Vietnam remote workers pay up to $50 for 90-day e-visa cycles

What the official rules actually say

Vietnam still has no dedicated digital nomad visa and the government hasn't published any official nationwide "dual pricing" policy for foreigners. The Vietnam National Electronic Visa system caps the e-visa at 90 days for single or multiple entry, with a non-refundable fee of $25 for single entry or $50 for multiple entry.

The Government Portal confirms most visitors need a visa, though some nationalities qualify under bilateral or unilateral exemption agreements. Applicants outside Vietnam apply through the official portal; certain categories must instead go through an inviting or guaranteeing agency.

Who feels the cost squeeze

Long-term remote workers carry the heaviest load because Vietnam offers no nomad-specific permit. That means repeated e-visa cycles, border runs or sponsored business visas, all of which compound annual costs.

Secondary nomad-focused reporting in 2026 puts monthly living costs in Da Nang and Hoi An between $700 and $1,200, with rent and tourist-market pricing pushing the lower end out of reach for many. Those figures are market estimates, not government data, so they should be treated as ballpark rather than fixed.

Tourists from visa-exempt countries still get the cheapest entry path. Everyone else budgets for the e-visa or a consular visa on top of accommodation markups that locals don't pay.

How to budget and apply

Nomads planning a stay should price three things separately: the visa itself, the cost of leaving and re-entering every 90 days and the rent gap between short-term foreigner listings and longer local leases.

For the e-visa, applicants need:

• A passport valid for the full intended stay
• A digital passport photo and bio-page scan
• An electronic payment of $25 or $50 depending on entry type
• Eligibility under the portal's country list

The e-visa can't be used by foreigners already residing in Vietnam under the portal's FAQ, so renewals from inside the country generally require a different route. Anyone weighing a longer base should compare e-visa cycling against a sponsored business visa before booking flights and check current visa updates before applying.

Read our full Vietnam guide for the complete picture.