Do Albania Citizens Need a Visa for Vietnam?

Passport Validity

Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your date of arrival in Vietnam. You must also have at least two blank pages for entry and exit stamps.

Electronic Visa (e-Visa)

Vietnam issues e-visas to citizens of all countries and territories. The e-visa is valid for up to 90 days and is available for both single-entry and multiple-entry travel. The application must be completed through the official government portal, and a printed copy of the e-visa must be presented at the border.

Visa Exemption

Citizens of several countries, including Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Japan, and South Korea, are granted a 45-day visa-free stay for tourism or business. As of August 2025, this 45-day exemption has been expanded to include 12 additional European nations, including the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Poland. There is no longer a mandatory 30-day gap required between visa-free entries.

Phu Quoc Island Special Zone

Phu Quoc Island is a special economic zone where all foreign nationals can visit visa-free for up to 30 days. To qualify, you must arrive directly at Phu Quoc’s international airport or seaport from a foreign country and remain on the island for the duration of your stay. If you intend to travel to mainland Vietnam, you must obtain a standard visa or e-visa.

Electronic Visa (e-Visa)

The most common visa for tourism and short-term business, the e-visa allows for stays of up to 90 days. The non-refundable application fee is $25 USD (approx. 630,000 VND) for a single-entry e-visa, and $50 USD (approx. 1,260,000 VND) for a multiple-entry e-visa. It is issued to citizens of all countries and territories.

Business Visa

For those traveling to Vietnam for business purposes, the e-visa covers short-term activities. For longer business commitments, a B3 business visa or a DN1/DN2 visa is required, which typically necessitates a letter of sponsorship from a company in Vietnam. These visas may be valid for up to 12 months.

Student and Work Visas

International students enrolled in recognized educational institutions in Vietnam and foreign workers with valid work permits must obtain specific student (DH) or work (LD) visas. These visas are usually issued for 6 to 12 months and serve as the basis for applying for a Temporary Residence Card (TRC).

Temporary Residence Card (TRC)

For long-term residents, including investors (DT), workers (LD), and family members of Vietnamese citizens (TT), the TRC serves as both a long-term visa and a residence permit. TRCs are typically valid for 2 to 5 years, depending on the visa category, and allow for multiple entries and exits without a separate visa.

1. Access the official Vietnam e-visa portal (evisa.gov.vn) and complete the online application form with your personal details and travel itinerary.
2. Upload a high-quality digital scan of your passport data page (valid for at least 6 months) and a recent 4x6 cm biometric-standard photograph with a white background and no glasses.
3. Pay the applicable non-refundable e-visa application fee ($25 USD for single-entry or $50 USD for multiple-entry) through the secure online payment gateway.
4. Record your registration code to track your application status. The standard processing time is approx. 3 to 5 working days, though it is highly recommended to apply at least two weeks before your travel date.
5. Once your e-visa is approved, use your registration code to download and print the e-visa document. You must present a physical, printed copy of your e-visa to border control authorities upon arrival in Vietnam.

Electronic Visa (e-Visa)

The standard processing time for a 90-day e-visa is approx. 3 to 5 working days from the date of submission. During peak tourism seasons, such as the weeks leading up to the Lunar New Year (Tet), it is common for the processing time to be extended to 7 to 10 days.

Business and Study Visas

National visas for long-term business or study purposes typically require 7 to 14 working days for processing. These visas often require a sponsorship letter from a Vietnamese entity, which must be verified by the Immigration Department before the visa can be issued.

Temporary Residence Card (TRC)

The application for a Temporary Residence Card (TRC) for investors, workers, or family members generally takes approx. 7 to 14 working days after all necessary documents and fees have been submitted.

Appeals Process

If your e-visa application is denied, you will receive an email stating the grounds for the refusal. There is no formal online appeal process for an e-visa denial. If the denial is based on a data entry error, you may submit a new application and pay the fee again. If the denial is based on security grounds, you may contact the Vietnam Immigration Department in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City for clarification.

Common Reasons for Denial

The most frequent reasons for an e-visa denial include:

• Incorrect or incomplete data in the application form (e.g., misspelled name or wrong passport number).
• Low-quality or non-compliant passport scan or photograph.
• Applying for a visa type that does not match your purpose of travel.
• Being on a "restricted entry" list due to previous violations of Vietnamese law.

Re-application

In many cases, submitting a new, carefully reviewed application with corrected information is the most effective way to resolve an e-visa denial. Ensure that all data matches your passport exactly and that your passport scan is clear and legible.

Penalties and Entry Bans

Violating the terms of your visa, including overstaying your authorized duration or engaging in activities not permitted by your visa category (e.g., working on a tourist e-visa), can result in substantial fines ranging from $20 to over $700 USD (approx. 500,000 to 18,000,000 VND). Serious violations can lead to deportation and a formal entry ban for a period of 5 years or more.

Mandatory Address Registration

All foreigners staying in Vietnam, whether in a hotel, guesthouse, or private residence, are required by law to register their local address with the local police department. Most hotels and guesthouses will perform this registration automatically on your behalf upon check-in. If you are staying in a private home, the owner or landlord is responsible for reporting your presence to the local authorities within 24 hours of your arrival.

E-Visa Duration and Extension

The 90-day e-visa issued for tourism or short-term business is non-extendable from within Vietnam. If you wish to stay longer than 90 days, you must exit the country and apply for a new e-visa. You may then re-enter Vietnam once your new e-visa is approved.

Designated Entry and Exit Points

When entering or exiting Vietnam on an e-visa, you must use one of the 42 designated international border gates, which include major airports (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang), seaports, and land border crossings with China, Laos, and Cambodia. Entering through a non-designated border gate may result in your e-visa being invalidated.

Overstaying Regulations

Overstaying your authorized visa duration is a serious administrative offense in Vietnam. Penalties include substantial fines, and you may be required to obtain an exit visa from the Immigration Department before being allowed to leave the country. Frequent or long-term overstaying can result in deportation and a formal ban from re-entering Vietnam.

Travel Medical Insurance

Travelers arriving in Vietnam on a 90-day e-visa or as part of a visa-free stay are required to carry travel medical insurance with a minimum coverage of $10,000 USD (approx. 250,000,000 VND). The policy must cover COVID-19-related treatment and emergency medical evacuation.

Yellow Fever Vaccination

Foreigners arriving in Vietnam from countries or territories with a risk of Yellow Fever transmission must provide a valid International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) for Yellow Fever. This certificate is required if you have been in an endemic area within the last 6 days.

Medical Certificate for Residence

Applicants for a Temporary Residence Card (TRC), including foreign workers and students staying for 6 months or more, must submit a health certificate issued within 6 months of the application. This certificate must be issued by an authorized hospital or clinic in Vietnam or a recognized medical institution in your country of residence.

Standard Vaccinations

While not mandatory for entry, it is highly recommended to be up-to-date on standard vaccinations, including Hepatitis A and B, Typhoid, and Japanese Encephalitis, especially if you plan to travel to rural areas or stay in Vietnam for an extended period.

E-Visa Financial Means

Applicants for a tourist or business e-visa are not required to prove a specific daily minimum amount of funds. However, it is highly recommended to have approx. $1,000 USD (approx. 25,200,000 VND) in available funds to support your 90-day stay. Border authorities may request proof of financial means, such as a recent bank statement or credit card balance, in cases of suspected overstay or work permit violations.

Investor Visa (DT)

Foreigners investing in Vietnam must meet specific capital requirements to qualify for an investor visa or Temporary Residence Card (TRC):

• DT1: Capital investment of at least 100 billion VND (approx. $3,960,000 USD).
• DT2: Capital investment from 50 billion VND to under 100 billion VND.
• DT3: Capital investment from 3 billion VND to under 50 billion VND.
• DT4: Capital investment of under 3 billion VND (approx. $119,000 USD).

Work and Student Visas

For foreign workers and international students, the primary financial requirement is proof of a valid employment contract or sponsorship letter from a recognized educational institution. These documents must specify the monthly salary or stipend, which must be sufficient to cover living expenses in Vietnam.

Currency Regulations

You must declare any currency or monetary instruments (cash, checks, or gold) valued at $5,000 USD (approx. 126,000,000 VND) or more when entering or leaving Vietnam. This also applies to domestic currency (VND) in excess of 15,000,000 VND (approx. $595 USD). Failure to declare these funds can lead to seizure and substantial fines. There is no legal limit on the total amount of money you can bring into Vietnam, provided it is declared.

Duty-Free Allowances

Foreigners entering Vietnam for short stays may bring the following items duty-free:

• Tobacco: 200 cigarettes, OR 20 cigars, OR 250g of smoking tobacco.
• Alcohol: 1.5 liters of spirits (over 22% ABV), OR 2 liters of fortified or sparkling wine (under 22% ABV), OR 3 liters of beer.
• Other Goods: Personal items and gifts are permitted up to a total value of 10,000,000 VND (approx. $400 USD).

Medication

Travelers may bring a reasonable supply of personal medication for their stay. All medications must be in their original packaging and accompanied by a doctor's prescription or a medical report in Vietnamese or English. For medications containing narcotic or psychotropic substances, a specific permit from the Vietnamese Ministry of Health may be required.

90-Day E-Visa Expansion

Effective August 15, 2023, Vietnam expanded its e-visa program to citizens of all countries and territories. The new e-visa is valid for up to 90 days and allows for both single and multiple entries. This change has significantly simplified the travel process for international visitors and business professionals.

45-Day Visa Exemption Extension

The duration of the unilateral visa exemption has been extended from 15 days to 45 days for citizens of several countries, including Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Japan. In August 2025, this 45-day visa-free stay was further expanded to include 12 additional European nations, such as the Netherlands and Switzerland.

Removal of the 30-Day Gap Rule

The mandatory 30-day gap between two visa-free entries into Vietnam has been abolished. Travelers can now exit Vietnam and re-enter visa-free immediately, provided they continue to meet the eligibility requirements for the 45-day exemption.

The following official sources provide the most accurate and up-to-date information for Vietnam visa and residency requirements.

• Vietnam Immigration Department (Cục Quản lý Xuất nhập cảnh) - Official e-Visa Portal
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Bộ Ngoại giao) - Consular Services
• Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) - Official Travel Guide
• General Department of Vietnam Customs (Tổng cục Hải quan) - Customs Regulations for Travellers

Information compiled from official government portals as of April 10, 2026.