By Jérémie Chiari · Last updated: September 23, 2026
Vietnam has greatly simplified its visa procedures in recent years. Since August 15, 2023, the e-visa has been open to all nationalities and has gone from 30 to 90 days, with single or multiple entry. But between the exemption, the tourist e-visa, the business visa, the work permit and the investor visa, it is easy to get lost.
This guide, written from Da Nang, helps you choose the right visa for your situation. The fees quoted are the official Vietnamese fees, with their source.
The 4 types of visas for moving to Vietnam
1. The tourist e-visa (DL): the simplest
This is the default visa for most expats who are just starting out. The application is 100% online on the official portal evisa.gov.vn, with a legal processing time of 3 working days. It allows a stay of 90 days at most, with single or multiple entry: with multiple entry, you can leave and come back while it is valid.
Official fees: 25 USD for a single entry, 50 USD for multiple entries (see the details below).
Best for: travelers and anyone who wants to get to know Vietnam before committing to the long term. It does not allow you to work in the country.
2. The business visa (DN): for entrepreneurs
If you have a company that works with Vietnamese partners, or if you are setting up a local entity, the DN visa is the logical choice. It requires an invitation letter from a company registered in Vietnam.
Length: 1 to 12 months, multiple entries. Renewable in the country.
Official visa fees: from 25 USD (single entry) to 135 USD (multiple entries for up to 1 year), depending on the length. Sponsorship by the company is a separate process.
3. The work visa (LD) + work permit
Required if you are employed by a Vietnamese company or hold a management position in a local company. The process has two steps: first you get a work permit through DOLISA, then the LD visa is issued.
Length: up to 2 years, renewable.
Documents required: apostilled criminal record, apostilled diplomas, medical certificate, photos, passport valid for 6+ months.
Total cost: 400-800 EUR, including the work permit, document legalization and agency fees.
4. The investor visa (DT): for large projects
Reserved for people who invest directly in a Vietnamese company or who set up a company with significant capital. The DT visa is tied to an investment registration certificate (IRC) issued by the DPI (Department of Planning and Investment).
Length: up to 5 years.
Cost: varies with the amount invested. Allow 2,000-5,000 EUR in administrative and legal fees to set up the company + visa.
Vietnam visa comparison table
| Criterion | E-visa (DL) | Business (DN) | Work (LD) | Investor (DT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum length | 90 days | 12 months | 2 years | 5 years |
| Multiple entries | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cost | 25 / 50 USD | 25-135 USD (visa) | 400-800 EUR | 2,000-5,000 EUR |
| Sponsor required | No | Yes (Vietnamese company) | Yes (employer) | No (but IRC) |
| Processing time | 3 working days (legal) | 5-10 days | 4-8 weeks | 2-4 months |
| Right to work | No | Restricted | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Nomads, freelancers | Entrepreneurs | Employees | Investors |
How much does a Vietnam visa cost?
Visa fees are set by the Vietnamese Ministry of Finance. Since April 1, 2026, they have been governed by Circular 28/2026/TT-BTC of March 27, 2026, which replaces Circulars 25/2021 and 62/2023. Amounts in force as of September 23, 2026:
| Document | Official fees |
|---|---|
| 45-day exemption (French citizens and 11 other countries) | Free |
| Single-entry e-visa or visa (90 days max.) | 25 USD |
| Multiple-entry e-visa or visa (90 days max.) | 50 USD |
| Multiple-entry visa, 90 to 180 days | 95 USD |
| Multiple-entry visa, 180 days to 1 year | 135 USD |
| Child under 14 (any length) | 25 USD |
| Temporary residence card (up to 2 years / 2 to 5 years) | 145 / 155 USD |
- Fees are not refunded if your application is refused or if there is a mistake in the form.
- The legal processing time for the e-visa is 3 working days after a complete application and the fees are received (Law 51/2019/QH14, art. 16a). The official portal does not sell an express option.
- A “visa price” above 25 or 50 USD means the website is adding its own service fee: it is not a Vietnamese tax.
The step-by-step process, processing times and what to do in an emergency are covered in our guide how to apply for a Vietnam visa.
E-visa application: step by step
- 1Go to the official website: evisa.gov.vn (every official website ends in .gov.vn; beware of sites that imitate it)
- 2Prepare your documents: a passport-style photo (4x6 cm, white background) and a scan of your passport's photo page in JPEG/PNG
- 3Fill in the online form: nationality, dates of stay, planned port of entry, address in Vietnam
- 4Pay the fees: 25 USD (single entry) or 50 USD (multiple entries) by bank card
- 5Track and download your e-visa: with your application code, within 3 working days (legal processing time). Check every line, then print it.
- 6Show it at immigration: when you arrive in Vietnam, the immigration officer will stamp your passport
5 pitfalls you must avoid
1. Using a fake e-visa website
Many websites imitate the official portal and charge far more than the official fees. The official portal is evisa.gov.vn (the old address evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn is still active): every official website ends in .gov.vn.
2. Overstaying
The fine is 500,000 to 2,000,000 VND per day of overstay (20-80 EUR). Beyond 30 days, you risk an entry ban.
3. Not checking your passport's validity
Your passport must be valid for 6 months after your date of entry. Every year, French travelers are refused boarding for this reason.
4. Working on a tourist visa
Technically illegal. The risk is low for freelancers working remotely, but for any local activity (restaurant, retail, teaching), a work permit is required.
5. Counting on an extension in the country
According to France Diplomatie, the exemption and tourist visas cannot be extended or renewed in the country. Plan from the start for the right visa for the full length of your stay.
Staying longer
According to France Diplomatie, the exemption and tourist visas cannot be extended or renewed in the country. For a stay of more than 90 days, there are two routes: leave the country and apply for a new visa, or get a long-term visa sponsored by a Vietnamese company or organization.
Leaving and then applying again is often called a border run: a round trip to Laos, Cambodia or Thailand. From Da Nang, the Lao Bao border crossing (Laos border) is about 6 hours away by bus. Repeated round trips can, however, attract the attention of immigration: see our article on the visa run.
For a long-term move, the right document depends on your activity: a work visa with a permit, an investor visa or a family visa, followed by a temporary residence card. See renewing your visa and the temporary residence card.
Sources (accessed September 23, 2026)
- evisa.gov.vn: official e-visa portal (Immigration Department, Ministry of Public Security)
- France Diplomatie, Vietnam: entry and stay (in French): 45-day exemption, e-visa, no extensions (page updated September 15, 2026)
- Embassy of Vietnam in Japan: Resolution 44/NQ-CP, exemption from March 15, 2025 to March 14, 2028
- Embassy of Vietnam in Japan: Resolution 127/NQ-CP, e-visa open to all countries since August 15, 2023
- Circular 28/2026/TT-BTC: visa fees in force since April 1, 2026
- Law 51/2019/QH14: e-visa processing time