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Do South African citizens need a visa for Vietnam?

E-visa required

South Africa: you need an e-visa

Vietnam does not exempt this passport from visas: apply online for an e-visa before you travel.

The e-visa costs US$25 for a single entry or US$50 for multiple entries, lasts up to 90 days and is issued online in about 3 working days.

  • Only going to Phu Quoc? Any passport can stay there 30 days without a visa when arriving from abroad.
Apply on the official portal: evisa.gov.vn ↗Step-by-step e-visa guide →

Before you go

  • Passport valid at least 30 days after your e-visa ends (6 months recommended by most governments).
  • On the e-visa form, choose the airport or border post where you will actually enter (83 entry points accept the e-visa).
  • Landing at Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City)? Fill in the pre-arrival declaration at prearrival.immigration.gov.vn up to 3 days before arrival: officially encouraged, described as required by some governments.
  • Children under 14 must travel with a parent, a guardian or an authorised adult.

Sources : 23/2023/QH15 · evisa.gov.vn · 389/NQ-CP · 28/2026/TT-BTC · Report an error

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Independent information service, not affiliated with the Vietnamese government. Apply for the e-visa only on evisa.gov.vn or thithucdientu.gov.vn: other websites are intermediaries that charge extra fees.

Checked against official sources on October 13, 2026.

Change the length of stay, the purpose or the arrival date, or add your travel companions: the answer updates instantly.

Key facts

Visa for tourismYes: e-visa
E-visa priceUS$25 single entry · US$50 multiple entries
E-visa lengthUp to 90 days
Processing timeAbout 3 working days
Official portalevisa.gov.vn (also thithucdientu.gov.vn)
Phu Quoc30 days without a visa for any passport, arriving from abroad
PassportValid at least 30 days after the e-visa ends (6 months recommended)

How do South African citizens get a Vietnam e-visa?

Vietnam does not exempt this passport from visas: apply online for an e-visa before you travel.

The e-visa costs US$25 for a single entry or US$50 for multiple entries, lasts up to 90 days and is issued online in about 3 working days.

  1. Go to the official portal, evisa.gov.vn (also reachable at thithucdientu.gov.vn). Other websites are intermediaries that charge extra fees.
  2. Fill in the form: passport details, travel dates, single or multiple entry, and the airport or border post where you will enter.
  3. Upload a scan of your passport's photo page and a recent portrait photo on a white background.
  4. Pay US$25 (single entry) or US$50 (multiple entries) online.
  5. Download the approved e-visa after about 3 working days and show it with your passport on arrival.

Can South African citizens visit Phu Quoc without a visa?

Any passport can stay up to 30 days on Phu Quoc without a visa when arriving from abroad: on a flight or ship to the island, or through the international transit area of another Vietnamese airport (Resolution 80/NQ-CP). Going on to the mainland requires a visa.

In practice, a connection through Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City only works if the airline handles it as a transit to Phu Quoc: check with your airline before booking.

Business trips, work and study

The e-visa also covers business trips such as meetings, trade fairs and conferences.

To work or study in Vietnam, you need a visa requested by a Vietnamese sponsor (employer or school), then a work permit or a temporary residence card. Visa exemptions and the e-visa don't replace it.

Before you go

  • On the e-visa form, choose the airport or border post where you will actually enter (83 entry points accept the e-visa).
  • Passport valid at least 30 days after your e-visa ends (6 months recommended by most governments).
  • Landing at Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City)? Fill in the pre-arrival declaration at prearrival.immigration.gov.vn up to 3 days before arrival: officially encouraged, described as required by some governments.
  • Children under 14 must travel with a parent, a guardian or an authorised adult.

Frequently asked questions

Do South African citizens need a visa for Vietnam?

Vietnam does not exempt this passport from visas: apply online for an e-visa before you travel. The e-visa costs US$25 for a single entry or US$50 for multiple entries, lasts up to 90 days and is issued online in about 3 working days.

How long does the Vietnam e-visa take for South African citizens?

About 3 working days, the same for every nationality. Apply at least a week before your trip: there is no official express service.

Can South African citizens get a visa on arrival in Vietnam?

Not as a general option: a visa is only issued at the border in specific cases, with a pre-approval obtained through a Vietnamese sponsor. The e-visa is simpler and cheaper.

Do South African citizens need a visa for Phu Quoc?

No, for stays of up to 30 days on the island when arriving from abroad. Going on to the mainland requires an e-visa.

Is evisa.gov.vn the official Vietnam e-visa website?

Yes. The official portals are evisa.gov.vn and thithucdientu.gov.vn. Other websites are intermediaries that charge several times the government fee.

Embassy of Vietnam

For a work or study visa, a visa exemption certificate or any consular question, the contact for travellers from South Africa is: Embassy of Vietnam, Pretoria.

Related guides

Visa rules for other nationalities

Rules checked against official Vietnamese sources on October 12, 2026.

Sources

Independent information service, not affiliated with the Vietnamese government. Apply for the e-visa only on evisa.gov.vn or thithucdientu.gov.vn.