Vietnam Digital Arrival Card 2026: Complete Guide

Since April 15, 2026, Vietnam has been rolling out a Digital Arrival Card for foreign travelers. The free online system, officially called Pre-Arrival Information (PAI), started at one airport in Ho Chi Minh City and covered all five of Vietnam's busiest international airports by late June 2026. In a June 17, 2026 notice, the US Embassy in Hanoi said the mandatory declaration is being extended to all airports in Vietnam. If you skip it, expect extra time at the immigration counter.

This guide covers everything you need to know: what the Digital Arrival Card is, which airports require it, how to fill it out step by step, and mistakes that could slow you down at the border.

What Is the Vietnam Digital Arrival Card?

The Vietnam Digital Arrival Card is a mandatory online declaration introduced by the Immigration Department under Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security. It replaces the paper arrival slip (also known as the NA1 disembarkation card) that was previously handed out on aircraft before landing.

The system collects your passport details, visa information, flight number, and accommodation address before you arrive. Once you submit the form, it generates a QR code that you save on your phone or print out. At the immigration counter, officers scan this code instead of processing a paper card, which speeds up the entire entry procedure.

Key facts about the Digital Arrival Card:

• Official name: Pre-Arrival Information (PAI) system
• Launch date: April 15, 2026 (pilot at Tan Son Nhat Airport, Ho Chi Minh City)
• Cost: Completely free
• Submission window: No more than 3 days before your arrival, or on arrival
• Official portal: prearrival.immigration.gov.vn
• What you receive: A QR code to present at immigration

Important: The Digital Arrival Card is not a visa. It does not grant you permission to enter Vietnam. You still need a valid E-Visa, paper visa, or visa exemption depending on your nationality.

Which Airports Require the Digital Arrival Card?

The PAI system launched at one airport and expanded quickly. By late June 2026 it was running at Vietnam's five busiest international airports:

On June 17, 2026, the US Embassy in Hanoi announced that Vietnam is extending the mandatory declaration to all airports in Vietnam. It applies to all international passengers who do not hold a Vietnamese passport. You can complete it on arrival or no more than three days before arrival. It is also available on arrival via a QR code or a paper form at the airport.

Different sources have described the rules in different ways. Vietnam's Immigration Department launched PAI as a pilot, some foreign governments still call it "encouraged," and individual airports have tightened enforcement at different times. In Da Nang, for example, local reports say the airport border police made the declaration compulsory for international arrivals from October 20, 2026, after the system had been running there since June. The safe approach for any trip from late 2026 onward is to treat it as required.

Other airports, land borders, and seaports

If you are flying into a smaller international airport, such as Cat Bi (HPH) in Hai Phong or Phu Bai (HUI) in Hue, assume the declaration applies to you too. The US Embassy notice covers all airports, and the form is offered on arrival if you have not done it online. Completing it before your flight is still the fastest option.

Land border crossings and seaports are a different story. As of October 2026, we have found no official announcement that PAI is required at land borders or seaports. Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security has said it will study a similar system for land border gates. If you are crossing overland from Cambodia, Laos, or China, or arriving by cruise ship, check the official portal and your tour operator's latest instructions before you travel.

Who Needs to Fill Out the Digital Arrival Card?

The requirement applies broadly. If you are a foreign national flying into Vietnam, you almost certainly need to complete it.

Required for:

• Foreign tourists on an E-Visa or paper visa
• Travelers from visa-exempt countries (UK, Japan, South Korea, Germany, France, and others)
• Business travelers and workers entering on any visa type
• Overseas Vietnamese entering on a foreign passport with a valid visa
• Travelers entering Phu Quoc under the island's local visa exemption policy
• Transit passengers who pass through Vietnamese immigration

Exempt:

• Vietnamese citizens traveling on a Vietnamese passport
• Airside transit passengers who do not pass through immigration (confirm with your airline)

Being exempt from a visa does not exempt you from the Digital Arrival Card. Even if your nationality allows visa-free entry to Vietnam, you still need to complete the declaration when you arrive by air.

How to Fill Out the Digital Arrival Card: Step by Step

The entire process takes about 10 minutes. Complete it before you leave for the airport, while you have reliable internet access. You can do it on arrival, but you will be filling in a form while the queue builds around you.

Step 1: Access the official portal

Go to prearrival.immigration.gov.vn on your computer, tablet, or smartphone. You can also scan the QR code provided by the Immigration Department at airline check-in counters or departure gates.

Warning: Several fake websites have been detected impersonating the PAI system. These sites charge fees and may attempt to steal credit card information. The official portal is completely free. If any site asks you to pay for the declaration, close it immediately.

Step 2: Select your language

The portal is available in several languages, including English and Vietnamese. Choose your preferred language from the options at the top of the page.

Step 3: Start your declaration

Click "Create and Submit Pre-arrival Information" and enter the CAPTCHA verification code to proceed.

Step 4: Enter your personal details

Fill in the following information exactly as it appears in your passport:

• Full name (first name and surname, matching your passport)
• Date of birth
• Gender
• Nationality
• Passport number
• Passport expiry date

Double-check your passport number carefully. Mixing up the letter O with the number 0, or the letter I with the number 1, is the single most common mistake travelers make on this form.

Step 5: Enter your visa details

Select the type of entry document you hold:

• E-Visa (enter your E-Visa number and validity dates)
• Visa exemption (select the applicable exemption policy)
• Phu Quoc visa exemption (if entering through Phu Quoc under the island's local exemption)
• Temporary residence card
• Other visa types

Step 6: Add your flight and accommodation details

Provide your:

• Arrival flight number (use the operating carrier's flight number, not a codeshare number)
• Arrival date
• Border gate (select your arrival airport from the dropdown)
• Purpose of travel
• Full accommodation address in Vietnam (hotel name, street, ward, district, and city)

The accommodation field uses a hierarchical dropdown system: Province, then District, then Ward, then Street. You need to know your hotel's ward (Phuong) to complete this correctly. If you are unsure, search for your hotel on Google Maps. The full address usually includes the ward name or number.

If your specific hotel does not appear in the dropdown, select the nearest listed hotel or landmark within the same ward. Immigration officers understand the database is still being updated and will not deny entry over a minor address difference.

Step 7: Review, submit, and save your QR code

Review all your information carefully, then submit the form. The system will generate a QR code and send a confirmation to your email address.

Save this QR code immediately:

• Take a screenshot and save it to your phone's photo gallery
• Save a PDF backup
• Optionally print a paper copy

Do not rely on having internet access at the airport to retrieve your QR code. Mobile signal inside the terminal can be unreliable.

What You Need at the Airport

When you reach the immigration counter, have the following ready:

1. Your QR code from the Digital Arrival Card (screenshot, PDF, or printed copy)
2. Your passport (the same one you entered on the form)
3. Your E-Visa, paper visa, or visa exemption eligibility document (if applicable)
4. Return or onward ticket (officers may request this)

The immigration officer scans your QR code, verifies it against your passport, and processes your entry. With a valid QR code, the process is noticeably faster than the old paper system.

Connecting flights

If you are connecting from an international flight to a domestic flight within Vietnam (for example, flying into SGN and then continuing to Da Lat), you only need to submit one Digital Arrival Card for your initial international entry point. No separate declaration is needed for the domestic leg.

Group travel

Every foreign traveler in your party, including children, needs a declaration and a QR code. If you are completing the form for a family or group, save each person's QR code separately and label it with their name so you can present them quickly at the counter.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The PAI system is new, and many travelers run into avoidable problems. Here are the most common mistakes and how to prevent them:

1. Passport number typos

The most frequent cause of problems at the immigration counter. Double-check for O versus 0 (letter vs number) and I versus 1. Your passport number must match your physical passport exactly.

2. Using the wrong email address

The system sends an OTP (one-time password) to your email for verification. If you enter an email you cannot access, you will not be able to complete the submission. Use an email you can check immediately.

3. Submitting outside the 72-hour window

You can only submit the declaration within three days of your arrival date. If you try to submit earlier, the system will not accept it. If your flight is rescheduled, submit a new declaration with the updated arrival date once it falls within the window.

4. Vague accommodation address

Entering just a city name is not enough. You must provide the full hotel address, including the ward and district. Use Google Maps to find your hotel's exact ward if you are unsure.

5. Not saving the QR code offline

Airport Wi-Fi is unreliable. Save the QR code as a screenshot, a PDF, or both before you leave your hotel. Officers will ask for it at the counter, and you cannot count on downloading it at the terminal.

6. Using unofficial websites that charge fees

The official Digital Arrival Card is free. Any website that charges you money for the declaration is a third-party reseller or a scam. Only use the official portal at prearrival.immigration.gov.vn.

7. Special characters in the address field

Avoid using symbols like #, /, or commas in the street address field. These can cause the form to fail validation and trigger a generic error message. Type the address in plain text.

8. Session timeout

If you leave the form open for more than 15 minutes without submitting, the security token may expire. This can cause a confusing error message when you try to submit. If this happens, open a fresh browser window (incognito/private mode works best) and start again.

Digital Arrival Card vs E-Visa: What Is the Difference?

This is a common point of confusion. The Digital Arrival Card and the E-Visa are two completely separate requirements. One does not replace the other.

If your nationality requires a visa to enter Vietnam, you need both an E-Visa (or other valid visa) and a Digital Arrival Card. If you still need a visa, you can apply for your Vietnam E-Visa online. If your nationality is visa-exempt, you still need the Digital Arrival Card when you fly in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Vietnam Digital Arrival Card free?

Yes. The official form is completely free on the government portal. Any site that charges a fee is not the official system. Only use prearrival.immigration.gov.vn.

Can I fill out the form at the airport?

Yes. According to the US Embassy notice, the declaration is available on arrival through a QR code or a paper form at the airport. However, filling it out after landing adds time to your immigration process, especially during peak hours when queues are already long. Complete the form before your flight if you can.

What if I lose my QR code?

You can either resubmit a new declaration on the portal (which generates a new QR code) or ask immigration officers to look up your record. However, manual lookups take longer. Always keep a backup.

What if I made a mistake on the form?

If you entered incorrect information (such as a wrong passport number), you must submit a new declaration. The system will use the most recent submission. You cannot edit a previously submitted form.

Does the Digital Arrival Card apply to visa-exempt travelers?

Yes. Being exempt from a visa does not exempt you from the Digital Arrival Card. All international passengers who do not hold a Vietnamese passport are expected to complete it when arriving by air, regardless of visa status.

What about connecting domestic flights?

You only submit one declaration for your initial international arrival point. If you fly into Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) and then take a domestic flight to Hue, you only need the Digital Arrival Card for SGN.

What if my flight is delayed or rescheduled?

If your arrival date changes and falls outside the dates on your submitted declaration, submit a new form with the updated arrival date once it falls within the three-day window.

I got a "Passport Blacklist" error. Am I banned from Vietnam?

No. This is a misleading system error message caused by a validation problem, not an actual blacklist. Common triggers include address dropdown mismatches, special characters in the form fields, or an expired browser session. Clear your browser cache, open a private/incognito window, and try again without special characters.

What to Expect Going Forward

The rollout has moved fast. PAI went from one airport in April 2026 to Vietnam's five busiest international airports by late June. By mid-June, the US Embassy was describing the declaration as mandatory and being extended to all airports in the country. Since then, enforcement has tightened at some airports. Da Nang, for example, made it compulsory from October 20, 2026.

For land borders and seaports, the Ministry of Public Security has said it will study a similar system for land border gates, but as of October 2026 no start date has been announced. If you are planning an overland or cruise arrival in late 2026 or 2027, check the official portal shortly before you travel.

The system saw strong early adoption. In its first 15 days at Tan Son Nhat Airport alone, more than 161,000 travelers started a declaration, and participation among foreign arrivals was around 70%, according to Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security.

Vietnam's Digital Arrival Card is part of a broader push toward digital government services. It joins the E-Visa system and other online platforms as part of the country's ongoing modernization of immigration procedures.

The bottom line: budget 10 minutes before your trip to fill out the form, save your QR code offline, and you will breeze through immigration. Skip it, and you may be standing in a much longer queue while everyone else walks past.