For many international travelers, arrival procedures in Vietnam have just changed. Following in the footsteps of other destinations, particularly in Asia, that have already digitized part of their entry procedures, such as India, China, South Korea, and Indonesia, Vietnam is now introducing its own digital arrival card.
According to a notice issued by the Ho Chi Minh City Immigration Office, foreign nationals entering Vietnam, whether they require a visa or not, must now submit their personal information in advance through the portal prearrival.immigration.gov.vn before presenting themselves at the border checkpoint. The same requirement also applies to overseas Vietnamese using a visa to enter the country.
Once the declaration has been completed and approved, the system generates a confirmation QR code that must be shown to immigration officers upon arrival. The measure officially took effect on April 15, 2026, and authorities recommend completing the process before departure in order to reduce delays at border control, even though the procedures outlined through the official QR code channels suggest it may also be completed upon arrival.
A pre-arrival step to complete shortly before travel
In practice, this declaration must be completed shortly before departure. During the process on the official portal, the expected arrival date can only be selected for arrivals scheduled within the next 72 hours. This means the form is not intended to be filled out far in advance, but rather within the three days prior to entering Vietnam.
Travelers concerned would therefore be wise to plan for this requirement just before their trip, much like online check-in or a final document review. If it is overlooked, the notice states that processing upon arrival may take longer.
The system does not apply to all passengers. Vietnamese citizens traveling on a Vietnamese passport are not concerned. Travelers in transit who do not go through entry formalities are also exempt.
For those who are covered by the measure, however, the administration clearly states that failing to complete the declaration in advance may increase processing time at the point of entry. It also emphasizes that all information submitted must be accurate, truthful, and complete.
How to complete Vietnam’s digital arrival card
The online form is completed in four steps on Vietnam’s official portal.
1. Passenger information
Travelers must first provide their personal details and, where applicable, information related to their visa.
- Expected arrival date, limited to arrivals within the next 72 hours
- Passport image upload, if available, to prefill certain fields
- Passport number
- Passport expiration date
- Full name
- Gender
- Date of birth
- Nationality
- Phone number
- Email address
For travelers subject to a visa or another entry regime, a dedicated section must also be completed.
- Type of visa or document used to enter Vietnam (Visa Exemption Certificate, Electronic Visa (e-Visa), ABTC Card, Travel Card, Permanent Residence Card, Temporary Residence Card, Visa, Bilateral exemption, Unilateral exemption, or Default visa exemption by country)
- Visa or document number
- Date of issue
- Expiration date
- Place of issue
2. Travel information
The second step concerns the stay and travel arrangements.
- Country of departure before arrival in Vietnam
- Purpose of travel (tourism, business, study, work, etc.)
- Mode of transport, with three options available: air, land, or sea
- Flight number for air arrivals, or vehicle identification number for land or sea arrivals
- Point of entry
- Type of accommodation in Vietnam (hotel, private residence, or other)
- Province or city of accommodation
- District or commune of accommodation
- Accommodation address
- Workplace information
- Planned departure date from Vietnam
3. Review and validation
Before final submission, travelers must review the information provided and confirm their email address. He then receives a six-digit OTP code via email, which he must enter on the portal to confirm his declaration.
4. Result and confirmation
Once the declaration has been validated, the system displays a confirmation message, assigns a file number, and allows the traveler to download the registration acknowledgment bearing a QR code.
A system likely to expand to other entry points in Vietnam
At this stage, official communication clearly focuses on arrivals at Tan Son Nhat International Airport. However, several elements visible on the portal suggest that the system may not remain limited to that airport alone.
The form includes several travel modes, namely air, land, and sea. It also features a field dedicated to the point of entry, which is not limited to Ho Chi Minh City.
This strongly suggests that the system is intended to be extended to other international entry points in Vietnam, although no official rollout timeline has yet been publicly announced.
Vietnamese immigration authorities present this pre-arrival declaration as a way to better manage passenger flows, reduce waiting times at border control, and improve the arrival experience at one of the country’s busiest airports.
Airlines and travel agencies are also being encouraged to actively inform travelers before departure so that some do not discover the requirement only after arriving at the counters. For the passengers concerned, the new best practice is straightforward: complete the declaration shortly before the flight, keep the QR code, and have it ready when reaching the border.
