UK passport to Vietnam
UK citizens don't need a visa to visit Vietnam for up to 45 days, for tourism or business. This exemption runs until 14 March 2028.
Changing. Visa-free entry for UK citizens runs from 15 March 2025 to 14 March 2028.
Vietnam says it will consider extending it. If it isn't extended, you'll need an e-Visa.
The rules
- What you need
- No visa
- Other options
- To stay longer than 45 days, get an e-Visa before you go. It lasts up to 90 days and costs $25 for a single entry or $50 for multiple entries on the official site, evisa.gov.vn.
- How long you can stay
- Up to 45 days from the day you arrive. To stay longer, get an e-Visa before you go. If you get one while you're in Vietnam, you have to leave and come back in to use it.
- Your passport
- Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the day you arrive, with at least 2 blank pages.
- Arrival card
- Pre-Arrival Information form (optional). Optional, and for now only if you fly into Tan Son Nhat airport in Ho Chi Minh City. Filling it in online in the 3 days before you land can speed up immigration. If you don't, you can scan a QR code at the airport. Official site
Only changing planes in Vietnam? You don't need a visa to change between international flights in Vietnam if you stay airside. If your next flight is domestic, you have to go through immigration, which UK citizens can do without a visa for up to 45 days. See the rules for changing planes.
Quick answers
Do UK citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
No. UK citizens don't need a visa to visit Vietnam for up to 45 days, for tourism or business. This exemption runs until 14 March 2028.
How long can UK citizens stay in Vietnam?
Up to 45 days from the day you arrive. To stay longer, get an e-Visa before you go. If you get one while you're in Vietnam, you have to leave and come back in to use it.
How long does my passport need to be valid for Vietnam?
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the day you arrive, with at least 2 blank pages.
Are the rules for Vietnam changing?
Visa-free entry for UK citizens runs from 15 March 2025 to 14 March 2028. Vietnam says it will consider extending it. If it isn't extended, you'll need an e-Visa.
Things that could change this
- Are you a citizen of any other country, even if you don't have that country's passport?If yes: Enter and leave on the same passportUse the same passport to enter and leave Vietnam, and for domestic flights. If you're also a Vietnamese citizen, check with the Vietnamese embassy which passport to travel on.
- Are you taking any medicines with you, including cold, flu, allergy or pain remedies?If yes: Some medicines are limited to 7 days' supplyVietnam restricts medicines it classes as addictive or psychotropic, including some strong painkillers and medicines for anxiety, depression or sleep problems. Without an import permit, bring no more than 7 days' supply. Carry your prescription and a doctor's letter with your name, the medicine, the dose and how much you need. If you need more, ask the Vietnamese embassy about a permit before you travel.
- Are you taking a vape or e-cigarette?If yes: Leave your vape at homeVapes, e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products are banned in Vietnam, and you can't bring them in. Using one can mean a fine of 3 to 5 million dong, and bringing them in can mean bigger fines or jail.
- Is a child under 18 travelling with only one parent, or without their parents?If yes: Under-14s must travel with a parent, guardian or authorised adultChildren under 14 can't enter Vietnam unless they travel with a parent, a legal guardian or an adult the parents have authorised. One parent is enough. If your child is travelling with another adult, give that adult the parents' written authorisation.
- Is your passport damaged? For example water damage, torn or missing pages, or a loose cover.If yes: Replace a damaged passport before you goVietnam is strict about passport condition. People have been refused entry, and stopped from leaving, because their passport was damaged.
Good to know
Use only the official e-Visa site. Apply at evisa.gov.vn, run by Vietnam's Immigration Department. Other sites aren't official. Vietnam's police have also warned about fake pre-arrival form sites that steal card details.
Check your leave-by date. Your passport is stamped with the date you must leave by. Check it before you leave the immigration desk, because it won't be changed later. If you overstay, you can be fined and kept from leaving until you pay.
No health form for now. Since 1 July 2026 Vietnam can ask travellers for a health declaration during a disease outbreak. Its Ministry of Health says this isn't needed routinely, and there's no official online form at the moment.
Checked 28 October 2026 against Embassy of Vietnam in Algeria, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, Immigration Department, Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam, Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam and GOV.UK.
See the 5 official sources
- Viet Nam extends visa exemption policy (Resolution 44/NQ-CP) (Embassy of Vietnam in Algeria, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam)
- Vietnam National Electronic Visa system (Immigration Department, Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam)
- For outside Vietnam foreigners personally applying for e-visa (Immigration Department, Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam)
- Immigration Department launches Pre-arrival Information System (Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam)
- Vietnam entry requirements (GOV.UK)
Related guides
- Passport validity rulesWhen a passport that hasn't expired still isn't good enough.
- Travelling with medicinesCold remedies banned in Japan, codeine in the UAE, and how to check.
- Children travelling without both parentsConsent letters and what border officers may ask for.
- Damaged passport: can you still travel?What counts as damage, and when you need a new passport.
- Do you need a visa to change planes?ESTA, eTA and transit visa rules for layovers and connecting flights.