Vietnam Entry Form (PAI) 2026: Essential Guide & Travel Tips
Don't get caught off guard! Discover how to quickly complete your Vietnam PAI entry form for 2026 and get essential travel tips for a smooth arrival.
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Don't get caught off guard! Discover how to quickly complete your Vietnam PAI entry form for 2026 and get essential travel tips for a smooth arrival.
Vietnam Travel Pro Tips
Hello, I'm Tak Sajang, your go-to blogger for Vietnam travel :)
Perhaps while you're planning your Vietnam trip,
"Do I really need to fill out a Vietnam arrival declaration form?" —have you been wondering about this?
And did you get confused by hearing things like, "Some people say you don't need to because they don't check anyway"?
To get straight to the point,
filling out the Vietnam Pre-Arrival Information (PAI) form is now mandatory.
If you don't, you might find yourself in a tricky situation at the airport,
so today, I'll show you how to complete it in just 5 minutes.
🚨 Today's Survival Log
Tips I learned firsthand (as of August 2026)
The Vietnam Pre-Arrival Information (PAI) form
is a pre-arrival declaration that travelers entering major airports like Nha Trang, Da Nang, Phu Quoc, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hanoi must fill out online, starting 72 hours before departure.
Currently, it is mandatory for all Korean passport holders to complete it.
You can finish it in 5 minutes if you prepare just three things.
⭐️ Today's Survival Difficulty ★☆☆
It's not difficult if you just have your essentials ready.
Don't pay someone else to do it for you!
🧭 Today's Survival Guide |
✔️ Do I Really Need to Fill Out the Vietnam Arrival Declaration Form Now? |
✔️ 3 Things You Need Before Filling It Out |
✔️ How to Fill Out the Vietnam PAI in 5 Minutes (Follow Along!) |
✔️ Don't Miss Out! 3 Important Entry Precautions |
✔️ Vietnam Arrival Declaration Form FAQ |
1. Do I Really Need to Fill Out the Vietnam Arrival Declaration Form Now?
There's a lot of chatter online saying, "They don't check anyway,"
so you might have wondered if you could skip it.
However, a friend of mine actually got checked.
Since April 15, 2026, the Vietnam Immigration Department has
made the online Pre-Arrival Information (PAI) form mandatory.
All foreign nationals entering major airports such as Nha Trang, Da Nang, Phu Quoc, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hanoi are subject to this.
Even if you enter visa-free, the arrival declaration process is separate,
so Korean passport holders must complete it without exception.
🚨 Travel Pro Tip! |
There are websites that offer to fill out the arrival declaration form for you for a fee, but absolutely do not pay them. You can do it yourself for free on the official website in just 5 minutes. The official website address is prearrival.immigration.gov.vn (Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam). |
2. 3 Things to Prepare Before Filling It Out
The Vietnam arrival declaration form can be filled out
starting 72 hours (3 days) before your entry date.
Don't do it too early,
so proceed about 3 days before your trip.
Before you start, have these three things ready:
1️⃣ Passport copy - saved as an image file
2️⃣ Flight information - confirm your flight code
3️⃣ Hotel information - English address of your accommodation for the first night
✔️ Copy the exact English address from Google Maps for your hotel
✔️ The QR code will be sent to your email, so be careful not to make typos in your email address
✔️ You can fill it out on both PC and mobile devices
3. How to Fill Out the Vietnam PAI in 5 Minutes (Follow Along!)
First, go to the Vietnam Immigration Department's arrival declaration form website.
✅ Language Settings + Nationality
Please change the language to English.
(Check the top right corner)
Click "Fill out and submit pre-arrival information" →
CAPTCHA verification (enter the characters exactly as shown).
For nationality, if you enter KO in English, Republic of Korea will automatically pop up.
✅ Date of Entry + Passport + Contact Info
Select your date of entry.
(If you're arriving in the early morning, make sure to select the date that matches your arrival time).
After uploading a copy of your passport, double-check that the information matches your actual passport details.
The country code is +82. After that, make sure to accurately enter your email address.
* The QR code you'll need for entry will be sent to your email!
✅ Enter Visa Information
Many travelers seem to get a bit stuck on this part.
Korean citizens can enter Vietnam visa-free for 45 days.
The "basic visa exemption by country" option that was previously available is now gone.
Now, if you click on "unilateral exemption,"
the dates will automatically appear.
If you see a message saying "Cannot select future", you can simply leave that field blank.
If you're traveling with family or a group, you can add up to 10 additional passengers and complete their forms all at once.
✔️ For those heading to Phu Quoc: Select the 'Phu Quoc Visa Exemption' option.
✔️ If you plan to stay for more than 45 days, make sure to apply for an e-Visa (valid for up to 90 days) in advance.
✅ Enter Travel Information
For your departure location, enter KO to select Republic of Korea.
Purpose of travel: 'Travel', Means of transport: 'Airplane'.
Once you enter your flight code (e.g., KE467), the border checkpoint will be automatically filled in for you.
If you're staying at multiple hotels, you can simply enter the details for your first night's accommodation.
Let's use the address of Amiana Cam Ranh Hotel as an example.
Khu Du Lịch Bắc Bán Đảo Cam Ranh, Nguyễn Tất Thành/Đường Lô D2C, Khu 1, Cam Lâm, Khánh Hòa 57600 Vietnam
Khánh Hòa : Province
Cam Lâm : District
After selecting your Province and District, choose 'Other',
then simply paste the full Google Maps address directly into the accommodation address field at the very bottom.
* Sometimes, the accommodation name alone will work,
so you can also try searching for your accommodation by its English name.
✅ Submission + QR Code
Review and submit → Email verification
→ QR code arrives by email.
Simply capture this QR code (screenshot it!) and present it upon entry – and you're all set!
🚨 Hot Travel Tip! |
Airport Wi-Fi can sometimes be unstable, so it’s a good idea to screenshot or save your QR code as a PDF. Preparing it so you can open it offline will give you complete peace of mind. |
If any of the above is still unclear,
feel free to refer to the video below!
You can easily follow along and complete the steps with it.
4. Don't Miss These! 3 Essential Vietnam Entry Precautions
These three things are just as crucial as completing your PAI!
✅ Passport Expiry Date
Must have more than 6 months validity remaining.
You won't even be allowed to board your flight if it's less than 6 months, so please, double-check this before you depart!
✅ Return Flight Reservation Details
Have a screenshot ready.
Occasionally, immigration officials might ask to see your return flight details. Just having your reservation screen (a screenshot works!) will be enough.
✅ Fast Track — Optional
This service allows you to breeze through immigration via a VIP line, skipping the long queues.
When it comes to Fast Track, booking used to be a bit of a gamble,
but thankfully, there's now a dedicated congestion level website,
so you can check the current congestion levels before making your reservation.
Just for your reference: If you absolutely hate waiting even 30 minutes!
Or if you're traveling as a family with children or elderly parents!
Then I highly recommend just booking the Fast Track service.
For more details on Vietnam airport congestion and
firsthand reviews of the Fast Track service, check out the post below :)
5. Vietnam Entry Declaration Form FAQ
Q. Do I still need to complete the PAI if I'm entering visa-free?
Yes, you do.
Visa-free eligibility and the entry declaration process are separate.
Many nationalities, including Korean passport holders, are subject to this requirement even when entering visa-free.
Q. If my family is traveling together, can one person register for everyone?
Yes. You can register up to 10 people at once using the "add passenger" feature.
Q. When can I start completing the form?
You can start from 72 hours (3 days) before your entry date.
It's best to complete it three days before your trip.
Q. Do I need to complete it if I'm arriving at a smaller city airport?
Currently, it applies to major airports like Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi, Da Nang, Nha Trang, and Phu Quoc.
It's not yet applied to other smaller city airports, but
regulations can change, so we recommend checking before your departure.
✅ Survival Mission Accomplished for Today!
Completing your Vietnam Entry Declaration Form!
It's not so difficult now, is it?
If you just prepare three things, filling out the PAI takes only about 5 minutes.
Don't pay an agency to do it for you,
try it yourself on the official website!
I'll be back with more useful tips in my next "Survival Log."
If you have any questions, leave a comment! Have a wonderful trip!!
Thanks for reading today!
Cảm ơn 🇻🇳
📝 Go to the next Survival Log
Yes, you do. Visa-free stay eligibility and the immigration declaration process are separate. Therefore, Korean passport holders are required to complete a PAI, even if they are entering Vietnam without a visa.
Yes, you can. The PAI system allows you to add up to 10 passengers at once using the "Add Passenger" function.
You can complete the PAI starting 72 hours (3 days) before your scheduled arrival date. So, it's recommended to do it 3 days prior to your trip.
Yes, it is. Currently, all foreign nationals entering through major airports such as Nha Trang, Da Nang, Phu Quoc, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hanoi are required to complete a PAI. While this requirement doesn't yet apply to smaller city airports, regulations can change, so it's advisable to check before your departure.
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