6 months. For the e-Visa, this is uploaded digitally (JPEG format).
• Travel dates: Confirmed or intended entry and exit dates. These become the parameters of your issued visa, so be realistic about your travel window.
• Entry and exit points: The specific airport or border gate you plan to use.
• Payment method: A credit or debit card for the USD 25 e-Visa fee.

Your UAE visa or residence permit is not required as part of the Vietnam e-Visa application, but immigration officers at Vietnamese airports may ask about your residency status on entry as a standard check.

Do you need travel insurance for Vietnam?

Vietnam does not make travel insurance a mandatory visa requirement the way Schengen countries do, but travelling without cover is a significant financial risk. Healthcare costs for foreign visitors in Vietnamese private hospitals can be substantial, and public hospitals outside major cities have limited English-speaking staff and medical resources.

Medical emergencies, flight cancellations, lost baggage, and trip disruptions are all real possibilities, and none of them are cheap to resolve out of pocket. A comprehensive travel insurance policy protects you against all of these scenarios for a fraction of the cost.

VisaWadi offers travel insurance for UAE residents issued by AXA, with plans starting from AED 30. The single trip insurance plan is well-suited to a Vietnam holiday, covering emergency medical treatment, hospitalisation, repatriation, and trip cancellation under one policy. If you travel internationally several times a year, the annual multi-trip plan from AED 245 covers unlimited trips on a 12-month basis and works out significantly cheaper per trip.

Travel insurance through Travl is available to UAE residents and citizens.

For comprehensive worldwide protection including higher medical limits, the international travel insurance plan offers EUR 80,000+ medical coverage, plus baggage loss and flight delay benefits, starting from AED 70.

How much does a Vietnam visa cost from the UAE?

Here is a clear cost breakdown for both visa options:

e-Visa costs

• Government application fee: USD 25 (single or multiple entry, both the same price)
• No stamping fee on arrival
• Total: USD 25 per person

Visa on Arrival costs

• Agency service fee: USD 6 to USD 25 depending on the agency and turnaround time
• Stamping fee on arrival: USD 25 (single entry) or USD 50 (multiple entry)
• Total: approximately USD 31 to USD 75 per person depending on entry type

In AED terms, USD 25 is approximately AED 92 at standard exchange rates, though the exact amount varies. The e-Visa is clearly the more cost-effective option, particularly for multiple-entry travel.

How long does Vietnam visa processing take from the UAE?

The Vietnam e-Visa takes 3 business days to process from submission. Applications submitted on weekdays are generally processed within this window. There is no official expedited processing available through the government portal, so apply at least 5 to 7 days before your travel date to allow for any minor delays or document corrections.

Visa on Arrival approval letters also take 2 to 4 business days through most agencies. Some agencies advertise same-day or next-day processing for an additional fee, but this is not guaranteed.

If your Vietnam trip falls close to a Vietnamese public holiday, build in extra time, as the Immigration Department may operate on reduced capacity during these periods.

Can Indian, Pakistani, or Filipino passport holders in the UAE get a Vietnam visa?

Yes. Vietnam's e-Visa programme is open to all nationalities, including Indian, Pakistani, Filipino, British, and other passport holders residing in the UAE. Your nationality determines your eligibility for any visa-free arrangements, but for the paid e-Visa, there are no nationality restrictions.

Indian passport holders, for example, are not eligible for visa-free access to Vietnam, but can obtain the e-Visa for USD 25 with no additional complications. The same applies to Pakistani and Filipino passport holders.

British passport holders residing in the UAE do receive 30 days of visa-free access to Vietnam under the existing bilateral arrangement, but this applies to tourist stays of up to 30 days only. For longer stays or multiple-entry travel, the e-Visa is still the right choice.

Common Vietnam visa mistakes UAE travellers make

These are the most frequent errors that lead to delays or entry problems:

• Entering wrong dates: The e-Visa validity begins on the date you specify as your intended entry date. If your plans change and you arrive before or after this date, your visa may be invalid on arrival. Always check the entry date on your approved e-Visa against your actual flight dates.
• Mismatched entry point: The e-Visa specifies the entry gate you selected. Arriving at a different airport or border gate than the one listed on your visa will result in denial of entry. If your itinerary changes, you need a new e-Visa.
• Passport expiring too soon: Vietnam requires 6 months of passport validity beyond your entry date, not your exit date. If your passport expires within 6 months of your planned travel, renew it before applying.
• Using unofficial e-Visa websites: There are many third-party websites that mimic the official Vietnam e-Visa portal and charge inflated fees. The only legitimate portal is the one operated by the Vietnamese Immigration Department. Third-party applications are not invalid, but you pay more for no added benefit.
• Not printing the e-Visa: While some airports accept digital copies, immigration officers in Vietnam generally expect a printed copy of your e-Visa. Print it before you fly.
• No proof of onward travel: Some airlines check for proof of return or onward travel before boarding at UAE airports. If you do not have a confirmed return ticket, get a verified flight reservation from Dummy Ticket 365 to satisfy the airline's check-in requirement without purchasing a non-refundable ticket prematurely.

What to do if your Vietnam e-Visa application is rejected

Vietnam e-Visa rejections are uncommon but do happen. The most frequent reasons include mismatched information between the application and the passport, poor quality document scans, or incomplete forms. If your application is rejected, the USD 25 fee is non-refundable, but you can reapply immediately after correcting the issue.

If you are rejected and cannot identify why, apply through the VOA route via a licensed agency, as they can communicate directly with the Vietnamese Immigration Department to resolve the issue. For general questions about visa documentation and requirements, the VisaWadi FAQ page covers common document queries for UAE travellers.

Preparing for Vietnam: what else you need before you fly

Beyond the visa, here is a short checklist of things to sort before departure:

• Travel insurance: Not legally required but strongly recommended. Medical costs for uninsured foreign visitors in Vietnam can be significant. Get a single trip insurance plan from AED 30 before you travel.
• Hotel reservations: You may be asked at immigration to confirm your accommodation. If you have not booked a hotel yet, Dummy Ticket 365 also issues verified hotel reservations by email that are accepted as proof of accommodation.
• Currency: Vietnam uses the Vietnamese Dong (VND). USD is widely accepted in tourist areas but you will get better rates exchanging at local banks or gold shops in Vietnam. UAE exchange houses often carry USD at competitive rates if you prefer to arrive with some cash.
• SIM card: Local Vietnamese SIM cards are inexpensive and available at airports on arrival. Data connectivity is excellent in cities.
• Vaccinations: Check with your doctor about recommended vaccinations for Vietnam, including hepatitis A, typhoid, and others depending on your itinerary.

For tips on avoiding common pitfalls with visa applications from the UAE, the article on Schengen visa rejection reasons offers broadly applicable advice on document preparation that translates well to other visa processes. If you are also planning a Europe trip, the Schengen visa documents checklist for UAE residents is a useful companion resource.