If you see “Rejected” on the Vietnam e-visa portal, the fee is gone and no reason is shown. Most applicants are caught off-guard: the portal gives no explanation, no error code, and no appeal option. The good news is that most rejections come from fixable mistakes — and there is no waiting period before you can resubmit.
What the rejection screen actually tells you
When an application is denied on evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn, the status field changes to “Rejected.” That is all the portal shows. No reason, no error code, no email notification is guaranteed.
The $25 (single entry) or $50 (multiple entry) application fee is non-refundable if your e-visa is rejected, and there is no formal appeal process under current 2026 rules.
This means you are diagnosing the cause yourself, then paying the fee again on a fresh application. Below are the seven causes that account for the overwhelming majority of rejections.
What actually causes Vietnam e-visa rejection? The 7 real reasons
1. Photo errors — the most common single cause. Vietnam’s requirements: white or light plain background, no glasses, no smile, face squarely forward, JPG format, file size under 2 MB, photo taken within the last 6 months. A selfie with a patterned background, sunglasses, or a hat will fail.
2. Data mismatch with passport MRZ — even one character difference between what you entered and what your machine-readable zone actually shows triggers automatic rejection. This includes name spelling (copy from the bio page, not from memory), passport number, and date of birth.
3. Passport validity under 6 months from entry date — Vietnam requires your passport to be valid for at least 6 months from the date you enter the country, not from today. A passport expiring 5 months and 20 days after your planned arrival date will cause rejection.
4. Wrong port of entry — the e-visa is valid only at the specific checkpoint you select during the application. Arriving at Da Nang airport when you selected Ho Chi Minh City means denial at immigration. Vietnam expanded its e-visa entry points significantly in 2026, adding 41 new checkpoints — make sure you select the one that matches your actual route.
5. Prior immigration violation — previous overstay, deportation, or illegal work in Vietnam creates a flag in the immigration database. This type of rejection is not fixable by resubmitting the form — it points to your immigration record, not form errors.
6. Applying while inside Vietnam — submitting an e-visa application from inside the country is consistently linked to rejection. Extensions and changes of status inside Vietnam follow a separate process.
7. Wrong visa type — selecting a tourist e-visa (DL type) when entering for business purposes, or vice versa, causes rejection. Vietnam e-visas are issued by purpose of visit; confirm you are selecting the correct category.
How to fix and resubmit your Vietnam e-visa step by step
There is no mandatory waiting period between a rejection and a new application. You can reapply the same day after correcting the error.
- Confirm rejection — log in to evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn with your reference number and verify the status says Rejected.
- Identify the most likely cause — work through the 7 reasons above. Check your submitted photo, data entry, passport expiry relative to your entry date, and the port you selected.
- Fix the error — for photo issues: retake with a compliant setup (white background, no glasses, JPG under 2 MB). For data: open your physical passport and copy the MRZ field character-by-character into the new form.
- Start a completely new application — the rejected application cannot be amended. Return to the portal and begin a fresh submission with the corrected data.
- Pay and track — a new fee applies ($25 single / $50 multiple). Standard processing is 3 working days, independently of the rejected application.
A Vietnam e-visa allows stays of up to 90 days (single entry $25, multiple entry $50). Both entry types are open to citizens of all 257 eligible countries and territories.
What if resubmitting still does not work?
If a corrected second application is also rejected with no obvious form error, the problem is likely not the form itself.
Immigration history — Vietnam maintains an internal immigration blacklist for foreigners with prior violations. There is no public database you can query. If you suspect a past overstay or deportation may be the issue, the only documented route is to contact the Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate in your home country directly. There is no online self-service checker.
Nationality — approval rates vary by passport. Some nationalities face significantly higher rejection rates or extended pending status. If you have a passport from a higher-risk region and standard resubmission is not moving, a professional visa service that works directly with Vietnam immigration may be a more effective path than continuing to resubmit independently.
Alternatives if e-visa is blocked — Visa on Arrival is now largely restricted to tour groups and emergencies in 2026. If the e-visa route is not available to you, applying directly at a Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate in your home country remains the most reliable alternative.
Does a rejection affect future e-visa applications?
A rejection caused by a fixable error — photo, data mismatch, expired passport — does not create a permanent negative record. Correct the mistake and resubmit.
A rejection rooted in an immigration violation is different. Under Decree 282/2025, effective December 15, 2025, overstays of 16 days or more can result in deportation, with maximum fines reaching VND 40,000,000 (approximately $1,520) for overstays exceeding one year. These violations create lasting immigration records that affect future visa applications across all types. For a done-for-you version, see our Vietnam e-visa 90 days page.
Acting on a rejection quickly matters: the $25 or $50 fee is forfeited each time you resubmit without fixing the root cause, and if you have a fixed travel date, the 3-day processing window needs to fit your timeline.
If you have been rejected and are not sure what went wrong, or if a corrected resubmission is also stalling, the team at danangvisarun.com handles this directly — reviewing applications before submission, identifying the likely rejection cause, and managing resubmissions on your behalf. Reach us on Telegram at @learnx1000. Ukrainian passport holders: we cover the same rejection causes and fixes in Ukrainian, here.
Frequently asked questions
Why was my Vietnam e-visa rejected?
The portal does not display the reason for rejection. The most common causes are photo errors (wrong background, glasses, incorrect file format), a name or passport number that does not match your MRZ, passport validity under 6 months from your entry date, or selecting the wrong checkpoint. Work through each systematically before resubmitting.
Can I reapply for Vietnam e-visa after rejection?
Yes. There is no mandatory waiting period — you can reapply on evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn the same day after fixing the error. A new fee of $25 (single entry) or $50 (multiple entry) applies to each application.
Is the Vietnam e-visa fee refundable if denied?
No. The fee is non-refundable regardless of the rejection reason. There is no formal appeal or refund process in 2026.
How long does it take to process a new e-visa after rejection?
Standard processing for a new application is 3 working days. The rejected application is not corrected or expedited — you start fresh and wait the full standard processing window.
What if my Vietnam e-visa is rejected due to immigration history?
If the rejection stems from a prior overstay, deportation, or record of illegal work, reapplying on the portal will not help. Your options are to contact the Vietnamese Embassy in your home country directly to inquire about your status, or to work with a professional visa service experienced with higher-risk cases.
