Vietnam Pre-Arrival Declaration Form 2026: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Vietnam introduced a mandatory pre-arrival information declaration for all foreign travelers in 2026. Starting at Tan Son Nhat Airport in April 2026 and now expanded to all major international airports, every foreign passport holder must submit this form before or upon arriving in Vietnam.

The good news: it’s free, takes about 5–10 minutes, and can be done from your phone. The not-so-good news: many travelers arrive without it and face delays at immigration. This guide walks you through the entire process.

What Is the Vietnam Pre-Arrival Declaration Form?

The Vietnam Pre-Arrival Information Declaration (officially called Tờ khai thông tin trước nhập cảnh) is an online form managed by Vietnam’s Immigration Department (Cục Quản lý Xuất Nhập cảnh) at the official portal: prearrival.immigration.gov.vn.

Think of it as Vietnam’s digital version of the paper arrival card that used to be filled out on the plane. Once you submit the form, you receive a QR code that immigration officers scan when you enter the country.

Who Needs to Complete It?

All international travelers who do not hold a Vietnamese passport must complete the pre-arrival declaration. This applies regardless of:

• Your nationality (even if you’re from a visa-free country)
• Your visa type (e-visa, visa on arrival, or visa-exempt)
• Whether you’re a tourist, business traveler, or transit passenger
• How many times you’ve visited Vietnam before

Which Airports Require It?

The system rolled out progressively starting April 2026 and now covers all major international airports in Vietnam:

When Should You Complete It?

You can submit the form any time up to 3 days before your arrival date, or complete it on the day of arrival before your flight. The system lets you prepare in advance from home, which is strongly recommended.

If you didn’t do it before your flight, you can also complete it on arrival — but you’ll need to go to a designated area at the airport, which takes extra time and could mean missing your connection if you have one.

What You’ll Need Before Starting

Gather these before opening the form — the system may time out if you leave to find documents:

• Passport — number, nationality, expiry date
• Visa details — your e-visa number (if applicable) or visa exemption type
• Flight information — airline name, flight number, arrival date
• Accommodation address — full address of your first hotel or host in Vietnam
• Email address — a confirmation will be sent here
• Phone number — with country code
• Departure date — your planned exit date from Vietnam

Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out the Form

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Wrong passport number — The most common error. Copy it character by character from your passport bio page.
• Using a third-party paid website — The official portal is free. Paid sites just use the same form and charge you extra.
• Wrong flight number — Check your ticket for the exact airline code + number (e.g., VN123, not just “123”).
• No accommodation address — You must have an actual address. Vague answers like “will decide later” will cause issues.
• Forgetting to screenshot the QR code — Don’t rely on email access at the airport. Save the QR code offline.
• Submitting too late — While technically possible at the airport, doing it in advance avoids stress and queues.

What Happens at the Airport

When you reach the immigration counter, the officer will ask to scan your QR code (or check your form reference number). Have it ready on your phone screen before you reach the counter — this speeds up the process significantly.

If you did not complete the form before arriving, you’ll be directed to a separate counter or kiosk to fill it out on the spot. This adds 15–30 minutes to your arrival time and creates a bottleneck, especially at busy airports like SGN and HAN.

Frequently Asked Questions