How long does a Vietnam e-Visa take? Stuck in processing? 2026 Visa Expedite guide
- Official: the Vietnam Immigration Department's system says 3 business days.
- In practice: a standard application takes about 5–7 business days. With luck it can come out in 3 days, but that depends a lot on luck and on when you apply; around Vietnamese public holidays and Lunar New Year it takes longer. The actual time depends on the review situation at the moment.
- How business days are counted: from the day your information is complete and the fee is paid; Saturdays, Sundays and Vietnamese public holidays don't count.
- Running out of time: not applied yet → Urgent e-Visa from NT$3,480, as fast as 4 hours; already applied and stuck in processing → Visa Expedite from NT$779, as fast as 4 hours.
Why does it take longer than the official time?
- Returned because of errors: a wrong passport number or date of birth, or a photo with glare. After a return you have to apply again and the clock restarts.
- Peak season volume: year-end, before Lunar New Year and summer are especially slow.
- Vietnamese public holidays: the Immigration Department doesn't process applications, and a backlog builds up afterwards.
- A travel date that's very soon: the system won't prioritize an application just because the trip is close.
Real customer cases (October 2026)
Case 1｜Still in review after 5 days, flying Monday morning
A customer applied on 10/9; on 10/14 the official site still showed Processing, and the flight was on the morning of 10/19. We advised sending a "4-hour Visa Expedite" no later than the Friday morning before departure, so the result would come the same day.
Case 2｜Stuck after re-uploading the photo
A customer flying to Da Nang at noon on Friday had been asked to re-upload their photo the week before, and the application had been stuck in Processing ever since. Based on the departure time, the "2-day Visa Expedite" was enough.
Case 3｜Flying tomorrow
A customer sent just one line: "My visa has been stuck in processing and my flight is tomorrow." In this situation only the 1-day or 4-hour plan works, and the sooner the 3 items arrive, the better.
What is Visa Expedite?
You have already applied yourself on the official Vietnamese website and the application is still under review; we use local channels in Vietnam to speed it up.
- Suitable if: you applied yourself, your departure date is close and there's still no result, and you don't want to apply again and pay the government fee again.
- Not suitable if: you haven't applied yet (go straight for the Urgent e-Visa), or your application was rejected (you need to apply again).
You are responsible for the information in your own application
These are the 3 problems we see most often:
- Wrong dates: the entry date or the visa's start and end dates are wrong, or the Vietnamese "day/month/year" format is read the wrong way round.
- Wrong details: a typo in the passport number, name, date of birth or nationality, or a photo that doesn't meet the requirements.
- Misunderstanding the Phu Quoc rule: thinking Phu Quoc is visa-free, entering at Phu Quoc and then going on to Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi or Da Nang without leaving Vietnam first.
Phu Quoc visa exemption rule
- Only visiting Phu Quoc, flying directly into Phu Quoc and also leaving from Phu Quoc → Taiwan passport holders can stay visa-free for up to 30 days.
- If your trip goes on to other cities without leaving Vietnam first → you need a Vietnam e-Visa before you first enter, and you enter at Phu Quoc on that e-Visa.
Visa Expedite plans (Vietnam time, GMT+7)
- 4 / 3 / 2 / 1 days: counted from the next business day after submission; the result is expected around 17:00 on business day N.
- 4 hours: submitted before 08:00 → around 12:00; submitted before 14:00 → around 18:00.
- Holiday Visa Expedite: pay and complete your documents before 14:00, result before 18:00.
- Price: from NT$779; the price of each plan is shown on the booking page.
Payment does not mean your application has been submitted: we submit once your documents are complete, and the processing time starts from the actual submission.
Visa Expedite needs only 3 items
- Your original e-Visa Application Number (13 characters)
- The email address used in the original application
- Your e-ticket
Applying yourself: how to avoid getting stuck
- Apply at least 10 business days in advance, earlier in peak season.
- Use a white-background, front-facing photo with no glare; make sure all four corners of the passport page are visible.
- Before submitting, check your passport number, date of birth, entry date and port of entry field by field.
- Keep your Application Number and email; you need them to check progress and for Visa Expedite.
- Only apply on the official website and watch out for copycat sites.
Don't want to fill it in yourself?
- Standard Application from NT$1,290
- Guaranteed Approval from NT$1,490
- Urgent e-Visa from NT$3,480 (as fast as 4 hours)
- Holiday Urgent e-Visa from NT$7,000
FAQ
Are Vietnam e-Visas reviewed at weekends?
Vietnam doesn't review applications on Saturdays, Sundays or public holidays. The Urgent e-Visa and Visa Expedite have holiday plans.
Do I need a visa for Phu Quoc?
If you only visit Phu Quoc and fly in and out of Phu Quoc, you can stay visa-free for 30 days; if you go on to other cities, you need an e-Visa from the start.
Can I change my details while my application is under review?
No. If there's a mistake, you usually need to apply again.
Further reading: Vietnam e-Visa 2026: how to apply ・ Phu Quoc company trips
WhatsApp +886 916 351 972 ・ LINE @itourvisa｜Prices are subject to the booking page (updated Nov 2026).