Vietnam visa for British citizens (2026)

British citizens can enter Vietnam without a visa for up to 45 days. For a longer stay, up to 90 days, they need an e-visa.

Check my plan

A stay of 30 days
Visa-free 45 days
You can enter without a visa
British passports get 45 days visa-free on each entry. A stay of up to 30 days fits inside that.
A stay of 90 days
E-visa needed
You need an e-visa for a stay this long
British passports get 45 days visa-free. You plan a stay of up to 90 days, so you need an e-visa. One e-visa covers up to 90 days.

The rule for British passports

Visa-free stay: 45 days on each entry
Scheduled until: 14 March 2028 (check before you go)
A longer stay: E-visa, up to 90 days
Legal basis: Resolution 44/NQ-CP (check before you go)
Rules verified: 18 Oct 2026

Covers every class of British nationality except British National (Overseas) passports, which need an e-visa.

Source: en.wikipedia.org. The values marked check before you go rest on one source so far.

Staying longer than 45 days? Two ways to get your e-visa

You can do it yourself on Vietnam's own e-visa site, or we can do it with you.

With Vietnam 90 Days

We check it for the five common mistakes before you pay
We file it for you and watch it until it is approved
Updates by email
A real person to email before your flight
3 days, next day, same day or 2 hours
From $59, including the $25 fee
You pay only after we confirm the price and timing

Start my application

On the portal yourselfVietnam's own e-visa site, evisa.gov.vn

$25 single or $50 multiple, not refunded if refused
3 working days stated, often 3 to 7 in practice
You check the status yourself
A mistake means paying and applying again

Go to evisa.gov.vn

Common mistakes

Before you fly

Counting on an extensionThe free 45 days cannot be extended inside Vietnam. If you might stay longer, get the 90-day e-visa before you fly.
Forgetting the end dateThe exemption is scheduled to run until 14 March 2028 (check before you go). If it is not extended, an e-visa is needed for entries after that date.
Treating a border run as a sure thingLeaving and coming back is how most long-stay travelers restart a stay, but border officers decide each entry. Read the border-run guide before you plan around it.

If you apply for an e-visa

A name that does not match the passportType the names exactly as printed on the photo page and on the two lines at the bottom of it. Middle names, the order of the names and accents all count.
A photo the e-visa site rejectsIt needs a 4 x 6 cm portrait on a plain white background, with the face fully visible and looking straight at the camera, no glasses, taken in the last 6 months.
The wrong date formatThe e-visa site wants dates as DD/MM/YYYY, with two digits for the day and for the month.
A passport that is valid for too short a timeThe passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your entry date.
The wrong entry pointThe e-visa works only at the entry point you name on the form. If you fly in, pick your arrival airport. Arriving anywhere else means being refused.

The e-visa site states 3 working days and it often takes 3 to 7. See how long it takes and when to apply.

Questions from British travelers

Do British citizens need a visa for Vietnam?

Not for a stay of up to 45 days. British passports get 45 days visa-free on each entry. For a longer stay you need an e-visa.

How long can British citizens stay in Vietnam?

Up to 45 days without a visa. With an e-visa, up to 90 days.

How much does the Vietnam e-visa cost for British citizens?

On Vietnam's own e-visa site (evisa.gov.vn) it costs $25 for a single entry or $50 for multiple entry, and the fee is not refunded if the application is refused. With Vietnam 90 Days the price starts at $59 per traveler, including the $25 fee, and multiple entry adds $25. We confirm the final price and timing before you pay.

How long does the Vietnam e-visa take?

The e-visa site states 3 working days. In practice it is often 3 to 7 calendar days, and slower from November to April and around Tet. Apply at least a week before you fly.

Can British citizens extend a stay in Vietnam?

Guides agree that neither the free 45 days nor an e-visa can be extended inside Vietnam. People who want more time usually cross a border and come back on a new e-visa or a new visa-free stay. Read our border-run guide, and check before you go.