Table of Contents
Everything you need to know about Vietnam's 45-day visa exemption program, including eligible countries, entry requirements, and how to extend your stay.
What is the 45-Day Visa Exemption?
In late 2023, Vietnam introduced a major policy shift that continues to benefit travelers in 2026: extending the unilateral visa exemption from 15 days to 45 days. This allows citizens of 13 specific countries to enter Vietnam for tourism, business, or transit without applying for a visa beforehand.
Which Countries Are Eligible?
The 45-day visa-free entry applies exclusively to passport holders from the following 13 countries: - United Kingdom - Germany - France - Italy - Spain - Japan - South Korea - Russia - Denmark - Norway - Sweden - Finland - Belarus
If you hold a passport from one of these nations, you can enter Vietnam freely for up to 45 days. If you are from an ASEAN country, you might be eligible for a 30-day exemption.
Even if your country is not on this list, you can easily apply for a 90-day eVisa since it is open to all nationalities!
Entry Requirements for Visa-Free Travel
Even without a visa, you must meet certain requirements at the immigration checkpoint: - Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from your date of arrival. - You need at least two blank passport pages for entry stamps. - A return or onward flight ticket may be requested by your airline or border officials to prove you will leave within 45 days.
Check our full Vietnam visa requirements for more details.
What If I Want to Stay Longer?
The 45-day exemption is fantastic for short holidays, but what if you want to explore Vietnam for longer? You have a couple of options: - **Apply for an eVisa**: Before you arrive, you can apply for a 90-day eVisa which allows for either single or multiple entries. - **Border Run**: If you entered visa-free, you can leave Vietnam (to a neighboring country like Thailand or Cambodia) and re-enter. You can either use another 45-day exemption or enter with a pre-approved 90-day eVisa.