An e-visa application looks simple, but one wrong detail is enough for a request for more information, a refusal or, worse, being refused boarding.
Most e-visa applications are sent back not because the applicant is ineligible, but because of errors on the form. These are the ones we see most often.
Seven common mistakes
- A name that does not match the passport: a missing middle name, surname and given name swapped, one wrong character.
- A wrong passport number, especially the letter O for the digit 0 or the letter I for the digit 1.
- A portrait photo that fails the rules: background not white, glasses on, or a photo cropped from the passport.
- A passport page photo with glare, a cut-off corner or the code lines at the bottom missing.
- Choosing a port of entry that does not accept e-visas.
- Arriving before the visa start date, or staying past the expiry date.
- Choosing a purpose of entry that does not match what you will actually do in Vietnam.
If you spot an error after the e-visa is issued
Do not travel on an e-visa with wrong details. Airlines and border officers compare it with your passport character by character. The usual fix is a new application and paying the government fee again.
How to avoid them
- Copy your details from the code lines at the bottom of the passport page, not from memory.
- Apply at least one to two weeks before your flight, especially in peak season.
- Check the e-visa file as soon as you receive it, before printing.
Need help with your own case?
See our Vietnam Visa service, or send a request for a free consultation.
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