Vietnam e-visa in 2026 costs $25 for single entry or $50 for multiple entry — paid directly to the government at evisa.gov.vn. For most travelers with a working Visa card, DIY is the only route they need. Agencies become worth their fee when your card keeps failing on the portal, your first application was rejected, or you want someone to catch form errors before you waste $25 on a declined application.
I’ve helped people sort out Vietnam visa situations in Da Nang for years. I’m one of the options below — so I’ll tell you honestly when you don’t need to pay anyone, including me.
How the Vietnam E-Visa System Works in 2026
The e-visa is issued by Vietnam’s Immigration Department through evisa.gov.vn. Standard processing is 3 working days (can stretch to 4–7 during peak season). The visa comes as a PDF you show at the border.
Since December 2025 (Resolution 389/NQ-CP), the e-visa is accepted at 83 entry points: 17 international airports, 27 land border crossings including Lao Bao for the Laos route, and 39 seaports.
One new requirement from June 2026: All air travelers now need to complete the PAI pre-arrival declaration within 72 hours before landing. This is separate from the e-visa — you need both. The PAI doesn’t replace the visa requirement.
The Options: What Each One Costs and When to Use It
| Option | Total cost (single entry) | Total cost (multiple entry) | Processing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIY — evisa.gov.vn | $25 (gov fee only) | $50 (gov fee only) | 3 working days | Those with a working Visa/Mastercard |
| vietnam-visa.com | ~$55 (gov $25 + ~$30 service) | ~$80 (gov $50 + ~$30 service) | 1–3 days | Card payment issues, basic case |
| iVisa | from $99.99 total | $100+ total | 3–10 days standard, 4 days rush | Those who want an international platform with English support |
| Best Bus (us, Da Nang) | $25 + service (ask) | $50 + service (ask) | 1 business day | Russian/CIS card issues, Central Vietnam, urgent |
No agency changes the government fee — the $25/$50 goes to Vietnam immigration regardless.
Option 1: DIY at evisa.gov.vn — The Right Call for Most People
The official portal accepts all eligible nationalities, costs nothing beyond the government fee, and processes in 3 working days.
What goes wrong and why: The portal has a notoriously unreliable payment gateway for foreign cards. American Express and Mastercard fail more often than Visa. Prepaid and virtual cards are not accepted. Safari on Mac consistently causes issues — use Chrome, Firefox, or Edge on desktop. If payment fails, you’re not charged, but you start the application over. Skip the retries by having our Vietnam e-visa service run it through a card the gateway actually accepts.
The second common problem is form errors. The portal doesn’t explain rejections in detail. Wrong entry point (there are 83 — pick the right one for how you’re entering), name mismatch with your passport, photo that doesn’t meet the spec, or a passport expiring within 6 months of your travel date are the most common rejection triggers.
Pros: Zero service fee. Direct government application. Cons: Payment failure is common for foreign cards. No help if rejected. Safari/mobile browser issues.
Option 2: Vietnam-visa.com — Mid-Price Card Bypass
Vietnam-visa.com is a Vietnam-based agency that uses local bank cards to submit on the official portal — which is the core reason to use them. Their card works where yours doesn’t. For single entry the total comes to around $55 ($25 gov + ~$30 service), multiple entry around $80.
They’re primarily useful for card issues on straightforward applications. Their support is responsive for standard cases.
Pros: Local card gateway bypass. Lower service fee than iVisa. Cons: Less polished support than international platforms. Better for standard cases, not complex situations.
Option 3: iVisa — The International Platform
iVisa handles Vietnam e-visa as part of their 190+ country portfolio. Their total price starts at $99.99 for single entry — meaning the service markup is roughly $50–75 above the $25 government fee. Standard processing takes 3–10 business days; a rush option brings that to 4 days.
They accept a wider range of payment methods and have solid English-language support. The tradeoff is price and a support team that handles many countries, not Vietnam specialists.
Pros: Global payment method coverage. Clean interface. English support. Multiple speed tiers. Cons: Most expensive option — $99.99 for something the official portal does for $25. Not Vietnam-specific.
When Best Bus Is the Right Fit
This is where I’ll be direct about our niche. Best Bus focuses on Central Vietnam — Da Nang, Hoi An, Hue. We’re most useful in four situations: your card has failed on evisa.gov.vn multiple times and your travel date is close, your first application was rejected and you want a local expert to review before resubmission, you need the visa in one business day, or you need support in Russian or English from someone who knows the current portal quirks.
I pay the gov fee with a card that evisa.gov.vn actually processes, fill the form based on your specific entry point and visa history, and in most cases the PDF arrives the same business day. If you’ve been rejected once, I can usually identify the likely issue from your rejection wording. Message me on Telegram — tell me your situation and I’ll say within an hour whether you need us or can handle it yourself.
Honest limits: We’re Da Nang/Central Vietnam based. If you’re applying from Hanoi or HCMC and your card works fine, a local agent there may suit you better. We don’t handle Work Permit or TRC applications — those need immigration law firms.
Which Option to Choose: Five Questions
If your card works on evisa.gov.vn → DIY. Save the service fee. If payment keeps failing or was rejected → vietnam-visa.com or Best Bus. Our card processes what yours can’t. If you’re in a rush (under 24 hours needed) → Best Bus (same business day) or iVisa rush tier. If you want an international platform with PayPal or broad payment support → iVisa, accepting the price premium. If you have a complex situation (overstay history, multiple entries, uncertain entry point) → talk to a specialist first. A wrong answer on the form is the most common rejection trigger.
If none of the above apply, the official portal and the $25 government fee is the only thing you need. See also which Vietnam visa is right for your situation and the full Vietnam e-visa 90-day guide for what to expect once approved.
Questions about your specific situation? Check danangvisarun.com for current e-visa and visa-run options, or message me directly on Telegram @learnx1000 — I’ll give you a straight answer on whether you need help. WhatsApp works just as well if you prefer it.
Frequently asked questions
Why did my credit card payment fail on evisa.gov.vn? The portal rejects prepaid and virtual cards outright, and AmEx/Mastercard fail more often than Visa for foreign cardholders. Safari on Mac is also known to cause payment errors — switch to Chrome or Firefox on desktop. If payment fails, you’re not charged and can retry or use an agency with a local card.
Can I reapply for Vietnam e-visa if my application is rejected? Yes — there’s no mandatory waiting period. You can reapply the same day with corrected information. The $25/$50 government fee from your failed application is not refunded; the new application requires a new payment. Common fixes: use a correct entry point from the 83 designated checkpoints, ensure your passport photo meets spec (white background, no glasses, 2×2 inches), and confirm your name matches your passport exactly.
Do I need both the Vietnam e-visa and the PAI pre-arrival form? Yes — they are separate requirements. The e-visa grants you permission to enter; the PAI declaration (mandatory since June 15, 2026 for all air travelers) is a health and contact information form. Complete the PAI within 72 hours before your flight, after you have your e-visa approved.
Is evisa.gov.vn safe, or should I use an agency for security reasons? evisa.gov.vn is the official Vietnam Immigration Department portal — it’s the same system all agencies submit to. A paid agency doesn’t provide additional security; they submit your documents on your behalf to the same government system. The safety concern with agencies is choosing unlicensed ones that take payment without actually submitting.
How much does Vietnam e-visa cost in total with an agency? Government fee ($25 single / $50 multiple) plus the service fee. vietnam-visa.com charges ~$55 single / ~$80 multiple total. iVisa starts at $99.99 for single entry. Best Bus service fee is quoted per case — message for a quote. If your card works on evisa.gov.vn, you owe no service fee to anyone.
