Do I Need to Wait 30 Days Before Re-entering Vietnam Under Visa Exemption?

Planning a quick "visa run" or a return trip to Vietnam shortly after leaving? If you are traveling under a unilateral visa exemption, there are specific timing rules you need to know to ensure a smooth entry at the border. The condition is that you must have been outside of Vietnam for at least 30 days since your last departure to be eligible for a new visa exemption.

The 30-Day Gap Requirement

- If you enter Vietnam without a visa under the unilateral exemption policy, the law requires a 30-day gap between your exit and your next visa-exempt entry.

- This regulation is designed to prevent "back-to-back" stays that bypass standard visa procedures. If you try to re-enter within that 30-day window, immigration officers may require you to present a valid visa (like an e-visa) rather than granting another free entry.

Who Does This Affect?

At present, Vietnam’s unilateral visa exemption policy (45-day visa-free) applies to ordinary passport holders from the following 24 countries:

Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Switzerland.

Need to Return Sooner?

- If you intend to return to Vietnam before 30 days have passed from your last departure, visa exemption may not work for that entry.

- In that situation, it is advisable to obtain an e-visa or another appropriate visa before travel.

Check Which Exemption Applies

Visa exemption conditions are not the same in every case. The applicable conditions depend on the type of exemption granted to your nationality or travel document.

Legal Basis

Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam (Law No. 47/2014/QH13), as amended by Law No. 51/2019/QH14.