Vietnam E-Gate: Who Can Use It and How to Get Through in 60 Seconds
Vietnam has been rolling out automated border control kiosks — commonly called e-gates — at major international airports including Tan Son Nhat (SGN) and Noi Bai (HAN). These kiosks use biometric scanning (face recognition and fingerprint) to speed up identity verification. If you are eligible, the process takes roughly 60 seconds.
Who Can Use the Vietnam E-Gate?
| Traveler Type | E-Gate Eligible? |
|---|---|
| Vietnamese citizens with chip passport | Yes — primary user group |
| Foreign nationals (general) | Generally no — use staffed counters |
| Foreigners with registered biometrics / special enrollment | Check with immigration staff at the airport |
| Children under certain age (varies) | Typically no — check on arrival |
The e-gate system’s foreign national eligibility is subject to ongoing expansion and change by the immigration authority (Cục Quản lý Xuất Nhập cảnh). The specific rules for non-Vietnamese travelers — particularly which nationalities or document types may be enrolled — are not definitively published in a single public regulation. If you are a foreign national and see e-gate kiosks at the airport, check with immigration staff before joining any automated lane.
How the E-Gate Works (for Eligible Travelers)
- Approach the e-gate kiosk and scan your passport’s chip page on the reader.
- The kiosk reads your biometric data (stored on the chip) and prompts for a live face scan.
- Face match is confirmed — the gate opens automatically.
- Walk through. The whole process takes approximately 60 seconds per person.
E-Gate vs. Fast Track: Which Is Faster?
For eligible travelers, e-gates are the fastest option — pure automation with no human processing time. For foreign nationals who cannot use the e-gates, the practical alternative is EntryVN’s Fast Track service: a representative meets you at the start of the immigration area and takes you to the designated fast-track lane. This typically takes 10–15 minutes total versus 60–150 minutes during peak periods.
Not eligible for the e-gate? Skip the immigration queue at any Vietnamese airport with EntryVN’s Fast Track service — available at SGN, HAN, DAD, CXR, and more.
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