How Long Can UK Citizens Stay in Vietnam

UK citizens traveling on a British Citizen passport can visit Vietnam without a visa for up to 45 days for tourism or business. GOV.UK says your passport is stamped with the date you must leave, and immigration will not change that date after you leave the checkpoint. For stays beyond 45 days, apply for a Vietnam e-visa valid for a maximum of 90 days, USD 25 single-entry or USD 50 multiple-entry, on the official portal. Passports need at least 6 months of validity and 2 blank pages. Overstaying can block your exit until you pay a fine.

This guide is for British travelers planning Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, or a north-to-south loop, including nomads who want 60 to 90 days. The problem is mixing the 45-day exemption with the 90-day e-visa, or following US-passport advice. Americans generally need the e-visa even for short trips. Brits have a genuine visa-free window, then must switch products for a longer stay. See how long US citizens can stay in Vietnam only as a contrast.

After reading, you will know when to skip the e-visa, when to apply, how to read the stamp, and why a Cambodia weekend does not fix a single-entry visa.

Key facts

45-day visa exemption for UK citizens

GOV.UK states that you can visit Vietnam without a visa for up to 45 days for tourism or business. On arrival your passport is stamped with entry and an exit date. Check that the date is 45 days from arrival. Immigration will not change it after you have left the airport or land border. [Source: GOV.UK Vietnam]

Vietnam's government extended a 45-day visa exemption for citizens of 12 countries, including the United Kingdom, from 15 March 2025 to 14 March 2028, through Resolution 44/NQ-CP. The exemption is for a temporary stay of 45 days from the date of entry, subject to Vietnam's normal entry conditions. [Source: Vietnamese Embassy in Japan notice]

This is not a 90-day tourist visa. If you need 46 to 90 days, use the e-visa (or another visa type) instead of hoping to convert the stamp later.

Passport rules from FCDO: at least 6 months' validity after the date you arrive, at least 2 blank pages, and no damage. British nationals have been denied entry and exit because of damaged passports. You must enter and exit on the same passport.

90-day e-visa when 45 days is not enough

The official Vietnam e-visa site states that an e-visa is valid for a maximum of 90 days for single or multiple entries, with fees of USD 25 (single) and USD 50 (multiple), paid through the portal and non-refundable if refused. You must enter and exit through designated international border gates. [Source: evisa.gov.vn]

FCDO also points to the e-visa as a way to stay 90 days with multiple entries, and warns that e-visas restrict you to the entry and exit points you select. If you obtain an e-visa while already in Vietnam, you must exit and re-enter to start it. The British Embassy will not assist with visa extensions.

Multiple entry does not create unlimited presence. It allows more than one entry during the e-visa validity window, still capped by the dates on the approval.

How to choose and complete the right Vietnam entry

Step 1. If the whole trip is 45 days or fewer and you hold a British Citizen passport, the visa exemption may be enough. Still carry onward tickets and funds.

Step 2. If you need 46 to 90 days, or you will leave Vietnam and return, apply for the matching e-visa on evisa.gov.vn before you fly. Avoid lookalike paid resellers unless you knowingly want an agent.

Step 3. Match names and passport numbers exactly. Save the PDF. Enter only through a checkpoint listed on the approval.

Step 4. At the border, check the stamped leave-by date before you walk away. Photograph it.

Step 5. From 15 April 2026, Vietnam encourages a digital arrival card for foreigners entering via Tan Son Nhat (SGN). FCDO says it is not currently mandatory at SGN but may change or expand with little notice.

Worked example with concrete dates

Sam, a UK citizen, wants Vietnam from 1 October 2026 to 20 December 2026 (81 days). The 45-day exemption is too short. Sam applies on 5 September 2026 for a single-entry e-visa covering the dates. Approval arrives 10 September 2026. Sam must exit by the end date on that e-visa, not "90 days from whenever."

If Sam had arrived visa-free on 1 October, the stamp should show a leave-by date about 14 November 2026. Staying through December on that stamp would be an overstay.

Sam later wants a weekend in Siem Reap from 10 November to 14 November and a return to Ho Chi Minh City. A multiple-entry e-visa would have been the correct product. On a single-entry e-visa, leaving Vietnam ends that entry. On a visa-free stamp, leaving also ends that admission, and the next landing is a new decision.

Re-entry, extensions, and longer stays

Do not assume you can extend a 45-day stamp or a tourist e-visa as easily as some neighboring exemptions. FCDO says that if you want more than 90 days you should use Vietnamese Immigration Department channels. The British Embassy will not help with extensions.

Leaving for Cambodia or Laos and returning only works if your visa allows another entry and remains valid, or if you still qualify for a new visa-free admission. Officers can refuse a pattern that looks like residence. See how visa runs work.

Passport validity for multi-country Asia routes often follows the stricter six-month passport rule at airline check-in.

Remote work and purpose of stay

Tourist exemption and tourist e-visas are for temporary visits consistent with the declared purpose. Local employment needs proper work authorization. Remote work for a foreign employer while traveling is common among nomads and still distinct from Vietnamese employment status. See remote work tourist visa legality. Overstay or illegal work can lead to fines, delayed exit, deportation, and future bans. [Source: GOV.UK Vietnam]

Common mistakes

Booking 70 days on the 45-day exemption. Use the e-visa instead.

Not checking the stamp. FCDO says officers will not fix the date later.

Applying on a clone website. Pay on evisa.gov.vn when you need an e-visa.

Choosing single entry, then adding a Cambodia loop. Multiple entry exists for that reason.

Using a damaged passport or a different passport on exit. Vietnam requires the same passport in and out.

How Staywise tracks Vietnam stays

Staywise (the visa compliance app for digital nomads) records your Vietnam entry and the leave-by date from your stamp or e-visa so countdown alerts fire at 7, 3, and 1 day. Multi-country timelines help when you combine Vietnam with Thailand or Indonesia. Export history when a future application asks for travel records.

Passport details stay on your device. Free trial, then annual subscription. See App Store for current pricing.

Download Staywise on the App Store

How to track this stay limit automatically

Country stay limits only help if you know how many days you have already used. Staywise (the visa compliance app for digital nomads) counts days across countries automatically and sends overstay alerts before a limit hits. Passport details stay on your device; only travel dates sync for the math. Available on iOS.

For tool comparisons, see Best Visa Tracker Apps for Digital Nomads (2026) and How to Track Your Days in Multiple Countries.

Download Staywise on the App Store

Frequently Asked Questions

How long can UK citizens stay in Vietnam without a visa?

British Citizen passport holders can usually stay up to 45 days visa-free for tourism or business. GOV.UK tells you to check that the stamped leave-by date is 45 days from arrival, because officers will not change it later. This exemption is not the same as a 90-day e-visa. If you need more than 45 days, apply for an e-visa or another visa type before you travel. Always photograph the stamp.

Do UK citizens need a Vietnam e-visa for a two-week holiday?

Usually no, while the 45-day exemption remains in force for United Kingdom citizens. A two-week trip fits inside visa-free entry if you meet passport and entry conditions. You still need a passport valid for at least 6 months after arrival, two blank pages, and a clear leave-by stamp. Complete any arrival-card process in force at your airport. Re-check GOV.UK close to departure because procedures can change.

How much does a Vietnam e-visa cost?

On the official national portal, the stated fees are USD 25 for a single-entry e-visa and USD 50 for a multiple-entry e-visa. Third-party agencies may charge extra service fees on top of the government fee. For most travelers, applying directly on evisa.gov.vn is enough if you can complete the form accurately. Budget extra time for payment confirmation and PDF download before you go to the airport.

Can I enter Vietnam twice on one e-visa?

Only if you obtained a multiple-entry e-visa and both entries fall within the validity period. A single-entry e-visa allows one entry only. If you plan side trips to neighboring countries with a return to Vietnam, choose multiple entry when you apply. Re-read your approval letter for exact conditions. Enter only through checkpoints listed for that e-visa so you are not turned away at the border.

What happens if I overstay in Vietnam?

GOV.UK warns that if you overstay your visa or work illegally, authorities can prevent you from leaving until you pay a fine. You could be deported and blocked from visiting Vietnam in the future. Exit on or before the authorized date. If an emergency prevents timely departure, contact Vietnamese immigration rather than ignoring the expiry. Keep digital and printed copies of your e-visa or stamp photo for exit formalities.

Related guides

• How long can US citizens stay in Vietnam
• Six-month passport rule explained
• How visa runs work
• Remote work tourist visa legality

About Staywise

Staywise is the visa compliance app for digital nomads. Built by nomads for nomads, it tracks your days across every country automatically, alerts you before overstays, and keeps passport details on your device for privacy. The in-app AI assistant answers visa questions in plain English. Available on iOS.

Download Staywise on the App Store →

Important: This content is informational and does not constitute legal, tax, or immigration advice. Visa rules, tax regulations, and entry requirements change frequently and vary by individual circumstances. Always verify current requirements with official government sources or a qualified professional before making travel decisions. Staywise tracks your days and surfaces compliance information, but final responsibility for compliance rests with the traveler.