Vietnam Digital Arrival Card 2026: the complete step-by-step guide (PAI)
Last verified: 2026-09-15 · In force since: 2026-04-15
Since 15 April 2026, foreign visitors to Vietnam must file an online arrival declaration before they land. There is no paper arrival card: you submit for free on the official portal and show the QR code you receive at passport control. This guide covers who, when and where to submit, the portal screens in order, the places people get stuck, and 20 frequently asked questions.
What changed in 2026
Vietnam launched the digital arrival declaration PAI (Pre-Arrival Immigration) on 15 April 2026 at Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) in Ho Chi Minh City and then extended it to major international airports, seaports and land borders. Three things matter: 1) online submission before arrival, 2) no more paper arrival card, 3) inspection via the QR code you receive after submitting. The health declaration once discussed is postponed indefinitely and is not currently required.
| Entry point | Status |
|---|---|
| Ho Chi Minh City Tan Son Nhat (SGN) | Started 2026-04-15 (first rollout) |
| Major international airports such as Hanoi Noi Bai (HAN) and Da Nang (DAD) | Expanded in stages after Ho Chi Minh City |
| International seaports | Expanded |
| Land border crossings | Expanded |
Who · When · Cost · Where
- Who
- Every foreign national entering Vietnam, including visa-exempt passport holders; minors file their own declaration.
- When
- Within 72 hours before your arrival time. Earlier submissions are not accepted, so 2-3 days before departure is ideal.
- Cost
- Free. Anyone charging a fee is not the official portal.
- Where
- The official portal prearrival.immigration.gov.vn — in your browser, no app needed.
What to prepare
- A valid passport — check the remaining validity as of your arrival date
- A photo of the passport data page — no glare, both MRZ lines fully visible
- Your arrival flight number and arrival date
- The registered address of your first accommodation in Vietnam (see the hotel booking confirmation)
- An email address to receive the QR code
- Each accompanying minor's passport
Filling in the official portal — 8 steps
- 1
Open the official portal (prearrival.immigration.gov.vn), choose a language and start a new declaration.
- 2
Upload a photo of the passport data page. The portal reads your name, passport number, nationality and date of birth.
- 3
Compare the extracted values with your passport — especially O/0 and I/1 in the passport number and the order of surname and given names.
- 4
Check sex, passport expiry date and issuing country; type them in if empty.
- 5
Enter the arrival date, the entry point (airport, seaport or border gate) and the flight number.
- 6
Enter your address in Vietnam — the hotel's registered address exactly as it is.
- 7
Review everything from the top and submit. Submission is free.
- 8
Save the QR code as a screenshot and keep the email copy. Show it together with your passport at passport control.
Field meanings at a glance
| Field | Meaning · how to fill |
|---|---|
| Full name | Your name in Latin letters exactly as printed in the passport. When surname and given names are separate fields, follow the order in the passport MRZ. |
| Passport number | Check against the MRZ so you do not confuse digit 0 with letter O or digit 1 with letter I. |
| Nationality | Your nationality — usually the same as the issuing country. |
| Date of birth | Check the portal's date format (day/month/year) before typing. |
| Passport expiry | Copy the Date of expiry from the data page. |
| Sex | M/F exactly as shown in the passport. |
| Temporary residence address | The registered address of your first accommodation — hotel name plus number, street, district and city. Filled automatically for VietSpots bookings. |
| Arrival date / Flight | Arrival date in Vietnam and flight number (e.g. VN409). For connecting flights, use the flight that lands in Vietnam. |
Three seconds with VietSpots
VietSpots' arrival card auto-fill reads your name, passport number, nationality, date of birth, expiry date and sex from a passport photo and fills in the registered address of the hotel or villa you booked on VietSpots. Copy the finished values field by field and paste them into the official portal. It is free, it is not an agency, and the passport image is never stored after recognition.
Start the arrival card auto-fill5 places people get stuck
- Passport photo not recognised
- Glare or cropped MRZ lines make recognition fail. Lay the passport flat under a light and retake, or type the two MRZ lines manually.
- Address format rejected
- A hotel name alone may be rejected. Enter the hotel's registered address (number, street, district, city) exactly as it is.
- Travelling with minors
- A family is not filed as one declaration. One declaration per child, filled by the parent or guardian with the child's passport.
- Transit
- Pure transit without passing immigration is not covered. If you leave the airport during a stopover, you must declare.
- Re-entry
- One declaration per entry. If you visit Cambodia or Laos and come back, submit a new one.
20 frequently asked questions
- Does everyone need to file the Vietnam arrival declaration?
- Yes. Since 15 April 2026 it applies to all foreign nationals entering Vietnam, including holders of visa-exempt passports.
- Is there a paper arrival card?
- No. It has been replaced by the digital declaration, which is submitted online before arrival.
- When do I have to submit?
- Within 72 hours before your arrival time. 2-3 days before departure is the safest window.
- Is there a fee?
- The official portal is free. Any site asking for a fee is unofficial.
- What is the official portal address?
- https://prearrival.immigration.gov.vn. Beware of look-alike sites shown in search ads.
- What do I receive after submitting?
- A QR code. Save a screenshot, keep the email, and present it with your passport at passport control.
- Do I have to print the QR code?
- Not required. Showing it on your phone is fine, but a screenshot is recommended in case of battery or network problems.
- Is a health declaration also required?
- No. The health declaration is postponed indefinitely and is not currently required.
- The passport photo upload fails.
- Retake it without glare with both MRZ lines fully visible. On VietSpots you can also paste the two MRZ lines manually.
- What format should the accommodation address be in?
- Use the hotel's registered address exactly as it is. If you booked on VietSpots it is filled automatically.
- I am visiting several cities — which address do I use?
- The address of your first accommodation after arriving in Vietnam.
- How do I declare a child?
- One declaration per traveller. The parent or guardian files a separate declaration with the child's passport.
- Do I need to declare if I am only in transit?
- Transit without passing immigration is not covered. If you pass immigration and leave the airport, you must declare.
- What if I leave Vietnam and come back?
- Submit a new declaration for every entry.
- Can I edit after submitting?
- If your flight or accommodation changes, submitting a new declaration is the safest option. Use the latest one at passport control.
- Does VietSpots submit on my behalf?
- No. VietSpots is not an agency and only helps prepare the values. You submit on the official portal yourself.
- What happens to the passport image I upload to VietSpots?
- It is discarded immediately after recognition and never stored. It is not passed to any external AI service or third party.
- Is there a minimum passport validity?
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality and visa type. Check with your airline or embassy before departure.
- What if I cannot open the QR code at the airport without internet?
- Save a screenshot in advance. To have data the moment you land, set up an eSIM before departure.
- What if the rules change again?
- This guide was verified as of 2026-09-15. Re-check the official portal and your airline's notice before departure.
Change log
- 2026-04-15 — Digital arrival declaration launched at Ho Chi Minh City (SGN), then expanded to major airports, seaports and land borders
- 2026-09-15 — Guide content last verified (72-hour rule, free of charge, health declaration still postponed)
Sources
- Vietnam Immigration Department official portal (prearrival.immigration.gov.vn)
- Also check your airline's departure notice and your embassy's announcements for Vietnam. If rules change, the official portal takes precedence.