Vietnam visa for UK citizens

British citizen passports and other British statuses are different

Read the nationality description in the passport before choosing a Vietnam entry route. The UK travel advice used here is expressly for a full British citizen passport. Its short-visit exemption should not be extended to every document carrying the words United Kingdom.

GOV.UK separately identifies British National (Overseas), or BNO, passport holders as outside this exemption. A UK address, right to live in Britain or departure from a London airport does not resolve that distinction. If your status is different, confirm the relevant visa route and exact nationality selection before completing an application.

Plan a 60-day visit as a visa trip from the outset

A qualifying British citizen can visit for up to 45 days without a visa. A longer holiday needs an appropriate visa arranged around the actual itinerary. Vietnam's e-visa can be issued for up to 90 days, with single- or multiple-entry options. That maximum is a ceiling, rather than an automatic period added to every arrival.

Write down the arrival date shown on the Vietnamese flight segment and the final departure date. An overnight flight can leave Britain on one date and land the following day. Use the Vietnamese border-crossing dates when reviewing the requested validity window.

An e-visa application does not extend an existing exempt stay

Do not wait until the end of a visa-free visit and assume an online approval changes your current admission. UK guidance says that an e-visa obtained while already in Vietnam requires exit and re-entry to begin its use. The existing permitted-stay deadline still matters while an application is being considered.

If your plans have already changed inside Vietnam, establish the lawful next step before booking extra nights. Neither saving a form here nor receiving a payment receipt grants additional time. Check the processing and delay guidance when planning a new journey, and leave room for corrections rather than relying on the shortest advertised estimate.

Prepare one consistent set of travel documents

• Inspect the booklet for damage and check at least six months of validity from arrival and two blank pages.
• Use the same passport for Vietnamese entry and exit; resolve a planned renewal before applying.
• Compare the issued visa with the passport number, complete names and requested trip dates.
• At arrival, inspect the passport stamp and permitted departure date before leaving border control.

For a longer visit that needs a visa, the guided Vietnam e-visa application opens with the British citizen nationality option selected. Keep it editable if the travelling document is different. For a short visit that meets the exemption conditions, an e-visa is not required simply because an online form is available.