Vietnam visa for UK citizens: the 45-day rule explained

Do UK citizens need a visa for Vietnam?

No, not for a single trip of 45 days or less. UK passport holders get automatic visa-free entry under Vietnam's unilateral exemption list, alongside 11 other countries including France, Germany, and Japan. You just need a passport valid for at least 6 months from your entry date, with 2 blank pages. No application, no fee, no stamp to arrange in advance.

This exemption does not apply to British National Overseas (BNO) passport holders. If you're travelling on a BNO passport rather than a full British citizen passport, you need an e-visa regardless of trip length.

Vietnam visa options for UK citizens

Most UK travellers only need the free 45-day exemption. The table below covers the three realistic options and when each one actually applies.

BNO passport holders skip the first row entirely and go straight to the e-visa, since the exemption doesn't cover them at all.

How to apply for the Vietnam e-visa

You only need this if your stay is over 45 days, or you're on a BNO passport. The official process takes about 10 minutes to submit and 3 to 5 working days to process.

1. Go to evisa.gov.vn (the only official portal, run by Vietnam Immigration).
2. Upload a scan of your passport's bio page and a recent passport-style photo.
3. Select single or multiple entry, and your exact port of entry (Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat, Da Nang, or one of 13 international airports).
4. Pay the 25 or 50 USD government fee by card. It's converted to VND automatically and is non-refundable even if rejected.
5. Check your status at evisa.gov.vn/e-visa/search using your registration code. No email is sent if something's wrong, so check yourself.
6. Print the approved e-visa and carry it with your passport. Airline check-in staff at Heathrow and Gatwick can deny boarding without it.

When the 45-day exemption doesn't cover you

Three situations knock UK travellers out of the free exemption: a BNO passport, a stay you expect to run past 45 days, and work or long-term study. Each one needs the e-visa instead, applied for before you fly.

One more thing competitors don't mention: from 15 April 2026, Vietnam started encouraging (not yet requiring) all foreign arrivals at Tan Son Nhat Airport (Ho Chi Minh City) to fill out a digital arrival card online before landing. It's not mandatory yet and may roll out to other airports later. Skipping it currently won't get you turned away at Tan Son Nhat, but check before you fly since this is the kind of rule Vietnam tends to tighten without much notice.

The 45-day exemption also can't be extended from inside Vietnam. If you're already 40 days in and want more time, your only options are leaving and re-entering for a fresh 45 days (no minimum wait between entries), or applying for an e-visa, which still requires you to exit and re-enter to activate it.

Fees and processing time

The 45-day exemption costs nothing. The e-visa has one fixed government fee, and that's the only one you need to pay if you apply yourself.

Agencies charge an extra 15-100 USD service fee on top for form-checking and faster handling. That's optional. If your photo and passport scan meet the spec, applying directly on evisa.gov.vn costs nothing beyond the government fee.

Common mistakes that delay or reject UK e-visa applications

Don't book a one-way flight expecting to sort the visa on arrival. Airlines at UK airports check for either an e-visa or proof of onward travel before allowing boarding, and visa-on-arrival approval letters for tourists were phased out years ago, so there's no fallback at the gate.

Don't upload a blurry or non-compliant photo. This is the single most common reason for delays, ahead of any document issue. The photo needs a plain white background, no glasses, and a neutral expression, taken in the last 6 months.

Don't apply from inside Vietnam. The system auto-rejects e-visa applications submitted while you're already in the country. Apply before you leave the UK.

Don't assume a BNO passport gets the same treatment as a British citizen passport. It doesn't, and there's no workaround besides the e-visa.

FAQ

Do UK citizens need a visa for Vietnam?

No, for stays up to 45 days on a standard British citizen passport. This applies whether you arrive by air or land, and however many times you enter and exit, with no minimum wait between visa-free entries. BNO passport holders and anyone staying longer need an e-visa instead.

Can I retire in Vietnam?

There's no dedicated retirement visa as of 2026. UK retirees rely on the same 45-day exemption or 90-day e-visa as any other visitor, then either do repeat visa runs, apply for a business or extended visa or use the investor visa route (DT category) for long-term residence, which requires registered capital in a Vietnamese company.

Is it safe to travel to Vietnam when pregnant?

Vietnam carries some risk of Zika and dengue, both mosquito-borne, with dengue more common in southern provinces during the rainy season. Most health authorities recommend pregnant travellers discuss the trip with a doctor or midwife beforehand and use mosquito protection throughout. This isn't visa-related, so check NHS travel health guidance or a travel clinic for your specific dates and itinerary.

Do US citizens need a visa for Vietnam in 2026?

Yes. Unlike UK citizens, the US is not on Vietnam's visa exemption list, so American travellers need an e-visa for any visit, regardless of length. The fee and process are the same as for UK e-visa applicants: 25 USD single entry or 50 USD multiple entry, processed in 3-7 working days. See our Vietnam visa for US citizens guide for the full breakdown.