Vietnam Extends E-Visa to 90 Days and Adds Multiple Entry Option

The old 30-day single-entry e-visa was barely enough for tourism. The new 90-day multiple-entry version opens Vietnam to longer-term visitors.

Vietnam upgraded its e-visa program in August 2023, and after two years the expanded system has become the default entry method for most international visitors. The changes transformed Vietnam from a country requiring complicated visa runs or embassy visits into one of Southeast Asia's most accessible destinations for extended stays.

What changed

The Vietnam e-visa portal now offers:

90-day validity: Up from 30 days. The visa is valid for 90 days from the issue date, and you can stay for the full 90 days from entry.

Multiple entry: The old e-visa was single entry. Leave Vietnam and you needed a new visa. The new version allows unlimited entries during the 90-day validity period.

82 eligible nationalities: Most Western countries plus many Asian and African nations qualify. US, UK, EU, Australia, Canada all included. China, Japan, South Korea included (though some have separate visa exemption arrangements).

Application fee: $25 USD, paid online. Processing takes approximately 3 business days, sometimes faster.

How it works practically

Apply online before travel. You'll need a passport photo, passport scan, and basic travel details. Approval comes via email with a PDF to print or save on your phone.

The 90-day period begins when you first enter Vietnam, not when the visa is issued. If your visa is issued January 1 with 90-day validity through March 31, and you enter February 1, you can stay until the visa expiration (March 31), not 90 days from entry. Plan accordingly.

Multiple entry means you can do border runs. Exit to Cambodia, Thailand, or Laos, return immediately on the same e-visa. No new application required as long as the original remains valid.

The digital nomad situation

Vietnam doesn't have a formal digital nomad visa. The e-visa doesn't authorize work. Technically, remote workers using the e-visa are in the same gray zone as those on tourist visas everywhere: working while on a visa that doesn't permit it.

Enforcement is essentially nonexistent. Vietnam cares about people taking Vietnamese jobs, not foreigners working remotely on laptops. The practical risk approaches zero. The legal risk is technically present.

For stays beyond 90 days, the pattern becomes: stay 90 days, exit to a neighboring country, apply for a new e-visa, return. The system doesn't explicitly prohibit consecutive e-visas, though immigration officers have discretion. Most people report no issues with this pattern for extended periods.

Living there

Vietnam offers Southeast Asia's best value proposition for remote workers in 2026. Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi have developed strong infrastructure: fast internet (Vietnam's average speeds exceed many Western countries), abundant coworking spaces, coffee culture that encourages laptop work.

Budget $1,200-1,800 monthly for a comfortable lifestyle in major cities. That gets you a modern apartment in a central neighborhood, regular dining out, domestic travel, and workspace costs. Budget options exist around $800-1,000. Premium living starts at $2,500.

Da Nang has emerged as the preferred base for many remote workers: beach city, developed but not overwhelming, lower costs than the major cities. Hoi An nearby offers similar appeal in a smaller package.

What to consider

The e-visa extension makes Vietnam accessible, but some realities remain:

Banking is difficult for non-residents. You'll rely on cash, international cards, and payment apps. Opening a local bank account requires documentation most visitors don't have.

The language barrier is real outside tourist areas. English proficiency varies widely. Learning basic Vietnamese helps significantly for daily life.

Healthcare quality varies. Major cities have international clinics and hospitals. Rural areas have limited options. International health insurance is essential.

The 90-day e-visa isn't residency. It's extended tourism. For anyone wanting genuine long-term status, the options are limited: work permits through local employment, investor visas requiring substantial capital, or repeated temporary stays.