Irish travellers can apply online for a Vietnam visa for a tourist trip to Vietnam of up to 90 days. Travellers with a valid British, German, French, Italian, or Spanish passport can stay in Vietnam without a visa for up to 45 days. If they want to stay in the country longer, they can also apply for an e-visa.
Only single-entry with the visa
The Vietnam e-visa is valid for a single trip of up to 90 days. It is therefore not permitted to enter the country, leave it for a short time, and enter the country with the same visa, regardless of whether the visa is still valid. If you have applied for one visa and leave the country shortly to return again afterwards, you need a new visa for your second arrival in Vietnam. This visa can also easily be applied for online. For example, if you decide to visit one of the neighbouring countries during your trip in Vietnam, you can apply online for a new visa for your second arrival in Vietnam from this neighbouring country.
Multiple visas for separate trips to Vietnam
With the visa that can be applied for online, you can enter and exit Vietnam once. This means that you have to apply for multiple visas if you want to travel to Vietnam multiple times. You can do so before departure. With each application, you can choose the starting date of the validity of the visa yourself. In the case of multiple trips to Vietnam, it does not matter from which country you are arriving in Vietnam, but you are required to leave Vietnam each time within the validity period of the used visa. Subsequently, you can enter the country with a new visa.
Despite there being no clear rules on the maximum number of e-visas that can be applied for consecutively, this is not meant to be abused. Generally, no problems will arise if an e-visa is used two or three times in quick succession. However, travelling many times in a row with a new e-visa each time may raise suspicions from immigration authorities, and you may be suspected of trying to circumvent Vietnam visa rules.
Rules for travellers without a visa requirement
Travellers with the Irish nationality always need a visa for a trip to Vietnam, regardless of the duration of their stay. The same applies to travellers from the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Austria and Switzerland. In comparison, travellers from the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy or Spain do not need a visa for a trip to Vietnam for up to 45 days.
If you have a passport from one of these countries and want to travel multiple times to Vietnam within a short timeframe, you can travel to Vietnam without a visa for a first stay of up to 45 days. However, if you want to travel to Vietnam again within 30 days after your departure from the country, it is recommended that you apply for an e-visa for the second trip, even if your second stay lasts up to 45 days. You can apply for the visa during or before your first stay in Vietnam.
Travelling without a visa waiting for your e-visa
In exceptional cases, it can occur that a visa is not granted on time. Travellers whose nationalities require visas regardless of the length of stay in Vietnam, always have to wait until the visa is granted before they can travel. In comparison, travellers with a nationality that allows them to stay in Vietnam for up to 45 days without a visa, can in this case already travel to Vietnam. A stamp is placed in the passport upon arrival that indicated that the traveller has to leave the country within 45 days. These travellers have to prove by showing a bus, boat or plane ticket upon arrival that they will leave the country within 45 days.
Did you travel to Vietnam this way without a visa and is your e-visa approved while you are already in the country? To be able to stay in the country for 90 days with this visa, in this case you are required to leave Vietnam and re-enter with the e-visa. Upon the second arrival in the country with your e-visa, your passport is stamped that you are allowed to stay in the country up to the expiry day of your visa. The e-visa always expires a maximum of 90 days after the starting date indicated in the application form.
Please note: this news article about the visa for Vietnam is more than one year old. It might contain outdated information and advice, and no rights can therefore be derived from this article. Are you going on a trip soon and do you wish to do know what rules currently apply? Read all about the up-to-date information about the visa for Vietnam.