Updated 31 October 2026. Figures follow Circular No. 28/2026/TT-BTC, in force from 1 April 2026.
Globalization has grown rapidly thanks to advances in transportation and communication technology, bringing closer integration of international trade, ideas, and cultures. Even so, travel between countries is not free of rules: each country sets its own immigration policy, and Vietnam is no exception. For people going abroad for business, tourism, charity, or other purposes, visa procedures and visa fees can feel nerve-wracking. We already have a complete article on the Vietnam visa application process, so this one focuses on everything you need to know about Vietnam visa fees in 2026.
General information about the Vietnam visa fee
What is a Vietnam visa (“Thị thực”)?
“Visa” is the international term; in Vietnam it is called “Thị thực”. It is a document issued by Vietnamese authorities (or a Vietnamese diplomatic mission abroad) that permits a foreigner to enter, stay in, and leave Vietnam under the conditions stated on it. Since 15 August 2023, Vietnam has issued e-visas to citizens of all countries and territories, valid for up to 90 days, single or multiple entry.
What is the Vietnam visa fee?
It is the government fee paid for issuing a visa and other documents related to entry, exit, transit, and residence in Vietnam. It is separate from any service fee charged by a private agency (see below).
What is the legal basis in 2026?
Visa fees are set by Circular No. 28/2026/TT-BTC, issued by the Ministry of Finance on 27 March 2026 and effective from 1 April 2026. It replaces Circular No. 25/2021/TT-BTC, which had itself replaced Circular No. 219/2016/TT-BTC. The headline visa rates (US$25 single entry, US$50 multiple entry) were carried over unchanged.
The underlying immigration rules come from the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam (Law No. 47/2014/QH13, amended by Law No. 51/2019/QH14 and Law No. 23/2023/QH15, the latter effective 15 August 2023).
Who has to pay?
- Vietnamese citizens who ask competent agencies to issue passports, laissez-passers, exit permits, or “AB” stamps pay fees under the same circular.
- Foreigners who ask competent agencies in Vietnam for visas or other papers granting entry, exit, or residence rights pay visa fees.
Who collects the fee?
The competent state agencies that issue the documents collect the fee: mainly the Immigration Department of the Ministry of Public Security and provincial-level immigration/police offices, plus Vietnamese diplomatic missions abroad and the consular authorities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the documents they issue. Collected fees are paid into the state budget.
In what currency is the fee paid?
Visa fees and fees for other entry/exit/residence documents for foreigners are charged in US dollars or Vietnamese dong. Where the rate is set in USD, it can be collected in USD, or in VND converted at the exchange rate prescribed in Clause 7, Article 3 of Decree No. 362/2025/ND-CP (31 December 2025). E-visa fees are paid online by international card.
Types of Vietnam visa fees for foreigners
Official government fee schedule (Circular 28/2026/TT-BTC)
| No. | Item | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Single-entry visa | US$25 |
| 2a | Multiple-entry visa, valid up to 90 days | US$50 |
| 2b | Multiple-entry visa, over 90 up to 180 days | US$95 |
| 2c | Multiple-entry visa, over 180 days up to 1 year | US$135 |
| 2d | Multiple-entry visa, over 1 up to 2 years | US$145 |
| 2e | Multiple-entry visa, over 2 up to 5 years | US$155 |
| 2f | Multiple-entry visa, over 5 up to 10 years | US$165 |
| 2g | Visa for persons under 14 (any validity) | US$25 |
| 3 | Transfer of visa / temporary residence card validity from an old passport to a new one (or old loose-leaf visa to a new one) | US$5 |
| 4 | Issuance / re-issuance of a visa exemption certificate | US$10 |
| 5a | Temporary residence card, up to 2 years | US$145 |
| 5b | Temporary residence card, 2 to 5 years | US$155 |
| 5c | Temporary residence card, 5 to 10 years | US$165 |
| 6 | Extension of temporary stay | US$10 per time |
| 7 | Issuance / re-issuance of permanent residence card | US$100 |
| 8 | Permits to enter restricted/border areas; permits for Lao citizens using border laissez-passers to travel to inland provinces | US$10 per person |
| 9 | Visas for air/sea transit passengers who want to sightsee in Vietnam | US$5 per person |
| 10 | Visas issued from approved personnel lists for foreigners arriving by sea for tourism, sea-transit passengers entering inland areas on tours by international travel enterprises, and crew of foreign military vessels on official visits | US$5 per person |
| 11 | Entry/exit permits for stateless persons residing in Vietnam without a passport | VND 200,000 per issuance |
| 12 | Permits for people who entered a border-gate economic zone with a border laissez-passer to visit other places in the province | US$10 per person |
E-visa fee (the most common route)
The electronic visa is available to citizens of all countries and territories, valid for up to 90 days, single or multiple entry.
| E-visa type | Government fee |
|---|---|
| Single entry | US$25 |
| Multiple entry | US$50 |
Key points:
- Apply only on the official portal, evisa.gov.vn, and pay online with an international credit/debit card (Visa, MasterCard, JCB, etc.).
- Processing is typically around 3 working days, longer around Tet and public holidays.
- The fee is non-refundable, whether the application is approved or rejected.
- No stamping fee is charged on arrival for e-visa holders.
Visa on arrival (approval letter + stamping fee)
Visa on arrival remains available in 2026, but only for travelers entering by air at designated international airports (such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang). It involves two separate costs:
- Service fee for the pre-approval (approval) letter, paid online to the agency that processes it. This is not a government fee and varies widely by agency, speed, and visa type.
- Stamping fee paid in cash at the airport visa counter: US$25 single entry / US$50 multiple entry. Bring exact cash; cards are generally not accepted.
For most travelers the e-visa is cheaper, because it carries the same government fee but no agency service fee and no airport stamping queue.
Visa-free entry (no visa and no visa fee)
Visa-free entry is a separate matter from the fee exemptions described further down. As of 2026:
- 45 days, unilateral exemption for 24 countries (regardless of passport type and entry purpose, provided entry conditions are met):
- Resolution No. 44/NQ-CP, valid 15 March 2025 to 14 March 2028: Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland.
- Resolution No. 229/NQ-CP, valid 15 August 2025 to 14 August 2028: Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland.
- ASEAN bilateral exemptions: 30 days for Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, and Laos; 21 days for the Philippines; 14 days for Brunei and Myanmar.
- Phu Quoc: up to 30 days when traveling directly to Phu Quoc International Airport or arriving by sea.
- APEC Business Travel Card holders (with “VNM” on the back) can enter for business for up to 60 days.
Exemption lists and durations change, so confirm your nationality on the Vietnam Immigration Department or Ministry of Foreign Affairs website before you travel.
Other fees related to the Vietnam visa
You can pay these at the immigration offices where you live in Vietnam.
Transferring a visa or temporary residence card to a new passport (US$5)
Foreigners must hold a valid passport and visa to enter and reside in Vietnam. If you get a new passport, you can ask to transfer the validity of your visa, temporary residence card, or remaining temporary stay from the old passport to the new one. This is handled at the immigration office of the province or city where you are staying. The fee is US$5.
Visa exemption certificate (US$10)
A visa exemption certificate (such as the 5-year certificate for overseas Vietnamese and their foreign family members) is issued or re-issued for US$10 per card.
Cases exempt from visa fees
The circular exempts certain cases from fees. Examples include guests of the Party, State, Government, or National Assembly; staff of foreign diplomatic missions, consulates, and international organizations in Vietnam (and their families) on the basis of reciprocity; cases exempted under international treaties Vietnam has signed or on the basis of reciprocity; and certain humanitarian and security cases. In exempt cases the collecting agency stamps the document “Miễn thu phí” or “Miễn thu lệ phí” (GRATIS).
Temporary residence card (TRC)
A TRC lets foreigners live in Vietnam for the period printed on the card, and they can enter and leave without applying for a new visa each time. A TRC must expire at least 30 days before the passport does. Processing is commonly about 5 working days after a complete file is accepted.
| Validity | Fee |
|---|---|
| Up to 2 years | US$145 |
| 2 to 5 years | US$155 |
| 5 to 10 years | US$165 |
Extension of temporary stay (US$10 per time)
Extending a temporary stay costs US$10 per time. Holders of a valid TRC do not need to extend their visa for as long as the card is valid.
Permanent residence card (US$100)
Permanent residence cards are issued to foreigners permitted to reside permanently in Vietnam. New issuance and re-issuance cost US$100 per card.
Transit visas (US$5 per person)
- By air: foreigners in transit are visa-exempt while staying in the international airport transit area for their flight. Those who want to enter Vietnam for sightseeing on a program organized by a Vietnamese travel enterprise are issued a suitable visa for US$5 per person.
- By sea: foreigners are visa-exempt while staying in the seaport transit area during the vessel’s mooring. Those joining sightseeing programs by international travel enterprises are issued a visa for US$5 per person.
Entry/exit permits for stateless residents without a passport (VND 200,000)
Stateless persons residing in Vietnam who have no passport can be issued entry/exit permits for VND 200,000 per issuance, provided they are not subject to an exit or entry suspension under Vietnamese law.
Border-gate permits (US$10 per person)
Permits for persons who entered a border-gate economic zone with a border laissez-passer to visit other places in the province, and permits to enter restricted or border areas, cost US$10 per person.
Lost or damaged documents
Lost or damaged documents are generally re-issued on payment of the fee again, as for a new issuance. Check with the issuing office for your specific document.
Fees for Vietnamese citizens (selected items)
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| New passport (chip or non-chip) | VND 200,000 |
| Re-issuance of passport (damaged or lost) | VND 400,000 |
| Exit permit | VND 200,000 |
| “AB” stamp | VND 50,000 |
| Viet Nam–Laos / Viet Nam–Cambodia border laissez-passer | VND 50,000 |
| ABTC (APEC Business Travel Card), new | VND 840,000 |
| ABTC, re-issuance | VND 700,000 |
Vietnam visa service fees charged by agencies
Everything above is what the Vietnamese government charges. Private visa agencies add their own service fee for tasks such as consulting, checking your information, submitting the application, tracking its status, and delivering the approval letter or e-visa. This fee depends on the agency, your nationality, the visa type, and the processing speed (standard, urgent, or emergency), and it is optional for the e-visa route, which you can apply for yourself.
There is no official list of “approved” agencies, and agency contact details change often, so we do not recommend specific companies here. If you choose an agency:
- Compare the total price (service fee plus government or stamping fee) against the official US$25 / US$50 rate.
- Check that the agency is a real, registered business with verifiable reviews and a clear refund policy.
- Never pay anyone to “guarantee” approval.
Things to do before applying and paying the visa fee
- Read up on visa types, fees, the application process, and regulations. Check whether your nationality qualifies for visa-free entry.
- Prepare your documents in advance (passport valid at least 6 months beyond arrival with enough blank pages, a recent passport-style photo, and so on).
- Choose the right route: e-visa at evisa.gov.vn for most travelers; approval letter and visa on arrival only if you arrive by air and have a specific need.
- Prepare payment in the right currency: an international card for the e-visa, or exact USD (or VND) cash for stamping fees and in-country procedures.
- Follow the guidance of the immigration authorities and diplomatic missions.
- Watch out for fake agencies and look-alike websites. Only evisa.gov.vn is the official e-visa portal. Fraudulent sites may take your money or provide a fake visa.