Vietnam replaces paper arrival cards with a QR code within 72 hours of entry

Vietnam’s Tan Son Nhat arrivals now run through a QR code

Vietnam’s Immigration Department is piloting a Pre-arrival Information (PAI) System at Tan Son Nhat International Airport from April 15, replacing paper arrival cards with an online declaration that generates a QR code for immigration. Foreign nationals entering through SGN must submit the form and present the code at the border, while Vietnamese citizens and airside transit passengers are exempt.

The pilot is set to expand nationwide after the trial phase. Authorities say the system is meant to cut congestion and speed up processing at Vietnam’s busiest airport.

Foreign travelers entering SGN are the ones most affected

The requirement covers most foreign arrivals, including tourists, business travelers, expats returning on visas and overseas Vietnamese using foreign passports or visas. That includes digital nomads on e-visas and other long-stay visitors passing through Tan Son Nhat.

Airline and consular notices say travelers should treat the declaration as mandatory in practice, even though the pilot is described as optional in a narrow legal sense. The first 15 days of the rollout saw more than 161,000 declarations, with more than 119,000 processed successfully, authorities said.

Submit it within 72 hours and keep the QR code handy

The form is free and must be completed within 72 hours of arrival. Travelers need basic passport details, flight information, purpose of entry and where they’ll stay in Vietnam, then should save the QR code on a phone or print it out.

A backup on-arrival option exists through QR codes posted in the terminal, but officials warn it can mean longer queues. Visa updates can move fast, so travelers heading to Ho Chi Minh City should make the declaration part of their pre-flight checklist. Read our full Vietnam guide for the complete picture.