Vietnam Visa Families write to me all the time: “It is only a baby, do we really need a visa?” The honest answer depends on one thing: does your child have their own passport? Let me walk you through it.
The rule on the official form
The official e-visa page says that a child under 14 who is on the same passport as the applicant can request the same e-visa. It also says not to request an e-visa for a child who has been issued a separate passport (official e-visa page). In plain words:
- Child has their own passport: the child needs their own e-visa, or an exemption for their nationality.
- Child is listed on a parent's passport: the form allows the child to be covered by the same e-visa. This is rare today, because most countries now issue each child a separate passport.
Whatever the passport, the e-visa must match the document the child will carry. See my page on a new passport after the e-visa if your child's passport was renewed.
Check first: is your child's nationality exempt?
Some nationalities can enter Vietnam without a visa for a short stay. If your child holds one of those passports, no e-visa is needed for a stay inside the limit. Check my page on which countries enter Vietnam without a visa. A child can hold a different passport than the parents, so check each passport on its own.
What you need for each child
- The child's own passport. The UK government says a passport needs an expiry date at least 6 months after the day you arrive, and at least 2 blank pages (gov.uk). Check this early.
- A photo of the passport information page, flat, with all four corners and the two lines of letters at the bottom readable.
- A portrait photo. The official instruction page asks for a front-facing portrait without hat or glasses and with a white background (official instructions).
- An email address where the e-visa will be sent. On my application form a parent's email is fine.
My prices are per person. The government fee is US$25 for a single entry and US$50 for multiple entry. I do not list a separate child price, so plan the same price for every traveller. See the price list.
Step by step for a family
- Write down each traveller's name and passport number exactly as printed. Use my name format guide if a name has a hyphen or accent.
- Take the passport photo and a portrait photo for every traveller.
- Apply for every traveller. One e-visa per person, each with the right passport.
- Check each e-visa against the right passport when it arrives. Names are easy to swap between family members.
- Print them, or keep them on your phone, together with the passports.
Photo tips for babies and young children
The photo rules are the same for everyone: face straight on, eyes open, no glasses, plain white background, in focus (see my photo requirements). A baby will not cooperate, so here are my own tips. They are not official rules.
- Lay the baby on a plain white sheet and take the photo from straight above.
- Use daylight by a window, with no flash.
- Ask another adult to catch the baby's attention, and take many photos. One will have open eyes.
- Keep hands, toys and pacifiers out of the frame, and make sure no adult hand or shadow is in the picture.
- For a toddler, a white wall or door works. Hold the camera at the child's eye level.
Travelling with children in the next three days and the e-visas are not done? From 1 hour on weekdays, weekends too, all-in from US$64. I confirm the time before you pay.
On the application form, enter the code PAUL03 in “Add Your Coupon”. On time or your money back. Refused new application: 100% refund.
If the e-visa is late
Standard processing is officially 3 working days, and I tell families to plan for 3–5 working days, because weekends and public holidays do not count. If your flight is sooner, choose an urgent option. Everyone on the booking needs a result before you go to the airport. If you applied already and are waiting, read e-visa still processing.
| Option | Single entry, all-in |
|---|---|
| Emergency 1 hour Mon–Fri, apply before 18:00 | US$224 |
| Urgent 4 hours | US$104 |
| Urgent 1 day | US$94 |
| Urgent 2 days | US$74 |
| Urgent 3 days | US$64 |
| Weekend emergency Friday 18:00 to Sunday 15:00 | US$224 |
Multiple entry: add US$25. Government fee included. Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Sri Lanka, Mauritius and Türkiye: +US$20. See the full price list.
FAQ
Do babies need a Vietnam e-visa?
If the baby has their own passport, the baby needs their own e-visa, unless their nationality has a visa exemption. The official form only allows a child under 14 to share an e-visa when the child is on the same passport as the parent.
My child is on my passport. Can they use my e-visa?
The official form says a child under 14 on the same passport as the applicant can request the same e-visa. If the child has a separate passport, do not request it that way.
Is there a lower price for children?
I do not list a separate child price. My prices are per person, and the government fee is US$25 single entry or US$50 multiple entry.
What photo should I use for a baby?
The same photo rules apply: front-facing, eyes open, white background, no glasses, in focus. Lay the baby on a plain white sheet and shoot from above in daylight.
Can a parent apply for a child?
On my application form, yes. A parent enters the child's details, which must come from the child's own passport, and the e-visa can be sent to the parent's email.
Official sources: evisa.gov.vn: official e-visa page (children under 14, shared passports) · evisa.gov.vn: official instruction page (portrait photo rules) · UK FCDO: Vietnam entry requirements (passport validity and blank pages). Sources checked: 11 Nov 2026.
Related: Photo requirements · Visa-free countries · Name format · Pricing · Urgent Vietnam visa
