Yes, Irish citizens need a visa for Vietnam. This surprises many travelers, because Ireland is in the EU and Vietnam lets citizens of many European countries in visa-free for 45 days. But Ireland is not on that list. The easiest choice is therefore the Vietnam visa for Irish citizens issued online: a 90-day e-visa costing US$25 for single entry or US$50 for multiple entry, usually ready in about 3 working days.
There is also news for 2026: Vietnam opened its first embassy in Ireland, in Dublin, on 26 March 2026. Older guides still say there is none. This page brings together the current rules, the options for Irish and British dual citizens, the embassies on both sides, timing, costs and real examples.
Vietnam visa for Irish citizens: quick facts (November 2026)
- Visa needed: yes. Ireland is not on Vietnam’s 45-day list.
- Best option: 90-day e-visa, US$25 single / US$50 multiple entry.
- Irish and British dual citizens: a UK passport gives 45 days visa-free.
- New: Embassy of Vietnam in Dublin, opened 26 March 2026.
- Embassy of Ireland in Vietnam: 41A Ly Thai To, Hanoi.
- Time difference: Vietnam is 7 hours ahead of Ireland in winter, 6 hours in summer.
Why Irish citizens need a visa when other Europeans do not
Vietnam’s visa exemption is a list of named countries, not a rule for the whole EU. Resolution 44/NQ-CP gives 45 days to the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland. Then, from 15 August 2025, Resolution 229/NQ-CP added Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland. Ireland is on neither list, and neither are Portugal, Austria, Greece or the Baltic states. As a result, an Irish passport always needs a visa for mainland Vietnam. See the full list in our guide to who is exempted from Vietnam visa.
However, there is one exception: Phu Quoc island. There, any foreign visitor can stay up to 30 days visa-free when arriving directly from abroad.
How many Irish visitors go to Vietnam?
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security counted 31,181 Irish arrivals in 2019. Arrivals then dropped to 248 in 2021 during the border closures, and recovered to 11,326 in 2022.
Vietnam visa for Irish citizens: your options
| Option | Length | Government fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-visa on your Irish passport | Up to 90 days | US$25 / US$50 | Almost every trip |
| British passport (dual citizens) | Up to 45 days | Free | Short trips by Irish-British dual citizens |
| Visa on arrival (approval letter) | As stated on the letter | US$25 / US$50 cash + letter fee | Some urgent air arrivals |
| Embassy visa, Dublin | Depends on type | Set by the embassy | Special cases |
| Phu Quoc exemption | Up to 30 days | Free | Phu Quoc island only |
Vietnam visa for Irish citizens with a British passport
Many people in Ireland, and especially in Northern Ireland, hold both Irish and British passports. Since the United Kingdom is on Vietnam’s 45-day list, you can enter visa-free on your British passport for trips of up to 45 days. However, use that passport for the whole journey: book the flight with it, show it at check-in, and enter and leave Vietnam with it. Otherwise, if your trip is longer than 45 days, apply for the 90-day e-visa on the passport you will travel with.
How to apply for a Vietnam visa as an Irish citizen
- Check your passport book. It must be valid for at least six months after arrival, with blank pages. The Irish Passport Card is not valid for travel to Vietnam.
- Write your name exactly as in the passport, including any fada. If the form does not accept the accent, use the spelling in the two lines of letters at the bottom of your data page, which never include accents.
- Prepare a 4×6 cm portrait on a white background, no glasses, plus a full scan of the data page. See our Vietnam visa photo guide.
- Apply on evisa.gov.vn or through a service if you want your form checked.
- Choose single or multiple entry. Pick multiple entry for side trips to Cambodia, Laos or Thailand.
- Pay, wait and print. Keep the registration code, then print and check the e-visa.
When to apply: Christmas, summer and Tet
Irish travelers often go to Vietnam over Christmas, in the summer and on career breaks. Because of this, these periods are busy. Remember that Vietnam is 6 or 7 hours ahead, so a form paid on a Friday afternoon in Dublin arrives after the office day has ended in Vietnam, and Monday becomes day 1. Moreover, Tet pauses processing for about a week; in 2026, e-visas were not processed from 14 to 22 February, and Tet 2027 starts on 6 February. Apply two to three weeks ahead, and see how days are counted in our Vietnam visa processing time guide.
How much does a Vietnam visa for Irish citizens cost?
The government fee is US$25 for single entry and US$50 for multiple entry, the same for every nationality. Since it is charged in US dollars, your bank may add a currency conversion fee on top of the euro amount. With a service, you pay the government fee plus a service fee, and the exact total for an Irish passport appears before payment. Compare all routes in our Vietnam visa cost guide.
Embassies on both sides
- Embassy of Vietnam, Dublin: Vietnam’s first embassy in Ireland, inaugurated on 26 March 2026. Before that, the nearest Vietnamese embassy was in London. Check the embassy’s official website for its address and opening hours.
- Embassy of Ireland, Hanoi: 2nd floor, 41A Ly Thai To, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi. Phone +84 24 3974 3291. Contact it if you lose your passport or need consular help.
Also, before you go, read the Department of Foreign Affairs travel advice for Vietnam and use its free Citizens Registration service, so the embassy can reach you in an emergency.
Worked examples
- Two travelers from Cork, three weeks over Christmas: two single-entry e-visas, 2 × US$25 = US$50, applied for in late November.
- A Belfast traveler with both passports, 4 weeks in Vietnam: no visa needed on the British passport, as the trip is under 45 days.
- Career break from Galway, 3 months through Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia: one multiple-entry e-visa (US$50) timed to cover all the Vietnam legs within 90 days.
FAQ: Vietnam visa for Irish citizens
Do Irish citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes. Ireland is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list.
Is there a Vietnamese embassy in Ireland?
Yes, since 26 March 2026, in Dublin. You do not need to visit it for an e-visa.
Can I get a visa on arrival?
Only with an approval letter arranged before the flight, and only at international airports. See our guide to Vietnam visa on arrival.
Do I need the Digital Arrival Card?
If you land in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang, Phu Quoc or Cam Ranh, submit the free card within 72 hours before arrival.
Sources: Vietnam National E-Visa Portal (evisa.gov.vn); Government Resolutions 44/NQ-CP and 229/NQ-CP on visa exemption; Vietnam Ministry of Public Security arrivals by nationality; The World and Vietnam Report on the inauguration of the Vietnamese Embassy in Ireland (26 March 2026); Embassy of Ireland in Vietnam. Last reviewed: 9 November 2026. We are an independent visa service, not a government website.
