Vietnam Visa on Arrival: What Still Exists in 2026

Visa on arrival (VOA) is a visa issued at the immigration counter of a Vietnamese international airport (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang). Contrary to what its name suggests, you cannot obtain it without preparation: you must first apply for an approval letter through a private agency or a Vietnamese sponsor, several days before your flight. This procedure is regulated by the Vietnamese Immigration Department, whose official information is available at xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn.

01What is Vietnam visa on arrival

Upon arrival, you present the approval letter, two passport photos, the completed application form (often provided on the plane or available at the counter), your passport and the stamping fee in USD. The visa is then stamped in your passport. This process takes between 30 minutes and 2 hours depending on traffic, and you must go through a separate counter before joining the normal immigration queue.

Visa on arrival is only available at international airports. If you enter by land (from Cambodia, Laos or China), you must have a visa in your passport before arriving at the border: e-visa or embassy visa.

02How to obtain the approval letter

The approval letter is an official document issued by the Vietnamese Immigration Department, which authorizes the airport agent to issue the visa. It contains your name, passport number, date of birth, nationality and the authorized visa duration.

You cannot obtain it yourself on the official website: you must go through an approved private agency or a Vietnamese sponsor (company, hotel). The agency submits your application to the Immigration Department, which issues the letter within 2 to 5 working days (standard processing) or 4 to 8 hours (urgent processing, more expensive). The agency then sends you the letter by email in PDF format.

The cost of the letter varies by agency and processing time: expect between 15 and 30 USD for standard processing, 40 to 80 USD for urgent (as of 31/10/2026). These rates do not include the stamping fee at the airport. Warning: some agencies group several travelers on the same letter to reduce their costs; your name then appears alongside strangers, which poses no legal problem but may be surprising.

03Stamping fee at the airport

Once you have the approval letter, you must pay the stamping fee at the airport counter. These fees are set by the Vietnamese government and payable in USD only (clean and recent bills preferred; damaged bills are sometimes refused). The official rates as of 31/10/2026 are:

Visa on arrival is not available in a 90-day version: only 30-day durations (single or multiple) are authorized through this channel. For a 90-day visa, you must go through the e-visa or an embassy visa.

The stamping fee is not negotiable and cannot be paid by credit card. Bring exact change in USD to avoid unfavorable exchange at the counter.

04Why the e-visa has replaced visa on arrival

Since August 2023, the Vietnamese e-visa is valid for 90 days with multiple entries for all eligible nationalities (including French, Belgian, Swiss and Canadian). It costs 25 USD (official rate on evisa.gov.vn as of 31/10/2026), is applied for entirely online, and you receive the document by email within 3 working days on average. You print it, present it at immigration, and enter without going through a separate counter or paying additional fees.

Compared to visa on arrival, the e-visa is:

• Longer: 90 days instead of 30 days maximum.
• Cheaper: 25 USD all inclusive, versus 15 to 30 USD for the letter + 25 to 50 USD stamping fee (40 to 80 USD total).
• Faster on arrival: no separate counter, no waiting at the VOA desk.
• Usable at land borders: the e-visa is valid at all entry points (airports, land border posts, ports), while visa on arrival is reserved for airports.

The only advantage of visa on arrival in 2026 is the possibility of obtaining the letter urgently (4 to 8 hours) if you leave in less than 3 days and the e-visa will not be ready in time. But this scenario is rare and expensive (40 to 80 USD for the letter + 25 to 50 USD stamping fee).

Entry rules depend on your nationality; the official portal is evisa.gov.vn. If you prefer someone to handle the application, visa-vietnam.app can do it. visa-vietnam.app is run by the same publisher as this site.

05Complete visa on arrival procedure

If you still choose visa on arrival, here is the detailed procedure:

Before departure:

1. Contact an approved agency (Google search "Vietnam visa on arrival") or your Vietnamese sponsor.
2. Provide: scan of your passport (photo page), travel dates, visa type (30 days single or multiple).
3. Pay the letter fee (credit card or PayPal depending on the agency).
4. Receive the approval letter by email within 2 to 5 days (or 4 to 8 hours urgently).
5. Print the letter in color (2 copies recommended).
6. Prepare 2 passport photos 4×6 cm on white background, taken within the last 6 months.
7. Prepare the stamping fee in USD (clean bills).

Upon arrival at the Vietnamese airport:

1. Before going through immigration, locate the "Visa on Arrival" or "Landing Visa" counter (often to the left or right of the arrival area).
2. Fill out the application form (available at the counter or on the plane): name, passport number, address in Vietnam.
3. Hand over to the counter: approval letter, form, passport, 2 photos, stamping fee in USD.
4. The agent checks the documents, collects the fee, and gives you a ticket with a number.
5. Wait for your number to be called (30 minutes to 2 hours depending on traffic).
6. Collect your passport with the stamped visa.
7. Then go through normal immigration like other travelers.

If you arrive on a night flight or at a time of heavy traffic (several international flights at the same time), the delay may exceed 2 hours. Allow plenty of time if you have a domestic connection. To know all visa options according to your nationality, consult the official website evisa.gov.vn or the Travel Advice from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

06Differences between visa on arrival and e-visa

If you enter through a land border post (from Phnom Penh, Vientiane, Nanning), visa on arrival is not an option: you must have an e-visa or embassy visa before arriving at the border.

07When visa on arrival remains useful

Visa on arrival can still be justified in three specific situations:

1. Immediate departure (less than 3 days): if you leave tomorrow and do not have an e-visa, an agency can provide you with an approval letter in 4 to 8 hours (for 40 to 80 USD). It is expensive, but it is the only urgent solution to enter legally by air.

2. Organized groups: some travel agencies obtain group letters for their clients, which reduces the individual cost. If you are traveling with a tour operator that offers this service, it may be included in your package.

3. Long visa via sponsor: if you have a Vietnamese sponsor (company, university, partner hotel) that issues the letter for free or at a reduced rate, visa on arrival may cost less than an e-visa. But this case is rare for individual travelers.

In all other cases, the e-visa is simpler, cheaper, longer and more versatile. To understand all visa options available according to your nationality and length of stay, consult our complete Vietnam visa guide.

08Common mistakes to avoid

Not printing the letter: the airport agent systematically refuses letters displayed on smartphone or tablet. Print it in color before departure.

Arriving without USD: the stamping fee cannot be paid in VND, euros or by card. Exchange USD before departure or at the transit airport (Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore).

Confusing visa on arrival and exemption: French, Belgian, Swiss and Canadian citizens benefit from a 45-day visa exemption for single entry. If you stay less than 45 days and it is your first entry, you need neither visa on arrival nor e-visa.

Believing visa on arrival is free: the term "visa on arrival" suggests that you just need to arrive to get it. In reality, you pay for the letter before departure, then the stamping fee at the airport. The total cost often exceeds that of the e-visa.

Using visa on arrival for land entry: visa on arrival only exists at international airports. If you enter by road from Cambodia, Laos or China, you will be turned away without an e-visa or embassy visa.

09What to remember

Vietnam visa on arrival still exists in 2026, but it requires an approval letter obtained before departure, costs between 40 and 80 USD in total, and involves a 30-minute to 2-hour wait at the airport. The e-visa has largely replaced it: it is valid for 90 days with multiple entries, costs 25 USD, and saves you any additional counter on arrival. Visa on arrival remains relevant only in case of immediate departure (less than 3 days) or if you benefit from a free letter via a Vietnamese sponsor. To prepare your stay, consult our administrative formalities guide and our expatriation checklist.