Vietnam Visa Types in 2023 (and which one you should get!)

Vietnam is one of the best places to move to if you are looking to start a new chapter of your life or simply a great destination for your backpacking trip or holiday.

One of the key reasons I chose Vietnam as my new home base was how easy and straightforward it is to get and arrange your Vietnam visa. Here, I will show you the different types of Vietnam visas to make sure you will apply for the right one. (Fun fact about Vietnam: there are 21 different visa types in total!)

For tourists, your first step will be to see whether you are one from of the countries that doesn’t need a visa for Vietnam. If a visa is a requirement for entering Vietnam for you, then read on!

RELATED POST: How to apply for a Vietnam visa and Vietnam visas for Americans

The Main Vietnam Visa Types

We want cover all 21 types of Vietnam visas below, just the ones that are most common and likely that you will need.

Tourist Visas

It makes sense that if you’re visiting for a holiday, backpacking trip, or tour, you should apply for a tourist visa. However, those entering Vietnam for school or work may also apply for a tourist visa first, then convert it to the relevant visa after you’re in the country.

VISA TYPE	DESCRIPTION
D	This category is given to foreign nationals who plan to travel to Vietnam on a visa-free agreement.
DL	This type of visa is for travellers who receive a visa on arrival or have applied for a visa beforehand for the purpose of tourism.

Countries With Visa-Free Agreement With Vietnam (type D)

Currently, citizens of 25 countries can travel to Vietnam visa-free. See the below table for how long you can enter for. All travelers must have a passport valid for at least 6 months and proof of onward travel after your visit.

DAYS	COUNTRIES
90	Chile, Panama
30	Cambodia, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand
21	Philippines
15	Belarus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom (not application to British Nationals Overseas)
14	Brunei, Myanmar

E-Visas (type DL)

Vietnam launched the e-visa last February 2017 which lets the following countries apply for a single entry visa valid for 30 days for $25 or more. You can apply for your e-Visa here.

All countries in the below table and more (see the full list of 80 countries here!) are eligible for e-visas for Vietnam. It’s not applicable for e-passport holders.

To apply for your e-visa, you’ll need to submit a jpg photo of your passport’s main page, a jpg passport photo (official size and image requirements), an email address, credit card number for paying the fee, address of your first stay in Vietnam, and entry/exit dates.

Argentina	Cuba	Ireland	Panama	Spain
Armenia	Czech Republic	Italy	Peru	Sweden
Azerbaijan	Denmark	Japan	Philippines	Timor-Leste
Belarus	Finland	Kazakhstan	Poland	UAE
Brunei	France	Luxembourg	Romania	United Kingdom
Canada	Germany	Mongolia	Russia	United States
China	Greece	Myanmar	Slovakia	Uruguay
Colombia	Hungary	Norway	South Korea	Venezuela

Apply Now For Your Vietnam E-Visa Here!

Business Visa (type DN)

This category is for those who work for Vietnamese enterprises. It is also called the business visa which you can obtain without having a job beforehand. The validity of this visa type is up to 12 months. Here is our guide to getting a business visa.

If you are coming to teach English in Vietnam, the school you get hired by will usually assist to change your tourist visa to a business visa after you arrive, while you wait for your work permit to be processed.

Here is our guide to how to get a Vietnamese work permit and a temporary residence card.

Student Visa (type DH)

This visa is granted for those who are undergoing formal studies in Vietnam. Usually you can enter Vietnam on a regular tourist visa first. Then you can convert it to a student visa after you are enrolled in your program of study. You can do this on your own at the immigration office or hire an agent to do it for you.

Less Common Visa Types

Journalist Visa (type PV1)

This visa can be obtained by a Journalist who is holding a permanent residence in Vietnam. The duration of stay is up to 12 months.

Spouse/Child Visa (type TT)

The visa is granted for a spouse or a child is are under 18 years old of foreign nationals who are holding an LV1, LV2, DT, NN1, DH, PV1, LD, or those whose parents, spouse, or son/daughter of Vietnamese citizen.

Visiting Relatives (type VR)

This type of visa is granted for those who wish to visit their relatives in Vietnam or for another purpose. The duration of this type of visa is up to 6 months.

Other Visa Types

There are other types of visas in Vietnam, however, I only listed the ones that I think will be useful for an expat.

If you didn’t find the type of visa you are looking for, please check this page for a full list of Vietnam visa types. Good luck with your Vietnam visa application!