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Vietnam Arrival Card 2026: How to Fill In the Pre-Arrival Declaration and Get Through Immigration

Published October 19, 2026 · Updated October 19, 2026

Since April 2026, foreign travellers flying into Vietnam fill in an online pre-arrival declaration, often called the Vietnam arrival card, before landing. It takes about 10 minutes, it is free, and it gives you a QR code that speeds up passport control. This guide explains who needs it, how to fill it in, and what happens when you land.

> Rules are still being rolled out airport by airport. Always check the official site and your airline before you fly.

1. What is the Vietnam pre-arrival declaration?

It is an online form run by Vietnam's Immigration Department (Ministry of Public Security). You enter your passport, visa and flight details in advance, so officers can check them before you arrive. It is not a visa and does not replace one: you still need a valid e-visa or visa exemption.

  • Official website: prearrival.immigration.gov.vn
  • Cost: free. The Immigration Department warns about fake look-alike websites that charge fees or steal card details. Use only the address above.
  • When: within 3 days before arrival, or on arrival.
  • Result: a personal QR code to show at immigration.

2. Which airports need it?

The system started as a pilot at Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City) on 15 April 2026 and has since been extended:

  • Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City)
  • Noi Bai (Hanoi)
  • Da Nang
  • Cam Ranh (Nha Trang)
  • Phu Quoc: required for all international arrivals since 1 June 2026

When it launched, the Immigration Department described it as optional. Airlines and foreign embassies now tell passengers to complete it, and at Phu Quoc it is compulsory. The simplest approach: if you are flying into any of these airports, fill it in.

Who needs to declare: foreign passport holders, including people on an e-visa, a visa exemption or the Phu Quoc visa exemption. Vietnamese passport holders do not need it. Passengers who stay airside in transit and do not pass immigration also don't need it.

3. What to prepare before you start

Have these ready on your phone or laptop:

  • Passport, valid for at least 6 months, with your name exactly as printed
  • Visa details: your e-visa number and its "valid from" date, or the type of visa exemption that applies to your passport
  • Flight number and arrival date
  • Address of your first hotel or accommodation in Vietnam
  • A working email address

Most failed submissions come from a wrong flight number or a name that doesn't match the passport, so copy them carefully.

4. How to fill in the form, step by step

  1. Open prearrival.immigration.gov.vn. Choose your language if offered, then select the option to create and submit a declaration.
  2. Complete the CAPTCHA.
  3. Enter your personal and passport details exactly as in your passport.
  4. Choose your visa type or purpose:
    - E-visa: enter the e-visa number and dates.
    - Visa exemption: choose the type that matches your nationality.
    - Flying straight to Phu Quoc without a visa: choose "Phu Quoc visa exemption".
  5. Enter your flight and accommodation details.
  6. Review everything, then submit.
  7. Save the QR code: take a screenshot and, if you can, print a copy too. Airport Wi-Fi and mobile data can be slow when you land.

Travelling as a family or group? Each traveller, including children, should have their own declaration and QR code. If you're unsure about children's forms, check with your airline.

5. What happens when you land

  1. Follow the "Immigration / Arrival" signs. At the main airports, travellers who have completed the declaration can use a priority lane (often signed as a pre-arrival information counter).
  2. At the counter, hand over your passport and show your QR code and your e-visa (printed copy recommended). The officer scans the code and stamps your passport.
  3. Collect your baggage at the carousel shown for your flight.
  4. Customs: walk through the green channel if you have nothing to declare. You must declare cash above USD 5,000 (or equivalent in other currencies) or above VND 15,000,000 at the red channel.
  5. Leave the arrivals hall. Get a SIM card, withdraw cash or book a ride. Use official taxi ranks or ride-hailing apps such as Grab rather than accepting offers inside the terminal.

If you didn't fill in the form in advance, you can usually still do it on arrival by scanning the QR code posters in the airport, but expect a longer wait.

6. Common mistakes to avoid

  • Using an agent's website that looks official and charges a fee. The real form is free.
  • Filling it in too early. More than 3 days before arrival may not be accepted.
  • Name mismatch between the form, passport and e-visa. Check spacing and middle names.
  • Wrong visa type, for example choosing "e-visa" when you are visa-exempt.
  • Not saving the QR code before boarding.

Quick summary

  • Free online form at prearrival.immigration.gov.vn, within 3 days before arrival.
  • Needed at Tan Son Nhat, Noi Bai, Da Nang, Cam Ranh and Phu Quoc.
  • It's not a visa: bring your e-visa or check your visa exemption separately.
  • Save the QR code, use the priority lane, and declare cash over USD 5,000 / VND 15 million.

Planning what to do after you land? Build a free Vietnam itinerary on MeTravel or ask our Vietnam Q&A.