The Vietnamese government has recently introduced a digital arrival card. The aim of this card is to make border control procedures at the airport quicker and more efficient. The arrival card is mandatory for all travellers, including those who to be able to travel to Vietnam without a visa.
Streamlined border procedures
The Vietnamese government has decided to continue digitising its entry procedures. The visa for Vietnam It has been possible to apply online for some time now. The forms that need to be filled in at the airport are now also being digitised. To this end, a digital arrival card, also known as Pre-arrival Information Submission for Visitors or Arrival Card.
As travellers are required to notify the authorities of their trip to Vietnam in advance, the government is better able to monitor the number of tourists visiting the country. Furthermore, waiting times at the airport would be significantly reduced, making the experience more pleasant for travellers. With this measure, Vietnam is following in the footsteps of other Asian countries that already use a digital arrival card, such as Thailand, Cambodia, India and Indonesia.
Who should fill in the arrival card?
Filling in the Arrival Card is mandatory for all travellers arriving at Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport (Ho Chi Minh City). It does not matter whether you need to apply for a visa for Vietnam or are exempt from the visa requirement. The arrival card is separate from the visa application. This requirement also applies to Vietnamese nationals travelling to the country on a visa but not holding a Vietnamese passport. If you are only transiting through Vietnam and do not leave the airport transit area, you do not need to complete the arrival card.
The Arrival Card It must be completed shortly before departure. The form can be completed no earlier than 72 hours before arrival in Vietnam. For the time being, it will also still be possible to complete the arrival card after arriving at the airport. However, the Vietnamese authorities warn that this may lead to long queues at the airport counters. Currently, the Arrival Card is only mandatory for people arriving at Ho Chi Minh City Airport. However, it is expected that the arrival card will soon be mandatory at other airports and seaports as well.
Sections of the form
The digital arrival card is divided into three sections: traveller details, stay details and a declaration of acceptance. The information you need to provide on the form is set out below:
Personal data
In this section, travellers must enter their expected arrival date and passport details. It is also possible to upload a photo of the passport and have the details copied automatically from the photo. Next, you must provide some details regarding your visa for Vietnam. Those who can travel to Vietnam without a visa, including Dutch and Belgian nationals, should select the option ‘Default visa exemption by country’ under the ‘Visa Type / Purpose’ question. Travellers who have applied for a visa must enter their visa number and the visa’s issue and expiry dates. This information is shown on the visa.
On this page, you can add other travellers to the form. That way, you’ll only need to enter your travel details once.
Travel details
On the next page, please indicate which country you are travelling from to Vietnam and your mode of transport. Do you have a stopover? If so, please select the country from which your first flight departs. Next, please state the purpose of your visit and your destination. Next, enter the address of your accommodation in Vietnam. Business travellers will be asked to enter the name of their company. Tourists may leave this field blank.
Dashboard
A summary page will then appear where you can double-check the details you have entered. You must confirm that you have filled in all the details completely and accurately. If all the details are correct, you can submit the form. You will then receive a code by email, which you can use to confirm your registration. Once you have done this, you will receive a confirmation with a QR code. You must print this code or save it digitally and show it when you arrive at the border control.