Official System: Vietnam Pre-Arrival Information (PAI) Digital Declaration & Electronic Visit Pass (E-Pass)
2026 Quick Answer
Strongly recommended by the Vietnam Immigration Department (Ministry of Public Security) for all foreign passport holders entering Vietnam (Visa-Free, E-Visa, Stamped Visa, 5-Year VEC, ABTC, TRC, PRC, Tourist Card) within 3 days before arrival (with airport kiosk fallback on arrival). Red-Channel travelers exceeding duty-free/currency limits must also complete the 4-page paper Customs Declaration. Travelers must submit the Vietnam Pre-Arrival Information (PAI) Digital Declaration & Electronic Visit Pass (E-Pass) (Within 3 calendar days prior to arrival in GMT+7 (Today D, Tomorrow D+1, or Day After Tomorrow D+2)). This digital declaration replaces: Manual Counter Entry Processing & Paper Entry Stamps (Issues Digital E-Pass; Paper Entry-Exit Card abolished in 2010).
Follow this exact countdown schedule before arriving in Vietnam so your QR code is ready prior to airline check-in.
| Timing Before Arrival | Window Status | Required Traveler Action |
|---|---|---|
| Before 3-day official window | Too Early | Prepare your passport and itinerary, or pre-submit early with NomadicMart (from $29) so our queue files automatically as soon as the window opens. |
| Within 3 calendar days prior to arrival in GMT+7 (Today D, Tomorrow D+1, or Day After Tomorrow D+2) | Window Open | Ideal submission window. Complete your Vietnam Pre-Arrival Information (PAI) Digital Declaration & Electronic Visit Pass (E-Pass) with passport, transport, and accommodation details to receive your digital confirmation. |
| 24 hours to 3 hours before departure | Priority Window | Submit immediately before airline check-in closes and save a screenshot or PDF of your PAI / E-Pass confirmation offline. |
| At departure gate / Vietnam arrival | Final Cutoff | Airlines and border control officers verify PAI / E-Pass completion prior to boarding or at the port of entry. |
Compliance tip: Official Vietnam Immigration Department portal (prearrival.immigration.gov.vn) issues a QR code and Disembarkation/Embarkation (DE / PAI) Number via a mandatory 6-digit Email OTP verification step.
Compliance tip: Upon clearing immigration, travelers are issued an Electronic Visit Pass (E-Pass) viewable at prearrival.immigration.gov.vn/apps/look-up-epass. Once the E-Pass is issued, the pre-arrival declaration is locked from editing.
Compliance tip: Inverted Mononym Rule: 'Surname' is optional and 'Given Name' is required. Single-name passport holders must enter their name in Given Name and leave Surname blank. Replace 'Đ/đ' with 'D/d' as Unicode NFD accent stripping rejects 'Đ/đ'.
Eligible Passports: Automated immigration e-Gates are operational at Noi Bai (HAN), Tan Son Nhat (SGN), Da Nang (DAD), Cam Ranh (CXR), and Phu Quoc (PQC) for Vietnamese citizens and registered foreign residents/eligible travelers, alongside dedicated Airport PAI Kiosks (/apps/submit-document/embed) that pre-scan passport MRZ and biometrics before the immigration counter.
How Airport Clearance Works: Automated immigration e-Gates are operational at Noi Bai (HAN), Tan Son Nhat (SGN), Da Nang (DAD), Cam Ranh (CXR), and Phu Quoc (PQC) for Vietnamese citizens and registered foreign residents/eligible travelers, alongside dedicated Airport PAI Kiosks (/apps/submit-document/embed) that pre-scan passport MRZ and biometrics before the immigration counter.
| Code | Port of Entry | Mode | 2026 Operational Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| SGN | Tan Son Nhat International Airport Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) | Air | Primary launch hub (April 15, 2026) with Airport PAI Kiosks, Autogates, and E-Pass |
| HAN | Noi Bai International Airport Hanoi (HAN) | Air | Autogates and PAI digital processing supported |
| DAD | Da Nang International Airport (DAD) | Air | Autogates and PAI digital processing supported |
| CXR | Cam Ranh International Airport Nha Trang (CXR) | Air | Autogates and PAI digital processing supported |
| PQC | Phu Quoc International Airport (PQC) | Air | Supports 30-day Phu Quoc visa exemption (MTTQ), Autogates, and PAI |
| HPH | Cat Bi International Airport Hai Phong (HPH) | Air | Official PAI / E-Pass digital arrival declaration accepted at this checkpoint. |
| HUI | Phu Bai International Airport Hue (HUI) | Air | Official PAI / E-Pass digital arrival declaration accepted at this checkpoint. |
| DLI | Lien Khuong International Airport Da Lat (DLI) | Air | Official PAI / E-Pass digital arrival declaration accepted at this checkpoint. |
| VCA | Can Tho International Airport (VCA) | Air | Official PAI / E-Pass digital arrival declaration accepted at this checkpoint. |
| VDO | Van Don International Airport Quang Ninh (VDO) | Air | Official PAI / E-Pass digital arrival declaration accepted at this checkpoint. |
| VN-11 | Moc Bai International Border Gate Tay Ninh | Land | Vietnam–Cambodia (Bavet) land border |
| VN-12 | Huu Nghi (Friendship Pass) International Border Gate Lang Son | Land | Vietnam–China land border |
| VN-13 | Lao Cai International Border Gate | Land | Vietnam–China road and rail border |
| VN-14 | Mong Cai International Border Gate Quang Ninh | Land | Vietnam–China land border |
| VN-15 | Cau Treo & Lao Bao International Border Gates | Land | Vietnam–Laos land borders |
| VN-16 | Tinh Bien & Ha Tien (Xa Xia) International Border Gates | Land | Vietnam–Cambodia land borders |
| VN-17 | Ha Long International Cruise Port | Sea | Official PAI / E-Pass digital arrival declaration accepted at this checkpoint. |
| VN-18 | Saigon / Ho Chi Minh City Port | Sea | Official PAI / E-Pass digital arrival declaration accepted at this checkpoint. |
| VN-19 | Da Nang Port (Tien Sa) | Sea | Official PAI / E-Pass digital arrival declaration accepted at this checkpoint. |
| VN-20 | Nha Trang Port & Phu Quoc Port | Sea | Official PAI / E-Pass digital arrival declaration accepted at this checkpoint. |
| VN-21 | Chan May Port Hue | Sea | Official PAI / E-Pass digital arrival declaration accepted at this checkpoint. |
Provide your passport details and select your entry basis (Visa-Free Exemption, 9-digit E-Visa, APEC Card, 5-Year VEC, or Stamped Visa) within 3 days before arriving in Vietnam.
Select your arrival airport/border gate, flight or vessel number, and your hotel or residential address (Province/City and Ward/Commune) in Vietnam.
Receive your PAI / DE Number and QR code PDF to present at Vietnam Immigration, where your digital Electronic Visit Pass (E-Pass) is issued upon entry.
Regional & Border Corridor Advisory (Asia-Pacific):
Official Vietnam Immigration Department portal (prearrival.immigration.gov.vn) issues a QR code and Disembarkation/Embarkation (DE / PAI) Number via a mandatory 6-digit Email OTP verification step. Upon clearing immigration, travelers are issued an Electronic Visit Pass (E-Pass) viewable at prearrival.immigration.gov.vn/apps/look-up-epass. Once the E-Pass is issued, the pre-arrival declaration is locked from editing. Inverted Mononym Rule: 'Surname' is optional and 'Given Name' is required. Single-name passport holders must enter their name in Given Name and leave Surname blank. Replace 'Đ/đ' with 'D/d' as Unicode NFD accent stripping rejects 'Đ/đ'. E-Visa ('EV') holders must enter their exact 9-digit numeric E-Visa number (/^[0-9]{9}$/). For all visa/exemption types except Permanent Residence Cards (TTR), passport expiry must be at least 30 days beyond the visa/stay expiry date. Note on 'Form NA2': Form NA2 is a sponsor's pre-entry visa approval letter request, NOT an arrival card. Also, post-arrival Temporary Residence Declaration (Khai báo tạm trú) is filed by the hotel/host within 12 hours of check-in.
Launched by the Vietnam Immigration Department (Ministry of Public Security) in April 2026 at Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) and expanding nationwide in June 2026, the PAI portal allows foreign travelers to submit their passport, visa, flight, and accommodation details within 3 days before arrival to receive a QR code and digital Electronic Visit Pass (E-Pass).
Online completion within 3 days prior to arrival is strongly recommended by the Vietnam Immigration Department to expedite immigration clearance and receive your digital E-Pass, with self-service PAI kiosks available at the airport arrival hall for travelers who did not complete it prior to boarding.
No. Form NA2 is a pre-entry visa sponsorship application submitted by an inviting company or organization in Vietnam to request a visa approval letter. It is not an arrival card.
Unlike Thailand or Singapore, Vietnam's PAI portal makes 'Given Name' required and 'Surname' optional. If you have a single name on your passport, enter it in 'Given Name' and leave 'Surname' blank. Additionally, replace the letter 'Đ/đ' with 'D/d' and use only Latin characters without accents in the address field.
Most travelers use the Green Channel and do not need a customs form. You only need to complete the paper Vietnam Customs Declaration (Red Channel) if you carry over USD 5,000 (or equivalent) in foreign cash, over VND 15,000,000 in Vietnamese cash, 300g or more of gold, goods exceeding duty-free allowances (>1.5L liquor >=20% ABV, >200 cigarettes), or unaccompanied baggage.