Vietnam's tourist e-visa covers stays of up to 90 days, on a single or multiple entry. To stay longer, the routes we can confirm from official and news sources are a visa exemption certificate for foreign spouses and children of Vietnamese citizens, and a temporary residence card for people working or investing in Vietnam through a sponsoring organisation. Which one fits depends on why you are there.
Checked 13 November 2026. Vietnamese rules change; the official portal, evisa.gov.vn, is the final word on the e-visa.
How long can you stay in Vietnam without a long-stay permit?
- Tourist e-visa: valid for up to 90 days, single or multiple entry. You apply on evisa.gov.vn, and the visa starts on the entry date you choose.
- Visa-free entry: citizens of Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the UK, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Belarus get 45 days from arrival. Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Laos get 30 days; the Philippines 21 days; Brunei and Myanmar 14 days [1].
Check the length of stay you were given on arrival, and leave or move to another route before it ends.
Which route fits a longer stay?
| Your situation | Route to look at |
|---|---|
| Tourist who wants up to 90 days | The tourist e-visa, with the entry date set for the start of your trip |
| Spouse or child of a Vietnamese citizen | A visa exemption certificate (see below) |
| Working for, or investing in, a Vietnamese organisation | A temporary residence card through your sponsoring organisation |
| Remote worker for clients abroad | See our guide to Vietnam's options for remote workers |
| Retiree | We have not found a dedicated retirement visa in Vietnam's official sources. Book a consultation and we will look at your options. |
Spouses and children of Vietnamese citizens: the visa exemption certificate
Foreign spouses and children of Vietnamese citizens can qualify for a visa exemption certificate. You need a passport with at least one year of validity left, proof of the family relationship, and you must not fall under an entry-suspension case [2].
- The certificate is valid for up to five years, or to your passport's remaining validity if that is shorter [2].
- Each entry allows a visa-free stay of up to 180 days [2].
- You can apply to extend your temporary residence by up to a further six months [2].
- Processing takes five working days [2].
Working or investing: the temporary residence card
People who work for or invest in organisations in Vietnam stay on a temporary residence card, which comes in different types by purpose. The procedure runs through the sponsoring organisation under Vietnam's Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners [3]. Validity depends on the card type, so ask your employer or sponsor which card applies to you before you rely on a figure. We do not file temporary residence cards.
Rules that apply whichever route you use
- Your address is registered for you. Hotels and other accommodation providers declare foreign guests to the local police, within 12 hours on paper or at check-in electronically. A new declaration is made when you move [1].
- Overstaying is expensive. Since 15 December 2025, fines run from VNĐ500,000 to VNĐ2 million for an overstay of under 16 days, rising to up to VNĐ40 million for a year or more. Overstays of 16 days or more can also lead to deportation [4].
How we can help
We file Vietnam tourist e-visas: see Vietnam tourist e-visa fees and the entry window and our Vietnam visas page. For a longer stay, book a consultation and we will tell you which route fits.
Frequently asked questions
How long can I stay in Vietnam on an e-visa?
Up to 90 days. The Vietnam e-visa can be issued for up to 90 days, on a single or multiple entry, starting on the entry date you choose when you apply.
Can I stay in Vietnam for six months?
Only on a longer-stay route. Spouses and children of Vietnamese citizens can get a visa exemption certificate allowing up to 180 days per entry. People working or investing in Vietnam use a temporary residence card.
What is a temporary residence card in Vietnam?
It is the long-stay permit for foreigners who live in Vietnam to work, invest or for similar purposes. It is applied for through a sponsoring organisation, and its validity depends on the card type.
Is there a retirement visa in Vietnam?
We have not found a dedicated retirement visa in Vietnam's official sources. Book a consultation and we will check which route fits your situation.
What happens if I overstay in Vietnam?
You face a fine that rises with the length of the overstay, up to VNĐ40 million for a year or more, and overstays of 16 days or more can lead to deportation.
References
- How do foreign travellers declare their temporary residence in Việt Nam? (vietnamnews.vn, 13 November 2025)
- Visa exemption and temporary residence for foreign children of Vietnamese nationals (vietnamnews.vn, 4 December 2025)
- Entry, exit and residence rules set out for foreigners at the International Financial Centre (vietnamnews.vn, 23 December 2025)
- Việt Nam tightens penalties for foreign overstays under new decree (vietnamnews.vn, 12 December 2025)
