Most UAE residents visiting Vietnam use its e-visa. You apply online on Vietnam’s official portal, pay US$25 for a single entry or US$50 for multiple entries, and can stay up to 90 days. There is no embassy appointment and no agent involved. A UAE residence visa does not change the rules: what matters is your passport. Holders of 24 mainly European passports, plus Japan and South Korea, can skip the visa altogether for stays of up to 45 days.
This guide covers who needs a visa, how to apply on the official portal without paying a lookalike site, the photo rules, which airports accept the e-visa, and what to do before you fly.
Key Takeaways
- The e-visa is open to all nationalities, except a few diplomatic and official categories. You apply only at evisa.gov.vn or thithucdientu.gov.vn.
- The fee is US$25 for a single entry or US$50 for multiple entries. It is paid online and not refunded if the visa is refused.
- An e-visa is valid for up to 90 days, and your passport must remain valid at least 30 days beyond it.
- Citizens of 24 countries, including the UK, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan and South Korea, can enter visa-free for 45 days under government resolutions running to 2028.
- Indian, Pakistani, Egyptian, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Nepali and Emirati passport holders are not on the 45-day lists.
- You must enter and leave through a border gate on the government’s approved list, which includes all the main international airports.
Do You Need a Visa for Vietnam?
Start with your passport. Vietnam has two unilateral 45-day exemption schemes that matter most to UAE residents, plus bilateral agreements with some countries.
| Scheme | Passports covered | Stay and purpose | In force until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resolution 44/NQ-CP | Germany, France, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland | 45 days, any purpose of entry | 14 March 2028 |
| Resolution 229/NQ-CP | Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland | 45 days, tourism only | 14 August 2028 |
Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs published both schemes. Resolution 44 applies regardless of passport type and entry purpose. Resolution 229 is part of a tourism stimulus program and covers tourism purposes only. Under both, you must still meet Vietnam’s normal entry conditions.
Separate bilateral agreements give visa-free entry to citizens of most ASEAN countries, including the Philippines and Indonesia. Their length of stay differs by country. Check the Vietnamese Consular Department’s visa exemption page for your passport before you book.
Common UAE expat nationalities
| Passport | What to use |
|---|---|
| India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal | e-visa |
| Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Morocco | e-visa |
| UAE and other GCC countries | e-visa (not on the 45-day lists) |
| United States, Canada, Australia, Ireland, South Africa | e-visa (not on the 45-day lists) |
| UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Nordics | Visa-free for 45 days (e-visa for longer stays) |
| Philippines, Indonesia and other ASEAN members | Visa-free under bilateral agreements (check your stay limit) |
If your exemption is shorter than your trip, you can apply for the e-visa instead. Present it at the border: the portal’s FAQ warns that travelers who forget to show their e-visa may be admitted under the exemption instead, with the shorter stay.
The Vietnam e-Visa at a Glance
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Who issues it | Immigration Department, Ministry of Public Security |
| Official websites | evisa.gov.vn and thithucdientu.gov.vn only |
| Fee | US$25 single entry, US$50 multiple entry, non-refundable |
| Maximum validity | 90 days |
| Passport validity | At least 30 days longer than the e-visa |
| How early you can apply | Up to 1 year before entry |
| Where you must be | Outside Vietnam when you apply |
The fee, validity and non-refund rule are on the e-visa portal’s home page. The passport rule, the 1-year window and the rule that you must apply from outside Vietnam are in the portal’s FAQ. An e-visa cannot be used to work: Vietnamese law requires a work permit or an exemption certificate for that. For China, see our guide to the China visa from Dubai.
How to Apply, Step by Step
- Go to the official portal. The Immigration Department warns that unofficial sites may charge fees that are not authorized under Vietnamese regulations. Type evisa.gov.vn into your browser rather than clicking an ad.
- Upload your portrait and passport photo page. The portrait must be a recent 4 x 6 cm JPG or JPEG under 2 MB, facing forward, with a white background, no hat and no glasses. The system reads your passport details automatically, and you should check and correct them.
- Complete the form in English. Enter your full name exactly as on the machine-readable line of your passport, including any middle name. Declare every trip to Vietnam in the past year and any past violations. Dishonest answers lead to refusal.
- Give your first address in Vietnam. If you are touring, declare the first place you will stay. Hotels register you at each later address.
- Choose your entry and exit points. They must be on the approved list. You do not have to leave through the same gate you entered.
- Pay by card through the portal’s payment gateway, confirming with the OTP from your bank.
- Track and download the result using your application code, date of birth and email on the portal’s search page. Print the e-visa and carry it with your passport.
The portal does not publish a fixed processing time. Apply at least a couple of weeks before you fly so you have time to fix any errors.
Airports That Accept the e-Visa
You must enter and exit through a border gate on the government’s list. The portal lists 15 airports: Noi Bai (Hanoi), Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City), Da Nang, Cam Ranh (Nha Trang), Phu Quoc, Cat Bi (Hai Phong), Phu Bai (Hue), Van Don, Can Tho, Tho Xuan, Dong Hoi, Phu Cat, Lien Khuong (Da Lat), Vinh and Chu Lai. Flights from Dubai and Abu Dhabi land at gates on this list. Land and sea gates are listed on the same page.
Before You Fly
- Pre-arrival form. The Immigration Department recommends completing a pre-arrival form online before you travel to speed up entry.
- Check your exit. Make sure nothing in the UAE stops you leaving by checking your UAE travel ban status online.
- Combining countries. For a Southeast Asia trip, see our guides to the Thailand visa for UAE residents and the Singapore visa for UAE residents.
- Vietnamese nationals in the UAE face different questions about tax at home, covered in our guide for Vietnamese residents of the UAE.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do UAE residents need a visa for Vietnam?
It depends on the passport, not the residence. Most UAE residents, including Indian, Pakistani, Egyptian and Emirati passport holders, need an e-visa. UK and many EU passport holders can enter visa-free for 45 days.
How much is a Vietnam e-visa?
US$25 for a single-entry e-visa and US$50 for a multiple-entry e-visa, paid online on the official portal. The fee is not refunded if the visa is refused.
How long can I stay on a Vietnam e-visa?
Up to 90 days. Your passport must be valid for at least 30 days longer than the e-visa.
Do Emiratis need a visa for Vietnam?
The UAE is not on either of Vietnam’s 45-day exemption lists, so Emirati passport holders on an ordinary passport should apply for the e-visa.
Do Filipinos in Dubai need a visa for Vietnam?
Philippine citizens can enter visa-free under a bilateral agreement, for a limited period. If your trip is longer, apply for an e-visa and show it on arrival.
Do I apply at the Vietnamese Embassy in Abu Dhabi?
Not for a tourist visit. Tourists apply online at evisa.gov.vn, which the Immigration Department runs. There is no embassy appointment.
Which website is the real Vietnam e-visa site?
Only evisa.gov.vn and thithucdientu.gov.vn. Other sites that look official may charge extra fees that Vietnam does not authorize.
Can I enter Vietnam by land on an e-visa?
Yes, but only through the international land border gates on the government’s approved list, which the portal publishes.
Official Sources
- Vietnam Immigration Department: National e-Visa portal (fees, validity, eligibility)
- Vietnam Immigration Department: e-Visa FAQs
- Vietnam Immigration Department: e-Visa instructions and approved border gates
- Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Resolution 44/NQ-CP visa exemption for 12 countries
- Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Resolution 229/NQ-CP tourism visa exemption
- Consular Department, Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Visa exemption to Vietnam
Fees, eligibility and exemption schemes checked on the Vietnam Immigration Department and Ministry of Foreign Affairs websites in October 2026. The stay limits under bilateral agreements, including for Philippine citizens, are published by the Consular Department and were not checked for this guide.
This guide is for informational purposes only. Vietnamese visa rules and fees are set by the Government of Vietnam and are subject to change. Always verify current requirements with the relevant official authority before proceeding with any application or transaction.
