Vietnam visa for Nepali

Do Nepali citizens need a visa for Vietnam?

Yes. Nepali passport holders need a visa arranged in advance before travelling to Vietnam, as Nepal is not on Vietnam's visa-exempt list. There is no Vietnamese embassy in Nepal, so you cannot apply in person locally. Instead, most Nepali travellers apply online for an e-visa, or arrange a visa on arrival approval letter, before they fly. This applies equally whether you are travelling from Nepal or living abroad as part of the Nepali diaspora, the requirements are the same and only your starting point differs.

Both routes are handled without visiting an embassy, which makes Vietnam one of the more straightforward destinations to plan for from Kathmandu. The key is to choose the right visa type, prepare clean documents, and apply with enough lead time before your departure date.

Vietnam visa types for Nepali travellers

Nepali citizens have two practical ways to enter Vietnam: the e-visa, applied for entirely online, and the visa on arrival, which uses an approval letter arranged before you fly and is then stamped into your passport at the airport. The e-visa suits most travellers because it works at airports, land borders and seaports. The visa on arrival is useful for urgent or last-minute trips, but it is mainly used at international airports; confirm a land or sea gate with the sponsor. The comparison table below sets out the differences at a glance.

For most Nepali holiday-makers, honeymooners and families, the e-visa is the simplest choice because it is fully online and valid at every approved entry point. Choose the visa on arrival only if you are certain you will enter by air and want a faster turnaround.

Documents you need

The documents are simple and mostly digital. For the e-visa you submit everything online, while for the visa on arrival you supply your passport details in advance and carry printed items to the airport. Prepare clean, clear scans, blurred or cropped files are the most common cause of delay.

For the e-visa

• A scanned copy of your passport bio page, with at least 6 months validity from your date of entry and 2 blank pages.
• A recent 4x6 cm photo on a white background, face straight, no hat or glasses (jpg, under 2MB).
• Your intended entry and exit dates for Vietnam.
• A confirmed or provisional flight itinerary showing your travel route.

For the visa on arrival

• Your passport details: full name, date of birth, nationality and passport number.
• A passport with at least 6 months validity from your date of entry and 2 blank pages.
• Two printed passport photos on a white background, carried with you to the airport.

If any application asks about funds for your trip, provide a bank statement showing sufficient funds to cover your stay. Keep your document names, dates and spellings exactly as they appear in your passport.

How to apply, step by step

The e-visa is applied for entirely online and the approved visa is emailed to you, so there is no need to post your passport anywhere or queue at an embassy. Follow these steps carefully, small errors are the main reason applications are rejected or held.

1. Gather your scanned passport bio page and a compliant digital photo.
2. Complete the online application form with your personal and passport details exactly as printed in your passport.
3. Select single or multiple entry and enter your intended entry date, remembering that the date format on the form is DD/MM/YYYY.
4. Upload your photo and passport scan, then review every field before submitting.
5. Submit the application and wait for processing.
6. Receive the approved e-visa at your registered email, then print a copy to carry with your passport.

For a visa on arrival, you instead send us your passport details, our Vietnamese partner gets the approval letter (about 3 working days), print it, and get the visa stamped at airport immigration on landing. Carry your printed approval letter and passport photos so stamping at the counter is quick.

How long can you stay, and can you extend?

Both the e-visa and the visa on arrival allow a stay of up to 90 days per visit, with single or multiple entry options depending on what you select. For the e-visa, validity is counted from the entry date you choose on the form, not from the day it is issued, so pick your entry date to match your real travel plans.

The e-visa cannot be extended from inside Vietnam. If you need to stay longer than your visa allows, plan for a new visa rather than relying on an extension. Overstaying leads to problems at departure, so always keep within the dates granted and confirm current requirements before you travel.

Entry process and the pre-arrival information (PAI)

On arrival, present your printed e-visa or approval letter together with your passport at immigration. If you used a visa on arrival, you also present your two passport photos before the visa is stamped into your passport.

Gomayu recommends completing the pre-arrival information (PAI) declaration online up to 3 days before you fly, to save time at the airport. It is not the same as your visa. Key points:

• It is separate from the visa.
• It is completed online at prearrival.immigration.gov.vn.
• Submit it within 72 hours before arrival.
• It is used at Ho Chi Minh City (SGN), Hanoi (HAN), Da Nang (DAD), Cam Ranh (CXR) and Phu Quoc (PQC) airports.
• PAI is used for arrivals by air. If you are entering by land or sea, check with us before you travel.

Complete the PAI in the days just before you fly, and save or print the confirmation to show on arrival.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Waiting until the last minute, always leave a comfortable buffer before your departure date.
• Entering names or dates that do not exactly match your passport.
• Using the wrong date format, the form uses DD/MM/YYYY.
• Choosing the visa on arrival for a land or sea entry without first confirming that gate with the sponsor.
• Uploading a blurred, cropped or old photo that fails the 4x6 cm white-background requirement.
• Leaving the PAI declaration to the airport queue instead of completing it online up to 3 days before you fly.
• Travelling on a passport with less than 6 months validity or without 2 blank pages.

Tips for the Nepali diaspora and NRNs

If you are a Nepali passport holder living abroad, in the Gulf, Australia, the UK, the US or elsewhere, the Vietnam visa rules are exactly the same as for travellers departing Kathmandu. You apply for the same e-visa online or arrange the same visa on arrival approval letter; only your starting airport changes.

Diaspora travellers should double-check that their passport still has 6 months validity and 2 blank pages, since renewals abroad can take time. If your family is joining from Nepal while you fly in from another country, everyone still needs their own visa. It often helps to have one point of contact coordinate the paperwork so every traveller is ready with matching entry dates.

When should Nepali travellers apply?

Apply well ahead of your travel date so processing time is never a source of stress. Because the e-visa validity starts from your chosen entry date rather than the issue date, you can apply comfortably in advance without wasting any of your allowed stay.

If you are travelling during the Dashain and Tihar break, which is the peak booking window for Nepali travellers, apply early, as this is when demand and airfares are highest. A good rule is to lock your flights and start your visa around three months ahead for festival-season trips, and at least a few weeks ahead for off-peak travel. Always confirm current requirements before you travel.

What to prepare before booking, and travel tips

Before you book, make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond your entry date and has 2 blank pages, then decide between the e-visa and the visa on arrival based on how you will enter Vietnam. A few practical tips for Nepali travellers:

• Keep digital and printed copies of your visa or approval letter, passport and PAI confirmation.
• Carry your two passport photos if you are using the visa on arrival.
• Save the official portal links so you complete the PAI on the right website.
• Match your flight dates to the entry date on your visa to avoid confusion at immigration.
• Keep names and dates identical across your passport, visa and bookings.

Gomayu handles the Vietnam visa for Nepali and Nepalese passport holders, whether you are applying from Nepal or living abroad. Message us for a document check and we will guide you on what to carry to the airport. Planning the whole trip? Explore our Vietnam tour packages and read our Vietnam travel guide for the best time to visit, top places and more.