Vietnam Visa Approval Letter (Visa on Arrival)
A visa option for special cases, with your visa stamped when you land at a major international airport.
Before the eVisa, many travellers entered Vietnam with a visa approval letter and collected their visa at the airport. This is known as visa on arrival. Today the eVisa is the right choice for most tourists. But the approval letter is still used in specific situations, such as some urgent cases and trips sponsored by a Vietnamese organisation or company.
Arty Vietnam Travel can assess whether a visa approval letter is suitable for your trip and help you with the process.
How visa on arrival works
- The approval letter is issued before you travel. It is issued by Vietnam's Immigration Department, based on a request from a sponsoring organisation in Vietnam.
- You fly to one of the designated international airports: Noi Bai (Hanoi), Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City) or Da Nang.
- At the landing visa counter, before immigration, you present the approval letter, your passport, a passport-size photo and the completed entry form.
- Your visa is stamped in your passport. Then you continue to immigration.
Good to know
- Airports only: visa on arrival applies to travellers arriving by air at the designated international airports, not at land or sea borders
- Bring: the printed approval letter, your passport, and a passport-size photo
- Your airline may ask to see the approval letter at check-in
Who should consider an approval letter?
- Business travellers invited or sponsored by a Vietnamese company or organisation
- Some urgent cases where the eVisa timeframe does not fit your travel date
- Special situations where your case needs to be assessed individually
For most tourists, the Vietnam eVisa is simpler and more flexible, and it can be used at airports, land borders and seaports. Not sure which is right for you? Tell us about your trip and we will advise.
Make your arrival easier
Queues at the landing visa counter and at immigration can be long. Add Arrival Fast Track and an Arty Vietnam Travel assistant will guide you through the visa counter and immigration.
Need a visa approval letter?
Tell us your nationality, purpose of travel, arrival airport and flight date. We will check whether an approval letter is suitable and explain the next steps.
Ask About an Approval Letter →Arty Vietnam Travel is a private travel and visa-assistance company, not a government agency. Visa decisions are made by the competent Vietnamese authorities. Rules can change, so always check the latest information on the official Vietnam eVisa portal before you travel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Vietnam visa on arrival still available?
Yes, but only for specific cases, such as some urgent trips and travel sponsored by a Vietnamese organisation. For most tourists, the eVisa is the recommended option.
Which airports accept visa on arrival?
Visa on arrival with an approval letter is processed at the landing visa counters of the designated international airports, including Noi Bai (Hanoi), Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City) and Da Nang.
Can I use a visa approval letter at a land border?
No. Visa on arrival applies only to travellers arriving by air at designated international airports. For land and sea borders, use an eVisa.
What is the difference between an approval letter and an eVisa?
With an eVisa, your visa is issued online before you travel. With an approval letter, you receive pre-approval before you travel and the visa is stamped in your passport when you land.