Check the passport you will carry#
The passport is the reference for the application and the issued visa. You need at least six months of validity from the intended entry date and blank pages. Calculate your check from the proposed entry date, not simply from the day you start filling out information. If the passport you will carry has changed since a previous trip, do not reuse old details without comparing them with the current document.
Check the actual travel-document category too. Check the distinction between HKSAR and BN(O) passports; a Hong Kong address is not a replacement for identifying the passport. Read the bio-page directly when checking the name and number. A copied itinerary, phone contact card or old message is easier to reuse but may not be the right source. If you cannot confidently match an application field to the passport, ask before guessing rather than trying to make the information look complete.
Prepare a passport scan and recent portrait#
Prepare a scan of the passport bio-page and a recent portrait photograph. For the portrait, the stated guidance is a 4×6 cm style image with a white background, facing forward and without glasses. Check the photo you are actually sending rather than assuming a file with a familiar name is the correct one. Keep the original documents available while reviewing the application so there is a clear reference if a detail is difficult to read.
Open the passport scan and inspect the visible information. Follow the official portal's technical instructions instead of relying on a guessed setting. If someone asks you to replace a file, make it clear which new file supersedes the old one. Simple version control in your correspondence helps avoid an otherwise correct application being prepared with outdated material.
Collect travel dates, address and entry port#
Prepare the intended entry and exit dates, the entry port, an address in Vietnam and an email address. Put these together in one checklist so they can be reviewed as a coherent plan. Travellers must use the selected entry port or a port permitted for e-visa holders, with the official list on the portal. Check your intended port against that list and clarify the route rather than choosing from a city name alone.
Think through the whole itinerary when choosing single or multiple entry. If plans include leaving Vietnam and returning, the later entry matters as well as the first arrival. Do not silently update one part of the information while leaving different dates in a message to an assistance provider. If your route includes Phu Quoc and mainland Vietnam, review the separate visa-free exception carefully; an island destination does not automatically answer the document requirements for the rest of the trip.
Review before submission and after approval#
A useful final review compares the passport details, photo, dates, entry type and port in one sitting. Mark anything you are unsure about and resolve it before treating the application as complete. Keep a copy of the details you provided so you can answer questions without reconstructing the plan from several different messages.
The official processing estimate starts after a complete application and is about three working days, with longer waits possible at peak periods and holidays. After approval, the issued PDF needs another comparison with the passport and intended journey. Save it for printing or showing on arrival, and seek clarification if a detail does not match. For the wider process, see how to apply. For current document instructions and permitted ports, consult the [official e-visa portal](https://evisa.gov.
Use a final checklist before you apply#
Put the passport, photo and itinerary side by side for your last review. Check the name and number against the original passport, then confirm the dates and entry type against the full route. Ask someone helping you to explain a field if you are unsure how it relates to your document. Once those details are consistent, Chat to apply with the files ready. Keeping this preparation together makes follow-up questions easier to answer and helps you notice an outdated scan or travel date before it is used.
Next, see how to apply and compare visa options.
Your questions, answered
01How much passport validity do I need?
Your passport needs at least six months of validity from your intended entry date, with blank pages. Check the expiry date before preparing the application.
02Which documents should I prepare?
Prepare a passport bio-page scan, recent portrait, intended entry and exit dates, entry port, address in Vietnam and email address.
03What should the portrait photograph look like?
Use a recent 4×6 cm style portrait with a white background, facing forward and without glasses. Open the actual file to check it before submitting.
04Can I use details from my old passport?
Use the passport you will carry on this trip. Copy names and numbers from the original bio-page and replace any old scan with the correct document.
