Urgent Vietnam e-visa: what same day and 2 hours really mean
A fast e-visa is still a request that a person at Vietnam's immigration department has to approve, and that person works office hours on working days. "2 hours" means about 2 hours of working time after we start your request. It does not mean 2 hours on a Saturday night.
What each speed promises
These are the speeds and prices on our order form. The price includes the e-visa fee of $25 for a single entry 3. A multiple-entry e-visa adds $25 to any speed.
| Speed | Price, single entry | Promise | Order by (Vietnam time, working days) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $59 | 3 working days | No cut-off |
| Next working day | $89 | 1 working day | 16:00 |
| Same day | $129 | About 5 hours | 12:00 |
| Two hours | $169 | About 2 hours | 14:00 |
Our timings assume that Vietnam's e-visa office works from 08:00 to 17:00 on working days. We could not confirm those hours in a published source, so check before you go if your plan has no slack.
Where the clock starts
Vietnam is on UTC+7 all year and has no daylight saving. Subtract the difference from your own time zone before you read a cut-off. London in winter is 7 hours behind, and New York in winter is 12 hours behind.
The clock starts when you have paid and your details are complete, as long as that happens before the cut-off on a working day. If you order after the cut-off, on a weekend or on a holiday, the clock starts at 08:00 on the next working day. For example, a Same day order paid on Friday at 15:00 Vietnam time starts on Monday morning and is promised about 5 hours later.
A promise counts working time only. It is also a target for approval, not for your arrival. You still need to download and print the approved e-visa.
Weekends and holidays
Saturday and Sunday are not working days. Vietnam also has public holidays when the office is closed. The ones coming up are:
- New Year's Day, Jan 1, 2027.
- Tet, the Lunar New Year, expected around Feb 5 to 11, 2027. The dates are an estimate until the government publishes them.
- Hung Kings Commemoration, around Apr 16, 2027 (estimate).
- Reunification Day Apr 30 and Labour Day May 1, 2027, plus a likely day in lieu on May 3 (estimate).
- National Day, Sep 2, 2027, and a likely extra day on Sep 3 (estimate).
Around Tet the e-visa site can slow down or pause for several days, and applications sent just before it can wait until after 4. If you travel near Tet, apply at least two weeks earlier than you would otherwise and do not rely on a fast speed. Check before you go.
Flying within 48 hours
- Check that you need a visa at all. Many passports get 45 days or more without one. The visa check on this site tells you in a minute.
- Count the working hours you have. If your flight leaves in 48 hours and one of them is a weekend day, you may have only one working day.
- Choose the speed that fits the working hours, not the clock. With one working day left, Next working day is the slowest speed that fits. With less than that you need Same day or Two hours, and only if the cut-off has not passed.
- Enter the same details as your passport and name the airport you will land at. A fast speed cannot fix a typo. A wrong passport number means a refusal and a new application, which costs the time you were trying to save.
- Tell the airline if you are close. Most airlines check for a visa at check-in. Have the approved e-visa on your phone and a printed copy.
- Have a plan B. If approval is late, move the flight. A change fee is usually less than a refused boarding.
Nobody can promise an approval. The government can ask for a correction, and a request for one can delay the answer 6.
What to do next
Start with the visa check to see whether your passport needs an e-visa at all. When it does, apply here and pick the speed that fits your working hours, or read what to do when an application is still pending.
Questions and answers
Can I get a Vietnam e-visa in 2 hours on a weekend?
Not in the way the name suggests. The 2 hours are counted in working time, so a request paid on Saturday starts on the next working day at 08:00 Vietnam time. Check the cut-off for your speed before you order.
What if I miss the cut-off by a few minutes?
Your request starts on the next working day. Choose the speed again in that light: a Same day order that misses 12:00 on Thursday starts on Friday morning, not on Thursday afternoon.
Does a faster speed change the e-visa fee?
No. The government fee is $25 for a single entry and $50 for multiple entry 3. The faster speeds cost more because they carry a shorter promise.
Can I just buy the e-visa at the airport instead?
Not for most travelers. Vietnam does not issue an e-visa on arrival, and an airline may refuse to board you without it. Land border posts do not issue visas either 5.
What if the e-visa is not approved before my flight?
Contact us at once with your reference. If the approval has not come, move the flight. Do not fly on the hope that the approval arrives in the air.
Is the 3 working days on the government site a guarantee?
No. It is the time the site states. Other pages say processing can take longer, from 5 to 30 working days in one embassy FAQ dated Jan 2025 6, so start early when you can. Check before you go.
Sources
All sources were read or seen in search on Oct 20, 2026. "Seen in search" means we saw the text in a search result and the page itself would not load for us.
- One Mile at a Time, "My Experience Applying For A Vietnam E-Visa" (Vietnam states up to 3 working days). Seen in search: onemileatatime.com
- Our own notes on the e-visa site's stated 3 working days, which we apply as the standard promise.
- Wikipedia, Visa policy of Vietnam (e-visa fee USD 25 single entry, USD 50 multiple entry, up to 90 days): en.wikipedia.org
- Our research notes on the Tet pause of the e-visa site, written from agency reports. Treat it as a lead.
- Our border run guide, which lists the land crossings and the rule that visas are not issued there: vietnam90days.com
- Embassy of Vietnam in India, e-visa application page (5 to 30 working days, no email on results, last updated Jan 6, 2025): vietnamembassydelhi.in