Vietnam Digital Arrival Card 2026: How to Complete the Pre-Arrival Declaration

Last updated: May 11, 2026

Vietnam requires foreign travellers arriving at Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Nhat International Airport to submit a digital pre-arrival declaration before immigration clearance, with the rule taking effect on 15 April 2026.

It currently covers only SGN, but the Immigration Department has confirmed the system will be rolled out nationwide following the pilot period, with plans to expand to other international airports and study deployment at land border gates.

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What Vietnam’s digital pre-arrival declaration is

Key facts at a glance:

Effective date: 15 April 2026
Where it applies: Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN), Ho Chi Minh City
Cost: Free
Submission window: Within 72 hours of your scheduled arrival
Official portal: prearrival.immigration.gov.vn

The declaration is a mandatory online form that collects your passport, visa, flight and accommodation details before you reach the immigration counter, according to the Vietnam News announcement from the HCM City Immigration Office.

Once the form is submitted and approved, the system generates a unique QR code that you present to officers on arrival.

The declaration rolled out at Tan Son Nhat (SGN) first because it is Vietnam’s busiest international gateway.

Authorities say the digital system is designed to cut individual inspection times and ease congestion at peak hours.

Who needs to complete the form and who does not

Travellers who fall within the scope include:

Foreign visitors with an e-visa or paper visa
Visa-on-arrival holders with a pre-approval letter
Travellers from visa-exempt nationalities such as the UK, Japan, South Korea, Germany and France
Overseas Vietnamese entering on a foreign passport
Temporary residence card holders

Vietnamese citizens travelling on a Vietnamese passport are exempt, according to Vietnam News.

Transit passengers who remain airside at Tan Son Nhat without clearing immigration are also not required to submit the form.

How to submit the Vietnam pre-arrival declaration

You can only submit the form within 72 hours of your scheduled arrival, according to the official portal.

The system will not accept declarations more than three days in advance.

Complete the form before you leave home or hotel, so you are not relying on airport Wi-Fi when you need the QR code.

Go to prearrival.immigration.gov.vn and choose your preferred language
Select “Create & Submit Pre-arrival Information” and enter the CAPTCHA
Fill in your personal details: full name (as shown in passport), date of birth, gender, nationality and passport number
Enter your visa details: visa type (e-visa, visa exemption, temporary residence card), number, issue date and expiry
Add flight and accommodation details: arrival flight number, date, and your hotel or address in Vietnam
Complete the health self-declaration section
Review, submit, and save the confirmation QR code sent to your email

All information must match your passport and visa exactly. Even a single typo can trigger rejection at the counter.

If you are travelling as a family, you can enter accompanying travellers’ information during the same session, but each person — including minors — must have their own QR code linked to their own passport details.

Several third-party sites charge for the service’ they are not needed, as the government form is free.

What happens at the airport

When you reach the immigration counter at Tan Son Nhat, you will need to show:

Your confirmation QR code, ideally saved as a screenshot and a PDF backup
Your passport (matching the details you entered on the form)
Your e-visa, paper visa or visa-exemption eligibility document, if applicable
Your return or onward ticket, if requested by the officer

If you have not completed the declaration, authorities warn you may face significantly longer processing times at the counter.

Save the QR code offline. Officers will ask to see proof of submission, and you cannot rely on having a mobile signal inside the terminal.

Tips for travellers heading to Vietnam

Every foreign passenger landing at SGN must submit the declaration.

That applies whether you are flying on Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet, Emirates, Qatar Airways or any other carrier into Ho Chi Minh City.

For travellers connecting on to Hanoi or Da Nang after entering Vietnam, you only need to submit the declaration once for your initial international arrival at SGN.

Common mistakes to avoid:

Using unofficial sites that charge fees — only prearrival.immigration.gov.vn is valid
Entering a name that does not match your passport exactly
Leaving the hotel address blank; you must provide a specific address, not just a city
Submitting before the 72-hour window opens
Forgetting to save the QR code offline

If you still need a visa, apply through the official Vietnam Electronic Visa Portal. A single-entry e-visa currently costs US$25 and is valid for up to 90 days.

Once your entry is sorted, browse hotels in Ho Chi Minh City or hotels in Hanoi, and check live flight status on the Wego flight tracker before heading to the airport.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Vietnam pre-arrival declaration free?

Yes, the form is completely free on the official portal. Any site that charges a fee to submit the declaration is a third-party reseller, not an official government channel.

Do I still need a visa if I submit the pre-arrival form?

Yes — the pre-arrival declaration does not replace a visa. You still need a valid e-visa, paper visa or visa exemption under Vietnam’s existing rules to enter the country.

Does the declaration apply at Hanoi and Da Nang airports?

Not yet — the rule currently covers only Tan Son Nhat (SGN) in Ho Chi Minh City. Following the pilot period, Vietnam’s Immigration Department has confirmed it will roll out the Pre-Arrival Information system nationwide, expanding to other international airports such as Noi Bai (HAN) and Da Nang (DAD) and studying deployment at land border gates, though no specific dates for each airport have been published yet.

What if I do not have internet access to submit the form?

Complete the form before leaving for the airport using hotel or home Wi-Fi. If you arrive without having submitted, expect noticeably longer processing times at the counter while officers assist you.

Can children and minors be added to a parent’s declaration?

Each traveller, including minors, needs their own QR code linked to their own passport. You can enter family members’ information during the same session to speed things up, but the system issues a separate QR code for each passport holder.

Sources

Disclaimer: Wego strives to ensure all information presented in this article is accurate and up to date at the time of publication. Travel policies, prices, visa requirements, and conditions can change rapidly. We strongly recommend verifying critical details with official sources before making travel decisions. Wego does not accept liability for any inaccuracies, oversights, or changes that may occur after publication.