Vietnam has become one of the most booked Asian holidays from Dubai and Abu Dhabi: direct flights to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, low prices once you land, and an easy online visa. For most UAE residents the answer is simple: apply for the Vietnam e-visa online before you fly. It costs US$25 for a single entry, is valid for up to 90 days, and is open to every nationality. Your UAE residence does not change the rules — your passport decides.
Checked on 19 October 2026 against Vietnam’s Immigration Department e-visa portal and the government resolutions on visa exemption. Sources at the end.
On this page
- The short answer by passport
- Your passport decides — your residence does not change the route
- The Vietnam e-visa: fees, validity and processing
- How to apply step by step
- The Phu Quoc exception
- At the airport
- Mistakes to avoid
- Questions people ask
The short answer by passport
| Passport | Entry to Vietnam | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| UAE | Visa required | e-Visa online |
| India | Visa required | e-Visa online |
| Pakistan | Visa required | e-Visa online |
| Philippines | Visa-free for up to 21 days | e-Visa if staying longer |
| Egypt, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nigeria | Visa required | e-Visa online |
| UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Nordic countries, Japan, South Korea | Visa-free for up to 45 days | e-Visa if staying longer |
| Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Poland and 8 other EU states | Visa-free for up to 45 days (from 15 August 2025) | e-Visa if staying longer |
| Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia | Visa-free for up to 30 days | e-Visa if staying longer |
The 45-day exemptions come from two government resolutions: Resolution 44/NQ-CP (valid 15 March 2025 to 14 March 2028) and Resolution 229/NQ-CP (valid 15 August 2025 to 14 August 2028). A visa-free stay cannot be extended into a longer stay at the airport. If you plan to stay longer than your exemption, get the e-visa before you travel.
Your passport decides — your residence does not change the route
Vietnam offers no special route for UAE residents. An Indian engineer who has lived in Dubai for ten years applies for the same e-visa, at the same fee, as an Indian applying from Mumbai. Your UAE residence visa is not uploaded, and it is not checked as part of the e-visa.
Where UAE residence does help: officers at the airport may ask where you live and what you do, and a valid UAE residence visa with a return ticket to Dubai or Abu Dhabi answers that cleanly. Carry your Emirates ID.
The Vietnam e-visa: fees, validity and processing
| Who can apply | Citizens of every country and territory |
| Single-entry fee | US$25 (about AED 92) |
| Multiple-entry fee | US$50 (about AED 184) |
| Validity | Up to 90 days from the start date you choose |
| Processing | 3 working days, longer in peak periods |
| Official portal | evisa.gov.vn (Vietnam Immigration Department) |
| Refund if refused | No |
The 90-day validity has applied since 15 August 2023, when Vietnam extended e-visas from 30 days and opened them to all nationalities. The fee is the government fee only. Agency websites charge US$60 to US$150 for the same e-visa, and many look official. The only government portal ends in .gov.vn.
Single or multiple entry?
Choose multiple entry if you plan a side trip to Cambodia (Siem Reap and Angkor Wat) or Laos and then return to Vietnam. A single-entry e-visa ends the moment you leave Vietnam, and you would need a new one to come back.
How to apply step by step
- Go to evisa.gov.vn and choose the e-visa for foreigners.
- Upload a scan of your passport photo page (JPG), with the two machine-readable lines at the bottom fully visible.
- Upload a portrait photo: 4×6 cm, white background, looking straight at the camera, no glasses.
- Fill in your details exactly as in your passport, your intended entry date, the visa validity, and single or multiple entry.
- Choose your port of entry and exit. Most UAE flights land at Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City) or Noi Bai (Hanoi).
- Enter your first hotel address in Vietnam and your address in the UAE.
- Pay by card. Save the registration code you receive — you need it to check the result.
- After 3 working days, search with your code, email and date of birth, then download and print the e-visa.
What you need
- Passport valid at least 6 months beyond your entry date, with 2 blank pages.
- The passport scan and photo above.
- Your travel dates and first hotel address.
- A card for payment.
The tourist e-visa does not ask for bank statements, an employer letter or an NOC. Carry them anyway if your trip is long: officers can ask.
The Phu Quoc exception
Foreign visitors of any nationality can stay on Phu Quoc island for up to 30 days without a visa, if they fly or sail directly to Phu Quoc from abroad and stay on the island. This only works on a direct international route. If you connect through Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi, or want to visit the mainland at all, you need an e-visa.
Direct flights between the UAE and Phu Quoc are seasonal. Most itineraries from Dubai connect through another city, which means passing Vietnamese immigration on the mainland. If that is your route, apply for the e-visa.
At the airport
- Show your passport and printed e-visa. Some airlines refuse boarding on a phone screen alone.
- You must enter through the port you named in the application.
- At Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City), a free digital arrival declaration has been piloted since April 2026: submit it online within 72 hours before landing if your airline asks.
- Keep your return ticket and hotel booking ready.
Mistakes to avoid
- Paying an agency site that looks official. Only evisa.gov.vn is the government portal.
- A typo in your passport number or name. The e-visa cannot be corrected after approval; you must apply and pay again.
- Choosing an entry date after your flight lands. The e-visa starts on the date you choose, not the date it is approved.
- A single-entry visa for a Cambodia side trip. You will not be able to return.
- Applying the week before Tet (Lunar New Year). Processing slows down; apply two weeks ahead.
Questions people ask
Do Indian residents of the UAE need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes. Indian passport holders need an e-visa: US$25 single entry, valid up to 90 days, applied for at evisa.gov.vn.
Do Pakistani residents of the UAE need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes, the same e-visa. Pakistani passport holders are eligible to apply online like every other nationality.
Is Vietnam visa-free for Emirati citizens?
No. UAE passport holders also need the e-visa, unless they fly directly to Phu Quoc and stay on the island.
How long does the Vietnam e-visa take?
3 working days as standard. Apply at least a week before you fly, and two weeks before Tet.
Can I get a visa on arrival in Vietnam?
Only with an approval letter arranged in advance through a sponsor, plus a stamping fee paid in cash at the airport. For tourists, the e-visa is simpler and cheaper.
Related guides
- Thailand visa for UAE residents
- Malaysia visa for UAE residents
- Singapore visa for UAE residents
- Indonesia and Bali visa for UAE residents
Sources
- Vietnam Immigration Department — official e-visa portal: evisa.gov.vn
- Government of Vietnam — Resolution 44/NQ-CP (45-day exemption, 15 March 2025 to 14 March 2028) and Resolution 229/NQ-CP (12 more European countries, 15 August 2025 to 14 August 2028)
- Law amending the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners — 90-day e-visa for all nationalities, effective 15 August 2023
Written by Asad Waleed M, Dubai. Asad has lived in the UAE for nine years and researches visa rules from government sources. He is not an immigration lawyer or consultant, and Sifqa does not process applications. Read the editorial policy.
Last checked 19 October 2026. Rechecked quarterly and when Vietnam changes its exemption list. Found an error? Email [email protected] — it gets fixed and logged.