Vietnam visa UK: Passport requirements
It is a requirement of the Vietnamese Government that British travelers to Vietnam hold a valid passport which must have validity longer than your visa by at least one month. To be safe, as requirements can change at any time, you must ensure that your passport has at least six months validity left after your return date from holiday. You must check that your passport complies with this decree long in advance before travel. If you hold other passport than British, you need to contact your nearest Vietnamese Embassy to see what regulations apply for you.
Do you need a visa for Vietnam from UK? (Visa-free regulations)
As of 1 July 2015, British passport holders who travel for holidays are able to enter Vietnam for up to 15 days without a visa. You will need a visa if you plan to enter Vietnam for more than 15 days and if you plan to re-enter Vietnam within 30 days of your departure. For more detailed information on Vietnam visa UK, see the following post: Vietnam Visa For UK – Do You Need A Visa For Vietnam From UK?.
Applications for Vietnam visa for UK citizens and Vietnam visa fee UK
If you are visa-free regulations exempt, then the Vietnamese Government requires British passport holders to obtain a visa for entry into Vietnam. There are various methods to apply for a Vietnam visa in the UK:
- Online – You can apply for an e-visa online if you are planning to stay in Vietnam for up to 30 days. To apply for the e-visa go to the government’s official website and follow their instructions: evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn. You will need to upload a copy of your passport, a passport-type photograph and pay US$25 per person by credit/debit card. Please note: the e-visa is limited to certain entry and exit points which you will have to select at the time of the application.
- Vietnam Embassy in London – It is possible to get a visa in person directly at the Embassy of Vietnam, or by post, up to six months before the date of your travel date. Unless you go to the Embassy in person, visas can take some time to get processed so make sure you apply for your visa well in advance. It is recommended that you apply for your visa a month or two before your travel date to avoid any complications and delays.
UK Vietnam visa fee and document submissions:
- An original passport must be valid longer than your visa by at least one month.
- Downloaded and completed application form from the Vietnam Embassy’s website.
- One passport-type photograph taken no later than one year ago, attached to the application form.
- Payment for applications in person is cash only. For applications by post-payment can be made by guaranteed cheque, bankers draft or postal order only. Your full name, passport number, contact address and telephone number must be provided along with the payment. Important: do not send cash by post.
- The single entry visa fee cost is £55 (multiple entries is £105) but this may be subject to change so make sure to contact the Embassy to find out the correct current fee at the time of your application.
- If you want your passport to be returned to you by post, you will be asked to pay an additional fee. Don`t forget to check the postage fee before applying.
Visas are valid for 30 days and make sure to check all the details of your visa upon collection. Also keep in mind that the visa will require a full page of your passport and you will need another blank page for the entry and exit stamps.
To find out the latest information on the visa arrangements for Vietnam you may contact the Vietnamese Embassy as follows:
Embassy of Vietnam
12 Victoria Road
London
W8 5RD
Tel: 020 7937 1912
For more information, you can visit the embassy website – vietnamembassy.org.uk
If you do not have the time to apply for the visa yourself, or you just need assistance with the visa process, then you can hire a visa company. They charge for their services, but they can help to reduce the stress of doing it yourself.
Vietnam visa for British: Visa on arrival
It is also possible to obtain a visa authorization letter before departure which would allow you to pick-up your visa on arrival when already in Vietnam. However, it is only recommended in circumstances when travellers don’t have enough time to go through the normal visa application process or for those who are not able to give away their passports 3 months prior the departure.
When you provide your full passport details, your occupation and details of your arrival and departure flights, you will then get provided with a visa authorization letter which normally takes around 1 week to obtain. There will be a fee for providing this letter (around £25) and then you will need to provide your passport to the authorities on arrival in Vietnam along with one up-to-date colour passport-sized photo and the Vietnam visa stamping fee in cash ($45). Keep in mind that sometimes there can be long queues at the airport when obtaining a visa on arrival.
