Vietnam Visa Exemption for UK Passport Holders: 45 Days Visa-Free

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Stand: 4 August 2026. If you hold a British citizen passport and plan a short tourism or business trip to Vietnam, you may enter without a visa for up to 45 days. This page explains that visa exemption path. It is not a product you buy — and it is not the same as a Vietnam eVisa or a Digital Arrival Card.

Short answer

UK passport · tourism or business: you can visit Vietnam without a visa for up to 45 days (GOV.UK). Vietnam Tourism also lists the UK among unilateral visa-exemption countries with stays up to 45 days.
On arrival, your passport is stamped with entry and exit dates — check that the stamp shows 45 days from arrival.
Longer than 45 days, or you need a multiple-entry e-visa path: options include an e-visa (90-day stay, multiple entries) among others (GOV.UK).
A Digital Arrival Card (encouraged for Tan Son Nhat / SGN from 15 April 2026) is separate — it is not the 45-day exemption and not a visa.

Who the 45-day exemption covers

This guide is for travellers on a full British citizen passport leaving the UK for the most common short visits: tourism or business.

GOV.UK states you can visit Vietnam without a visa for up to 45 days for those purposes. Vietnam’s tourism authority describes the UK as one of the countries with a unilateral visa exemption of up to 45 days (policy framing from 15 August 2023).

Work, study, and other long-stay purposes follow different rules — check the Vietnam Immigration Department / Embassy channels for the visa or permit type you need. Do not treat the 45-day waiver as a work authorisation.

Passport & arrival stamp checks

Before you travel, confirm your passport meets Vietnam’s entry basics (GOV.UK):

Expiry date at least 6 months after the date you arrive
At least 2 blank pages
No damage (damaged passports have led to denied entry/exit)
Enter and exit using the same passport

On arrival, make sure you get your passport stamped and check the exit date written in the stamp before you leave border control. Immigration will not correct a wrong stamp after you have left the airport or land border.

When you need an eVisa instead

Plan on an eVisa (or another embassy/visa path) when:

You want to stay longer than 45 days
You need the 90-day multiple-entry e-visa option described on GOV.UK
Your trip purpose is not covered by the short tourism/business waiver

GOV.UK also notes that e-visas restrict you to the entry and exit points you select when applying, and that if you obtain an e-visa while already in Vietnam you must exit and re-enter to start it.

For categories, documents, and apply checks, use the Vietnam eVisa guide. Official DIY applications run through the Vietnam Immigration eVisa channel commonly named evisa.gov.vn. For assisted electronic filing: 1avisas.co.uk/visas/vietnam.

This page does not invent fee amounts or processing-day counts — check the live official portal (or the eVisa guide) before you pay.

Digital Arrival Card (separate)

From 15 April 2026, foreign nationals entering via Tan Son Nhat (SGN) are encouraged to complete a digital arrival card online before arrival (GOV.UK). It is not currently mandatory for SGN entry, but rules may change or roll out elsewhere with limited notice.

Completing a Digital Arrival Card does not replace the 45-day visa exemption decision, and it is not a visa. Details: Vietnam Digital Arrival Card guide. Official pre-arrival form: prearrival.immigration.gov.vn.

How 1avisas.co.uk can help

1avisas.co.uk can help with Vietnam eVisa electronic applications and Digital Arrival Card form filing when those steps apply to your trip.

Offered: Vietnam eVisa application help · digital arrival form filing assistance
Not offered: a “visa exemption” product · sticker visas · embassy appointment services

The 45-day exemption itself is an official entry rule — not something 1avisas.co.uk sells.

→ Start on 1avisas.co.uk · Vietnam eVisa guide · Vietnam hub

FAQ

Do UK citizens need a visa for Vietnam?

For a typical tourism or business visit of up to 45 days on a British citizen passport, GOV.UK says you can visit without a visa. Always re-check GOV.UK and your stamp dates before travel.

How long is the visa exemption?

Up to 45 days for tourism or business under the rules summarised on GOV.UK / Vietnam Tourism.

What if I want to stay longer than 45 days?

Options include an e-visa allowing a 90-day stay and multiple entries, other embassy visa types, or a pre-approval letter path (GOV.UK). Start with the eVisa guide.

What passport rules should I know?

At least 6 months validity after arrival, 2 blank pages, undamaged passport, and the same passport for entry and exit.

Is the Digital Arrival Card the same as visa-free entry?

No. Visa-free entry is about whether you need a visa. The Digital Arrival Card is a separate pre-arrival information step (encouraged for SGN). See the Digital Arrival Card guide.

Where is the official eVisa website?

Vietnam Immigration’s eVisa channel is commonly evisa.gov.vn. Vietnam Tourism’s official eVisa guide: vietnam.travel eVisa application.

Sources

→ Back to Vietnam hub

Important notice

The information on this page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. 1avisas.co.uk is a private service provider and not a government authority, embassy, or consulate.

Entry and visa rules can change. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of this information, and we do not guarantee visa or entry approval. Only the official rules in force at the time of your travel are authoritative.

As of: 4 August 2026

For binding information, check GOV.UK Vietnam entry requirements and Vietnam Immigration / Vietnam Tourism guidance (Sources above).