Vietnam Visa Exemption List 2026: Countries & Conditions 

As of 2026, Vietnam offers visa exemptions for ordinary passport holders from 38 countries, with permitted stays ranging from 14 to 45 days depending on nationality.

The policy applies to several categories of travelers: citizens of countries with unilateral or bilateral visa exemption agreements with Vietnam, holders of diplomatic and official passports, APEC Business Travel Card holders, and visitors entering Phu Quoc Island.

Visa-free entry conditions

To enter Vietnam under the visa exemption program, eligible travelers must satisfy all of the following conditions:

• Valid ordinary passport with a minimum remaining validity of 6 months from the date of entry
• At least 01 blank page available in the passport for immigration stamps
• Must not fall under any restricted or prohibited entry category under Vietnamese law
• Return flight ticket or proof of onward travel to another country (recommended)
• Valid accommodation details including hotel reservation or sponsor information

Already confirmed your visa-free eligibility? You may also want to read our guide on what to prepare before arriving in Vietnam.

Diplomatic Passport Visa Exemption

Foreign nationals holding a valid diplomatic passport are eligible to enter Vietnam without a visa, with permitted stays ranging from 15 to 90 days depending on their country of origin.

5-Year Visa Exemption for Overseas Vietnamese

Vietnam’s immigration law provides a 5-year visa exemption for two groups of foreign nationals:

• Overseas Vietnamese holding a valid passport or internationally recognized travel document, together with their foreign-national spouses and children
• Foreign spouses and children of Vietnamese citizens residing abroad

During the 5-year exemption period, travelers may enter and exit Vietnam freely, with each individual stay capped at 180 days. Those wishing to remain beyond this limit without departing must submit a stay extension application, with extensions granted for up to 180 days at a time.

Applications must be lodged at the nearest Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate for those residing abroad, or directly at the Vietnam Immigration Office for those already in the country.

APEC Business Travel Card Visa Exemption

The APEC Business Travel Card is issued by the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation to qualifying business executives and senior government representatives. Cardholders traveling with a valid passport may enter Vietnam without a visa for a maximum of 60 days per visit, and are permitted to use dedicated priority lanes at immigration checkpoints upon arrival and departure.

The following criteria must be met to qualify:

• Nationality of an APEC member economy
• Valid passport or recognized travel document
• Demonstrated history of frequent short-term business travel across the APEC region
• Government officials must be engaged in APEC-related activities meeting specified criteria

Phu Quoc Island Visa Exemption

Vietnam’s Decision (80/2013/QĐ-TTg) grants foreign nationals the right to visit Phu Quoc Island in Kien Giang Province for up to 30 days without obtaining a Vietnam visa. This exemption covers both travelers flying directly to Phu Quoc International Airport and those arriving via another Vietnamese port of entry before continuing to the island.

To be eligible, travelers must satisfy the following:

• Passport validity of at least 6 months from the date of arrival in Vietnam
• Phu Quoc must be the final destination, regardless of whether the journey involves direct, connecting, or transit flights
• Confirmed departure from Phu Quoc, via air ticket, cruise booking, or equivalent, proving the intended stay does not exceed 30 days
• Entry and exit must be conducted through an airport or seaport only

Visa exemption extensions

Travelers who reach the end of their permitted visa-free period have two options: depart and return immediately with no mandatory waiting period between trips, or apply for a formal stay extension without leaving Vietnam.

1. Who can apply for an Extension

• Individuals sponsored by a Vietnamese organization or government body for justifiable purposes
• Overseas Vietnamese and their foreign spouses or children, or foreign spouses and children of Vietnamese citizens, holding a passport or equivalent document with at least 1 year of remaining validity
• Applicants must not be subject to any active entry restriction or exit prohibition

2. Documents to prepare

• Valid passport, recognized international travel document, or permanent residence permit (for overseas Vietnamese)
• Completed stay extension application (Form NA5)
• Original visa exemption certificate

3. Extension process

1. Gather all required documents as listed above
2. Submit the complete application to the Vietnam Immigration Office in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, or Da Nang, to the relevant provincial immigration authority.

• Review takes approximately 5 working days from receipt of a complete submission.
• Approved applications will result in a receipt being issued; incomplete applications will be returned for correction

3. Present the receipt at the Immigration Office, settle the processing fee, and sign to confirm receipt of the extension certificate

4. Processing time and fee

The standard review period is 5 working days. A fee of USD 10 is charged upon approval and must be paid before the extension certificate is collected.