Vietnam Visa for Emirati Passport Holders in Dubai — Complete Guide 2026

Yes. An ordinary Emirati passport is not on Vietnam’s visa-free list, so UAE nationals need a visa to enter Vietnam. The point that catches travellers out is that the UAE does appear on Vietnam’s visa-exemption list — but only for certain passport types. According to the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the UAE–Vietnam arrangement exempts diplomatic, official, service and special passports for up to 90 days under a bilateral agreement. The ordinary passport that the vast majority of Emirati citizens carry for tourism and business is deliberately excluded.

This is why a quick online search can be misleading: a list may show “UAE – visa-free” without spelling out that it refers to diplomatic and official passports only. For an ordinary-passport holder the practical reality is straightforward — you need a Vietnam visa, and the e-visa is the route. Because Vietnam opened its e-visa to citizens of every country in August 2023 (Resolution 127), Emirati nationals are fully eligible to apply online; there is no embassy queue and no need for an invitation letter.

A common assumption among UAE residents is that a Vietnam application will ask for an Emirates ID, a residence visa or a salary certificate. It does not. The Vietnam e-visa is granted to foreigners on the basis of their passport, and the official application asks only for a clear scan of your passport bio-page and a passport-style photo, plus your travel and personal details on the online form. There is no field for an Emirates ID, no proof-of-residence requirement, and no need to submit your physical passport.

This matters for two reasons. First, it makes the process fast and self-contained — an Emirati national can apply from anywhere, and a UAE residence card is neither required nor an advantage. Second, it corrects a claim some agencies make that Emirates ID or residence documents are needed; they are not. The only UAE-specific practicality is payment: the government fee is paid online by card, so use a UAE Visa or Mastercard with international online transactions enabled.

The Vietnam e-visa is inexpensive and the terms are the same for every nationality, including UAE nationals. The government fee is USD 25 for a single-entry e-visa and USD 50 for multiple entry, both valid for a stay of up to 90 days. Standard processing is about three working days, excluding Vietnamese weekends and public holidays, so plan to apply at least a week before travel. One rule to note: under Vietnamese law the e-visa’s validity must be at least 30 days shorter than your passport’s remaining validity, so renew an Emirati passport that is close to expiry before applying.

The application takes around 10 to 15 minutes. Here is the process for Emirati passport holders applying from Dubai.

1. 1Go to the official Vietnam e-visa portal at evisa.gov.vn — this is the only official government site; avoid third-party pages that charge extra.
2. 2Choose “E-visa Issuance”, then “Outside Vietnam foreigners”, then “Apply new”.
3. 3Upload your passport-style photo (white background) and a clear scan of your Emirati passport bio-page with the machine-readable zone visible.
4. 4Enter your full name in uppercase, exactly as printed in the passport machine-readable zone — do not change the spelling or order of your Arabic name’s romanisation.
5. 5Select “United Arab Emirates” as your nationality, then enter your passport number and expiry date.
6. 6Choose single or multiple entry, your intended entry and exit points (for example Tan Son Nhat for Ho Chi Minh City or Noi Bai for Hanoi), and your travel dates.
7. 7Pay USD 25 (single) or USD 50 (multiple) by card with international transactions enabled.
8. 8Save your registration code, then return to the portal in about three working days to download and print your approved e-visa.

The Vietnam e-visa is simple, but a name-spelling mismatch or a photo error can still cause a rejection and a delay to your trip. OraVisa prepares and reviews Vietnam e-visa applications for Emirati nationals and their families in Dubai — checking the passport scan, photo and name format before submission so the application is right the first time.

• E-visa preparation and review — passport bio-page, photo and name format checked against your passport
• Family applications — a separate e-visa arranged for every traveller, including children
• Multi-country itineraries — combining Vietnam with Thailand, Cambodia or Malaysia handled as one package
• Pre-departure guidance — what to carry, entry-point selection and arrival tips