Vietnam reinstates mandatory health declaration from July 1, 2026
Vietnam will require all travelers—regardless of nationality—to submit a mandatory health declaration starting July 1, 2026. The new rule aims to strengthen national health surveillance and prepare for rapid responses to infectious disease outbreaks at border crossings.
Planning a trip to Vietnam—or even just a layover soon? Add one more essential task to your pre-travel checklist. Vietnamese authorities have announced the reinstatement of a mandatory health declaration form for anyone crossing its borders, taking effect on July 1, 2026.
The new Decree No. 165/2026/ND-CP was published on May 21, 2026, by Government News. A medical form was released and attached to the Decree, confirming travelers will be required to use it.
Why the renewed health requirement?
Three key points to note:
Effective date: July 1, 2026.
Who must comply: All travelers (entry, exit, and transit).
Filing window: Must be completed within 7 days prior to crossing the border.
The Vietnamese government, through the Ministry of Health, has introduced this preventive measure not to restrict tourism but to enhance real-time health monitoring at border points. In the event of a regional or global infectious disease outbreak, authorities will use the data to issue immediate guidance or restrictions directly at frontier checkpoints—impacting your travel plans.
Which travelers are affected?
The rule applies universally. Unlike visa exemptions—which depend on your passport (European, African, American, etc.)—the health declaration is mandatory regardless of nationality. It covers three specific scenarios:
Entry (Inbound): Upon arrival in Vietnam by air, land, or sea.
Exit (Outbound): When departing the country.
Transit: Even if merely connecting through Hanoi’s Noi Bai or Ho Chi Minh City’s Tân Sơn Nhất without clearing immigration.
Timing is essential. The health form must be submitted within a strict 7-day window before entry, exit, or transit. Additional details to remember:
Language barrier: The Ministry of Health’s official form is available only in Vietnamese and English. An official French version is not provided on government platforms.
Important: this health declaration does not replace a visa or e-visa. Entry conditions and permitted stay durations vary by nationality:
90 days: Chile, Panama.
45 days: Germany, Belgium, Bulgaria, South Korea, Croatia, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, UK, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Czechia.
30 days: Belarus, Cambodia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand.
21 days: Philippines.
14 days: Brunei.
All travel formalities on arrival in Vietnam
Travelers to Vietnam must now complete three key formalities: the e-visa (unless exempt), the digital arrival card (*Pre-Arrival Information), and, effective July 1, 2026, the mandatory health declaration.
A mistranslation or late submission window could lead to denied boarding at the airport. For assistance with Vietnam e-visa procedures, visit our dedicated Vietnam travel page to review the latest entry requirements.
*On April 15, 2026, authorities mandated the digital arrival card (Pre-Arrival Information), required for all inbound flights at Ho Chi Minh City’s Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport (SGN). This digital card is now being tested at other airports nationwide. Our agency will soon assist you with managing this and other new on-arrival steps.
En tant que chargée de relation client, mes missions sont la gestion et le suivi des demandes de visas. Je reste informée des actualités concernant les nouvelles formalités de voyage ainsi que les spécificités des nouveaux visas.
