Editorial · May 19, 2026
Vietnam Visa Exemption: The 45 Day Rule Explained
Vietnam visa exemption means that citizens of listed countries can enter Vietnam without a visa and stay up to 45 days for each entry. The rule started on August 15, 2023, under Government Resolution 128/NQ-CP. It is meant for short trips, so it suits tourists and many short business visits. This guide shows who qualifies, what the list looks like, and what to check before you fly.
What the 45 day rule says
Before August 2023, visitors from several Western European countries, Japan and South Korea could stay 15 days without a visa. The 2023 change tripled that to 45 days. You do not apply for anything in advance. You show your passport at the border and receive a stamp.
The 45 days count from the day you enter. If you want to stay longer, you have two choices. You can apply for an e-visa, or you can leave for a nearby country and come back under the exemption. Border officers decide on each entry, so plan your trip with some margin.
You also need a passport that is valid for at least six months, and a ticket out of Vietnam or on to another country. Airlines often check both before they let you board.
Who is on the list
The 2023 change covered the long-standing visa-free countries, now with a longer stay. They include:
- Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden
- France, Germany, Italy and Spain
- Japan and South Korea
- Russia
- The United Kingdom (British National Overseas passports are not covered)
More countries were added in 2025. Earlier, Resolution No. 11/NQ-CP of January 15, 2025 gave Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland a conditional 45 day exemption for 2025, for visitors on programmes run by authorised Vietnamese travel agencies. Then Resolution 229/NQ-CP of August 8, 2025 set a list of twelve countries from August 15, 2025: Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland. That resolution runs for three years, from August 15, 2025, and replaces the earlier one for Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland. It is for tourism and is tied to the government's tourism promotion programme.
Lists change by government resolution, so a country can be added or dropped. Check the current list on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Immigration Department pages before you book.
If your country is not on the list
Most travellers from other countries need a visa. The simplest route is the e-visa. Since August 15, 2023, Vietnam has issued e-visas to citizens of all countries. An e-visa lasts up to 90 days and can be single or multiple entry. The fee is a fixed 25 or 50 US dollars, depending on the type of e-visa.
An e-visa is only valid at approved border gates. In December 2025, the government added 41 gates under Resolution 389/NQ-CP, bringing the total to 83 for air, land and sea crossings. Look at the list for the gate you plan to use before you apply.
Some countries have their own deals with Vietnam, such as shorter visa-free stays under bilateral agreements. These are separate from the 45 day rule. Check your own country's entry page.
Re-entry and the traps to avoid
Each entry gets its own stay under the rule. Even so, staying in Vietnam for long periods by leaving and returning again and again is a risk. An officer can refuse entry if your travel pattern looks like living in the country without a proper visa. If you plan to stay many months, an e-visa is a safer base.
Do not rely on the exemption if you plan to work. Short business meetings are one thing. A job or a long project needs the right visa and permit, which the 45 day rule does not give you.
Keep your return ticket and a hotel booking on your phone. Border staff may ask for them. If you overstay, you can face a fine and trouble on your next trip.
Special case: Phu Quoc island
Phu Quoc has its own rule. Foreign tourists can stay there for up to 30 days without a visa, as long as they stay on the island. If you want to visit the mainland, you need to meet the usual visa or exemption rules for entry to the mainland.
Many travellers from the countries on the 45 day list simply use the 45 day rule and add a stay on Phu Quoc in the same trip. This is a handy way to plan a beach stay and a city trip together.
A short checklist
- Find your country on the current official list.
- Count 45 days from the day you land, not the day you book.
- Check that your passport has six months left.
- Carry proof of onward travel.
- If you need more time, apply for an e-visa before your trip.
This is general information, not legal advice. Rules can change, so confirm them with the Vietnamese authorities or an embassy before you travel.
Sources
- VietnamPlus, visa-free entry for citizens of 12 countries: en.vietnamplus.vn
- Vietnam Briefing, Vietnam introduces e-visa for all nationalities from August 15, 2023: vietnam-briefing.com
- Vietnam Government News, Viet Nam expands list of ports for e-visa: en.baochinhphu.vn
- Entry Vietnam Visa, visa exemption: entryvietnamvisa.com
- Wikipedia, Visa policy of Vietnam: en.wikipedia.org
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