Vietnam Visa for Indians 2026: Complete Guide

Do Indians Need a Visa for Vietnam? (2026 Quick Answer)

Indian passport holders require a visa to enter Vietnam. As of mid-2026, India remains outside Vietnam's visa-exemption list, which expanded in August 2025 to cover 24 countries — all European or select Asia-Pacific nations. A waiver for Indian travelers has been proposed publicly since 2023, but no exemption has been announced or implemented. Any source advertising visa-free entry for Indian citizens is out of date.

The standard, recommended route is the government e-visa: applied for entirely online, no embassy appointment needed, valid for up to 90 days, accepted at 83 entry points, and costing USD 25 for single entry or USD 50 for multiple entry.

There is one meaningful exception: Phu Quoc Island operates a separate 30-day visa-free policy for all nationalities, including Indians. To qualify, travelers must arrive on a direct international flight or cruise to Phu Quoc without transiting through any other Vietnamese airport or port. This option suits a pure island holiday only — traveling to mainland Vietnam requires a valid visa.

Visa-on-arrival (VOA) is a third option, available only at international airports for air travelers who hold a prior approval letter. That route and its costs are covered in Visarun's dedicated VOA article. For most Indian applicants, the e-visa is simpler, more flexible, and carries no airport-queue risk.

Vietnam Visa Types Available to Indian Citizens

Vietnam classifies visas by purpose using two- or three-letter codes. Choosing the correct category matters — applying under the wrong type can lead to refusal at the border.

The DL visa covers tourism and leisure. No business activity is permitted on a DL. Indians apply through the e-visa portal for up to 90 days, single or multiple entry. This is the right category for the vast majority of Indian visitors.

The DN visa (DN1 single entry, DN2 multiple entry) covers business activities — attending meetings, signing contracts, conducting market research — that fall short of employment by a Vietnamese entity. An invitation or sponsorship letter from a Vietnamese company is typically carried alongside the e-visa. Short business trips can be handled entirely through the online portal without a consulate visit.

The LD visa applies to Indian nationals who hold or are awaiting a Vietnamese work permit. The employer sponsors this category through the immigration department, and it falls outside the e-visa system.

The TT visa covers family members joining a Vietnamese permanent resident or long-term visa holder. The sponsor in Vietnam initiates the process with the local immigration department.

From July 1, 2026, two new preferential categories are active. The UD1 visa is intended for high-quality foreign professionals in digital technology and other fields qualifying for government incentives under Vietnamese law. The UD2 covers the spouse and children under 18 of a UD1 holder. Both are valid for up to five years. They require a formal endorsement from an authorized Vietnamese authority and are not accessible through the general e-visa portal.

Other specialist categories include DH (students), HN (conference attendees), DT investor visas (DT1–DT4 by capital threshold), and PV1/PV2 for accredited journalists.

Vietnam E-Visa for Indians: 90 Days, Single or Multiple Entry

The Vietnam e-visa is open to citizens of all nationalities, including India. Applications go through the official government portal at evisa.gov.vn. The result is a PDF approval letter carried to the border alongside the passport — there is no sticker or physical visa document.

The e-visa allows stays of up to 90 days as single or multiple entry, costs USD 25 for single entry or USD 50 for multiple entry. At current exchange rates near 96 INR per USD, that is approximately 2,400 INR for single entry and 4,800 INR for multiple entry. For Indian travelers on multi-country Southeast Asia itineraries who plan to leave and re-enter Vietnam, the multiple-entry version removes the need for a fresh application each time.

The visa dates are fixed at approval — a visa starting October 1 cannot be used for an entry on September 30. Setting the start date to your actual intended arrival date avoids losing days from the 90-day window.

The official entry system allows travelers to enter and exit Vietnam through 83 designated checkpoints, including 17 airports, 27 land border gates, and 39 seaports. Indian travelers arriving by air can use Noi Bai (Hanoi), Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City), Da Nang International, Cam Ranh (Nha Trang), Phu Quoc International, and other designated airports. Overland crossings from Cambodia, Laos, and China at approved gates are also available.

The e-visa is not automatically renewable inside Vietnam. Travelers who need more time generally exit and re-enter on a fresh e-visa, or in specific qualifying cases, apply for an internal extension through the immigration department.

Vietnam Visa Cost for Indians (2026 Official Fees)

Circular 28/2026/TT-BTC, signed by the Ministry of Finance on March 27, 2026 and in force from April 1, 2026, outlines fee levels and charges related to exit, entry, transit, and residence in Vietnam. It also abolishes two previous directives: Circular 25/2021/TT-BTC and Circular 62/2023/TT-BTC. For Indian applicants, the practical outcome is unchanged — the e-visa fee rates carry over from the previous schedule.

The confirmed government fee structure is:

• Single-entry e-visa, up to 90 days — USD 25, approximately 2,400 INR
• Multiple-entry e-visa, up to 90 days — USD 50, approximately 4,800 INR
• Children under 14 years of age are subject to a uniform fee of USD 25 when applying for a visa, regardless of the duration.

These fees are paid online at the time of application by international credit or debit card. Guests of Vietnamese Party or State leaders are fee-exempt, but this does not apply to standard tourist or business travelers.

Indian applicants using Visarun.ai pay USD 72 in total: the USD 25 official government fee plus a USD 47 Visarun service fee covering document review, form preparation, and pre-submission quality checks that reduce rejection risk. Service fees are charged separately from and in addition to the government fee. Visa-on-arrival involves different charges — a stamping fee paid at the airport plus any agency fee for the approval letter — covered in Visarun's dedicated VOA guide.

Government fees are subject to change at any time. Confirming the current rate on the official Vietnam e-visa portal or at the Vietnamese Embassy website before submitting payment is recommended.

Required Documents and Photo Rules

The Vietnam e-visa application is fully digital with no physical submission. All documents are uploaded directly to the government portal during the application session.

Core requirements for Indian applicants:

• Passport — valid for at least six months beyond the intended entry date, with at least two blank pages for stamps
• Passport data page scan — a clear, full-color image of the biographical page showing name, date of birth, passport number, MRZ strip, and embedded photo, without glare or shadow
• Digital portrait photograph — specifications below
• Intended entry and exit dates, plus entry and exit checkpoints chosen from the approved 83-point list
• International credit or debit card for online payment

Business e-visa applicants are advised to carry an invitation or sponsorship letter from the Vietnamese host company to the border, even if the portal does not require it as an upload — immigration officers sometimes ask for it.

Photo specifications for the Vietnam e-visa:

• Plain white or light-colored background, no patterns, shadows, or other people
• Face fully visible, front-facing, neutral expression, both eyes open
• Taken within the last six months
• Face occupying approximately 70–80% of the frame
• No spectacles, hats, or head coverings (religious coverings are permitted where applicable)
• JPEG format — other formats are frequently rejected by the portal

Illegible passport scans and non-compliant photos are among the most common causes of application delays. The portal does not allow file re-uploads after submission, so checking image quality before starting the session avoids having to abandon and restart the application.

How to Apply Step-by-Step

The official application portal is evisa.gov.vn. Third-party websites charging higher fees are private agencies, not the Vietnamese government.

• Visit evisa.gov.vn and click "Apply now." Read the declaration, scroll to the bottom, and tick both confirmation checkboxes before continuing.
• Enter personal details exactly as they appear in your passport: full name, date of birth, nationality, passport number, issue date, and expiry date. Any mismatch with the passport at the border can result in entry refusal.
• Select visa purpose (DL for tourism, DN for business), entry type (single or multiple), intended entry date, intended exit date, and your entry and exit checkpoints from the approved list.
• Upload the passport data page scan and portrait photo in JPEG format within the portal's file size limits.
• Pay the government fee by card — USD 25 single entry, USD 50 multiple entry. Keep the payment confirmation.
• Note the application reference code shown after payment. Use this to track status on the same portal. Standard processing is three working days from a complete submission.
• Once approved, download the e-visa PDF, print a copy, and carry both the printout and the digital file. Present both alongside your passport at immigration on arrival.

Indian travelers who prefer to have a specialist review their documents before submission can apply through Visarun.ai. The Visarun process delivers within 2–3 business days at a total cost of USD 72 (USD 25 government fee plus USD 47 service fee). Approval decisions rest with the Vietnamese immigration authority, not with Visarun.

Processing Time and Entry Points

Standard processing is three working days from submission of a complete, error-free application. This excludes Vietnamese public holidays, most notably the Tet period (typically January–February), Liberation Day (April 30), International Workers' Day (May 1), and National Day (September 2). Submitting at least 15 to 20 days before travel creates sufficient buffer to address any document corrections.

Urgent same-day processing is not available on the official government portal — three working days is the fixed government timeline. The Visarun.ai service delivers within 2–3 business days, consistent with this standard window.

According to the Vietnam Immigration Department, the official entry system allows travelers to enter and exit Vietnam through 83 designated checkpoints, including 17 airports, 27 land border gates, and 39 seaports. These updates are outlined in Article 2 of Resolution 127/NQ-CP (2023), amended and supplemented by Article 1 of Resolution 389/NQ-CP (12/2025).

• 17 international airports — including Noi Bai (Hanoi), Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City), Da Nang International, Cam Ranh (Nha Trang), Phu Bai (Hue), Phu Quoc International, and Cat Bi (Hai Phong)
• 27 land border gates — covering crossings with Cambodia (including Moc Bai and Tinh Bien), Laos (including Nam Can and Bo Y), and China (including Lao Cai and Mong Cai)
• 39 seaports — including Tien Sa (Da Nang), Chan May, Cai Lan, and cruise terminals at major coastal cities

Both the entry and exit checkpoints must be specified during the application and must correspond to actual travel plans. Selecting the wrong entry point and then arriving at a different one requires a new application and a new fee.

Length of Stay, Extensions and Overstay Penalties

The e-visa permits up to 90 days per entry. For multiple-entry holders, the stay counter does not reset to a full 90 days on re-entry — it runs against the remaining validity from the visa's fixed start date. A traveler who holds a 90-day visa, leaves on day 60, and re-enters on day 75 has only 15 days of permitted stay remaining. Building this into multi-leg itineraries before departure avoids problems at the border.

Extensions inside Vietnam without departing are available in defined circumstances — primarily for those awaiting a Vietnamese work permit or whose work permit has expired while exit arrangements are pending. General tourist extensions are not routinely approved. Most Indian visitors who wish to stay longer exit and re-enter on a fresh e-visa. Visa renewal through a local immigration service — obtaining a new permitted stay without leaving — is possible in more cases but typically requires a local sponsor or agent.

Overstaying a Vietnam visa incurs escalating fines under Decree 282/2025, effective December 15, 2025. The updated structure is:

• Under 3 days — approximately VND 500,000 (around USD 20), payable at the airport departure counter
• 3 to 15 days — VND 1 million to VND 5 million (approximately USD 38 to USD 190)
• 16 to 30 days — VND 5 million to VND 10 million (approximately USD 190 to USD 380), with mandatory deportation procedures potentially triggered from day 16
• Maximum penalty — VND 40 million (approximately USD 1,520) for serious or prolonged violations.

Overstays of significant length also carry a re-entry ban of one to three years or more. Vietnam's border system flags overstays automatically. Travelers who overstay by fewer than three days can pay at the airport; those with longer overstays are advised to report to the local immigration department before attempting to depart, as trying to leave without declaring the overstay can increase the sanction.

Recent Changes Indians Should Know (2025-2026)

Fee Schedule Consolidated: Circular 28/2026/TT-BTC (April 2026)

The Ministry of Finance released Circular 28/2026/TT-BTC on March 27, 2026, effective April 1, 2026, which also abolishes Circular 25/2021/TT-BTC and Circular 62/2023/TT-BTC. The e-visa rates are unchanged: USD 25 single entry, USD 50 multiple entry. The consolidation removes the administrative ambiguity that existed between the two earlier instruments.

UD1 and UD2 Preferential Visa Categories (July 2026)

Vietnam introduced two new visa types from July 1, 2026. The UD1 visa is intended for high-quality talent or foreigners eligible for preferential treatment under Vietnamese law, while the UD2 visa is for their spouses and children under 18. Both visas are valid for up to five years. These require a government-body endorsement and are not accessible through the standard e-visa portal. Indian technology professionals considering long-term relocation to Vietnam should consult a licensed immigration advisor on eligibility.

Pre-Arrival Declaration Now Active at Four Airports (2026)

A digital Pre-Arrival Information form was introduced at Tan Son Nhat International Airport (Ho Chi Minh City) from April 15, 2026. The system has since expanded to cover arrivals in Phu Quoc, Hanoi, and Da Nang. Indian travelers flying into any of these four airports are required to complete the form within three days before arrival. The declaration does not replace the e-visa; it is an additional step for faster immigration clearance.

Entry Network Expanded to 83 Checkpoints (December 2025)

Resolution 389/NQ-CP added 41 border gates in December 2025, bringing the approved e-visa entry network to 83 points across 17 airports, 27 land crossings, and 39 seaports. Indian travelers who previously relied solely on air routes now have broader overland options for multi-country Southeast Asia itineraries.

Special Visa Exemption Card Under Decree 221/2025 (August 2025)

Vietnam launched the Special Visa Exemption Card (SVEC) policy under Decree 221/2025/ND-CP, in effect from August 15, 2025. This scheme provides eligible foreign nationals with a digital and physical visa waiver card granting multiple entries to Vietnam with a validity period of up to five years. Eligible categories include guests of Party and State leaders, scholars, experts, investors, and people working in the fields of culture and the arts. The SVEC is not a general tourist benefit. Indian nationals with documented investment or recognized research affiliations with Vietnamese institutions may inquire about eligibility through Vietnam's immigration department.

Overstay Penalties Doubled: Decree 282/2025 (December 2025)

Vietnam doubled maximum visa overstay penalties to VND 40 million (approximately USD 1,520) under Decree 282/2025, which took effect December 15, 2025, replacing Decree 144/2021 that capped fines at VND 20 million. Vietnam enforces these rules systematically through its border management system. Travelers uncertain of their visa expiry should check their e-visa PDF, not their date of entry.

10-Year Golden Visa: Still a Proposal Only

Vietnam's 10-year golden visa remains a proposal in 2026. No decree has been signed and no application route exists. Indian travelers should not make plans based on its availability. Monitor official Vietnamese government channels for any change in legal status.

Indian Embassy Advisory on Phu Quoc Conditions (April 2026)

The Indian Embassy in Hanoi issued a travel advisory on April 6, 2026, specifically noting that Indian travelers must comply with the direct-arrival requirement for Phu Quoc's visa-free policy. Any domestic connection through a Vietnamese mainland airport before reaching Phu Quoc disqualifies the exemption. Travelers caught under this condition have been penalized on departure.

FAQ

Do Indians need a visa to enter Vietnam in 2026?

Yes. India is not on Vietnam's visa-exemption list. The standard option is the government e-visa, applied for online at evisa.gov.vn. Phu Quoc Island is the only exception, where Indians can stay up to 30 days visa-free if they arrive on a direct international flight or cruise without transiting through mainland Vietnam.

How much does a Vietnam e-visa cost for Indians?

The official government fee is USD 25 for single entry (approximately 2,400 INR) and USD 50 for multiple entry (approximately 4,800 INR), confirmed under Circular 28/2026/TT-BTC effective April 1, 2026. Through Visarun.ai, the total is USD 72 — the government fee plus a USD 47 service fee. Always check the official Vietnam government portal for the current rate before submitting payment, as fees can be updated by the Ministry of Finance.

How long can Indians stay in Vietnam on an e-visa?

Up to 90 days per entry. The visa start date is fixed at approval, so applicants should set their intended arrival date — not the application date — as the start to avoid losing days from the permitted stay window. Multiple-entry holders can re-enter within the visa's validity, with each entry drawing from the remaining days on the overall 90-day clock.

Can Indians visit Phu Quoc without a visa?

Indian nationals can get Phu Quoc visa-free for up to 30 days, provided they arrive directly to Phu Quoc from a foreign country via Phu Quoc International Airport or seaport. Any travel to the Vietnamese mainland during the visit requires a separate valid visa. The Indian Embassy in Hanoi issued an advisory in April 2026 after several Indian visitors were penalized for misunderstanding this condition.

How long does Vietnam e-visa processing take for Indians?

Standard government processing is three working days from a complete, error-free submission. Vietnamese public holidays — especially Tet — are excluded from this count, so applying at least 15 to 20 days before travel is advisable. The Visarun.ai service delivers within 2–3 business days, in line with the government's standard window. No official same-day processing is available on the government portal.

What documents do I need for a Vietnam e-visa?

A passport valid for at least six months past the entry date with two blank pages, a clear full-color scan of the passport biographical page, a JPEG portrait photo on a white background taken within six months, intended travel dates, selected entry and exit checkpoints from the approved 83-point list, and an international payment card. All files are uploaded digitally — no physical submission is needed.

Can I extend my Vietnam visa without leaving the country?

Extensions inside Vietnam are available only in defined circumstances — primarily for those awaiting a work permit or whose work permit expired while departure is being organized. General tourist extensions are not routinely granted. Most Indian visitors who need more time exit and re-enter on a fresh e-visa. Visa renewal through a local immigration service without departing is possible in some situations but typically requires a local sponsor.

What are the penalties for overstaying a Vietnam visa?

Under Decree 282/2025 (effective December 15, 2025), fines run from approximately VND 500,000 (around USD 20) for under three days, up to VND 40 million (approximately USD 1,520) for serious violations. Overstays of 16 days or more can trigger mandatory deportation and a multi-year re-entry ban. Short overstays of under three days can be resolved with a fine at the airport departure counter; longer ones require reporting to the local immigration department before attempting to leave.

What is the Special Visa Exemption Card and can Indians qualify?

The SVEC, introduced under Decree 221/2025/ND-CP from August 15, 2025, gives qualifying foreign nationals five-year multiple-entry access with 90-day stays per visit. Eligible categories include scholars, recognized experts, investors with documented capital commitments, and professionals in culture and the arts. It is not a general tourist benefit. Indian nationals with confirmed investment or formal research affiliations with Vietnamese institutions may inquire about eligibility through Vietnam's immigration department.

Is the Vietnam 10-year golden visa available in 2026?

No. As of mid-2026, the 10-year golden visa is a policy proposal with no signed decree and no open application process. Indian travelers should not make plans based on its availability. The longest currently accessible general option for Indians remains the 90-day e-visa. Visarun.ai will publish an update once a formal application route is confirmed by the Vietnamese government.