Visa information last reviewed: 29 October 2026. Check the applicable rule again before departure. This guide focuses on ordinary passports; Vietnam’s authorities decide eligibility and admission.
Before paying for a Vietnam visa, check whether you need one. Your passport may qualify for a short visa-free visit, but the answer depends on your passport category, travel purpose, stay length and itinerary.
Vietnam visa exemption is not one universal arrangement. There are nationality-based government policies, bilateral agreements, a separate Phú Quốc island exemption and special documents for eligible overseas Vietnamese families. A friend’s entry stamp is not a reliable guide to your own trip.
Start with the country tables below. Then check the conditions that apply to your journey, especially if you plan a long stay, a side trip abroad or mainland travel after Phú Quốc.
Mục lục tóm tắt
Vietnam Visa Exemption: Quick Answer
Eligible passport holders can enter Vietnam without obtaining a visa beforehand when their visit meets the applicable exemption conditions. Two government policies cover 24 nationalities for 45 days, while bilateral arrangements provide different periods for other ordinary passports.
| Route | Permitted period | Main condition |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution 44/NQ-CP | 45 days | Listed nationality; normal entry conditions |
| Resolution 229/NQ-CP | 45 days | Listed nationality; tourism purpose |
| Bilateral agreement | Commonly 14, 21, 30 or 90 days | Exact passport and treaty conditions |
| Phú Quốc exemption | Up to 30 days | Qualifying island-only visit and entry route |
| Family exemption certificate | Separate rules | Eligibility and an issued certificate |
Ordinary nationality-based exemption normally requires no advance exemption application and no e-visa fee. Certificates and special waiver cards have separate procedures.
If none of these routes fits, read the Vietnam E-Visa Application: Step-by-Step Guide for Foreigners. Being eligible to apply for an e-visa does not mean you must buy one. And you can apply directly via https://www.vietnam-visa.in/apply-vietnam-visa/
The 24 Countries With Current 45-Day Exemptions
These two groups offer the same stay length but have different legal conditions and expiry dates. Neither is a blanket exemption for all European or EU citizens.
Resolution 44: 12 countries
Resolution 44/NQ-CP provides 45 days from entry, regardless of passport type and purpose, subject to Vietnamese entry requirements.
Policy window: 15 March 2025–14 March 2028. The dates describe the policy’s operation, not permission for one continuous stay until 2028.
| Passport nationality | Stay | Purpose / important condition |
|---|---|---|
| Denmark | 45 days | Resolution 44 conditions |
| Finland | 45 days | Resolution 44 conditions |
| France | 45 days | Resolution 44 conditions |
| Germany | 45 days | Resolution 44 conditions |
| Italy | 45 days | Resolution 44 conditions |
| Japan | 45 days | Resolution 44 conditions |
| Norway | 45 days | Resolution 44 conditions |
| Russia | 45 days | Resolution 44 conditions |
| South Korea | 45 days | Republic of Korea |
| Spain | 45 days | Resolution 44 conditions |
| Sweden | 45 days | Resolution 44 conditions |
| United Kingdom | 45 days | Check British nationality category; BNO excluded |
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs list specifically excludes British National (Overseas) passport holders from this UK exemption. Do not assume every document described as a “British passport” qualifies.
The resolution’s broad purpose wording does not itself grant employment permission. Work and regulated professional activities can require additional authorization.
Resolution 229: 12 tourism countries
Resolution 229/NQ-CP grants 45 days for tourism, subject to entry conditions.
Policy window: 15 August 2025–14 August 2028.
| Passport nationality | Stay | Purpose / important condition |
|---|---|---|
| Belgium | 45 days | Tourism |
| Bulgaria | 45 days | Tourism |
| Croatia | 45 days | Tourism |
| Czech Republic | 45 days | Tourism |
| Hungary | 45 days | Tourism |
| Luxembourg | 45 days | Tourism |
| Netherlands | 45 days | Tourism |
| Poland | 45 days | Tourism |
| Romania | 45 days | Tourism |
| Slovakia | 45 days | Tourism |
| Slovenia | 45 days | Tourism |
| Switzerland | 45 days | Tourism |
A Dutch holidaymaker and a Belgian traveler attending business meetings should not automatically receive identical advice. Confirm the appropriate route when the visit is not tourism.
Resolution 229 replaced the earlier Resolution 11 tourism arrangement from 15 August 2025. Older guidance for Polish, Czech and Swiss visitors may describe that superseded program. Do not carry its organized-tour conditions into the newer resolution.
Other Countries With Bilateral Visa-Free Entry
The following table filters the MOFA passport-category register to ordinary passports. Diplomatic, service and official passports can follow different rules.
Status: treaty-based—verify current status and the individual agreement. These arrangements do not share the resolutions’ 2028 expiry dates. The table is a stay-length lookup, not a complete statement of every treaty condition.
| Ordinary passport | Stay per visit | Purpose / important condition |
|---|---|---|
| Belarus | 30 days | Maximum 90 days in a calendar year |
| Brunei | 14 days | Ordinary-passport conditions apply |
| Cambodia | 30 days | Check treaty conditions for non-tourism |
| Chile | 90 days | Check treaty conditions for non-tourism |
| Indonesia | 30 days | Ordinary-passport period; not the diplomatic period |
| Kazakhstan | 30 days | Maximum 90 days within 180 days |
| Kyrgyzstan | 30 days | Ordinary-passport conditions apply |
| Laos | 30 days | Check treaty conditions for non-tourism |
| Malaysia | 30 days | Check treaty conditions for non-tourism |
| Mongolia | 30 days | Ordinary-passport period |
| Myanmar | 30 days | Excludes employment and other commercial activities |
| Panama | 90 days | Check treaty conditions for non-tourism |
| Philippines | 21 days | Six-month passport validity and return/onward air ticket |
| Singapore | 30 days | Ordinary-passport period |
| Thailand | 30 days | Ordinary-passport period |
Consult MOFA’s detailed bilateral conditions if your purpose extends beyond a holiday. Do not interpret a country’s appearance in this table as unrestricted permission to work, study or reside in Vietnam.
ASEAN Visa-Free Entry: How Long Does Each Country Get?
There is no single “ASEAN gets 30 days” rule. For the following ordinary passports, the verified periods are:
| Passport | Visa-free period |
|---|---|
| Brunei | 14 days |
| Cambodia | 30 days |
| Indonesia | 30 days |
| Laos | 30 days |
| Malaysia | 30 days |
| Myanmar | 30 days |
| Philippines | 21 days |
| Singapore | 30 days |
| Thailand | 30 days |
This is a passport lookup, not a list of all ASEAN members. Regional membership alone does not establish visa-free eligibility; do not infer an ordinary-passport exemption for Timor-Leste from membership or diplomatic-passport rules.
An Indonesian traveler should use the ordinary-passport column, while a Philippine traveler should plan around 21 days. The difference matters when a trip becomes longer than originally booked.
Belarus, Kazakhstan and Other Special Limits
Belarus deserves particular attention because older articles place it in the former 45-day unilateral group. The ordinary-passport bilateral agreement took effect on 30 January 2025. MOFA records 30 days per visit, with no more than 90 days in one calendar year.
Kazakhstan’s limit is 30 days per visit and 90 days within 180 days. A calendar year and a 180-day period are different ways of measuring accumulated stays.
Keep a record of previous arrivals and departures if a cumulative limit applies. A short trip out of Vietnam does not erase earlier days. Ask the relevant authority to clarify your remaining allowance if several visits overlap the counting period.
Other treaty conditions also matter: Myanmar’s ordinary-passport exemption excludes employment and other commercial activities; the Philippines entry expressly includes return/onward air-ticket and passport-validity conditions.
Who Still Needs a Vietnam Visa?
US, Canadian, Australian and Indian tourists
Ordinary passport holders from these countries generally need an appropriate visa for mainland Vietnam unless a separate exemption applies. They are not included in the nationality-based tourist tables above.
An eligible family certificate or qualifying Phú Quốc-only visit can change an individual’s position. Living in an exempt country, however, does not turn a different nationality’s passport into an exempt passport.
European travelers outside the listed groups
EU citizenship is not a universal Vietnam visa waiver. Look up your actual passport country rather than relying on regional labels. For an unlisted passport, check the official e-visa route or another appropriate visa.
China, Hong Kong and Macau documents
Check the precise travel document with Immigration or a Vietnamese embassy or consulate. Mainland Chinese passports, Hong Kong documents, Macau documents and other travel-document categories should not be treated as interchangeable. A diplomatic-passport exemption does not establish an ordinary tourist’s eligibility.
Visa Exemption vs Vietnam E-Visa
Vietnam’s official e-visa system offers visas valid for up to 90 days, with single- or multiple-entry options. Nationality eligibility extends to all countries and territories, subject to the application and entry requirements.
| Factor | Ordinary nationality-based exemption | E-visa |
|---|---|---|
| Advance application | Normally unnecessary | Required |
| Eligibility | Passport and policy dependent | Worldwide nationality eligibility; approval conditional |
| Stay | Depends on exemption | Within approved dates, up to 90 days |
| Repeat entries | Reassess eligibility each time | Single or multiple, as approved |
| Government visa fee | None for the waiver itself | Application fee applies |
| Purpose | Policy or treaty conditions | Must fit lawful purpose and permissions |
| Best fit | Eligible short visits | Trips requiring a visa or longer approved period |
An application receipt is not an approved visa. Likewise, an approved multiple-entry e-visa does not restart a fresh 90-day validity period with every arrival.
Should You Use Visa-Free Entry or Apply for an E-Visa?
Use exemption when your exact passport, purpose, stay and itinerary fit. Consider an e-visa when the exemption is too short or does not apply. There is no benefit in paying for an unnecessary application simply because an agency offers one.
| Example trip | Practical starting point |
|---|---|
| UK citizen, qualifying passport, 14-day holiday | Check Resolution 44 exemption |
| Same traveler, 60 continuous days | Obtain permission covering the longer stay |
| Dutch tourist, 20 days | Check Resolution 229 exemption |
| Dutch tourist, 60 continuous days | Consider an appropriate e-visa |
| Singapore ordinary passport, 10 days | Check the 30-day bilateral exemption |
| Same traveler, 45 continuous days | Arrange a visa covering the full visit |
| Philippine ordinary passport | Plan around 21 days and its conditions |
For a two-week Vietnam itinerary, many eligible travelers fit comfortably within their allowance. A longer itinerary needs a fresh check before booking.
Do not assume you can extend an exempt stay inside Vietnam. If your plans change, check the appropriate immigration options before your permission expires. An e-visa application is not automatically an in-country extension, and Fito cannot guarantee one.
Vietnam Visa-Free Re-Entry: Is There a 30-Day Waiting Rule?
The former general 30-day gap condition is absent from current law. Article 20 was amended by Law 51/2019/QH14, effective 1 July 2020. The 2026 consolidated immigration law retains the revised entry conditions.
For a qualifying Resolution 44 traveler visiting Vietnam, Cambodia and then Vietnam again, an old article requiring 30 days outside Vietnam should not determine the plan.
Nevertheless, each arrival is a new eligibility assessment. Passport validity, current policy dates, purpose and any treaty limits still matter. Belarus and Kazakhstan travelers must account for accumulated stays.
Removing that former waiting condition does not establish unlimited repeat admission or a long-term residence strategy. If extended stays are central to your plans, investigate the appropriate permission before travel rather than depending on repeated border trips.
Passport Validity for Visa-Free Entry
Article 20 requires at least six months of remaining passport validity for unilateral visa-exempt entry. Bilateral cases require checking the applicable agreement; do not assume every treaty uses identical wording.
Check the passport’s condition, expiry and available space well before departure. Confirm requirements for emergency or temporary documents separately. “My passport expires after my holiday” is not enough to establish compliance.
Dual nationals should decide which passport will be presented for Vietnam entry and keep associated travel and visa records consistent. If renewing a passport changes your document number, reassess any approval tied to the old document.
Can Everyone Visit Phú Quốc Visa-Free for 30 Days?
Vietnam has a separate 30-day Phú Quốc exemption for qualifying foreign visitors. It can be relevant even when a passport does not qualify for a mainland nationality exemption.
The island exemption does not, by itself, authorize mainland travel. A holiday entirely on Phú Quốc is a different entry question from an island stay followed by Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.
| Itinerary | What to check |
|---|---|
| Singapore → Phú Quốc → Singapore; seven days on the island | Island exemption may fit, subject to conditions |
| Singapore → Phú Quốc → HCMC → Hanoi → Singapore | Obtain entry permission covering mainland travel |
The departure city does not determine nationality eligibility. A traveler flying from Singapore might hold any passport.
What about a connection in Vietnam?
MOFA recognizes qualifying journeys involving a stay in the transit area at another Vietnamese international border gate before continuing to Phú Quốc. That does not mean every domestic connection works.
Before buying the ticket, confirm with the airline and relevant authorities where immigration occurs, whether baggage is checked through, whether terminal transfers require entry, and how the onward journey is handled. Separate tickets and baggage collection can complicate the route.
Once your entry arrangements are clear, use the Phú Quốc four-day itinerary to plan the island visit. Arrange mainland permission before adding a city stop.
Visa Exemption Certificates for Overseas Vietnamese Families
Overseas Vietnamese and eligible foreign spouses or children of Vietnamese citizens or overseas Vietnamese may qualify for a separate certificate.
MOFA’s certificate guidance describes validity of up to five years, constrained by the associated passport or qualifying document. Five-year validity is not permission to stay continuously for five years. Separate temporary-stay rules apply.
This route requires eligibility evidence and an issued document. A family relationship alone is not a substitute for completing the process.
Special preferential exemptions
Vietnam also has a special waiver mechanism under Decree 221/2025/NĐ-CP for selected invited individuals, including certain experts, investors and prominent figures. Official invitations and procedures apply. An occupation or public profile alone does not establish tourist visa exemption.
Does Visa-Free Entry Guarantee Admission?
No. Exemption removes the visa requirement for a qualifying visit; travelers still need to meet entry conditions. Airlines also check documentation before boarding.
Have your passport, accommodation details, itinerary and relevant return/onward evidence accessible. Specific requirements vary: the Philippine ordinary-passport arrangement expressly requires a return or onward air ticket. Avoid assuming either that everyone needs identical evidence or that nobody will be asked for it.
Check children individually. Their passports or citizenship may differ from a parent’s, and Article 21 includes restrictions for children under 14 traveling without a parent, guardian or authorized accompanying person.
At arrival, inspect the permitted-stay information recorded by Immigration. Resolve an unclear or unexpected date promptly. Do not exceed the stay granted; overstaying can lead to penalties and departure or future-entry complications.
How to Check Your Passport Before Flying
- Read the passport details. Confirm nationality, category and expiry for every traveler.
- Check Resolution 44. If listed, review its conditions and policy window.
- Check Resolution 229. If listed, confirm that the trip is tourism.
- Check bilateral rules. Use the ordinary-passport entry and any cumulative limits.
- Consider special eligibility. Check Phú Quốc-only travel or an issued family certificate separately.
- Compare the whole itinerary. Include arrival, departure, mainland stops and returns after side trips.
- Resolve gaps before departure. Consult Immigration or a Vietnamese diplomatic mission; apply for an appropriate visa if needed.
Save official links and any written clarification offline. Check airline documentation requirements before check-in, especially for an unusual route. If a booking changes, repeat the relevant checks rather than assuming the original advice still fits.
Common Vietnam Visa Exemption Mistakes
- Using an old 15-day article: check the policy and review date.
- Treating every EU passport alike: nationality lists are specific.
- Combining both 45-day groups: Resolution 229 is tourism-focused.
- Assuming ASEAN means 30 days: Brunei and Philippine periods differ.
- Reading the wrong passport column: diplomatic privileges do not transfer.
- Keeping Belarus in the old group: check its bilateral allowance.
- Buying an e-visa automatically: establish whether one is needed first.
- Applying the obsolete 30-day gap: consult the amended law.
- Ignoring cumulative limits: previous visits may still count.
- Using island permission for mainland travel: Phú Quốc has a separate scope.
- Ignoring passport expiry: validity is an entry condition.
- Guessing the final departure date: check the stay actually recorded.
Fito’s Practical Visa Tips
- Start with the passport you will carry, not where you live.
- Compare your planned trip length with the allowance before paying.
- Read the purpose condition before arranging meetings or professional activities.
- Keep one simple record of past Vietnam arrivals and departures.
- Save the relevant official page, not just a search-result snippet.
- Allow breathing room between your planned departure and permission ending.
- Confirm complicated connections before buying non-refundable flights.
- Check each family member separately, including children.
- Review the arrival record while any question is still easy to raise.
Visa preparation is best finished before the airport queue. That leaves more attention for the enjoyable decisions: where to eat, which train to catch and how much time to spend exploring.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which countries can enter Vietnam without a visa?
The tables above identify 24 nationalities with current 45-day policies and additional bilateral ordinary-passport exemptions. Duration alone is insufficient: check purpose, document type and other conditions.
How long can UK citizens stay visa-free?
Qualifying UK passport holders receive 45 days under Resolution 44. BNO passports are excluded; check other British nationality categories individually.
Which European countries get 45 days?
Use the two separate country tables above. Many European passports qualify, but there is no Europe-wide or EU-wide exemption.
Can US citizens enter Vietnam visa-free?
Ordinary US tourists generally need a visa for mainland travel unless a separate exemption, such as an eligible certificate, applies.
Can Australians enter without a visa?
Ordinary Australian tourists generally need an appropriate mainland visa. Check special eligibility separately, including a qualifying Phú Quốc-only visit.
Can Canadians enter visa-free?
There is no general ordinary-passport tourist exemption in the country tables for Canada. Check an e-visa or another applicable route.
Do Indian tourists need a Vietnam visa?
Generally yes for mainland travel on ordinary passports, unless a separate exemption applies. Diplomatic arrangements do not establish ordinary-passport eligibility.
How long can ASEAN passport holders stay?
The listed periods vary: Brunei has 14 days, the Philippines 21, and the other passports in the regional table 30. Check the relevant bilateral conditions.
Can I leave and re-enter immediately?
Current law has no former general 30-day separation condition. Re-entry still depends on eligibility for that arrival and any applicable cumulative limits.
Do I need six months left on my passport?
Yes for unilateral visa-exempt entry. Bilateral and special-document cases require checking their specific requirements.
Is Phú Quốc visa-free for everyone?
Its special policy can cover foreign visitors beyond the nationality lists, but island, route and entry conditions apply. It is not unrestricted permission to visit mainland Vietnam.
Should I buy an e-visa if I already qualify?
Not automatically. If the exemption covers your full trip and purpose, an application may be unnecessary. Consider a visa when the trip exceeds or falls outside that permission.
Do You Need a Vietnam Visa?
Check Vietnam visa exemption against five details: your passport, purpose, length of stay, itinerary and the current rule. If they fit, you may be able to travel without applying for a visa. they do not, the Vietnam e-visa guide is a practical next step.
If you are unsure which rule fits your travel dates or whether your route needs broader permission, contact Fito for help reviewing the options. Fito can explain relevant guidance and help identify the appropriate route; only Vietnam’s authorities can grant immigration permission and decide admission.
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