Transit Visa for Ho Chi Minh Airport (SGN) — Do You Need One? 2026

Do I need a transit visa for Ho Chi Minh City Airport?

Airside transit at SGN is visa-free for all nationalities — if you stay in the international transit area and your connecting flight is within 24 hours, no transit visa is required. Visa rules only apply if you plan to clear immigration to leave the airport or transfer between the international terminal and the domestic terminal.

Is Ho Chi Minh City's SGN airport split into international and domestic terminals?

Yes. At Tan Son Nhat, T2 is the international terminal and T1 the domestic one; the newer T3 also handles domestic flights. T1 and T2 are next to each other, but moving between the international and domestic terminals means clearing immigration. To clear immigration you need visa-free status for your passport or a Vietnam e-Visa — check your nationality on Vietnam’s official e-Visa portal (evisa.gov.vn) before you fly.

How do I apply for a Vietnam e-Visa for Ho Chi Minh transit?

Apply online at evisa.gov.vn at least 3 working days before travel. The 90-day single or multiple entry e-Visa costs ~$25 (single) or $50 (multiple). Upload your passport bio-page photo, a passport-style headshot, your entry/exit dates and the entry port (Tan Son Nhat for SGN). Approval is by email within 3–5 working days. Print the e-Visa — immigration sometimes asks for paper.

How long is the Vietnam visa-free stay for transit?

Vietnam waives visas for 45-day stays for citizens of Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the UK, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland (15 March 2025 – 14 March 2028), and — for tourism — Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland (15 August 2025 – 14 August 2028), per Vietnam’s embassies. Other nationalities need a Vietnam e-Visa (USD 25 single entry, USD 50 multiple, up to 90 days) unless another exemption applies.

Can I leave Ho Chi Minh Airport during a long layover?

Yes if you have a Vietnam visa or are visa-exempt. Our Ho Chi Minh City airport transport guide covers buses, taxis and Grab from Tan Son Nhat into District 1.

What's faster — SGN immigration in the morning or evening?

Morning arrivals (06:00–10:00 local) are typically faster — 15–25 minutes through immigration. Evening peak (20:00–23:00) can extend to 45–75 minutes due to clustered arrivals from Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong and Taipei. Have your passport, e-Visa printout (or proof of visa-exempt status), and onward boarding pass ready.