Vietnam Digital Arrival Card Mandatory for Ho Chi Minh City from April 2026

Facing a steady rise in international traffic and notorious delays at its customs checkpoints, Vietnam is modernizing its entry procedures. Since 15 April 2026, travelers arriving at Ho Chi Minh City must complete the new Digital Arrival Card, replacing the old paper landing declaration.

What it is and who must use it

The new Digital Arrival Card is a free, paperless form that replaces the traditional printed landing declaration. Designed to shorten waits at Tan Son Nhat’s immigration counters—where travelers can sometimes queue for over two hours during peak periods—it is now required for:

• All foreign nationals, regardless of visa exemption or e-Visa travel.

• Overseas Vietnamese entering on a foreign passport with a valid visa.

Exemptions include:

• Travelers using a Vietnamese passport.

• Passengers in pure transit who do not cross immigration or collect baggage.

At present, the system is live only at Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) in Ho Chi Minh City, the country’s main gateway. While deployment to Hanoi (HAN) and Da Nang (DAD) is expected later, no timeline has been confirmed.

It’s separate from your visa—don’t confuse the two

One of the most common document mix-ups is assuming that the pre-arrival declaration takes the place of a visa. This is not the case: if your nationality or length of stay requires entry clearance, you still need a valid e-Visa, exemption certificate, or other pre-approved document issued before departure.

You will simply reference the approved visa details when completing the Digital Arrival Card.

When and how to obtain your QR code

Timing is everything. The government portal unlocks submissions only within a strict 72-hour window that begins 48 hours before your scheduled arrival—no earlier, no later.

Walk through the process in four steps on the official government portal:

1. Identity
   Enter passport number (photo upload possible for autopopulation) and personal details; note the visa/​e-Visa number, issue and expiry dates at this stage.

2. Travel
   Select your flight number, point of origin, purpose of visit, and your exact first-night’s hotel address in Vietnam.
   

3. Validation
   Verify all data, then request a one-time password (OTP). The six-digit code is sent instantly to your email.

4. QR Code
   Confirm and receive your transaction number; the final screen displays the scannable QR code.

Our agency suggests useful precautions:

• Save offline: Mobile networks at Tan Son Nhat are notoriously saturated on arrival. Screenshot or print your QR code; a dead phone battery won’t block your passage.

• Mind domestic connections: Flying into Ho Chi Minh City for your final destination—whether Phu Quoc or Hoi An—means you still clear immigration in the city and must bring a valid QR code from the first point of entry. It is not enough to wait until your domestic leg.

• Avoid airport-line panic: Although posters display quick-response codes at the front of the queue, real-time form completion under stress risks connectivity failures and further delays. Complete the form before boarding.

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