Is a digital arrival card mandatory in Vietnam?

Vietnam Digital Arrival Card: Airports & Deadline

Travelers entering the country now encounter a new electronic entry process at major hubs. Understanding these requirements helps avoid processing delays and ensures a smooth arrival experience. Read the details below to complete your is a digital arrival card mandatory in Vietnam declaration correctly before your scheduled flight, ensuring you have the necessary information ready for a fast entry.

Is a digital arrival card mandatory in Vietnam?

Yes, a digital arrival card is mandatory in Vietnam if you are arriving at select international airports. The electronic Pre-Arrival Information (PAI) system requires foreign travelers to submit personal and travel details online to generate a QR code for immigration clearance.

Since its launch in April 2026, the Pre-Arrival Information system has processed hundreds of thousands of entries. During the initial 15-day rollout at Tan Son Nhat airport, 161,596 passengers accessed the system, with 119,854 successfully completing the declaration. The digital shift helps travelers avoid long queues and cuts processing time significantly. But there is one unexpected mistake that causes nearly a quarter of travelers to fail their application - Ill explain it in the technical troubleshooting section below.

Which airports currently require the electronic declaration?

The requirement began at Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) in Ho Chi Minh City. As of June 2026, the digital arrival card requirement has officially rolled out to other major entry points.^[2] These include Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, Da Nang International Airport, Cam Ranh Airport in Nha Trang, and Phu Quoc International Airport.

This applies to almost everyone. This includes visa-free visitors, e-visa holders, and overseas Vietnamese entering on a visa. However, Vietnamese passport holders and transit passengers who do not leave the sterile airport area remain exempt. Do not assume you can skip it just because you hold a strong passport. You absolutely cannot.

The 72-hour submission window

You must complete the free declaration on the official Vietnam Immigration Portal within 72 hours prior to your scheduled arrival. The system physically prevents you from selecting arrival dates further in the future. Filling out the form takes less than five minutes if you have your documents ready.^[3] It is fast.

Many people ask if they can just do it upon arrival. While airport kiosks exist, completing the form after you land usually adds 20-40 minutes to your processing time. You will be doing it while standing in a queue with spotty airport Wi-Fi, which is an experience you definitely want to avoid after a long flight.

Technical troubleshooting: Why do forms get rejected?

Here is that unexpected mistake I mentioned earlier: entering an incorrect flight code that does not perfectly match your Passenger Name Record (PNR) data. During the pilot phase, this single error accounted for a massive portion of the unsuccessful declarations. The system actively cross-references your input with airline databases. If you type VN-234 instead of VN234, the system might reject your application.

Lets be honest - government portals are rarely user-friendly. You will need a stable connection and patience. I have seen travelers panic at the boarding gate because they left this until the last minute and the one-time password (OTP) email was delayed by five minutes. Always complete it at home before you head to the airport. Rarely have I seen a travel requirement so simple become so stressful just because people wait until the last minute.

Confusion between the digital arrival card and the e-visa requirement

Conventional wisdom says that if you have an e-visa, you are completely cleared to enter the country. But here is the thing - that is only half the battle. I have watched angry tourists argue with airline staff because they thought their approved e-visa meant they did not need the arrival card. They are two entirely separate requirements serving different purposes.

The e-visa is your legal authorization to cross the border, while the digital arrival card is an operational tool (much like the old blue paper forms) that gives the specific airport a real-time heads-up that you are landing today. Think of the visa as your concert ticket, and the arrival card as calling ahead to let them know you will need a parking spot. Both are necessary.

I usually recommend tackling the visa weeks in advance, and setting a calendar reminder on your phone for 48 hours before your flight to handle the Vietnam digital arrival card requirements. Simple as that.

Vietnam E-Visa vs. Digital Arrival Card

Vietnam E-Visa

• Not needed if you hold a passport from a visa-exempt country (like the UK, Japan, or South Korea)
• Official government authorization permitting you to legally enter and stay in the country
• Should be done weeks in advance, as processing takes several working days
• Requires payment (typically $25 for single entry or $50 for multiple entry)

Digital Arrival Card (PAI)

• Vietnamese citizens and non-entering transit passengers only
• A real-time passenger manifest tool to speed up the actual physical immigration line
• Strictly within 72 hours of your scheduled arrival time
• Completely free of charge via the official portal

Mark's Arrival at Tan Son Nhat

Mark, a 45-year-old consultant flying from London to Ho Chi Minh City, had his e-visa printed and thought he was fully prepared. He ignored the airline's email about the new digital arrival card requirement, assuming his visa was enough.

When he landed at Tan Son Nhat, he was pulled out of the fast-moving immigration line and directed to a side counter with a QR code. He tried to fill out the form on his phone, but the airport Wi-Fi kept dropping his connection during the passport photo upload.

After 20 minutes of frustration, he realized he could skip the optional photo upload and just manually type his passport details. He carefully matched his flight code exactly as it appeared on his ticket (VN234) rather than guessing.

The OTP email arrived immediately, generating his entry QR code. He cleared immigration 40 minutes later than expected. He learned the hard way that completing the free form at home before departure would have saved him nearly an hour of stress after a 13-hour flight.