General Information
All questions on Vietnamese visas, Vietnamese passports, Vietnamese residence applications, Vietnamese customs matters, entry and exit, and other Vietnamese immigration issues should be directed to the appropriate Vietnamese immigration office. These issues are at the sole discretion of the Vietnamese government and the U.S. Embassy and Consulate General cannot assist U.S. citizens with this service.
If you are in the United States, you may contact the nearest Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate for official instructions.
- Embassy of Vietnam in Washington D.C.
- Vietnamese Consulate General in San Francisco
- Vietnamese Consulate General in Houston
- Vietnamese Consulate General in New York
If you are in Vietnam, please contact the nearest Vietnamese immigration office. Contact information for Vietnamese immigration offices is available on this page.
Vietnamese e-Visas Instructions
The Vietnamese Immigration Department issues E-visas to foreigners through an online application process. E-visas are issued with a validity period of up to 90 days, one-entry for 25 USD or multiple entries for 50 USD, and payable via bank transfer. E-visa holders may enter and exit Vietnam through 42 designated international border gates, including all international airports.
The Vietnamese E-visa instructions and application are available online and can be found here . For your convenience, we have published the step-by-step instructions here.
Immunization Requirements to Enter Vietnam
Please review the CDC’s Vietnam Travel page to see the recommended vaccines for travel to Vietnam here.
Required Travel Documents & Police Registration in Vietnam
In general, you should be prepared to present your passport and/or proof of legal presence at airports, hotels, etc. Airport authorities and airlines routinely check passports, even for domestic flights. If you have further questions, you may wish to contact your airline to inquire about required travel documents for domestic flights in Vietnam.
*** U.S. citizens who lost their passport and want to travel to either Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City to apply for a replacement passport should contact their airlines directly for their official instructions.
As to our understanding, domestically in Vietnam, all visitors (including Vietnamese) are required to register their temporary residence with the police station where they are staying overnight. All questions related to residence in Vietnam should be directed to the nearest Vietnamese immigration office.
Requirements for U.S. Citizen Child to Exit Vietnam
In general, a Vietnamese passport or a Vietnamese exit visa is required by the Vietnamese government in the event your child needs to exit Vietnam. For further information on this requirement and how to apply for either document for your child to exit Vietnam, please contact the nearest Vietnamese immigration office.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) strongly recommends that unless the child is accompanied by both parents, the adult have a note from the child’s other parent (or, in the case of a child traveling with grandparents, uncles or aunts, sisters or brothers, friends, or in groups, a note signed by both parents) stating “I acknowledge that my wife/husband/etc. is traveling out of the country with my son/daughter/group. He/She/They has/have my permission.” For further information, please visit CBP website here. In cases involving divorced or separated parents, custody agreements should clearly allow this type of travel and an affidavit signed by the other parent may be advisable.
Vietnam Work Permit for Foreign Labors
Decree No. 143/2018/ND-CP on compulsory social insurance for foreign employees in Vietnam came into effect from December 1, 2018. The full volume in English can be found from the official website of the Ministry of Labor – Invalids and Social Affairs.
Please Note: The issuance of work permits in Vietnam falls solely under the purview of the Ministry of Labor – Invalids and Social Affairs. Therefore, you should contact the office of your respective provincial Department of Labor –Invalids and Social Affairs for official guidance in case you need further assistance.
Some helpful links regarding Decree No. 143/2018/ND-CP:
Some of the provincial Department of Labor – Invalids and Social Affairs offices’ websites:
COVID-19 Related Frequently Asked Questions
- Effective March 15, 2022, the Vietnamese government has resumed pre-pandemic visa issuance policies. All previous visa restrictions have been lifted. All questions on Vietnamese visas, residence applications, customs matters, entry and exit, and other immigration issues should be directed to the appropriate Vietnamese immigration office. These issues are at the sole discretion of the Vietnamese government. If you are in the United States, you may contact the Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate for official instructions. If you are in Vietnam, please contact the nearest Vietnamese Immigration Office.
- Please also check the Vietnamese Immigration Department’s FAQ page about Vietnamese entry and exit requirements here. If you have further questions, please contact the nearest Vietnamese Immigration Office directly.
- U.S. citizens are advised to follow visa and heath regulations imposed by Vietnamese authorities during their time in Vietnam.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: I heard the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi and the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City no longer issue Visa Extension Letters and Exit Letters. Is this information correct?
A: Yes, the information is correct. Our offices no longer issue visa extension letters and exit letters. Please contact the nearest Vietnamese immigration visa office to resolve any issues related to your Vietnamese visa extensions.
Q: I am a U.S. citizen in Vietnam. My visa has expired or is about to expire. What should I do?
A: The Vietnamese government has told the U.S. Embassy and Consulate General that foreigners who have work visas or other sponsored, non-tourist visas must work with their sponsors to extend their work permit and request visa extensions. U.S. citizens on tourist visas who have overstayed and/or need extensions should work with Vietnamese immigration authorities and follow the proper procedures to resolve immigration-related issues.
Q: I’ve heard immigration offices are closed and I cannot extend my visa until these offices re-open. What happens to my visa during the closure of immigration offices?
A: At this time, Vietnamese immigration authorities have not announced any current closures. U.S. citizens who remain in Vietnam and require a visa extension should work with their sponsors and/or proceed to the nearest immigration office. The U.S. Embassy or Consulate cannot issue letters in support of visa extensions. Contact information for Vietnamese immigration offices is available on the side-bar of this page.
Q: I entered Vietnam on a tourist visa that has expired, or will soon expire, and I am interested in staying in Vietnam. Can the U.S. Embassy or Consulate sponsor my visa extension?
A: The U.S. Embassy Hanoi and Consulate General Ho Chi Minh City cannot sponsor U.S. citizens in visa matters. U.S. citizens are responsible for directly addressing immigration-related problems with Vietnamese immigration authorities, such as overstaying a visa, visa extensions, visa renewals, and new visa applications. The U.S. Embassy and Consulate General cannot ask local authorities to give individual U.S. citizens special treatment or exempt them from local laws.
Q: My visa expired as a direct result of the COVID-19 situation and was beyond my control. What can the U.S. Embassy or Consulate General do to support my visa extension request?
A: The U.S. Embassy Hanoi and Consulate General Ho Chi Minh City no longer provide any letters or certificates in support of visa extensions. Please work with Vietnamese immigration authorities and follow the proper procedures to resolve immigration-related issues.
Q: What are some suggested travel and visa agencies that can assist me with my visa extension request?
A: The U.S. Embassy and Consulate General cannot recommend specific travel and visa agents; we are also not in the position to vouch for any information about the integrity or the quality of services of any travel and visa agency in Vietnam. We recommend U.S. citizens contact the Vietnam Tourism Administration (VTA) directly for more information. The VTA also has a website here where you can look for an agency’s name and check if they are accredited to operate in Vietnam. Please note that the information on this website is available in Vietnamese language only.
Q: Where can I find information on Vietnamese immigration and visa regulations?
A: U.S. citizens may consult the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security’s national web portal on immigration for information. The English version of the website can be accessed here. The website of the Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in the United States also offers information on visa applications for Vietnam (available in Vietnamese and English).
Q: How can I remain informed of other important updates related to regulations implemented by the Government of Vietnam during the COVID-19 situation that might impact U.S. citizens?
A: We recommend U.S. citizens check the Embassy’s website for information, and register or update their information in the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).
For Assistance:
U.S. Embassy Hanoi
From outside Vietnam: +84-24-3850-5000
From the U.S.: 011-84-24-3850-5000
From landline within Hanoi: 3850-5000
From mobile or landline within Vietnam: 024-3850-5000
Submit an Inquiry Form
U.S. Consulate General Ho Chi Minh City
From outside Vietnam: +84-28-3520-4200
From the U.S.: 011-84-28-3520-4200
From landline within Ho Chi Minh City: 3520-4200
From mobile or landline within Vietnam: 028-3520-4200
Submit an Inquiry Form
Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs: +1-888-407-4747 or +1-202-501-4444
Vietnamese Immigration Offices
Website: https://xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/en
Immigration Department in Hanoi
Address: 44-46 Tran Phu, Ba Dinh, Hanoi
Phone: (24) 3825-7941
Email: contact@immigration.gov.vn
Immigration Department in Da Nang
(Handing Vietnamese visa and residence applications for foreigners residing in Central Vietnam)
Address: 78 Le Loi, Hai Chau, Da Nang
Phone: 0694260192 – 0906091269
Fax: (236) 388-9820
Immigration Office in HCMC
(Handling visa and residence applications for foreigners residing in HCMC)
Address: 196 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, District 3, HCMC
Phone: (28) 3824-4074 – (28) 3829-9398
Immigration Department in HCMC
(Handling Vietnamese visa and residence applications for foreigners residing from Binh Thuan downwards to the Southern provinces; resolving complex immigration cases such as re-issuance of an exit visa for lost/stolen passport, visa overstay, visa waivers, etc.)
Address: 333-335-337 Nguyen Trai, District 1, HCMC
Phone: (28) 3920-0365