Vietnam visa requirements for Pakistani citizens (September 2026)
I went through Vietnam's official immigration resolutions, the current e-visa fee schedule, and the specific warnings the government has issued about fake visa websites, because the Vietnam visa requirements for Pakistani citizens get described online in a version that's genuinely out of date for a lot of people. Pakistan isn't on Vietnam's visa-exemption list, so a visa is required, no way around that. But the process changed for the better in 2023, in a way that a surprising number of older guides still haven't caught up with.
The quick answer
Pakistani citizens need a visa to enter Vietnam. Pakistan isn't on Vietnam's list of unilaterally visa-exempt nationalities, so there's no walking in on a passport alone. The route almost everyone actually uses is the e-visa, applied for entirely online, which costs $25 for a single entry or $50 for a multiple entry, both valid for up to 90 days, with a decision typically coming back within 3 working days.
This is a genuinely different situation from a few years ago. Before August 2023, Vietnam's e-visa was only open to citizens of around 80 countries, and Pakistan wasn't reliably on that list depending on the period. Since 15 August 2023, the e-visa has been open to every nationality on earth, Pakistan included, with the stay length tripled from 30 to 90 days at the same time. A lot of what's still written about Vietnam and Pakistani travellers predates that change.
Your passport needs at least 6 months of validity from your arrival date and 2 blank pages, and you'll need a digital photo and a scan of your passport's data page to apply. None of this requires an agent, an embassy visit, or a fee above what's stated on the official portal.
What people actually mean by these terms
Vietnam visa content aimed at Pakistani travellers mixes up a few terms, and getting them straight avoids paying for something you don't need.
E-visa
The standard online visa, open to every nationality since 2023. Apply on the official portal, get a PDF approval by email, show it at the border.
Visa on arrival (VOA)
An older route needing a pre-approval letter from a Vietnamese travel agency before you fly, then a stamping fee paid in cash at the airport. More steps, no cheaper.
Embassy visa
A traditional sticker visa from a Vietnamese embassy or consulate abroad. Mostly relevant now for stays longer than 90 days or unusual cases.
Visa exemption
A small list of nationalities that can enter Vietnam without any visa at all, for a limited number of days. Pakistan is not on this list.
The mix-up people actually make: assuming Pakistan is still excluded from Vietnam's e-visa the way it may have been years ago, and defaulting straight to an embassy visit or a paid agent instead. Since August 2023, the e-visa has been open to every nationality, Pakistan included, so there's rarely a reason to use anything else for an ordinary trip.
Entry requirements at a glance
| Requirement | Status | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Visa for tourism, business, family visits | E-visa required | $25 single entry / $50 multiple entry, up to 90 days |
| Passport validity | Required now | At least 6 months from arrival date, plus 2 blank pages |
| Visa-free entry | Not available | Pakistan is not on Vietnam's unilateral visa-exemption list |
| Processing time | Fast | Typically 3 working days through the official portal |
| Stays over 90 days or unusual purposes | Embassy visa required | Apply through a Vietnamese embassy or consulate in advance |
The 2023 reform that actually matters here
Before 15 August 2023, Vietnam's e-visa scheme was restricted to a list of roughly 80 eligible nationalities, and stays were capped at 30 days on a single entry. Pakistan's position on that older list varied and wasn't always guaranteed. Vietnam's National Assembly approved a change that removed the nationality restriction entirely, opening the e-visa to citizens of every country and territory, while at the same time tripling the maximum stay to 90 days and allowing multiple entries on one application.
That reform is still in force in 2026, not a temporary trial. For Pakistani travellers specifically, it means the e-visa route is genuinely the default option now, not a workaround or a special case. If you're reading advice that says Pakistan needs to go through an embassy or a specialist agent because it isn't covered by the e-visa, that advice is describing rules that stopped applying in August 2023.
The websites charging two to four times the real fee
This is worth a section of its own because it's actively cost travellers real money, and it targets exactly the kind of straightforward online application the e-visa is supposed to be. The official Vietnam e-visa portal is a government site ending in .gov.vn. Search for "Vietnam visa" and the first several results are often third-party agencies with names built to sound official, charging anywhere from $50 to $120 or more for a $25 government service.
Some of these are legitimate expediting services that genuinely do the paperwork for a fee. Others take payment, never submit anything, and disappear. Common warning signs include domains ending in .com, .org, or .net rather than .gov.vn, prices advertised as "from" a low figure with hidden add-ons, claims of "guaranteed approval" or paid rush processing that the government itself doesn't offer, and requests for far more personal information than a passport scan and a photo.
If the site doesn't end in .gov.vn, it isn't the Vietnamese government, no matter how official the flags and seals on the page look. Apply directly at the official portal and pay only the $25 or $50 government fee.
Getting in by air or by land
An e-visa isn't valid at every border crossing into Vietnam. Entry and exit have to happen through one of the government's designated international gates, which cover the major airports, Hanoi's Noi Bai, Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Son Nhat, Da Nang, and several others, along with a specific list of land and sea border crossings, mostly relevant if you're arriving overland from Cambodia, Laos, or China. If your route into the country doesn't pass through one of these designated points, your e-visa won't be accepted there, regardless of how valid it is on paper.
For most Pakistani travellers flying directly into Vietnam, this isn't something that requires extra planning, since the main international airports are all covered. It becomes relevant mainly for overland trips combining Vietnam with a neighbouring country, where it's worth checking the specific border crossing against the current list before you commit to that route.
How to actually apply
- Go to the official government portal directly, not the first search result, and confirm the URL ends in .gov.vn before entering any details.
- Have your documents ready first: a passport scan, a digital photo meeting the size requirements, and your planned entry point and dates.
- Choose single or multiple entry honestly based on your actual itinerary, since switching afterward means a new application, not an amendment.
- Pay only the stated government fee, $25 or $50, and treat any higher price as a red flag rather than a convenience charge.
- Apply a week or two before travelling, even though decisions usually take 3 working days, to leave room for any follow-up requests.
FAQ
What are the Vietnam visa requirements for Pakistani citizens?
A visa is required for any visit, since Pakistan isn't on Vietnam's exemption list. Almost everyone uses the e-visa, applied for online, costing $25 for a single entry or $50 for a multiple entry, both valid for up to 90 days.
Is it true Pakistan can't get a Vietnam e-visa?
That was true under the older, restricted eligibility list, but not since 15 August 2023. The e-visa is now open to every nationality, Pakistan included, so this is one of the most common pieces of outdated advice still circulating.
How long can I stay in Vietnam on an e-visa?
Up to 90 days per entry, whether you choose single or multiple entry. Multiple entry lets you leave and re-enter within that 90-day window without a fresh application.
Where do I actually apply, and how do I avoid overpaying?
Only through the official government portal ending in .gov.vn. Third-party sites frequently charge two to four times the real $25 or $50 fee, and some are outright scams that never submit an application at all.
Can I enter Vietnam anywhere with an e-visa?
No. Entry and exit have to go through one of the government's designated international airports, land crossings, or seaports. Major airports are all covered, but overland routes from neighbouring countries need checking against the current list.
What if I need to stay longer than 90 days?
The e-visa doesn't cover that. You'd need to apply for a different visa category through a Vietnamese embassy or consulate before you travel, rather than trying to extend an e-visa past its limit.
Final verdict
For most people asking about Vietnam visa requirements for Pakistani citizens, the honest picture is straightforward once you're working from current information: a visa is required, the e-visa covers it for $25 to $50, and Pakistan has been fully eligible since August 2023, not excluded the way older guides sometimes still claim. The one thing worth doing before you apply is double-checking you're on the actual government portal, since the search results around this topic are genuinely crowded with sites charging several times the real fee for the same service.
Sources: Vietnam Immigration Department, official e-visa portal · Vietnam government news portal, e-visa guidance. Rules change without much warning, so confirm current requirements before booking.