Vietnam eVisa for US Travelers: Official Channel, Timing & How to Apply
Short answer: Travel.State.Gov states that a visa is required for Vietnam and that you must apply before you travel (exception: stays of 30 days or less on Phu Quoc island only). For most U.S. trips, complete a Vietnam eVisa online through the Government of Vietnam’s electronic visa interface before arrival. Passports need 6 months’ validity beyond your arrival date. Processing is usually 3 to 5 working days after the Vietnam Immigration Department receives a completed application and payment. Print your eVisa and bring it with your passport. You cannot renew or extend an eVisa while in Vietnam. Confirm live fees on the official apply channel before you pay. Start Vietnam eVisa help on my-evisas.com. Stand: 18 August 2026.
Navigation: ← Vietnam · eVisa vs VoA · Pre-arrival · Start eVisa help
What is a Vietnam eVisa?
A Vietnam eVisa is the online visa path completed through the Government of Vietnam’s electronic visa interface (Travel.State.Gov). For typical U.S. tourism or short business visits outside the Phu Quoc-only exemption, it is the main electronic route my-evisas.com assists with.
An approved eVisa is entry permission — not visa-free travel. Confirm eligibility, stay rules, and fees on the live official apply channel before you pay.
Official apply channel
Travel.State.Gov says travelers can apply online via the Government of Vietnam’s electronic visa (E-visa) interface, and to only use the official Government of Vietnam website to request an E-visa.
The official government E-visa interface commonly used for online applications is evisa.gov.vn.
Apply on the official portal yourself, or use assisted filing: Start on my-evisas.com/visas/vietnam.
Passport and entry rules
- Passport validity (State.gov): 6 months’ validity beyond your arrival date.
- Blank pages (State.gov — quote carefully): tourist visa requirements list 1 blank page available per stamp; under E-visa tips, State.gov also states your passport must have at least 2 blank pages required for stamps. Check both statements on the live CIP and leave margin in your passport.
- Print & carry (State.gov): print your E-visa and bring it with your valid passport when you enter Vietnam.
- No in-country extension (State.gov): Vietnam does not allow you to renew or extend an E-visa while you are in the country.
- Stay length (Embassy 2023 policy note, still published): from 15 August 2023 the electronic visa term is lengthened from a maximum of 30 days with single entry to a maximum of 90 days with single or multiple entries. Confirm the live duration on the official apply channel. This is not an in-country extension.
- Pre-arrival (State.gov): non-Vietnamese passport holders entering by air must also fill a pre-arrival declaration no earlier than 3 days prior to arrival — see Pre-arrival (≠ visa).
- Data match (State.gov): E-visa details must match your passport exactly; entry/exit location must match the port you chose when you applied.
Processing time
E-visa applications are usually processed within 3 to 5 working days after the Vietnam Immigration Department receives the completed application and payment. Time may change with volume or holidays (State.gov).
Fees
Travel.State.Gov describes payment as part of a completed E-visa application but does not publish a fixed USD government fee table on the CIP page used for this guide. Confirm the live amount on the official apply channel (or assisted checkout) when you apply. Agency service fees (if you use assisted filing) are separate.
Business purpose (Tourist + Business)
my-evisas.com lists Tourist and Business Vietnam eVisa options on https://my-evisas.com/visas/vietnam. Short business visits that fit the electronic path may use a business-purpose selection on the live apply flow — confirm the purpose options and documents on the official channel (or with assisted support) before you pay.
How to apply — overview
- Confirm a visa is required for your itinerary (Travel.State.Gov: yes, unless you truly fit the Phu Quoc-only exception).
- Apply through the official Government of Vietnam E-visa channel (evisa.gov.vn), or use assisted electronic filing via https://my-evisas.com/visas/vietnam.
- Keep passport validity at least six months beyond arrival and leave blank-page margin (see rules above).
- Allow usually 3–5 working days after completed application and payment.
- Print the E-visa; bring it with your passport; complete the pre-arrival form for air entry when required.
Prefer visa on arrival or an embassy sticker instead?
State.gov notes you can also apply through Vietnamese Embassies or Consulates. Paths other than the electronic E-visa (including letter-style or counter processes often discussed as “visa on arrival”) are DIY on official channels — compare context in eVisa vs VoA. my-evisas.com assists the electronic E-visa path, not VoA letter handling.
FAQ
Do US citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes. Travel.State.Gov: a visa is required; apply before travel (Phu Quoc island exception for stays of 30 days or less only).
How long does a Vietnam E-visa take?
Usually 3 to 5 working days after the Immigration Department receives the completed application and payment (State.gov).
What is the official Vietnam E-visa website?
State.gov says to use the official Government of Vietnam website for E-visa. The government interface commonly used online is evisa.gov.vn.
Can I apply at a Vietnamese embassy instead?
Yes as a DIY path: State.gov says travelers can apply through Vietnamese Embassies or Consulates, or online via the E-visa interface. A “visa sponsor” is required for visa categories except E-visas. Embassy/sticker lodgement is not sold on my-evisas.com.
What if my E-visa is refused or has errors?
State.gov: if your E-visa has an error, immigration may not let you enter. Make sure all information matches your passport and that entry/exit locations match the ports you chose. The U.S. embassy and consulate general cannot change your E-visa information or speed up your application. Re-check the decision or correction path on the official Government of Vietnam channel.
How my-evisas.com can help
my-evisas.com can help you start a Vietnam E-visa application — electronic support linked from https://my-evisas.com/visas/vietnam (Tourist + Business options).
- Provided: Vietnam Tourist + Business eVisa help → https://my-evisas.com/visas/vietnam
- Not provided: Visa-on-arrival letter handling; embassy/consulate sticker appointment services
→ Start on my-evisas.com · Vietnam hub
Sources
- U.S. Department of State — Vietnam (accessed 18 August 2026)
- Embassy of Vietnam, United States — New Policy On Electronic Visa And Visa Exemption (accessed 18 August 2026)
Important Notice
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. my-evisas.com is a private service provider and not a government authority, embassy, or consulate.
Visa requirements and entry regulations can change at short notice. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the information provided. Only the official regulations in force at the time of your application are authoritative.
As of: 18 August 2026
Binding and up-to-date information is provided exclusively by the relevant official authorities. Please verify the currently applicable requirements before your application or travel: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Vietnam.html