US citizens need a visa to enter Vietnam. A 90-day e-visa covers most trips, while working, investing or living with family calls for a sponsored visa and a temporary residence card.
Americans come to Vietnam to travel, teach, work for technology companies and visit family. The United States is not on the visa exemption list, so every trip needs a visa.
The 90-day e-visa
An e-visa is valid for up to 90 days, single or multiple entry, with a government fee of USD 25 or USD 50, and is applied for entirely online. Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry.
Staying longer than 90 days
- Working or teaching: a work permit, a work visa and a temporary residence card.
- Investing or contributing capital: an investor visa and residence card.
- Spouses and children of Vietnamese citizens: a family visa, a residence card, or a 5-year visa exemption certificate.
- Repeated business visits: a sponsored business visa.
Documents from the United States
A work permit application usually needs an FBI or state criminal record check, plus degrees and experience letters. Federal documents are authenticated by the US Department of State and state documents by the Secretary of State's office, then legalised by a Vietnamese mission. This often takes several weeks.
Notes
- Start the FBI check early, because the full chain of authentication can take more than a month.
- An e-visa does not allow you to teach or do paid work in Vietnam.
- People of Vietnamese origin may qualify for a visa exemption certificate. Ask us about the proof required.
Need help with your own case?
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