Blog · Vietnam
Vietnam E-Visa for Digital Nomads: Complete Guide
How to apply for Vietnam's 90-day e-visa, do border runs, and understand the tax implications of working remotely from Vietnam.
Vietnam introduced a 90-day e-visa in August 2023, making it one of the easiest countries in Southeast Asia for digital nomads to enter. Here's everything you need to know.
E-Visa Details
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Duration | Up to 90 days (single or multiple entry) |
| Cost | US$25 (single entry) / US$50 (multiple entry) |
| Processing time | 3-5 working days |
| Eligible nationalities | All countries and territories |
| Apply online | evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn |
How to Apply
- Visit the official portal: evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn
- Fill in your details: Full name, date of birth, nationality, passport number
- Upload documents: Passport photo page + passport-size photo (white background)
- Select entry type: Single or multiple entry
- Pay the fee: Credit/debit card
- Wait for approval: 3-5 working days
- Print your e-visa: Download and print to show at immigration
Staying Longer Than 90 Days
The e-visa is non-extendable. To stay longer, you need to do a border run:
- Fly out and back: Most common — fly to Bangkok, Singapore, or KL and return with a new e-visa
- Land border: Cross to Cambodia or Laos and re-enter with a new e-visa
- Timing: Apply for your new e-visa before you leave Vietnam to ensure smooth re-entry
The cost of a border run (flight + new e-visa) is typically USD 100-200, making it affordable compared to other countries' visa extension fees.
Working Remotely on an E-Visa
Technically, the e-visa is for tourism purposes only. Working remotely is a grey area:
- Vietnam has not explicitly legalized remote work on tourist visas
- There is no known case of enforcement against digital nomads earning from overseas
- The government has discussed a digital nomad visa but hasn't launched one yet
Tax Implications
If you stay in Vietnam for 183 days or more in a calendar year, you become a tax resident and are theoretically subject to Vietnamese personal income tax on your worldwide income. However:
- Enforcement against foreign remote workers is rare
- Vietnam taxes based on source, not residency in practice for foreigners
- If you earn exclusively from foreign clients and don't have a Vietnamese business entity, you're unlikely to be pursued for tax
Planning the Border-Run Cycle
With a 90-day maximum and no extension, a full-time digital nomad plans on roughly two exits a year. A practical cycle: arrive on a multiple-entry e-visa, book the outbound leg well before day 85, and apply for the next e-visa before leaving so it's approved by the time you fly back. The exit doubles as a short trip — Bangkok, Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur are all close and direct from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. Expect to budget about US$150–250 per cycle including flights, and check that your passport stays comfortably valid beyond the visa stamp — most destinations and immigration lines look for at least six months of remaining validity.
What Makes E-Visa Life Easier
- Local e-wallet and SIM: cheap data plans and QR payments cover most daily life; keep your foreign phone number for banking OTPs
- The right health cover: an e-visa provides no health insurance; carry an international policy that actually covers Vietnam, or a local plan
- No business registration needed: freelancers earning from clients outside Vietnam don't need a Vietnamese entity just to live on an e-visa
- Keep digital copies: passport photo page, e-visa PDF, and entry stamp photos backed up in the cloud in case of loss
The Tax Line, in Numbers
Staying 183+ days in Vietnam within a calendar year makes you a tax resident on paper, with worldwide income exposure. Non-residents, by contrast, are taxed at a flat 10% on Vietnam-sourced income only — which for most remote freelancers is zero, since none of their income is sourced to Vietnam. If residence does apply to you, the numbers are different: under the reforms taking effect for 2026 the annual tax-free threshold rises to about ₫200 million, the deduction for dependents applies, and the progressive schedule is re-shaped into fewer brackets with a lower top rate path. Whether you need to register a tax code at all usually follows from whether your income flows through Vietnam, not from how many days you've been here — the e-visa itself is not a tax trigger. To see which resident or non-resident rate fits your situation, use the Vietnam tax calculator and read our guide to the tax code.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How much is Vietnam's 90-day e-visa?
- US$25 for single entry and US$50 for multiple entry, paid online at the official e-visa portal.
- Can I extend my e-visa?
- No — it's non-extendable. You must leave and re-enter with a fresh e-visa (a border run).
- Can I work remotely on an e-visa?
- The e-visa is for tourism. Working remotely sits in a grey area: not explicitly legal, but not enforced against digital nomads earning from overseas clients.
- Do I owe Vietnamese tax as a nomad on an e-visa?
- Only if your income is Vietnam-sourced, or you become a resident (183+ days). Pure foreign-client income on a short stay typically falls outside Vietnamese PIT in practice.
Want to calculate your taxes? Try our Vietnam tax calculator or compare tax rates.