Vietnam Visa for Australians 2025: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Do Australians Need a Visa for Vietnam?

Super short answer: YES. Australians must have a valid visa to visit Vietnam. Unlike citizens from some ASEAN nations, there’s no visa-free entry for Aussies. If you’ve Googled “visa from Vietnam from Australia” hoping for a shortcut, the answer is simple: get your visa before boarding that flight. This might sound like a hassle, but it’s actually a straightforward process, and well worth it for the treasures waiting in Vietnam.

Think of the visa as your key to Vietnam (apart from an actual flight ticket): once it’s sorted, you’re free to dive into Vietnam’s beauties: slurping bowls of phở in Hanoi, motorbiking through the Hai Van Pass, or wandering the buzzing streets of Saigon.

How Do Australians Apply for a Vietnam Tourist Visa?

Australians have two main options:

E-Visa (easiest & fastest, perfect for tourist/traveling purposes): Apply online at the official Vietnam Immigration portal.
Embassy Application: Submit directly at the Embassy/Consulate in Australia (good for longer or multiple-entry, business visas).

For most Aussie travelers, the e-visa is the winner, simple, online, and processed in a few days. We will also focus on the e-visa in this article.

What Are the Types of Vietnam Tourist E-Visa for Australians?

When applying, you’ll come across a few options of Vietnam tourist e-visa for Australians:

Single entry: 30-day or 90-day. This means once you leave the country, you’ll have to re-apply for a new e-visa, even if you left before the permitted end date written on the visa.
Multiple entry: 30-day or 90-day. You can enter and exit the country as many times as you want within the visa’s permitted time period.

So if you’re planning to only visit Vietnam for a short period of time, NOT planning to leave the country during your trip, a single-entry E-visa would be enough. But if you’re hopping between Vietnam and neighboring countries, grab a multiple-entry option.

And no, E-visa CANNOT be extended within the country. Once your E-visa is up, you'll have to leave the country, apply for a new one, wait for it to be granted, and re-enter.

Minimum Requirements to Apply for a Vietnam E-visa?

In order to apply for a Vietnam tourist e-visa, there are a few minimum requirements for the guests:

Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your arrival date.
Your passport must have at least 2 blank pages.
You (the applicants) must be outside Vietnam
Make sure yourself is not on the country’s immigration blacklist (this is very crucial)
A working visa/master debit/credit card, to pay for your application!
(Optional) Hotel booking or return ticket (sometimes requested)

Now your dream trip is almost ready, let’s get to the most exciting part: applying for the E-visa.

What Is the Process & What Documents Do I Need for Vietnam Tourist E-visa?

The process is straightforward:

1. Fill in the online form (for e-visa) at THIS LINK. This is the official website of the government, the ONLY official link that you should follow and apply. Other links are either fake or scams.

2. A digital 4x6 cm (2x2 inches) colored portrait photo with clear face and white background, taken within 6 months of the day of submission, to upload to the portal, and a digital copy of your passport's personal data page.

3. Fill in all the required information. Please note that:

Your name (Surname and Given Name) must be exactly the same with the name on your passport, that means including your middle name. Don’t skip it.
The visa’s validity will be issued based on the period you enter in the “Grant e-Visa valid from” section.
Those sections without the red star (*) can be left blank however, we’d recommend filling them since it might make the approval easier.

4. Exit checkpoint doesn’t have to be exact but entry checkpoint should be. Please be informed that you CANNOT change your E-visa application once submitted. Which means if you have submitted and you have plans to change your entry checkpoint, you’ll have to apply for a COMPLETELY NEW E-visa.

5. If you have child(ren) under 14 years old traveling with you, put their information into the section via the plus button. If not, just ignore.

6. Once filled, proceed to review your application and make payment online for the type of visa you apply for. Please note that the fee will NOT be refunded even if your visa is denied. So make sure everything you enter is correct!

How Much Does It Cost?

Here’s the money talk:

Single entry e-Visa: ~USD $25
Multiple-entry e-Visa : ~USD $50

Beware of unofficial websites that overcharge. Stick to the official Vietnam Immigration portal, and since there’s no price difference between 30 and 90 days, always put 90 days instead of 30 in case you want to change or extend your plans.

How Long Does It Take?

Processing times:

E-Visa: 3–5 business days.

For some people it even takes more than a week, so we’d recommend applying for your E-visa 2 - 3 weeks before your intended departure date to avoid stress. That way you can focus on fun stuff, like whether to eat bánh xèo or phở first.

During this time, you can, and should, check the status of your visa:

Should I Get an Agent to Do my e-Visa?

We’d recommend doing it 100% by yourself. The process might be a bit confusing at first but it’s actually pretty straightforward, also saves you a bunch of money as the agents can sometimes quote you notorious fees. Maybe (stress on maybe) use an agent if you’re in an emergency situation, like your flight is leaving in a few hours and you haven’t received your E-visa. And do a research on your agent before you decide to go with them.

Final Thoughts: Why the e-Visa Is Worth the Effort

Yes, it’s paperwork, but once you’ve got your Vietnam tourist e-visa, a whole world opens up:

History: Ancient temples, Hue’s imperial citadel, Hanoi’s Old Quarter, Saigon’s historical war-sites.
Food: Phở, bánh mì, bún bò Huế, cà phê sữa đá, street food heaven.
Hidden gems: Lan Ha Bay (quieter cousin of Ha Long), sleepy Quy Nhon beaches, mountain escapes in Ha Giang, and hidden alleys represent the true local life of Saigon.
Culture: Warm smiles, street vendors, and a vibrant rhythm of life.

What are you waiting for? Sort your e-visa early, and you’ll have a lifetime memory in Vietnam.

Vietnam Travel