How the e-visa system works for Singaporeans
Singaporeans are eligible for Vietnam (베트남 / 越南 / ベトナム)'s e-visa, which is issued for single-entry visits lasting up to 90 days. The e-visa is not a visa exemption—you still need to apply—but it's far simpler than applying through a Vietnamese embassy. The entire process is online, from start to finish.
One key point: Singapore's passport is strong globally, but that strength doesn't exempt you from the e-visa requirement. You need the e-visa, full stop. The exemption list includes Brunei and Thailand nationals only; Singapore isn't on it.
Step-by-step application process
What you need before starting:
- Your passport (must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended stay).
- A digital copy of your passport's main bio page (JPG or PNG, under 4MB).
- A recent passport-sized photo in digital format (4x6 cm, white background, JPG or PNG, under 4MB).
- An email address you check regularly.
- A working credit or debit card for payment.
The application itself:
Head to the official Vietnam Immigration portal at evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn. This is the only official portal; scam sites exist, so double-check the URL.
- Click "Registration" and create an account with your email and a password.
- Fill in the form: personal details, passport number, date of birth, gender, current occupation, nationality, passport issue and expiry dates.
- Select your entry port (most visitors choose Tan Son Nhat in Ho Chi Minh City, Noi Bai in Hanoi, or Da Nang). This is where the border official will scan your e-visa; you can enter through any port, but it must match what you declare.
- Choose your departure date (the date you plan to leave Vietnam; the e-visa is valid from the date of approval until this date).
- Upload your passport bio page and photo.
- Review, tick the declaration box, and submit.
Payment:
You'll receive a confirmation email with an invoice number. Go back to the portal, log in, and pay the service fee. The official fee is 25 USD. Payment is by Visa, Mastercard, or UnionPay.
Some third-party agencies offer e-visa processing for a higher fee (often 30-50 USD). These are legitimate but unnecessary—the official portal is straightforward and costs less.
Processing time and approval
Standard processing takes 3 business days. Expedited options exist:
- 1-day processing: 50 USD.
- 2-hour processing: 100 USD.
Most Singaporeans don't need expedited processing. Apply at least a week before travel for peace of mind.
Once approved, you'll receive an email with your approval letter. That letter, printed or displayed on your phone, is your e-visa. There's no separate document; the approval email is all you need at immigration.
Cost breakdown
- Official e-visa service fee: 25 USD (~34 SGD).
- Payment gateway fee: Usually included in the 25 USD, but check your invoice.
- Processing time surcharge (if needed): 50 USD (1 day) or 100 USD (2 hours).
Total for standard processing: around 25-26 USD.
Photo by Kenneth Surillo on Pexels
Common mistakes Singaporeans make
Uploading the wrong photo format or dimensions. The portal is picky. Your photo must be 4x6 cm, white background, and clear-faced. Take a fresh passport photo at a local studio or use an online passport photo service. Don't crop a selfie.
Choosing the wrong entry port. Select the port where you're actually entering Vietnam. If you fly into Tan Son Nhat but your e-visa says Da Nang (다낭 / 岘港 / ダナン), immigration can refuse entry or request an amendment. Check your flight booking.
Booking accommodation or flights before approval. Wait until your approval email arrives before buying tickets. The portal sometimes rejects applications for incomplete information; you don't want a non-refundable flight booked to a visa that was never issued.
Using a VPN or proxy. The portal doesn't work properly through VPNs. Apply from your normal network. If you're outside Vietnam at the time, this isn't an issue; just don't use a VPN.
Misreading the expiry date. The e-visa is valid until the date you specified, not for 90 days from approval. If you want to stay 90 days, add 90 days to today's date and enter that as your departure date.
What to expect at immigration
Bring three things: your passport, a printed or digital copy of your approval email, and a completed arrival card (the form handed out on arrival flights, or you can fill one at the airport). The process is quick—usually 5-10 minutes in the e-visa queue.
Immigration officers barely glance at the approval letter; they scan your passport, check the system, and stamp your entry page. Don't overthink it.
Extensions and re-entry
The e-visa doesn't extend. If you need to stay longer than 90 days, you must leave Vietnam and re-apply for a new e-visa, or switch to a tourist visa (handled by an agency in Vietnam). Re-entry permits exist if you want to leave and come back within the same trip; these are cheap (about 25 USD) and arranged at the immigration office in Hanoi, Saigon (사이공 / 西贡 / サイゴン), or Da Nang.
Photo by Nhựt Nguyên Trần on Pexels
When to apply and visa runs
Apply for your e-visa after you've booked your flight and accommodation but before you're locked into non-refundable plans. If you're doing a visa run—leaving Vietnam to reset your 90-day counter—you can re-apply on the same day you exit. The new e-visa will be approved in time for your return flight (same-day or next-day processing is common if you pay for expedited service).
Singaporeans often do visa runs to Cambodia or Thailand; the most popular route is Saigon to Siem Reap (3 hours by air) for 2-3 days, then back on a new e-visa. Budget about 50-100 USD for the round-trip flight, plus expedited e-visa fees.
Troubleshooting
"Application rejected for incomplete documents": This usually means your photo or passport scan is blurry, cropped, or the wrong size. Resubmit with a clearer scan and a properly formatted photo from a professional source.
"Port of entry does not match departure point": You chose the wrong airport. Contact the portal's help section or reapply with the correct port. This isn't a permanent rejection; it's a data-entry error.
"Payment failed": Check that your credit card has 3D Secure enabled and that it's not flagged for international payments. Contact your bank to whitelist the payment, then retry.
"No approval email after 3 days": Log back into the portal and check your application status. If it's still "Processing," wait another 24 hours. If it's "Rejected," the reason will be listed. If it's "Approved" but you didn't get an email, check your spam folder or download the approval letter from your account dashboard.
Bottom line
The Vietnam e-visa for Singaporeans is straightforward: apply online, pay 25 USD, wait 3 business days, and you're done. Don't use third-party agencies unless you're in a genuine time crunch. Upload a professional photo and a clear passport scan, double-check your entry port, and you'll clear immigration in under 10 minutes.
Last updated · May 23, 2026 · independently researched, never sponsored.
