Vietnam Visa for UAE Residents: The e-Visa, Fees and Exemptions

The short answer: nearly every UAE resident needs a Vietnam e-visa, which citizens of every country can apply for online on the official portal, evisa.gov.vn. It costs USD 25 for a single entry or USD 50 for multiple entries, allows up to 90 days, and the government's stated processing time is three working days. Emiratis need the e-visa too. British, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Nordic, Japanese and Korean passports get 45 days visa-free, and Filipinos get 21 days.

Vietnam is about seven hours from Dubai, with daily non-stop flights to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The e-visa is simple, so the main risks are lookalike websites and the new arrival declaration.

Vietnam visa for UAE residents at a glance

Question	Answer (October 2026)
Visa for most UAE residents	e-Visa, applied for online before you travel
Who can apply	Citizens of every country
Official portal	evisa.gov.vn
Fee	USD 25 single entry, USD 50 multiple entry
Length of stay	Up to 90 days
Processing	3 working days, the government's stated time
Emirati citizens	e-Visa needed

How to apply for the Vietnam e-visa

1. Go to the official portal, evisa.gov.vn.
2. Upload a photo of your passport's data page and a recent passport photo. Your passport should be valid for at least six months.
3. Choose single or multiple entry, your dates, and the airport or border where you will enter.
4. Pay the fee by card and note your registration code.
5. Check the portal for the result, then download and print the e-visa.

Allow a week rather than three days, in case the application needs correcting.

Watch out for lookalike sites

Several websites look like the official portal and charge much more than USD 25 or 50. Agents can legitimately charge a service fee on top of the government fee, but you should know you are paying it. The official addresses end in .gov.vn.

Who can visit Vietnam without a visa

• 45 days: Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the UK, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland, until March 2028.
• 45 days, for tourism: Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland, until August 2028.
• 21 days: the Philippines. Most other South-East Asian countries get 30 days.

The UAE, the other GCC states, India, Pakistan, Egypt, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are not on these lists. Living in the UAE does not change that, so their nationals use the e-visa.

Vietnam's arrival declaration

Since April 2026, foreign visitors flying into Ho Chi Minh City have had to file a pre-arrival declaration online, and by June 2026 the rule covered Hanoi, Da Nang, Nha Trang and Phu Quoc as well. It is filed at prearrival.immigration.gov.vn, or by scanning a QR code, in the days before you land. Check whether it applies to your airport when you book.

What about visa on arrival?

Vietnam's visa on arrival only works at airports, and only with an approval letter arranged before you fly. Now that the e-visa is open to everyone, it is simpler and cheaper to apply for the e-visa, and be wary of websites selling "visa on arrival" letters.

Phu Quoc without a visa

The island of Phu Quoc has long allowed visitors of any nationality to stay up to 30 days without a visa if they arrive directly from abroad and stay on the island. If your route connects through Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, you pass immigration there and need the e-visa. Confirm the current rule with your airline before relying on it.

Getting from Dubai to Vietnam

Emirates flies daily non-stop from Dubai to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in about seven hours, and to Da Nang via Bangkok. Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet do not fly non-stop from Dubai.

Frequently asked questions

Do UAE residents need a visa for Vietnam?

Most do. Unless your passport is on Vietnam's exemption list, apply for the e-visa online before you travel. UAE residence does not give visa-free entry.

How much is the Vietnam e-visa?

USD 25 for a single entry and USD 50 for multiple entries on the official portal. Agents add their own service fee.

How long does the Vietnam e-visa take?

The government's stated time is three working days. Apply at least a week before you fly.

Do Emiratis need a visa for Vietnam?

Yes. UAE citizens are not on Vietnam's exemption list and apply for the e-visa like everyone else.

Can Indians in Dubai get a Vietnam visa?

Yes, through the same e-visa, which is open to every nationality. India has no visa exemption with Vietnam.

How long can I stay on a Vietnam e-visa?

Up to 90 days, on a single-entry or multiple-entry visa.

Planning a trip to Vietnam

Ten days covers Hanoi and Ha Long Bay in the north, then Hoi An or Ho Chi Minh City further south. See Vietnam visa services for help with the e-visa, browse our Asia holidays, or talk to us about flights and hotels.

Related guides

• Thailand visa for UAE residents
• Singapore visa for UAE residents
• China visa for UAE residents
• Bali itinerary from Dubai

Last checked 8 October 2026 against Vietnam's official e-visa portal, the Ministry of Public Security and Vietnamese government resolutions. Visa rules and fees change; this guide is general information, not immigration advice. Confirm the current requirements before you travel.