Vietnam Pre-arrival (PAI) : The 72-Hour Form Before You Land

The Vietnam pre-arrival declaration, known as PAI (Pre-Arrival Information), is a free online form you complete within 72 hours before landing at selected Vietnamese airports. It does not replace your visa, but it can make passport control noticeably faster.

Vietnam PAI at a Glance

What is actually PAI

PAI is a digital arrival declaration that gives immigration officers access to traveler details before the passenger reaches the counter. At airports where it applies, it replaces the paper arrival card. The Immigration Department introduced it to shorten inspection times and reduce queues during peak hours.

Important: PAI does not grant entry to Vietnam. Every foreign traveler still needs a valid entry document.

One of the following is required in addition to PAI:

• An e-visa.
• A visa on arrival approval letter.
• A visa exemption based on nationality.

PAI is also separate from the health declaration introduced at Vietnam’s borders in July 2026, and completing one does not cover the other. Travelers using visa on arrival still complete the paper entry form NA1 at the landing visa counter.

Airports currently using PAI

PAI began as a pilot at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City on 15 April 2026 and was extended to four more airports in June 2026:

• Tan Son Nhat (SGN), Ho Chi Minh City: 15 April 2026.
• Phu Quoc (PQC), Phu Quoc: 1 June 2026.
• Noi Bai (HAN), Hanoi: June 2026.
• Da Nang (DAD), Da Nang: June 2026.
• Cam Ranh (CXR), Nha Trang: June 2026.

The Immigration Department plans to extend PAI to all international border gates. For now, travelers arriving at other airports, or by land or sea, are not required to submit it. Long Thanh International Airport, scheduled to open in December 2026, is expected to be added. Details are in Long Thanh Airport Visa Guide.

Travelers required to submit PAI

PAI applies to foreign passport holders and to overseas Vietnamese entering on a visa, when arriving on international flights at the airports listed above. This includes travelers entering under a visa exemption. Passengers in transit who do not pass through immigration are not required to submit it.

Mandatory status during the pilot phase

PAI started as a pilot, and enforcement has been introduced gradually. In the first weeks at Tan Son Nhat, around 70% of foreign arrivals used the system.

The Immigration Department, the Ho Chi Minh City immigration office and foreign embassies nonetheless advise all travelers to complete it, and passengers without a QR code may face longer waits at the counter. Our recommendation is to submit PAI for every arrival at a covered airport, as it is free and takes about 5 minutes.

Completing the PAI form step by step

The form takes about 5 minutes. The passport, the visa or e-visa and the flight details should be ready before starting.

1. Open the official website. Go to prearrival.immigration.gov.vn on a phone or computer. Links from search ads should be avoided.

2. Check the timing. Submission is only possible within 72 hours of arrival. For flights further away, the arrival date cannot yet be selected.
3. Create the declaration. Select “Create and submit declaration” and enter the CAPTCHA code.
4. Enter personal and passport details. Full name, date of birth, nationality, passport number and expiry date, exactly as printed in the passport.

5. Enter visa details. The e-visa number, the visa on arrival approval or the visa exemption used for entry.
6. Enter trip details. Arrival airport, flight number, arrival date and time in Vietnam time (GMT+7), and the address in Vietnam.
7. Submit and save the QR code. Save a screenshot or download the code so it is available offline on landing, then present it to the immigration officer together with the passport.

Each traveler in a family or group must be covered by a declaration, and every QR code should be checked before departure.

Common reasons PAI submissions fail

During the pilot phase, only about half of attempted declarations at Tan Son Nhat were completed successfully. Almost every failure was caused by one of the following errors:

• Submitting too early. Declarations open only 72 hours before arrival. A reminder set three days before landing avoids this problem.
• Details that differ from the passport. The name must be entered exactly as printed, including middle names, and the passport number and expiry date should be checked twice.
• Incorrect visa information. The e-visa number should be copied directly from the e-visa PDF rather than typed from memory.
• Time zone errors. The arrival date and time must be entered in Vietnam time, not the time of the departure city. Late-night flights often land on the next calendar day.
• Passport validity too short. The passport should be valid for at least six months beyond the arrival date.

Fake PAI websites charging a fee

The only official website is prearrival.immigration.gov.vn, and PAI is completely free. Some third-party sites buy search ads and charge a fee to “process” the declaration.

Any site requesting payment for PAI is not the official system. Simple Vietnam Visa does not charge for PAI.

PAI, visa and Autogate at Vietnamese airports

Entering Vietnam involves three separate elements, each with a different role:

• Visa (e-visa, visa on arrival or exemption): Grants permission to enter. It is arranged before the flight and required for every foreign traveler.
• PAI: Sends traveler details to immigration in advance. It is submitted within 72 hours of landing by arrivals at covered airports.
• Autogate: An automated passport control lane at the airport, available only to Vietnamese citizens and registered foreign residents.

Officers check the visa and the PAI QR code at the immigration counter. The visa can be arranged through Vietnam E-Visa Online Application

For travelers who prefer to avoid the queue, the Airport Fast Track service provides a meet-and-greet on arrival and an escort through immigration. The full arrival process is covered in Visa Procedure at Vietnam Airports

Whether you are applying for the first time, dealing with an urgent situation, or unsure which visa type suits your trip. Our team is available 24/7 to assist with any visa-related query, from standard applications to emergency processing.

• Phone/WhatsApp: (+84) 856 598 868
• Email: info@simplevietnamvisa.com

Frequently Asked Questions