Vietnam Visa Exemption 2026

Vietnam visa exemption 2026 works in three groups: citizens of 12 countries stay up to 45 days for any purpose, citizens of 12 European countries stay up to 45 days for tourism, and ordinary passport holders from Chile, Panama and a list of Asian neighbors stay 14 to 90 days under bilateral agreements. Everyone else needs a visa, usually the e-visa. This page lists the countries, the legal sources, how the days count and what to do if you stay longer. You can apply for your e-visa in about ten minutes.

eVisaVietnam.com is a private visa service operated by TK VIET NAM., JSC, not the Vietnamese government. You can apply yourself at evisa.gov.vn for US$25.

Vietnam visa exemption at a glance:

Is Vietnam visa free?

Only for some passports. Most travelers, including citizens of the United States, Canada, Australia, India and China, are not covered and need a visa. The e-visa is valid for up to 90 days, single or multiple entry, under Law 23/2023/QH15.

Check your passport in the next section. If you also want the rules by nationality, see Do I need a visa for Vietnam?.

Vietnam visa free countries

The list below is the Vietnam visa free countries list as of October 2026, for ordinary passports. It follows three sources, and each has its own conditions.

12 countries, 45 days for any purpose

Resolution 44/NQ-CP gives a 45-day stay counted from the date of entry, whatever the passport type and purpose, to citizens of: Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. It applies from March 15, 2025 to March 14, 2028.

The condition is that you fully meet Vietnam's entry conditions, as the national tourism authority and the text of the resolution report. See our pages for British citizens.

12 European countries, 45 days for tourism

Resolution 229/NQ-CP gives 45 days for tourism, from August 15, 2025 to August 14, 2028, to citizens of Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland. A business trip from one of these countries needs a visa.

Bilateral agreements

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs list published on June 30, 2025 gives ordinary passport holders these stays:

Our page for Malaysian citizens shows how this works for one of them.

Vietnam visa exemption 2026: how the days are counted

Under Resolution 44/NQ-CP, the 45 days count from the date of entry. For the bilateral agreements, the Vietnam-Malaysia text says "30 days or less". Leave before the last day and keep your return ticket.

Neither text says how many days must pass between two stays. Some websites claim a 30-day gap before the 45 days restart; the resolution text we checked does not mention one, so we do not repeat it. If you plan to leave and re-enter, ask your airline or the Vietnamese embassy before you book.

Exempt travelers still need to meet the entry conditions in Vietnamese law, including a valid passport. We advise at least 6 months' validity, as for the e-visa.

Bilateral exemption meaning

A bilateral exemption is an agreement between Vietnam and one other country. Both sides give each other's citizens visa-free entry on the terms of that agreement.

A unilateral exemption, such as Resolution 44/NQ-CP, is decided by Vietnam alone and can be changed or ended by the Government. That is why each group has its own dates and conditions.

What to carry as a visa-free traveler

Carry a passport that is valid for the whole stay, with a blank page for the entry stamp, and keep your return or onward ticket on your phone. Airlines check these at check-in, and without a visa you rely on them to prove your plans.

Visa-free entry has no PDF to show, so the passport and ticket are your proof. If an airline doubts your eligibility, our checklist for denied boarding over a Vietnam visa shows what to do.

Dates to watch

Both unilateral resolutions have an end date: March 14, 2028 for Resolution 44/NQ-CP and August 14, 2028 for Resolution 229/NQ-CP. The bilateral list we use is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs list of June 30, 2025.

We update this page when the Government extends, ends or adds an exemption. The date at the top shows the last check.

Phu Quoc island

Foreigners can stay on Phu Quoc island up to 30 days without a visa under Law 51/2019/QH14. The exemption covers Phu Quoc only; one day on the mainland needs a visa. Our page on Phu Quoc entry rules has the details.

Staying longer than your exemption

If you will stay longer than the days your exemption gives, apply for an e-visa before you fly.

It is valid for up to 90 days and costs the same for 30 days as for 90; through us it starts at $47 all-in for single entry. Our guide to the 90-day e-visa explains how the dates work.

For example, a German citizen planning 60 days in Vietnam is covered for 45 days only, so the whole trip needs an e-visa applied for in advance. A Thai citizen staying 20 days needs nothing, while one staying 40 days needs the e-visa.

Travelers from the tourism-only group also need a visa for a business trip. If you are unsure which route fits, compare e-visa vs visa on arrival.

If you want a person to check your files first, apply for your e-visa with us.