Traveling to Vietnam With Children: Entry Rules for Minors

Vietnam treats minors the same as adult travelers for entry purposes: each child is an individual traveler who must carry their own valid travel document. There are no special exemptions for infants or young children.

Core Requirements for Children Entering Vietnam

• Own passport: Every child — including infants — must have their own passport. Children listed on a parent’s passport (an older practice in some countries) are generally not accepted.
• Passport validity: The same rules that apply to adults apply to children. Visa-free entry needs at least 6 months of validity on the date of entry; a visa needs the passport to stay valid at least 30 days beyond the visa’s end date.
• Visa if required: If the child’s nationality requires a visa for Vietnam, the child needs their own e-visa or visa on arrival approval letter — separate from the parents.

The Expired Passport Trap for Families

This is the most common entry problem for families traveling to Vietnam. A child’s passport issued when the child was a toddler may be close to expiry — or already expired — by the time of the trip. Parents often check their own passports carefully but forget to check the children’s.

The rule of thumb: always check every family member’s passport at least 3 months before your trip, not just at booking time.

What Happens If a Child’s Passport Is Under 6 Months?

In principle, the child would be denied entry. In practice, situations involving young children are sometimes handled with greater flexibility by immigration officers — but this is not guaranteed. If the child’s passport is close to either limit, renew it before traveling. Do not rely on goodwill at the border.

Traveling With a Child Without Both Parents

If a child is traveling with only one parent or with a guardian (not a parent), Vietnam immigration may ask for a notarized consent letter from the absent parent(s) or a court document granting sole custody. While this is not a universal requirement, it is common enough that having the documentation ready avoids delays. Check with the airline and your country’s embassy for specific requirements before travel.