[Guidelines] Vietnam Visa Online For US Citizens In Detail

• September 04,2023
• 12 views

Vietnam visa online for US citizens is an interesting and convenient choice for visitors to choose from. This visa was introduced as an expedited visa process to help foreigners speed up getting a visa result. All about the instructions on how to get a visa from the Americans. 

FIRST OVERVIEW OF THE VIETNAM VISA ONLINE FOR AMERICANS

A brief overview of the Vietnam visa for US citizens:

The overview of Vietnam visas online for US citizens

• All US passport holders who desire to visit Vietnam must get a valid visa as a crucial step stipulated in the Vietnam Immigration Law. US nationals can now consider obtaining a Vietnam E-Visa for US citizens, which is valid for up to 90 days with a single or multiple entries.

• The Vietnam visa fee and processing time for US passport holders vary depending on many factors, such as visa categories and method of application (self-service or through a service provider such as Vietnam E-Visa).

• To ensure smooth processing of their Vietnam visas, please ensure that foreigners have everything properly arranged.

• Visitors can quickly obtain a Vietnam visa online by using our Vietnam visa services, or they can apply on their own after reading the most frequently asked questions concerning e visa for Vietnam from US.

IS IT NECESSARY TO GET A VISA ONLINE FOR US CITIZENS?

To be eligible for getting a Vietnam visa online for US citizens, foreigners need to consider the visa requirements in advance. In reality, Vietnam has many immigration policies to create favorable conditions for foreign tourists. 

However, it is not lucky for US citizens because they must also complete the complicated visa procedures to be entitled to enter Vietnam legally. Visitors must obtain a visa regardless of whether they visit this nation for tourist or commercial purposes.

Visa categories	Visa necessity
Tourist visas	Required
Business visas	Required

DIFFERENT TYPES OF VIETNAM VISAS FOR US CITIZENS

There are various types of Vietnamese visa for US citizen available for US citizens based on the method of application, the purpose of the visit, and the length of stay in Vietnam. The following are the most common forms of Vietnam visas for US citizens right now:

In terms of application method

• E-Visa

• Vietnam visa on arrival

Regarding the travel objectives

• Tourist visa

• Business visa

• Visa for a relative's visit

Regarding visa validity in Vietnam

• 30 days, single or multiple entries

• 90 days, single or multiple entries

E-VISA: THE NEWEST VISA OF THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT

The Vietnamese E-Visa system was established by Resolution No. 127/NQ-CP, issued on August 14, 2023. This resolution marks a significant extension in the availability of an e visa for Vietnam from USA to inhabitants of all countries and territories, a significant departure from the prior list of 80 exempted countries. 

The primary goal of this strategic initiative is to boost tourism and promote Vietnam as a more accessible and enticing destination for global travelers.

No	Nation
1	Argentina
2	Armenia
3	Azerbaijan
4	Ireland
5	Iceland
6	Austria
7	Poland
8	Belarus
9	Belgium
10	Portugal
11	Bosnia and Herzegovina
12	Brazil
13	Brunei Darussalam
14	Bulgaria
15	United Arab Emirates
16	Kazakhstan
17	Canada
18	Qatar
19	Germany
20	Chile
21	Colombia
22	India
23	Czech Republic
24	Andorra
25	Liechtenstein
26	Monaco
27	Croatia
28	Cuba
29	Denmark
30	Cyprus
31	Timor Leste
32	Estonia
33	Georgia
34	Korea
35	United States of America
36	Hungary
37	Greece
38	Italy
39	Latvia
40	Russia
41	United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
42	Lithuania
43	Luxembourg
44	Micronesia
45	Malta
46	Macedonia
47	Mexico
48	Myanmar
49	Moldova
50	Mongolia
51	Montenegro
52	Nauru
53	Japan
54	New Zealand
55	Australia
56	Palau
57	Panama
58	Papua New Guinea
59	Peru
60	Finland
61	France
62	Fiji
63	Philippines
64	Marshall Islands
65	Solomon Islands
66	Romania
67	Western Samoa
68	San Marino
69	Serbia
70	Spain
71	Sweden
72	Switzerland
73	China
74	Uruguay
75	Vanuatu
76	Venezuela
77	Netherlands
78	Norway
79	Slovakia
80	Slovenia

As can be seen from the table, US citizens are on the list of countries that can apply for an E-Visa to Vietnam. Two main options for those are that visitors can conduct the visa application by themselves or by their authority.

Prerequisites for US citizens to obtain a Vietnam E-Visa

US citizens must provide the following proof to obtain an E-Visa for Vietnam:

Vietnam visa requirements for US passport holders in detail

• Their US passports must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry into Vietnam and have at least two black pages.

• A soft copy of your passport's entire personal information page.

• Foreigners must have a valid email address to receive an OTP through their provided email address.

• A credit or debit card is the main means of payment, complying with the Vietnam E-Visa requirements for US passport holders.

Vietnam E-Visa fees and processing times for US citizens

If foreigners get the E-Visa themselves, the charge is as follows:

• A single-entry visa costs $25 USD.

• US $50 for multiple entrance visas

The following is the processing time for an E-Visa:

Handling time	Applicant percentage
Less than 3 working days	5%
3 working days	75%
4-5 working days	15%
More than 5 working days	5%

In the event that foreigners utilize our visa services, Vietnam E-Visa processing time and costs for US residents will be as follows:

Visa types	Handling time	Visa costs for 1-2 pax	Visa costs 3-4 pax	Visa costs for from 5 pax
30 days, single entry	4-7 business days	$50	$49	$48
	3 business days	$62	$61	$59
	2 business days	$70	$68	$67
	Urgent cases	☎+1 315 715 8498
30 days, multiple entries	4-7 working days	$75	$74	$73
	3 working days	$87	$86	$84
	2 working days	$95	$93	$92
	Urgent situations	☎+1 315 715 8498
90 days, single entry	4-7 working days	$50	$49	$48
	3 working days	$67	$66	$64
	2 working days	$75	$73	$72
	Urgent	☎+1 315 715 8498
90 days, multiple entries	4-7 working days	$75	$74	$73
	3 working days	$92	$91	$89
	2 working days	$100	$98	$97
	Urgent	☎+1 315 715 8498

How can US citizens obtain a Vietnam E-Visa?

As previously said,visitors can apply for a Vietnam visa online for US citizens either by themselves or with our assistance.

Vietnam E-Visa procedures need to be followed strictly, step-by-step

Our process for applying for a Vietnam E-Visa for US passport holders is simple and consists of three steps:

• Fill out our secure online visa application form and pay.

• Request that the E-Visa letter be provided to your registered email address within the time frame you specify.

• Download your E-Visa letter and present it to the Vietnam Immigration Officer to complete your admission into Vietnam.

Our handling time is assured in the following visa time frames: 4–6 working days, 2-3 working days, same day, and a few hours.

Can US dwellers enter Vietnam at any checkpoints with their E-Visa?

Visitors are not allowed to enter Vietnam with a port of entry that is different from what appears in their passports or issued E-Visas.

Foreigners can refer to the Vietnam E-Visa ports below:

Airports	Landports	Seaports
Noi Bai	Tay Trang	Hon Gai
Tan Son Nhat	Mong Cai	Cam Pha
Cam Ranh	Huu Nghi	Hai Phong
Da Nang	Lao Cai	Vung Ang
Cat Bi	Na Meo	Chan May
Can Tho	Nam Can	Da Nang
Phu Quoc	Cau Treo	Nha Trang
Phu Bai	Cha Lo	Quy Nhon
Van Don	La Lay	Dung Quat
Tho Xuan	Lao Bao	Vung Tau
Dong Hoi	Bo Y	Ho Chi Minh City
Phu Cat	Moc Bai	Duong Dong
Lien Khuong	Xa Mat
	Tinh Bien

Can US citizens extend their Vietnam E-Visas?

At present, foreigners from the US wishing to stay in Vietnam for longer should leave Vietnam and come back with another E-Visa. However, this act should not be repeated many times, as your entry may be suspected and refused.

ALL ABOUT THE VIETNAM VISA ON ARRIVAL FOR US CITIZENS

Visa on arrival is only offered to visitors who visit Vietnam on a tour with a local guide as of April 2023. If foreigners are not part of an organized trip, they should register for an E-Visa instead.

Vietnam visa on arrival for holders of US passports

Visa on arrival definition

Vietnam visa online for US citizens on arrival (VOA) is a legal visa type that allows foreigners to obtain a visa upon entry and exit from Vietnam. While visas at embassies and E-Visa are accessible at numerous ports, including airports, landports, and seaports, visas on arrival are only available for individuals who enter Vietnam by air and at one of the eight designated international airports.

Instead of having a visa in advance, US residents must first get a visa approval letter (also known as a pre-approved visa letter) through a local Vietnam visa agency. Then US residents use this letter to get a visa stamp on their passport upon arrival at the airport.

When expats arrive at Hanoi airport, they will see a sign for transfer or visa counters. If foreigners have a visa-free entry passport or an advance visa, they can proceed directly to Arrival Immigration. Otherwise, they need to turn left for the visa on arrival counters.

Visas on arrival for Americans in brief

Available visa types	Tourist visa (from 1 month to 3 months) Business visa (sponsoring firm required) 1-year visa for US passport holders
Acceptable checkpoints	Air travel only
Applicable international airports	Hanoi international airport Ho Chi Minh City International Airport
Relevant documents	02 passport photos with the standard  Pre-approved letter issued by the Vietnam Immigration Department Entry/exit form Visa on arrival fees Valid US passports (at least 6 months at a maximum)
Visa fees	Approval letter fee (varies from other periods of time) Fixed visa stamping fee paid at Vietnam airport (25 USD for single entry and 50 USD for multi-entry)
Photo criteria	White background for two personal photos Frontal view with a naked head No glasses
Waiting for processing	2-3 working days to obtain the approval letter (can be processed in a few hours in emergency situations). 15 to 30 minutes to finalize the entry formalities at the Vietnam airport (1 to 2 hours during peak season as usual).

The benefits and drawbacks of applying for a visa-on-arrival for US dwellers

Pros

Visa-on-arrival is commonly known for its convenience, particularly for individuals who are unable to apply for Vietnam visa at their home country's Embassy or Consulate. Furthermore, there are a number of advantages you may not be aware of:

• Convenience: There is no need to prepare numerous documents to submit in person at the Embassy, and there is no passport sendoff. Vietnam A landing visa requires only a few pieces of information: the application form and a pre-approved visa letter. The visa stamp will then be supplied upon your entrance. With the assistance of a local firm, the visa acceptance letter process can be completed quickly and conveniently online.

• Saving time: Visa on arrival is ideal for people who do not have time to visit the Embassy. Furthermore, this form of visa is ideal for emergency situations. An urgent visa application may just take 2–3 hours.

• Cost-saving: With visa-on-arrival, there will be no document preparation fee, postal price to deliver documents, or travel fees to the Embassy. To obtain a visa to Vietnam, you only need to pay a stamping fee at the airport.

• Eligible applicants: While E-Visa is only available to inhabitants of 80 countries, citizens of all countries can obtain a Vietnam visa on arrival if they enter Vietnam by plane.

Cons

Aside from all of the attractive pros, applicants should consider the following cons of a visa-on-arrival when visiting Vietnam:

• There is no official website. Individuals from other countries cannot apply for visas on arrival. There is no official website for the visa-on-arrival service run by the government or the Vietnam Immigration Department. A third party (a Vietnamese visa agency) must be involved in the procedure. They are all private organizations or agencies that will supply you with a pre-approved visa letter.

• Queuing at the airport: To get your visa stamped, you must wait in line at the Visa Application counter in the airport's Arrival Immigration section. In the low season (May to September), this normally takes about 15 to 20 minutes. During the peak season (October to April), it may run for 30 minutes to an hour. Because this is uncontrollable, it may have a significant impact on your travel plans.

• Entry/exit checkpoints: Although 8 out of 10 international airports in Vietnam accept visas on arrival, you must still check if your entry/exit checkpoint is applicable.

• Visa approval letters: Because the visa approval letter can be used for multiple foreigners, the local agency can create a combined approval letter.

• Numerous visa fees: There is no set visa charge for a landing visa because you will pay two types of fees. The charge for a pre-approved visa letter varies by agency, and the stamping fee ranges from USD 25 to $50, depending on the kind of visa (length of stay, single or multiple entries). Furthermore, only cash is accepted for the arrival port stamping charge.

Acceptable checkpoints for US citizens

List of 8 Vietnam international airports (designated checkpoints) allowing foreigners to enter with their visas on arrival:

• Noi Bai International Airport

• Tan Son Nhat International Airport

• Phu Quoc International Airport 

• Cat Bi International Airport

• Cam Ranh International Airport

• Lien Khuong International Airport

• Can Tho International Airport

• Da Nang International Airport

Who is eligible for Vietnam visas?

If a traditional visa at the Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate is available to any citizen of the globe, a visa on arrival is available to the following applicants:

• Visitors: Foreign visitors participating in a Vietnam tour organized by a Vietnam travel operator.

• Foreign nationals visiting Vietnam for business or commercial interests are referred to as business travelers.

• Transit travelers: Vietnam is one of several destinations on the applicant's itinerary.

• Foreign crewmen on ships docked in Vietnamese ports want to leave Vietnam via another country's border gate.

• Foreigners and overseas Vietnamese returning to Vietnam to attend a relative's burial or visit extremely ill relatives.

• Foreigners are only permitted to enter Vietnam in emergency situations such as incident response, rescue, natural disaster prevention, epidemic prevention, or special requests from a competent Vietnamese entity.

Conditions and legal framework

Although citizens from all over the world can obtain a Vietnam visa online for US citizens if they visit Vietnam by air and enter or exit one of the eight authorized airports, there are some additional requirements that must be met, as listed below:

• Foreigners arriving from a country where there is no Vietnam Embassy or Consulate.

• Foreigners who live in other countries and are not now present on Vietnamese territory.

• Foreigners who have a valid passport with at least six months validity prior to their scheduled stay in Vietnam.

• Foreign visitors arriving in Vietnam by air will pass through immigration checkpoints at one of the eight international airports that offer visa-on-arrival.

• Those who are not barred from entering Vietnam under Article 21 of the Law on Foreigners' Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence.

How to use a visa on arrival

Preparation

To prepare for a Vietnam visa online for US citizens, they must have the following items ready:

• A tangible copy of a Vietnam Immigration Department-approved pre-approved visa letter.

• The local visa agency provides a visa application form (entry and exit declaration form) (Form NA1).

• 02 photographs (4×6 or 3×4, similar size, white or plain background, shot within the last 6 months, straight-looking, no glasses or scarf).

• A valid passport with at least six months of validity beyond your stay in Vietnam.

• Cash stamping cost (USD 25–50, depending on visa type).

Application

There are steps you must take both before and after your trip to obtain a visa. Here are three steps you must take:

Visas on arrival for individuals who wish to visit Vietnam in the easiest way

• Step 1: Contact a visa agency to request a visa acceptance letter. If visitors from the US select urgent services, the process may last 2–5 working days or several working hours.

• Step 2: Email yourself your visa approval letter and the visa application form (NA1). Both documents should be printed in hard copy. Fill out the visa application form completely and bring two passport-sized pictures, a valid original passport, and the stamping cost in cash.

• Step 3: At the immigration/landing visa counter at the arrival port, show all documents and items from the initial step to obtain your visa stamp.

Time for processing

Because a pre-approved visa letter is required for a Vietnam visa on arrival, you must plan ahead of time to prepare this document. A pre-approved visa letter's processing period ranges from a few hours to a few working days. 

The urgent letter takes 2–4 hours to complete, but the standard letter takes 2–5 days. Depending on the length of the line, visa processing at the airport can take from 15 minutes to an hour to have a visa stamped.

Fees for getting a visa on arrival

There are two expenses for obtaining a visa on arrival. The charge varies depending on the visa agency and visa type. The greater the urgency with which you require the visa approval letter, the higher the cost. 

Please see the chart below for the charge for regular service:

Visa categories	Service fees	Stamping fees
Single entry (1 or 3 months)	USD 20 – 30	USD 25
Multiple entries (1 or 3 months)	USD 25 – 45	USD 50
Multiple entries (12 months)	USD 60	USD 135

TIPS FOR AN EXPEDITED VIETNAM VISA APPLICATION FOR US CITIZENS

Consider the following suggestions to ensure the smooth processing of getting a Vietnam visa online for US citizens.

• Apply for the visa at least two weeks before their travel itinerary.

• Double-check all of the prerequisites for a Vietnam visa online for US citizens before submitting your application to reduce delays and rejections.

• Check the accuracy of the information provided on the application form, as long as it matches what appears on your passport.

• Submit the required documents in accordance with the instructions.

• Make sure you pay the visa fee in advance (if applying for an E-Visa).

• Follow up on the application status on a frequent basis, and be ready to add more personal data if necessary.

Obtaining a Vietnam visa online for US citizens is a critical step toward an excellent Vietnam trip experience. Make sure you meet the requirements, submit the relevant paperwork, and be ready to discover the enchanting beauty of Vietnam. Don't let the visa process keep you from taking your dream vacation! Contact us at +1 315 715 8498 or email support@e-visa-gov.com for more details relating to the visa procedures online.

Application Vietnam Visa Online