Vietnam visa for Eritrean citizens 2026: 90 days E-visa & Fees

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Eritrean citizens are required to hold a valid Vietnam visa before entry. The most practical route in 2026 is the Vietnam e-visa (EVISA), which can be applied for entirely online without visiting any embassy, making it ideal for travelers from Eritrea, Asmara, and across the Horn of Africa.

The e-visa supports stays of up to 90 days in both single-entry and multiple-entry formats, with a standard government processing time of approximately 3 business days.

Visa on arrival is also available for those flying into Vietnamese international airports, provided a pre-approved approval letter is secured in advance.

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Do Eritrean citizens need a visa to enter Vietnam?

Yes, Eritrean citizens are required to obtain a valid visa before traveling to Vietnam, regardless of the purpose of their visit or the intended length of stay. Vietnam does not grant visa-free access to Eritrean passport holders, and there is no bilateral visa waiver agreement currently in effect between Vietnam and Eritrea ^[1].

This requirement applies uniformly to all categories of entry, including tourism, business, family visits, and transit that involves clearing Vietnamese customs. Attempting to board a flight to Vietnam without the appropriate visa documentation will result in denied boarding at the departure airport.

Beyond holding a valid visa, Eritrean travelers must also satisfy Vietnam’s baseline entry requirements:

• Your Eritrean passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned arrival date in Vietnam
• Your passport must have at least 2 blank pages available for stamping
• You must be able to present proof of onward travel or return ticket if requested by immigration officers

>>> Read more: Vietnam Travel Requirements 2026: Visa, Documents & Entry

Types of Vietnam visa available for Eritrea passport holders

Eritrean passport holders currently have two primary pathways to obtain a Vietnam visa: the Vietnam e-visa (EVISA) system and the visa on arrival route using a pre-approved visa approval letter. A third option is also available in theory, though the absence of a Vietnamese diplomatic mission in Eritrea makes this route logistically demanding.

Vietnam e-visa (EVISA)

The Vietnam e-visa, managed through the official portal of the Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is the most straightforward option for most Eritrean applicants. The entire application process is completed online, and the approved e-visa is delivered to the applicant’s email address.

The EVISA is valid for up to 90 days and is available in both single-entry and multiple-entry formats. This makes it especially practical for travelers from East Africa who may wish to combine a Vietnam trip with visits to neighboring Southeast Asian countries ^[2].

Visa on arrival (with approval letter)

The visa on arrival route requires obtaining a visa approval letter from a licensed Vietnam immigration sponsor or travel agency before departure. Upon arrival at one of Vietnam’s international airports – Noi Bai (Hanoi), Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City), or Da Nang – the traveler presents the approval letter along with passport photos and a stamping fee to receive the visa stamp.

This option is only available at international airports and cannot be used at land border crossings. Eritrean travelers arriving overland from Laos, Cambodia, or China must use the e-visa route instead.

Embassy application (third-country route)

Since Vietnam does not have an embassy in Eritrea, applicants who prefer this route must travel to the nearest Vietnamese diplomatic mission, typically located in Ethiopia (Addis Ababa) or Egypt (Cairo). Based on our advisory experience, this route is rarely the most efficient choice unless the applicant has specific reasons to require a stamped visa in their passport rather than an e-visa.

>>> Read more: Vietnam Entry Requirements 2026: Visa, Passport & Rules

How to apply for a Vietnam e-visa from Eritrea

The EVISA application process has been significantly streamlined since Vietnam expanded the program to include citizens of all countries. Eritrean citizens can now apply entirely online without leaving Asmara or any other location.

Step 1: Prepare your documents

Before accessing the Vietnam e-visa portal, gather the following:

• A scanned copy of your Eritrean passport (biographical data page, in color, clearly legible)
• A recent digital portrait photo (white background, passport-style, taken within the last 6 months)
• A valid email address where your approved e-visa will be delivered
• A credit card, debit card, or PayPal account for payment of the government e-visa fee

Step 2: Complete the online application form

Access the official Vietnam e-visa portal at the Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs website or apply through a verified service such as Tan Van Lang. You will be asked to provide:

• Full name as it appears on your passport
• Date of birth and passport number
• Passport expiry date
• Intended entry point (airport, land border, or seaport)
• Planned travel dates and purpose of visit
• Nationality (Eritrean) and any applicable secondary nationality

Step 3: Pay the visa fee

The government fee is payable online at the time of submission. Processing typically takes 3 business days through the official portal, though delays of up to 5 business days can occur during peak travel periods or public holidays in Vietnam.

Step 4: Download and print your e-visa

Once approved, you will receive the e-visa by email. Print a physical copy to present at the immigration counter on arrival in Vietnam. Vietnam immigration officers will verify the e-visa alongside your Eritrean passport before granting entry.

From our practical experience, one of the most common issues we see is applicants entering incorrect passport details during Step 2. Even minor discrepancies between the application and the passport, a misspelled name, an incorrect passport number digit, can result in a denied boarding or entry refusal. Our team at Tan Van Lang reviews every application before submission to catch these errors before they become problems.

>>> Read more: Vietnam Visa Fees & Cost 2026: Updated E-visa, Embassy [Full List]

Vietnam visa on arrival for Eritrean travelers

The Vietnam visa on arrival method remains a viable option for Eritrean citizens who are flying into Vietnam, particularly when the e-visa route is unavailable due to technical issues or time constraints.

The process works as follows:

1. Contact a licensed Vietnam visa service (such as Tan Van Lang) to apply for a visa approval letter on your behalf
2. The approval letter is issued by the Vietnam Immigration Department and sent to you by email within 2 business days under standard processing
3. Upon arrival at a Vietnamese international airport, proceed to the visa on arrival counter (before the main immigration queue)
4. Present your approval letter, two passport-size photos, your Eritrean passport, and the stamping fee (paid in cash, either USD or VND)
5. Receive your visa stamp and proceed through immigration

The stamping fee for the visa on arrival is typically USD 25 for single entry and USD 50 for multiple entry ^[3], payable in cash at the airport counter. This is separate from the service fee charged by the visa approval letter provider.

One critical point that our team consistently advises Eritrean travelers: the visa on arrival method is not available at land border crossings or seaports. If your Asmara to Vietnam travel itinerary involves entering Vietnam overland from a neighboring country, you must hold a valid e-visa before departure.

>>> Read more: Vietnam Visa Photo Requirements 2026: Size, Format & Avoid Rejection

Vietnam visa fees and processing time for Eritrean nationals.

Government e-visa fees (official rates)

These are government fees only and are non-refundable once submitted.

A note of caution: A number of fraudulent websites mimic the appearance of the official Vietnam e-visa portal and charge significantly inflated fees with no guarantee of actual visa issuance. Travelers from Eritrea and across the Africa-Vietnam visa corridor should verify any third-party service provider carefully before making payment. Tan Van Lang has operated continuously since 2003 and maintains full transparency on all fee structures.

>>> Read more: Vietnam Airport Fast Track Service 2026 – Skip the Lines, Save Time

Vietnam visa validity and length of stay for Eritrean citizens

Vietnam’s e-visa system now allows for stays of up to 90 days per entry, a significant upgrade from the previous 30-day cap. Eritrean citizens can choose between:

• Single entry visa: Permits one entry into Vietnam. If you exit and wish to return, a new visa is required.
• Multiple entry visa: Permits unlimited entries and exits during the visa’s validity period, subject to immigration officer discretion on each entry.

Visa extension after arrival

Visa extensions in Vietnam are possible but are not guaranteed and require an application to the local immigration authority (Phong Quan ly Xuat Nhap Canh) at least 7 days before the current visa expires. Based on our experience handling extension cases for African nationals in Vietnam, extensions are more reliably granted for business visa holders with a Vietnamese sponsor than for tourist visa holders.

Eritrean tourists who overstay their visa validity face a fine, a formal warning, and potential entry bans on future applications. This is a risk that Tan Van Lang’s team takes seriously when advising clients on travel planning.

Temporary residence registration

A point that is frequently overlooked by first-time visitors: Upon arriving in Vietnam, travelers staying in private accommodation (not a hotel) are legally required to register their temporary residence with local police within 48 hours of arrival.

Hotels and hostels handle this automatically, but visitors staying with friends or family in Vietnam must complete this step independently. Failure to do so is technically a legal violation under Vietnamese immigration law.

>>> Read more: List of countries that are difficult to apply for Vietnam visa 2026

Frequently asked questions

Conclusion

If you are planning Asmara to Vietnam travel or need expert guidance on your Vietnam visa application from Eritrea, contact our team today for a personalized consultation.

Contact 08.666.000.63 (WhatsApp) now!