Vietnam Pre-Arrival declaration: how to fill it in (2026 guide)
- There is only one official website: prearrival.immigration.gov.vn. It is free; you don't pay anything.
- Fill it in online within 3 days before you arrive in Vietnam. After you submit, you get a QR code: keep it on your phone and show it with your passport at immigration.
- According to what we confirmed with local contacts in November 2026, arrivals at Da Nang and Phu Quoc airports are asked to fill it in; other airports don't require it for now. The rules can change at any time, so we recommend filling it in before you leave whichever airport you arrive at. Immigration goes more smoothly.
- It is not a visa: you still need your Vietnam e-Visa if your passport requires one.
What is Vietnam's Pre-Arrival declaration?
Since 2026 Vietnam's Immigration Department has been piloting "Pre-Arrival Information" at international airports. Foreign travelers enter their passport, visa and flight details online before departure; at the airport the officer scans the QR code to pull up the details, which cuts checking time on the spot. Airports are rolling it out in batches.
Put simply, it's an electronic arrival card, and it's a different thing from a visa.
Which airports require it?
- Da Nang (DAD), Phu Quoc (PQC): currently asked to fill it in on arrival (confirmed with local contacts in November 2026).
- Ho Chi Minh City (SGN), Hanoi (HAN) and other airports: not required for now.
The rollout is still in progress, and which airports require it can change at any time, often without advance notice. Our advice is simple: wherever you arrive, fill it in within 3 days before departure. It's free, takes about 10 minutes, and you won't have to worry at the airport.
Who needs to fill it in?
- Yes: travelers entering Vietnam on a foreign passport, whether you have an e-Visa or enter visa-free (for example, a trip to Phu Quoc only).
- No: Vietnamese passport holders and transit passengers who don't pass through immigration.
- Not needed for departure: it only covers arrival.
- Taking a domestic flight to another Vietnamese city doesn't require a second declaration.
What to prepare
- Passport: English name, passport number, nationality and date of birth exactly as in your passport.
- Visa details: if you have an e-Visa, have the e-Visa file ready; if you enter visa-free, choose the right exemption type.
- Flight: airline, flight number, arrival date and arrival airport.
- Where you're staying in Vietnam: hotel name and address.
How to fill it in: 4 steps
- Open prearrival.immigration.gov.vn, click "Create & Submit Pre-arrival Information" and enter the verification code.
- Fill in personal and passport details, visa details and trip details (flight, arrival date, accommodation address) in order.
- After you submit, the system generates a QR code. Take a screenshot or save the PDF on your phone; print a copy in case your battery dies.
- At immigration, show your passport and visa as usual, and show the QR code when the officer asks for it.
- Visa issue date / expiry date: if you have an e-Visa, enter its "valid from" date as the issue date and its "valid until" date as the expiry date.
- Visa type for visa-free entry: choose the exemption type that matches your passport (for example Bilateral Exemption or Unilateral Exemption). If you're not sure, ask us first.
Made a mistake, or your plans changed?
- The official homepage has "Lookup & Update Declaration", where you can check and edit a submitted declaration.
- If your flight, arrival date or arrival airport changes, go back and update it, or submit a new one.
- Didn't save the QR code? Don't panic: if the officer asks, showing the completion screen on your phone is fine.
⚠️ Watch out for fake sites
Copycat declaration sites that ask for card payments have already appeared. The real declaration is free, and Vietnamese government websites always end in .gov.vn. If a site charges you to "fill in your arrival card", stop and check first.
The official e-Visa website is evisa.gov.vn, which also has many look-alike sites. If you don't want to fill it in yourself or are worried about mistakes, you can leave it to us.
FAQ
Does each family member need a separate declaration?
Immigration checks one passport per person, so we recommend each traveler completes their own declaration and gets their own QR code, children included.
Will I be refused entry if I don't fill it in?
At the airports that currently ask for it (Da Nang, Phu Quoc), the arrival hall also has a QR code to fill it in on the spot, but that takes time and there's a queue at peak hours, which slows you down. Each airport's practice keeps changing, so filling it in before departure is the easiest option.
Do I need a health declaration?
Not at the moment. We'll let you know on WhatsApp or LINE if that changes.
If I've done the declaration, do I still need a visa?
Yes, if your passport needs one. The declaration is only an electronic arrival card. Unless you're visa-exempt or only visiting Phu Quoc, apply for your Vietnam e-Visa first.
Vietnam visa ・ Airport fast track
Further reading: How long does a Vietnam e-Visa take? ・ How long is the queue at Vietnam's airports?
Based on Vietnam Immigration Department announcements and our experience helping travelers (Nov 2026); Vietnam's official rules prevail. WhatsApp +886 916 351 972 ・ LINE @itourvisa