Short answer: as of November 2026, travelers with passports from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Morocco, Iran, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Tunisia, Kenya, Algeria, Lebanon, Uganda, Syria, Ghana, Cameroon, Libya, Zimbabwe and Iraq cannot get a Vietnam visa in practice. Applications on these passports, including the online e-visa and visa on arrival approval letters, are currently not being approved.
So please do not pay for an e-visa, an “approval letter” or a “guaranteed visa” on one of these passports until this changes. The government fee is not refunded if an application is refused. This page explains what we know, who is not affected, what to do instead and how you will know when visas reopen. We review it regularly and date every change.
Who cannot get a Vietnam visa (checked 9 November 2026)
- Bangladesh: paused. Bangladeshi media have reported it since 2025. Full Bangladesh page.
- Pakistan: paused. Full Pakistan page.
- Morocco, Iran, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Tunisia, Kenya, Algeria, Lebanon, Uganda, Syria, Ghana, Cameroon, Libya, Zimbabwe and Iraq: paused, as seen in our own processing.
- Dual citizens: if you travel on another passport, the rules for that passport apply.
- Reopening date: none announced for any of these nationalities.
How we know which nationalities cannot get a Vietnam visa
Vietnam has not published a public list of affected nationalities. Our information therefore comes mainly from the results of the applications we handle every day. For Bangladesh, there is also public reporting: TBS News wrote in July 2025 that Vietnam had halted visa issuance for Bangladeshis, and the Bangladesh Monitor said in April 2026 that the pause was still in place. For the other sixteen nationalities, we have not found an official notice, so we cannot say why the pause exists or how long it will last.
Many other websites still say the e-visa is open to every nationality. That was true when the e-visa was extended to all countries in August 2023, but it does not reflect what happens to these applications today.
What it means if you cannot get a Vietnam visa
- Do not book non-refundable flights or hotels for Vietnam on one of these passports until visas reopen.
- Be careful with agents who promise a guaranteed visa or visa on arrival. Visa on arrival still needs an approval letter from Vietnam’s immigration department, and those letters are affected too.
- Living abroad does not change it. The result depends on the passport, not where you live, so a Nigerian living in the UK or an Iranian living in the UAE is affected as well.
- Dual citizens can use their other passport. For example, a Moroccan-French or Tunisian-French dual citizen can enter Vietnam on the French passport for up to 45 days without a visa. Then use that same passport for check-in, entry and exit.
- Refugee travel documents: if you travel on a travel document issued by another country, the rules for that document may differ, so contact us before you apply.
- Already refused? The government fee is not refunded. If you paid a service, ask it about its own refund policy.
Country by country: who cannot get a Vietnam visa
Vietnam visa for Moroccan citizens
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security counted 2,304 arrivals from Morocco in 2019 and 1,050 in 2022. However, applications on Moroccan passports are currently not being approved. Many Moroccans also hold French, Spanish, Italian, Belgian or Dutch passports, and all five countries are on Vietnam’s 45-day visa-free list.
Vietnam visa for Iranian citizens
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security counted 3,027 arrivals from Iran in 2019 and 758 in 2022. However, applications on Iranian passports are currently not being approved. Iranians who also hold a German, British, Swedish or other listed passport can travel on that passport instead. In addition, payments with Iranian cards are generally not possible on international visa systems.
Vietnam visa for Afghan citizens
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security counted 2,785 arrivals from Afghanistan in 2019 and 155 in 2022. However, applications on Afghan passports are currently not being approved. Afghans living abroad on a refugee travel document or a second passport should contact us first, because the rules depend on the document, not on birthplace.
Vietnam visa for Nigerian citizens
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security counted 2,055 arrivals from Nigeria in 2019 and 621 in 2022. However, applications on Nigerian passports are currently not being approved. Nigerian-British dual citizens can enter on the British passport for up to 45 days without a visa. Business visitors should first ask their Vietnamese partner to check with the immigration department.
Vietnam visa for Tunisian citizens
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security counted 1,822 arrivals from Tunisia in 2019 and 742 in 2022. However, applications on Tunisian passports are currently not being approved. Tunisian-French and Tunisian-Italian dual citizens can enter on the European passport for up to 45 days without a visa.
Vietnam visa for Kenyan citizens
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security counted 1,808 arrivals from Kenya in 2019 and 504 in 2022. However, applications on Kenyan passports are currently not being approved. Kenya has allowed dual citizenship since 2010. So Kenyan-British dual citizens can enter Vietnam on the British passport for up to 45 days. Students and business visitors should first ask their Vietnamese host to check with the immigration department.
Vietnam visa for Algerian citizens
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security counted 1,411 arrivals from Algeria in 2019 and 423 in 2022. However, applications on Algerian passports are currently not being approved. Many Algerians also hold French citizenship, and France is on Vietnam’s 45-day visa-free list. So an Algerian-French dual citizen can enter on the French passport instead.
Vietnam visa for Lebanese citizens
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security counted 1,251 arrivals from Lebanon in 2019 and 499 in 2022. However, applications on Lebanese passports are currently not being approved. Lebanon has a large diaspora, so check your other passport first: a French passport gives 45 days without a visa, while Australian, Canadian, American and Brazilian passports still need an e-visa.
Vietnam visa for Ugandan citizens
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security counted 1,553 arrivals from Uganda in 2019 and 228 in 2022. However, applications on Ugandan passports are currently not being approved. Uganda has allowed dual citizenship since 2009, so a Ugandan-British dual citizen can enter Vietnam on the British passport for up to 45 days.
Vietnam visa for Syrian citizens
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security counted 802 arrivals from Syria in 2019 and, unusually, almost as many, 798, in 2022. However, applications on Syrian passports are currently not being approved. Many Syrians now live in Germany or Sweden; if you have become a citizen there, you can enter Vietnam on that passport for up to 45 days without a visa.
Vietnam visa for Ghanaian citizens
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security counted 725 arrivals from Ghana in 2019 and 480 in 2022. However, Vietnam is currently not approving applications on Ghanaian passports. Ghana allows dual citizenship, so a Ghanaian-British dual citizen can travel on the British passport instead.
Vietnam visa for Cameroonian citizens
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security counted 773 arrivals from Cameroon in 2019 and 442 in 2022. However, Vietnam is currently not approving applications on Cameroonian passports. Cameroon generally does not allow dual citizenship, so most travelers have no second passport to fall back on; business visitors should ask their Vietnamese partner to check with the immigration department first.
Vietnam visa for Libyan citizens
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security counted 617 arrivals from Libya in 2019 and 193 in 2022. However, Vietnam is currently not approving applications on Libyan passports. Libya generally requires official permission to hold a second nationality, so most travelers have no other passport to use. Students and business visitors should ask their Vietnamese school or partner to check with the immigration department before paying any fees.
Vietnam visa for Zimbabwean citizens
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security counted 530 arrivals from Zimbabwe in 2019 and 160 in 2022. However, Vietnam is currently not approving applications on Zimbabwean passports. Since the 2013 constitution, Zimbabweans by birth may hold dual citizenship, so a Zimbabwean-British dual citizen can travel on the British passport and stay up to 45 days visa-free. A residence permit in South Africa or another country does not help, because the result depends on the passport.
Vietnam visa for Iraqi citizens
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security counted 487 arrivals from Iraq in 2019 and 137 in 2022. However, Vietnam is currently not approving applications on Iraqi passports, including those the Kurdistan Region issues. Iraq allows dual citizenship, so an Iraqi-Swedish or Iraqi-German dual citizen can travel on the European passport and stay up to 45 days visa-free.
Bangladeshi and Pakistani citizens
These two nationalities have their own pages with more detail: Vietnam visa for Bangladeshi citizens and Vietnam visa for Pakistani citizens.
When will these nationalities be able to get a Vietnam visa again?
No date has been announced. In the meantime, the most reliable signs that visas have reopened are an official notice from the Vietnamese embassy that covers your country, and e-visa approvals for your passport on evisa.gov.vn. We will update this page, with the date, as soon as approvals resume for any of these passports. For the rules that apply to every other nationality, see our pages on the Vietnam e-visa, who is exempted from Vietnam visa and Vietnam visa on arrival.
FAQ
Which countries cannot get a Vietnam visa right now?
As of November 2026: Bangladesh, Pakistan, Morocco, Iran, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Tunisia, Kenya, Algeria, Lebanon, Uganda, Syria, Ghana, Cameroon, Libya, Zimbabwe and Iraq.
Is this an official ban?
Vietnam has not published an official list. This page is based on actual application results and, for Bangladesh, on news reports.
Can I get a visa on arrival instead?
No. Visa on arrival needs a pre-approved letter, and those are affected by the same pause.
I have a second passport. Can I travel?
Yes. The rules for the passport you travel on apply. For example, French and British passport holders can stay up to 45 days without a visa.
Sources: our own application processing (November 2026); TBS News (July 2025); Bangladesh Monitor (April 2026); Vietnam Ministry of Public Security arrival figures; Vietnam Government Resolutions 44/NQ-CP and 229/NQ-CP. Last reviewed: 9 November 2026. We are an independent visa service, not a government website.
