If you hold a Vietnamese passport and plan to visit Dubai, the entry rules changed recently, and many older guides are now out of date. This page explains the Dubai visa for Vietnamese citizens as it stands today: who still needs a visa arranged in advance, who may qualify for visa on arrival, which documents matter, and how to apply online from Vietnam or from another country.
Do Vietnamese Passport Holders Need a Visa for Dubai?
For most Vietnamese travelers, yes. Vietnam is not a visa-free country for the UAE, so most ordinary passport holders should arrange an entry permit before departure.
There is one important change. The UAE has expanded its visa-on-arrival scheme, and the UAE Embassy in Vietnam has confirmed that Vietnamese ordinary passport holders can use it from 25 June 2026 if they meet the conditions. Eligibility depends on holding a valid visa or residence permit from one of these places:
- The United States
- Any European Union member state
- The United Kingdom
- Singapore
- Japan
- South Korea
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Canada
Eligible travelers can receive either a 14-day or a 60-day visa on arrival. The 14-day visa can be extended once inside the UAE, while the 60-day visa cannot be renewed.
In practice, this helps Vietnamese nationals who live, study or work in those countries, or who hold a valid visa for them. It does not change the position for most travelers flying directly from Vietnam without such a document. A visa on arrival is also decided at the airport, so you carry the risk of refusal at the counter. For a fixed itinerary, many travelers prefer the certainty of an approved visa before they fly.
Which Dubai Visa Options Suit Vietnamese Travelers?
Your choice depends on your travel purpose and your route. You can read a fuller comparison in our guide to Dubai visa types.
| Option | Best for | Key point |
|---|
| Dubai tourist visa (visit visa) | Holidays, family visits, sightseeing | Arranged before travel; stay is 30 or 60 days depending on the type chosen |
| 48-hour or 96-hour transit visa | Stopovers between Vietnam and a third country | Tied to your onward ticket; the airline application route applies |
| Visa on arrival (14 or 60 days) | Vietnamese passport holders with a qualifying US, EU, UK, Singapore, Japan, Korea, Australia, NZ or Canada visa or residence permit | Conditions apply; issued at the airport |
If you are unsure which category fits, our team can review your situation before you submit anything.
Dubai Tourist Visa from Vietnam: Validity, Stay and Entries
These three terms are often confused, so it helps to separate them:
- Validity is how long you have to enter the UAE after the visa is issued. Tourist visas are commonly valid for entry within 60 days of issue.
- Permitted stay is how long you may remain after you enter. This is typically 30 or 60 days, depending on the visa you selected.
- Entries is whether you can enter once or several times. Most leisure travelers need a single-entry visa.
Transit visas follow different rules. The stay is 48 or 96 hours, counted from the moment immigration stamps your passport. The visa must be used within its entry window and cannot be extended.
A tourist visa is for leisure, family visits and short exploratory trips. It does not permit employment. If you are traveling for work or plan to stay longer, you need the correct category, so check with us first.
Documents Required for a Dubai Visa from Vietnam
Requirements can vary by visa type and may be updated by the authorities. Vietnamese applicants should generally prepare:
- A clear colour scan of your passport's photo page. It should be valid for at least six months from your planned entry date.
- A recent passport-style photograph with a white background.
- Your onward or return ticket details, which are essential for transit visas and may be requested for others.
- Accommodation or itinerary details, in case additional information is needed.
Vietnamese-specific tip: enter your name exactly as it appears in the machine-readable zone of your passport, in Latin letters and without diacritics. Mismatches between your application and your passport are one of the most avoidable causes of delay. If your passport shows names in a different order from your bookings, tell us before submitting.
How to Apply for a Dubai Visa Online from Vietnam
You do not need to visit an embassy or travel to another city. The process is digital from start to finish:
- Choose your visa type and stay duration on our Dubai visa application page.
- Enter your traveler details exactly as shown in your passport.
- Upload your documents in the required format.
- Pay the applicable fee and submit.
- Receive your result by email, then print it or keep a digital copy for check-in.
Applying early is sensible, especially around Tet, the May holidays and year-end. If your flight is close, the Dubai express visa option may shorten the wait. No service can guarantee approval or a fixed outcome.
Dubai Visa Fees and Processing Time for Vietnam Passport Holders
The final price depends on the visa type, the length of stay, single or multiple entry, and whether you choose standard or faster processing. Fees are charged in foreign currency, so the amount in Vietnamese dong will vary with the exchange rate on the day you pay. We show the full amount before you confirm, so there are no surprises at checkout.
For reference, the reported government visa-on-arrival fees are DH100 for the 14-day visa and DH250 for the 60-day visa. Overstaying carries a fine, reported at DH50 per day.
Processing is usually measured in working days rather than hours. Timing depends on the visa type, the quality of your documents and the authority's workload. Weekends and public holidays in the UAE can add time, so avoid buying non-refundable plans until your approval is in hand.
Applying for a Dubai Visa from Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City is one of the main places Vietnamese travelers fly from to Dubai. Emirates operates nonstop flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Dubai, with flight times of roughly seven hours. Schedules and frequencies change by season, so confirm them with the airline when booking.
For travelers in Ho Chi Minh City, the useful point is timing. Visa approval comes before you book a rigid itinerary or pay for hotels. Because the application is online, you can complete it from home and do not need to travel anywhere. Residents searching for a Dubai visa application from Ho Chi Minh City can follow the same steps as above.
Dubai Visa Application from Hanoi
Hanoi travelers have the same online process. Emirates flies nonstop from Hanoi (Noi Bai) to Dubai, with flight times of about seven hours, though the number of weekly flights varies by source and season.
Many Hanoi travelers combine Dubai with a longer trip. For example, some are heading to Europe, the United Kingdom or North America on an onward ticket. In those cases, a 48-hour or 96-hour transit visa may suit a stopover. You can also apply if your travel dates are still flexible. Just make sure your visa dates match your ticket.
Dubai Transit Visa for Vietnamese Citizens
Vietnamese passport holders connecting through Dubai and wanting to leave the airport generally need a transit visa, unless they already qualify for visa on arrival. Key points:
- The stay is 48 or 96 hours.
- It is single-entry and non-extendable.
- It is linked to an onward ticket, typically on the UAE airline you are traveling with.
- You must enter within the visa's entry window and leave before the stay period ends.
If you are staying beyond four days, a tourist visa is the better fit.
Dubai Visa for Vietnamese Citizens Living in the United States
Many Vietnamese nationals live in the US, with well-known communities in states such as California and Texas. Your route depends on your status:
- Vietnamese passport holder with a valid US residence permit: you may qualify for a 14- or 60-day visa on arrival, along with accompanying family members. Confirm your eligibility before you fly.
- Everyone else, including visitors in the US on other permits: apply for a tourist visa online before departure.
Major US gateways such as New York and Los Angeles have nonstop flights to Dubai, but check the current schedule with your airline. Because the application is online, you can submit it from any US state without an embassy trip. Travelers often choose to apply in advance so their itinerary is certain before they leave.
Dubai Visa for Vietnamese Passport Holders in the United Kingdom
The UK is on the qualifying list, so Vietnamese nationals with a valid UK residence permit may be able to get visa on arrival, along with accompanying family members. If you are in the UK on a different status, or you prefer not to rely on an airport decision, apply for a tourist visa online instead.
London and other UK cities have regular flights to Dubai. Whichever route you choose, carry your passport (valid six months), your residence permit and your return ticket, because officers may ask for them. For help choosing, read our tourist visa guidelines.
Dubai Visa Application from Hong Kong
Hong Kong is not among the countries whose residence permits qualify for the new visa on arrival. A Vietnamese passport holder living in Hong Kong should therefore plan to arrange a Dubai visa before traveling, rather than expecting to get one at the airport.
This suits Hong Kong residents well. The application is online, so you can complete it from home or work. Hong Kong has nonstop flights to Dubai, but confirm current schedules with the airline. Prepare your passport scan, photo and travel dates early, and allow extra time if your trip falls near a public holiday.
Track Your Dubai Visa Status
Once you apply, you can follow progress on our Dubai visa status page. For a walkthrough, see our guide on how to check Dubai visa status online.
Why Vietnamese Travelers Apply Online with DubaiEvisaOnline
- Fully online process: no embassy appointment or paperwork by post.
- Document review: we check your passport scan and details before submission to reduce avoidable errors.
- Clear guidance: we explain which option fits your route, including whether you may qualify for visa on arrival.
- Status tracking: follow your application at any time.
- Transparent pricing: the total is shown before you pay.
We do not promise approval, processing speed or entry, which are decided by the UAE authorities. Ready to start? Apply for your Dubai visa now.
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