Yes, Kuwaiti citizens need a visa for Vietnam. Kuwait is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list, so the easiest choice is the Vietnam visa for Kuwaiti 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.
Kuwait has a special link to Vietnam: Kuwait Petroleum International is a major shareholder in the Nghi Son refinery in Thanh Hoa province, one of Vietnam’s largest industrial projects. This page covers the e-visa, business trips to Nghi Son, how the Friday–Saturday weekend affects processing, timing around National Day and Ramadan, flights, costs and the embassies on both sides.
Vietnam visa for Kuwaiti citizens: quick facts (November 2026)
- Visa needed: yes. Kuwait is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list.
- Best option: e-visa, up to 90 days, single or multiple entry, US$25 or US$50.
- Processing: about 3 working days, Monday to Friday on Hanoi time.
- Passport: valid at least 6 months after arrival. The Kuwaiti civil ID is not accepted.
- Time difference: Vietnam is 4 hours ahead of Kuwait City.
- Embassies: Vietnam in Kuwait City, Kuwait in Hanoi.
How many Kuwaiti visitors go to Vietnam
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security counted 1,292 arrivals from Kuwait in 2019. The number fell to 60 in 2021, when Vietnam’s borders were closed, and recovered to 317 in 2022. In January 2023, 130 Kuwaitis arrived.
Vietnam visa for Kuwaiti citizens: your options
| Option | Length | Government fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-entry e-visa | Up to 90 days | US$25 | One holiday or one business trip |
| Multiple-entry e-visa | Up to 90 days | US$50 | Repeated trips, for example to Nghi Son |
| Visa on arrival (approval letter) | As stated on the letter | US$25 / US$50 cash + letter fee | Some urgent air arrivals |
| Embassy visa, Kuwait City | Depends on type | Set by the embassy | Work, study and special cases |
| Phu Quoc exemption | Up to 30 days | Free | Phu Quoc island only |
Business trips to the Nghi Son refinery
The Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical complex is a joint venture of Kuwait Petroleum International, Idemitsu Kosan, PetroVietnam and Mitsui. As a result, many Kuwaiti visitors are engineers, managers and board members traveling to Thanh Hoa province. The usual route is to fly into Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi and continue by road, so choose Noi Bai as your entry gate. For regular visits within 90 days, a multiple-entry e-visa (US$50) is the better choice. For a long-term assignment, however, the company needs a work permit and a work visa or temporary residence card.
Living in Kuwait with another passport?
This page is for Kuwaiti citizens. If you live in Kuwait on another passport, the rules for that nationality apply, not your residence. Travelers from India, Egypt or the Philippines need an e-visa, while passports from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria and several other countries currently cannot get a Vietnam visa; see our page on nationalities that cannot get a Vietnam visa right now.
How to apply for a Vietnam visa as a Kuwaiti citizen
- Check your passport. It must be valid for at least six months after arrival, with blank pages.
- Copy the English spelling of your name from the passport, including parts such as “Al”, in the same split between surname and given names.
- 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 our service if you want your form checked before it is sent.
- Choose single or multiple entry and your entry gate from the list of e-visa ports of entry.
When to apply: weekends, National Day and Ramadan
Vietnam is 4 hours ahead of Kuwait all year. In addition, Kuwait’s weekend is Friday and Saturday, while Vietnam’s immigration office works Monday to Friday, so Friday is a working day in Vietnam but Sunday is not. For example, if you apply on Thursday evening in Kuwait, Friday counts as your first working day. Read more in our Vietnam visa processing time guide.
- National Day and Liberation Day (25 and 26 February): a popular holiday for trips abroad, and it falls just after Vietnam’s Tet, which starts on 6 February 2027. Processing slows or pauses around Tet; in 2026 the pause ran from 14 to 22 February. So apply by late January.
- Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr 2027: Ramadan is expected to begin around 8 February 2027, so Eid trips in March also need early applications.
- Summer: many families travel from June to August. Apply at least 2 weeks before you fly.
- Flights: there are no direct flights. Most travelers connect in Doha, Dubai or Abu Dhabi, which has a direct Etihad flight to Hanoi.
How much does a Vietnam visa for Kuwaiti citizens cost
The government fee is US$25 for single entry and US$50 for multiple entry, the same for every nationality. Kuwaiti bank cards usually pay in US dollars without problems, although your bank may add a foreign-transaction fee. With a service, you pay the government fee plus a service fee, and the full total appears before payment. Compare all routes in our Vietnam visa cost guide.
Embassies on both sides
Embassy of Vietnam in Kuwait City. It handles paper visas and consular matters. However, you do not need to visit it for an e-visa.
Embassy of Kuwait in Hanoi. Contact it if you lose your passport or need consular help during your trip.
Worked examples
- Engineer from Kuwait City visiting Nghi Son every month: one multiple-entry e-visa (US$50) covering visits within 90 days, entering at Noi Bai.
- Family from Hawalli, 10 days in Da Nang over National Day: one single-entry e-visa per person (US$25 each), applied in January.
- Couple flying directly to Phu Quoc for a week: no visa needed under the 30-day Phu Quoc exemption, as long as they stay on the island.
FAQ: Vietnam visa for Kuwaiti citizens
Do Kuwaiti citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes. Kuwait is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list, so you need an e-visa or another visa.
Is there a Vietnamese embassy in Kuwait?
Yes, in Kuwait City. 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. It is not a visa. Learn more about the Vietnam e-visa.
Sources: Vietnam Government Resolutions 44/NQ-CP, 229/NQ-CP, 127/NQ-CP and 389/NQ-CP; Vietnam Ministry of Public Security arrival figures; QDND (February 2021). Last reviewed: 9 November 2026. We are an independent visa service, not a government website.
