Vietnam e-Visa from India in 2026: 90-Day Multi-Entry Application Guide
By Ananya Singh (Ananya Singh writes step-by-step first-international-trip guides for Indians — passport rules, visa cascade timing, immigration walkthroughs, and the unglamorous logistics that separate a smooth trip from a stranded one.) · Published · 11 min read
Vietnam e-Visa from India in 2026 — 90-day single or multi-entry, USD 25 or USD 50 fee, official portal walkthrough, document checklist, and the common rejections that catch first-time Indian applicants.
What changed in 2023 — and why this is the easiest Vietnam visa Indians have ever had
From 15 August 2023, Vietnam expanded its e-Visa to allow stays of up to 90 days with a choice between single-entry and multiple-entry, and opened it to citizens of all countries (previously only ~80 countries qualified). For Indian passport holders this was a huge upgrade — earlier the e-Visa was capped at 30 days single-entry, and longer stays needed a sponsor letter or a Visa-on-Arrival approval code arranged through agencies.
The new e-Visa is the official, government-issued electronic visa and is the path almost every Indian leisure traveller should take in 2026. No embassy visit, no biometrics, no agent middleman required. The whole process happens on one official portal.
Important: there is exactly one official site — evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn. Search results are flooded with scam sites that charge USD 60 to USD 120 for the same visa and add fake processing layers. We will come back to this in the scams section.
Fees, validity, and the single-vs-multi-entry decision
Government fees in 2026 are:
- Single-entry 90-day e-Visa — USD 25 (roughly INR 2,100)
- Multiple-entry 90-day e-Visa — USD 50 (roughly INR 4,200)
Fees are paid online by international credit/debit card (Visa, Mastercard, sometimes JCB). UPI and Indian net banking are not accepted on the official portal. Use an international-enabled HDFC, ICICI, Axis, or SBI card — the charge appears as a Vietnam government merchant code.
Pick multiple-entry if you plan a side trip to Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, or even a quick Bangkok hop and return — going single-entry and then needing a second visa from inside Southeast Asia is a far bigger headache than spending an extra USD 25 upfront.
The 90-day clock starts on the date you specify as your intended entry date, not the issue date. The visa is valid for one continuous block of 90 days for single-entry, or unlimited entries within 90 days for multi-entry.
Step 1 — Open evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn and start the application
Go directly to evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn (type it in the address bar; do not click a Google ad). The site is in English and Vietnamese — pick English from the top-right dropdown.
Click 'E-visa Issuance' and then 'For foreigners'. You will see a long page of instructions and a green button at the bottom that says 'Next to Apply'. You do not need to register an account; the portal works as a one-time application form.
The form is around 12 pages of fields. Block 45 to 60 minutes for a first-time application. Keep your passport, a passport-size photo (4x6 cm jpg), and a clean scan of your passport bio page on your desktop before you start. There is no save-and-resume — if your session times out you start over.
Step 2 — Document upload (passport scan + photo only)
Vietnam's e-Visa is refreshingly light on documents. You upload exactly two files:
- Passport bio-page scan — clear colour scan or photo, JPG, under 2 MB. All four corners visible, no glare, name and machine-readable zone fully readable.
- Passport-size photo — 4x6 cm, white background, taken in the last 6 months, no glasses, neutral expression, JPG, under 2 MB.
That is it. No bank statements, no ITRs, no hotel bookings, no return tickets need to be uploaded. The portal does ask you to declare your entry point, exit point, intended dates, and accommodation address, but these are typed in, not uploaded.
Common upload failure — file size limits. Most Indian phone cameras shoot 4 to 6 MB photos. Use an online JPG compressor or your phone's built-in photo editor to bring the file to under 2 MB before uploading. The portal rejects oversized files silently and the application will not advance.
Step 3 — Dates, entry points, and the fields that confuse everyone
The application asks for two date fields that look almost identical: 'Intended date of entry' and 'Intended date of exit'. The portal then locks the visa validity to a 90-day window starting from your entry date. Many Indians type their actual departure date as 'date of exit' even if it is only 10 days away — the visa then gets issued for a 10-day window. To get the full 90 days, set your 'date of exit' as 89 days after your 'date of entry'. You are not committing to staying 90 days, you are reserving the option. Likewise, give yourself a 1-2 day buffer on 'date of entry' — Vietnam immigration will not refuse you for arriving a day early, but they will refuse you for arriving before your visa starts.
You also pick your entry and exit points from a dropdown. The 2023 reform opened the e-Visa to all of Vietnam's international entry points. In 2026 this means:
- Airports — Hanoi (HAN), Ho Chi Minh City (SGN), Da Nang (DAD), Cam Ranh (Nha Trang, CXR), Phu Quoc (PQC), Cat Bi (Hai Phong, HPH), Lien Khuong (Da Lat, DLI), Phu Bai (Hue, HUI), Can Tho (VCA)
- Land borders — major crossings with Cambodia (Moc Bai, Xa Mat, Tinh Bien, Ha Tien), Laos (Lao Bao, Cau Treo, Bo Y), and China (Mong Cai, Huu Nghi, Lao Cai)
- Sea ports — Hai Phong, Da Nang, Nha Trang, Vung Tau, Ho Chi Minh City, Quy Nhon, Duong Dong
If plans change and you arrive at a different airport from what you declared, the visa is still valid as long as that airport is on the approved list. Officers occasionally flag the mismatch but re-issuance is not needed.
Step 5 — Pay, wait 5 to 7 working days, download
After submitting, you pay USD 25 or USD 50 by international card on the portal's payment page. You will receive an application code — save this. It is your only way to track and download the visa.
Processing is officially 3 working days but realistic 2026 timelines are 5 to 7 working days. Files submitted on Friday evenings or before Vietnamese public holidays (Tet in late January/early February, Reunification Day in April, National Day in early September) can take longer.
To download the visa, return to the portal, click 'Search e-Visa Status', enter your application code, registered email, and date of birth. The system shows 'Granted' or 'Not Granted'. If granted, download the PDF — print two copies, carry one in hand luggage and one in checked baggage.
At Vietnamese immigration, you queue with the standard arrivals line, not the VOA line. Hand over your passport plus the printed e-Visa. The officer scans the QR code, verifies, stamps you in. Whole process is 5 to 10 minutes.
Why Vietnam e-Visas get refused — and what to do about it
Refusal rates are very low (under 3% for clean Indian applications) but the refusals that do happen cluster around a few causes:
- Photo quality — selfies, photos with glasses, photos with a non-white background, photos cropped tightly to the face. Use a professional passport-photo app or a studio photo.
- Passport mismatch — name on application does not exactly match passport, including middle names, initials, and spelling of surnames. Type it character-for-character as on the passport.
- Passport validity under 6 months at planned entry date — Vietnam strictly enforces this. Renew first.
- Prior overstay in Vietnam — even by one day, even years ago. Triggers automatic refusal and usually a multi-year ban.
- Wrong entry/exit point selected from the dropdown — pick from the official list only.
If refused, there is no formal appeal — you simply re-apply with corrected information after 30 days. The USD 25/50 fee is non-refundable.
Need to stay longer? Extensions and the embassy route
The e-Visa is capped at 90 days. To stay longer you have three options:
- Visa extension inside Vietnam — done at the Vietnam Immigration Department in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, or Da Nang. Costs USD 10 to USD 35 plus agent fees (most travellers use an agent because the office paperwork is in Vietnamese). Extensions of 30 days are standard.
- Visa run — exit Vietnam to Cambodia, Laos, or Thailand, then re-enter with a new e-Visa. This requires multi-entry status or a second fresh single-entry application from outside Vietnam.
- Sponsored long-stay visa — through a Vietnamese employer, school, or relative. Apply at the Vietnamese Embassy in Delhi or Consulate in Mumbai. Different fee schedule (around INR 8,000 to 15,000) and 7 to 14 day processing.
For most Indian leisure travellers, the 90-day multi-entry e-Visa is plenty. Plan around it rather than fighting it.
Scam sites — how to avoid losing USD 100+ to fake portals
Vietnam visa scams are one of the most aggressive in Southeast Asia. Search Google for 'Vietnam e-Visa' and the top results in 2026 are still paid ads from third-party sites with names like 'vietnam-evisa.org', 'evisaforvietnam.com', and 'official-vietnam-visa.com'. None of these are government sites.
How to spot the real one:
- The URL is exactly evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn — note the .gov.vn extension
- Government fees are USD 25 or USD 50, never INR 4,000-plus or USD 80-plus
- The official site has no live chat, no WhatsApp support, no urgent processing options for an extra fee
- The official portal asks for exactly two file uploads — passport scan and photo. Sites asking for hotel bookings, return tickets, or bank statements as uploads are middleman agencies
If you have already paid a third-party site, you may still get a valid visa (because they then apply on your behalf through the official portal), but you have overpaid. If you have not paid yet, close the tab and go to the official URL directly.
Frequently asked questions
Is Vietnam e-Visa really 90 days for Indians now?
Yes — since 15 August 2023, Indian passport holders can apply for a 90-day single-entry or multiple-entry e-Visa through the official Vietnam Immigration portal. The earlier 30-day single-entry cap was removed for all eligible nationalities including India.
How much does the Vietnam e-Visa cost?
USD 25 (around INR 2,100) for single-entry and USD 50 (around INR 4,200) for multiple-entry, both for 90-day stays. Fees are paid online by international credit/debit card on the official portal. Third-party sites typically charge USD 60 to USD 120 for the same visa — avoid them.
Which is the official Vietnam e-Visa website?
Only evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn is the official Vietnam Immigration Department portal. Sites with similar names like vietnam-evisa.org or official-vietnam-visa.com are third-party agencies that charge a markup. Always check for the .gov.vn extension.
How long does the Vietnam e-Visa take to process?
Officially 3 working days, but realistic 2026 processing is 5 to 7 working days. Applications submitted before Vietnamese public holidays (Tet in late January, National Day in early September) can take 10 days or more. Apply at least 2 weeks before travel.
Can I extend my Vietnam e-Visa inside the country?
Yes — extensions of up to 30 days are available through the Vietnam Immigration Department in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, or Da Nang. Government fee is USD 10 to USD 35, but most travellers use a local agent (extra USD 30 to USD 60) because the paperwork is in Vietnamese.
What happens if my Vietnam e-Visa is refused?
There is no formal appeal. The USD 25 or USD 50 fee is non-refundable. You can re-apply after 30 days with corrected information. Most refusals are caused by bad photos, name mismatches with passport, or passport validity under 6 months on the planned entry date.