Phu Quoc visa exemption: 30 days without a visa for foreign passport holders

Foreigners can visit Phu Quoc island without a visa and stay for up to 30 days, whatever their nationality. The rule comes from Resolution 80/NQ-CP of the Government (25 May 2020) on visa exemption for foreigners entering the Phu Quoc economic zone, in force since 1 July 2020: holders of foreign passports are exempt from a visa when they enter and leave Vietnam at Phu Quoc.

It also applies if you arrive at another international border gate of Vietnam and transit there before continuing to the island. The exemption is for Phu Quoc only. It does not let you travel to the rest of Vietnam.

Who it applies to

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs' visa exemption list describes the beneficiaries simply as holders of foreign passports. Unlike the bilateral agreements and the 45-day unilateral exemptions, the Phu Quoc rule comes with no list of countries, so it is not limited to certain nationalities. It is meant for people coming to Phu Quoc from abroad.

What the exemption allows

• Entering and leaving Vietnam at Phu Quoc without a visa.
• Staying on the island for up to 30 days.
• Arriving first at another international border gate of Vietnam, by air or by sea, staying in its transit area and then continuing to Phu Quoc. You remain visa-exempt in this case.

What it does not allow

The legal texts tie the exemption to the island. Nothing in them allows a visa-exempt visitor to Phu Quoc to travel on to the mainland or any other part of Vietnam.

If you want to see other parts of the country on the same trip, you need a visa or another visa exemption that covers the whole country. An e-visa is valid for all of Vietnam for up to 90 days, single or multiple entry. It is usually processed in about 3 working days, and the government fee is USD 25 for single entry or USD 50 for multiple entry.

Visa-free entry does not allow you to work. Working in Vietnam needs a work permit and the matching visa.

Transit through another airport or seaport

Many visitors cannot fly directly to Phu Quoc and change planes elsewhere in Vietnam. Under the rule, the exemption still applies when you arrive at an international border gate of Vietnam by air or by sea, stay in the transit area there and then continue to Phu Quoc.

The key point is the transit area. The rule does not cover leaving it to spend time in another city, so choose a connection that keeps you in transit, or check your case before you book.

Background

Phu Quoc has had its own visa-free rule since 2005. Decision 229/2005/QĐ-TTg allowed a stay of up to 15 days. Decision 80/2013/QĐ-TTg, dated 27 December 2013 and in force from 10 March 2014, raised it to 30 days. The current basis, Resolution 80/NQ-CP, was issued under the 2019 amendment of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam.

Questions the rule does not answer

The published rule does not say whether the 30 days can be extended on the island, whether you can switch to a visa there to continue to the mainland, or how long your passport must remain valid. If any of these matter for your trip, check your case before you travel.

Notes

• Your stay must not exceed 30 days. Book your departure from Phu Quoc within that period.
• The ministry's list states that British National (Overseas) passports are not exempt from the visa requirement. BNO holders should check before planning a Phu Quoc trip.
• Citizens of some countries also have a nationwide visa exemption, for example 45 days under Resolution 44/NQ-CP for twelve countries including the United Kingdom, Japan and South Korea. If that applies to you, you are not limited to the island.
• Policies change. Check the latest rules before you travel.

Gateway can check your case, or file an e-visa if you want to travel beyond Phu Quoc.