Quick Answer: What Is the Vietnam Pre-Arrival Card?
The Vietnam Pre-Arrival Card — officially the Pre-Arrival Information (PAI) declaration, and also called the Vietnam Digital Arrival Card — is a free online declaration that foreign travelers complete before landing at one of Vietnam’s major international airports. You submit your passport, flight, and accommodation details on the official portal, receive a QR code, and show that QR code to the immigration officer on arrival.
As of October 2026, it applies at five airports: Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City), Noi Bai (Hanoi), Da Nang, Cam Ranh (Nha Trang), and Phu Quoc. It is not a visa, it costs nothing, and the only official website is prearrival.immigration.gov.vn.
Pre-Arrival Card at a Glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Official name | Pre-Arrival Information (PAI) declaration |
| Cost | Free on the official portal |
| Official website | prearrival.immigration.gov.vn |
| When to submit | Up to 3 days (72 hours) before arrival, or on arrival |
| What you receive | A confirmation QR code to show at immigration |
| Who it applies to | Travelers arriving on a non-Vietnamese passport |
| Replaces your visa? | No — it is a separate step |
Which Airports Require It?
The system started at Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) in Ho Chi Minh City on 15 April 2026 and expanded across the country within weeks. Official notices from the U.S. Embassy in Vietnam (17 June 2026) and the Singapore Embassy in Hanoi (25 June 2026) confirm that all five airports below are covered.
| Airport | City | Reported start date* | Fast Track |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tan Son Nhat (SGN) | Ho Chi Minh City | 15 April 2026 | Tan Son Nhat Fast Track |
| Phu Quoc (PQC) | Phu Quoc Island | 1 June 2026 | Phu Quoc Fast Track |
| Noi Bai (HAN) | Hanoi | 8 June 2026 | Noi Bai Fast Track |
| Da Nang (DAD) | Da Nang | 15 June 2026 | Da Nang Fast Track |
| Cam Ranh (CXR) | Nha Trang | June 2026 | Cam Ranh Fast Track |
*The start dates for the four airports after Tan Son Nhat come from travel-industry trackers, not from the official notices, which confirm coverage without listing per-airport dates.
The list is likely to keep growing. The U.S. Embassy’s June notice describes Vietnam as expanding the declaration “to all airports in Vietnam,” and some trackers also mention certain land gates and seaports. We could not confirm those extra entry points in the official notices we reviewed, so if you are arriving anywhere other than the five airports above, check the portal before you travel.
Who Needs to Complete It?
According to the U.S. Embassy notice, the requirement applies to all international passengers who do not hold a Vietnamese passport. In practice, that includes:
- E-visa holders — you need both your approved Vietnam e-visa and the Pre-Arrival Card
- Visa-exempt travelers — being exempt from a visa does not exempt you from the declaration (see the full exemption list)
- Visa on Arrival travelers — you still complete the declaration, in addition to your approval letter and airport stamping (see our Visa On Arrival page)
- Phu Quoc visitors using the island’s 30-day visa-free policy — the declaration still applies when you land at Phu Quoc Airport (see our Phu Quoc visa-free guide)
- Children and infants — each traveler needs their own declaration, and a parent or guardian can complete it using the child’s passport details
- Connecting passengers who land at a covered airport on an international flight and then continue to a domestic destination
Who does not need it: holders of a Vietnamese passport. If you hold a foreign passport but have Vietnamese heritage, confirm your status on the official portal rather than assuming an exemption.
It Is Not a Visa
This is the most common point of confusion, so it is worth stating plainly. The Pre-Arrival Card does not replace a visa, an e-visa, or a visa exemption. It is an extra declaration that sits alongside your entry document.
| Your situation | What you need |
|---|---|
| Nationality requires a visa | Valid visa or e-visa plus Pre-Arrival Card |
| Nationality is visa-exempt | Valid passport plus Pre-Arrival Card |
| Using Visa on Arrival | Approval letter and airport stamping plus Pre-Arrival Card |
If you are still working out which entry document you need, start with our guide to how to get a Vietnam visa or the comparison of e-visa vs Visa on Arrival vs visa exemption.
What You Need Before You Start
Gather these details first, so the form takes a few minutes rather than a frustrating half hour:
| Detail | Notes |
|---|---|
| Passport | Name, number, date of birth, nationality, and expiry exactly as printed |
| Entry document | The form asks what you are entering under — for example an e-visa, a visa-exemption category, or another recognized entry document |
| Flight details | Flight number and arrival date |
| Accommodation | The full address of your first stay in Vietnam |
| Contact email | One you can access while travelling |
Tip: have your hotel booking confirmation open while you fill in the address. Copying it directly avoids typos and vague entries.
Step-by-Step: How to Complete the Pre-Arrival Card
- Go to the official portal. Open prearrival.immigration.gov.vn and select the option to create and submit your pre-arrival information. You will be asked to enter a CAPTCHA first.
- Enter your passport details. Type them from your passport, not from memory. Some travelers find that uploading a passport photo helps pre-fill a few fields, but always check what was filled in.
- Select your entry document. Choose the category that matches how you are entering Vietnam, and enter the document number if you hold one, such as your e-visa number.
- Add your flight and accommodation details. Enter your arrival date, flight number, and the address of your first accommodation.
- Review everything. Compare each field against your passport and booking confirmation before submitting.
- Submit and save your QR code. Take a screenshot, and also print a copy. A dead phone battery at the immigration counter is a harder problem to fix than a short printout is to make.
When Should You Submit It?
Official guidance says to complete the declaration upon arrival, or not more than three days before arrival. The three-day limit matters: submitting a week early may not work, so do not do this at the same time you book your flight.
The approach we recommend is the evening before your flight — close enough to the three-day window, with all your details confirmed, and with time to fix a mistake. The U.S. Embassy notice also says the declaration is available on arrival through a QR code or paper form at the airport, so you are not blocked from entering if you forget. But completing it at the airport means filling in forms on a small screen after a long flight, and joining a hall that may already be full.
What Happens at the Airport
At immigration, the officer scans your QR code and pulls up your pre-submitted details. If you have already completed the declaration, you simply show the code along with your passport and visa documents. If you have not, you will need to complete it at the airport first.
Foreign nationals are generally processed at manual counters, and waits can build during peak arrival windows. Having your documents ready, including the QR code, is one of the easiest ways to keep your own part of the process short. For a closer look at what the queue is like at Vietnam’s busiest gateway, see our guide to Tan Son Nhat Airport immigration, and for Ho Chi Minh City specifics, our Pre-Arrival Card Ho Chi Minh City guide.
Beware of Fake and Paid Websites
This is the biggest practical risk with the new system. Because the declaration is new, a number of third-party websites have appeared that look official, rank in search results, and charge a fee to “process” or “submit” your card. The official form is free.
| Check | Official portal |
|---|---|
| Web address | prearrival.immigration.gov.vn (ends in .gov.vn) |
| Cost | Free |
| Where official notices point | Embassy notices all link to prearrival.immigration.gov.vn |
If a site asks for payment to complete the Pre-Arrival Card, it is not the government portal. Vietnam Visabox is not affiliated with the Immigration Department and does not charge for this declaration — we are a visa and airport-assistance service, and we recommend completing the card yourself on the official site.
Common Mistakes
Paying a third-party website. The most expensive mistake on this list. The official card is free, and the only official address is prearrival.immigration.gov.vn.
Assuming it only applies in Ho Chi Minh City. Early coverage was limited to Tan Son Nhat, which is why older articles say so. Today it applies at five airports, and further expansion is expected.
Submitting too early. The window opens three days before arrival. Filling it in the moment you book a flight months ahead is a common misunderstanding.
Mismatched details. Passport numbers, names, and visa numbers should match your documents exactly. Small typos are among the most common causes of delays in any entry process — see our guide to common e-visa mistakes for the same principle applied to visas.
Vague accommodation addresses. Enter the full address from your booking, not just a district or hotel name.
Forgetting to save the QR code offline. Screenshot it and print it. Airport Wi-Fi and mobile data are not guaranteed after landing.
Forgetting children. Every traveler needs their own declaration, including infants. If you are travelling as a family, see our family e-visa guide for how to organize applications for everyone.
Thinking it replaces the visa. It does not, as covered above.
One caution: we did not find official guidance on editing a declaration after it has been submitted, so check every field carefully before you press submit.
Does Airport Fast Track Replace the Pre-Arrival Card?
No. Airport Fast Track is a private assistance service in which an assistant meets you in the arrival hall and guides you through a priority lane. It does not replace government requirements such as your visa or this declaration, so complete the Pre-Arrival Card before you fly either way. If you are weighing whether the service is worth it for your trip, we break down the cost and the benefits in our guide to what Airport Fast Track is and whether it is worth it.
A Simple Pre-Flight Checklist
- Valid passport, with at least six months of validity beyond your planned exit date
- Approved e-visa, Visa on Arrival approval letter, or confirmation that your nationality is exempt
- Pre-Arrival Card completed on the official portal, within three days of landing
- QR code saved as a screenshot and printed
- Hotel address and flight number written down in case you need to complete anything at the airport
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Vietnam Pre-Arrival Card? It is a free online declaration, officially called Pre-Arrival Information (PAI), that foreign travelers complete before arriving at covered Vietnamese airports. It generates a QR code that immigration officers scan on arrival.
2. Is the Pre-Arrival Card mandatory? The U.S. Embassy describes it as mandatory for all international passengers who do not hold a Vietnamese passport, while other embassy notices phrase it as strongly encouraged. Either way, completing it before you fly is the safest approach.
3. Which airports require it? Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City), Noi Bai (Hanoi), Da Nang, Cam Ranh (Nha Trang), and Phu Quoc, with further expansion expected.
4. Is the Pre-Arrival Card free? Yes. The official portal at prearrival.immigration.gov.vn does not charge a fee. Any site that asks for payment is not the government portal.
5. How early can I submit it? Up to three days before arrival, according to official guidance. The evening before your flight is the timing we recommend.
6. What if I forget to complete it before landing? The U.S. Embassy notice says the declaration is also available on arrival through a QR code or paper form at the airport. It works, but it costs time after a long flight.
7. Do I still need a visa if I complete the Pre-Arrival Card? Yes, if your nationality requires one. The card is a separate declaration and does not replace a visa, e-visa, or visa exemption.
8. Do visa-exempt travelers need it? Yes. Visa exemption only removes the visa requirement; it does not exempt you from the declaration.
9. Do children need their own declaration? Yes. Each traveler needs one, and a parent or guardian can complete it on a child’s behalf.
10. Does it apply if I connect through an airport and fly on domestically? If you land internationally at one of the covered airports, yes, the declaration applies even if you continue to a domestic destination.
11. Is it required at land borders and seaports? We could not confirm this in official notices. Some trackers report coverage at certain land gates and seaports, so check the official portal if you are entering that way.
12. Does Vietnam Visabox charge for the Pre-Arrival Card? No. It is free on the official portal, and we are not affiliated with the Immigration Department. We help with visas and airport assistance, not this declaration.
Need Your Visa or Airport Arrival Sorted?
The Pre-Arrival Card is the part you do yourself, for free. If you still need your entry document or a smoother arrival, we can help with both: your Vietnam e-visa (including urgent processing) and Airport Fast Track at all five airports covered by the declaration.
👉 Message us on WhatsApp or by email
Sources reviewed: Vietnam Immigration Department portal (prearrival.immigration.gov.vn); U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Vietnam, notice of 17 June 2026; Singapore Embassy in Hanoi, notice of 25 June 2026. Last reviewed: October 2026.
This article is for general information only. Entry requirements are set by the Vietnam Immigration Department and are changing quickly, so always confirm current details on the official portal before you travel.
