Quick answer: Vietnam’s current digital system is officially called Pre-Arrival Information (PAI). It is often described online as the “Vietnam arrival card,” but the latest Vietnamese government notices do not describe it as a blanket mandatory arrival card for every foreign visitor. Foreign travellers entering through major international airports are strongly encouraged to submit PAI within three days before arrival, or they can complete it upon arrival. The official system generates a QR code for immigration use.
Is the Vietnam Digital Arrival Card mandatory in 2026?
Not as a blanket rule in the latest official guidance we reviewed. Vietnam’s Immigration Department first piloted PAI at Tan Son Nhat International Airport from 15 April 2026 on an encouraged, non-mandatory basis. Later official notices expanded the system to major international airports, including Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat, Da Nang, Cam Ranh and Phu Quoc, while continuing to describe submission as strongly encouraged.
This distinction matters because several travel pages still describe the system as a mandatory “digital arrival card.” That wording can make travellers think they will be refused entry for not having a QR code. The safer interpretation is to follow the current official notice: submit it in advance when you can because it can make the arrival process smoother, but do not confuse it with your legal permission to enter Vietnam.
| Document / step | What it does | Current planning rule |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Arrival Information (PAI) | Provides passenger, visa/entry and trip information before immigration and creates a QR code. | Strongly encouraged for foreign travellers at major international airports; submit within three days before arrival or on arrival. |
| Vietnam e-visa | Legal entry permission for eligible travellers who require a visa. | Separate process. PAI does not replace an e-visa. |
| Health declaration | Public-health declaration activated when required for specific infectious-disease risks. | Not routinely mandatory for every traveller from 1 July 2026. Follow Ministry of Health instructions if a requirement is activated. |
Who should complete Vietnam Pre-Arrival Information?
If you are a foreign traveller entering Vietnam through a major international airport, completing PAI before your flight is the low-friction choice. The July 2026 notice from a Vietnamese embassy specifically names Noi Bai (Hanoi), Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City), Da Nang, Cam Ranh (Nha Trang) and Phu Quoc.
The key word is entering. If your itinerary involves an airside connection and you do not pass Vietnamese immigration, do not assume the same entry procedure applies. Confirm the transit process with your airline. Likewise, travellers entering at a land or sea border should check the current Immigration Department instructions rather than assuming airport PAI guidance applies identically.
When should you submit the Vietnam pre-arrival form?
The current official guidance says travellers may complete PAI within three days before arrival or upon arrival. For most travellers, submitting it one or two days before the flight is easier than trying to complete a form after landing, especially if mobile data, airport Wi-Fi or battery life becomes a problem.
This also corrects a common misunderstanding: the system is not best treated as a rigid “you must submit exactly 24–72 hours before boarding” rule. The official guidance provides a three-day pre-arrival window and also allows completion upon arrival.
What should you prepare before opening the PAI portal?
The Immigration Department’s published workflow asks for passenger information, visa or entry information and travel details. Have the documents you are actually travelling with in front of you so names, passport details, flight information and entry-document details match your real itinerary.
- Passport: enter personal details exactly as shown on the travel document.
- Visa or entry basis: have your e-visa or other relevant entry information ready when applicable.
- Flight and arrival details: use the actual international arrival itinerary you will present at immigration.
- Contact access: keep access to the device or email you use during the submission so you can retain the confirmation.
If you still need to understand the visa itself, use our separate Vietnam 90-day e-visa guide. That page owns the visa-validity and visa-choice decision; this page stays focused on the PAI arrival-information step.
How to complete Vietnam Pre-Arrival Information
- Open the official portal. Go directly to prearrival.immigration.gov.vn. Avoid look-alike domains that present themselves as the government declaration service.
- Select your language. The Immigration Department’s instructions show multiple language options.
- Choose “Create & Submit” / “Create and Submit Declaration.” Complete the CAPTCHA shown by the system.
- Enter the requested information. Follow the live form for passenger, entry/visa and travel details. Do not copy details from an old itinerary if your flight or entry document has changed.
- Review before submission. Passport number, name spelling and arrival details are the fields worth checking twice.
- Save the QR code. The system generates a QR code after successful submission. Save a screenshot or offline copy so you are not dependent on airport connectivity.
Can you correct a submitted declaration?
The official PAI homepage currently includes a “Lookup & Update Declaration” function. If you notice an error after submission, use the live portal’s lookup/update workflow rather than assuming every mistake requires an entirely new form. Follow whatever validation the portal requests at the time.
PAI is not the same as a Vietnam e-visa
This is the most important distinction in the entire process. An e-visa is an entry authorization. PAI is pre-arrival information supplied to immigration. Completing PAI does not grant a visa, extend a visa, change a visa’s validity dates or make an otherwise ineligible traveller eligible to enter Vietnam.
Think of the sequence this way: first make sure you have the correct legal basis to enter Vietnam; then complete PAI as the arrival-information step when it applies to your airport journey.
PAI is also different from Vietnam’s health declaration rules
Health-declaration headlines created understandable confusion in mid-2026. Vietnam’s new public-health rules took effect from 1 July, but the Ministry of Health clarified that health declarations are not automatically required from every person entering, exiting or transiting Vietnam at all times.
The Ministry can activate health-declaration requirements for particular infectious-disease risks and time periods. When activated, declarations may be electronic or paper and are made within seven days before the relevant border movement. The Ministry also clarified that tokhaiyte.vn is not currently the health-declaration portal for international travellers; an official system will be announced when a declaration is required.
What if you arrive without completing PAI?
Current official guidance allows travellers to complete the declaration upon arrival. That makes “I forgot the form” a different situation from “I do not have the visa or entry permission I need.” If you have not submitted PAI, follow the airport’s current immigration instructions and use the official portal rather than paying an unofficial intermediary.
If Da Nang is your first airport in Vietnam, our Da Nang Airport guide covers the practical T1/T2 arrival flow and onward transport after you finish immigration.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Calling PAI a visa. It is not a substitute for an e-visa or other required entry permission.
- Relying on an old article that says the form is universally mandatory. Check the latest official wording before travel.
- Using the wrong government system. PAI and health declarations are separate processes.
- Entering itinerary details from an old booking. Use the flight and entry details you will actually travel with.
- Depending on live internet for the QR code. Save an offline copy after submission.
- Paying a third party before checking the official portal. Start with the Immigration Department website and follow its current workflow.
Vietnam arrival card FAQ
Is the Vietnam arrival card mandatory for all foreign tourists?
No blanket mandatory requirement is stated in the latest Vietnamese official notices reviewed for this update. Foreign travellers using major international airports are strongly encouraged to submit Pre-Arrival Information before travel.
How early can I complete Vietnam PAI?
The current guidance says within three days before arrival. It also allows completion upon arrival. Completing it before departure is generally more convenient.
Does the PAI QR code replace my e-visa?
No. The QR code confirms the pre-arrival information submission. Your visa or other legal entry basis remains a separate requirement.
Is a health declaration required from every traveller from 1 July 2026?
No. The Ministry of Health clarified that health declarations are not routinely mandatory for everyone at all times. They are activated for specific infectious-disease situations when the Ministry requires them.
Can I update a PAI form after submitting it?
The official PAI portal currently provides a “Lookup & Update Declaration” function. Use the live portal instructions if you need to correct a submission.
Bottom line
For most foreign travellers arriving by air, the practical approach is simple: confirm your visa or visa-free eligibility first, then submit Vietnam PAI on the official Immigration Department portal within three days before arrival and save the QR code offline. Do not treat the PAI form, an e-visa and a health declaration as the same document, and recheck official guidance shortly before departure because border procedures can change.