Yes, Sri Lankan citizens need a visa for Vietnam. Sri Lanka is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list, so the easiest choice is the Vietnam visa for Sri Lankan 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.
Getting there has also become much easier. On 18 August 2026, VietJet started the first-ever direct flights between Colombo and Ho Chi Minh City, three times a week. This page covers the e-visa, the new route, how to enter Sri Lankan names correctly, work visas, timing and the embassies on both sides.
Vietnam visa for Sri Lankan citizens: quick facts (November 2026)
- Visa needed: yes. Sri Lanka is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list.
- Best option: e-visa, up to 90 days, single or multiple entry.
- Government fee: US$25 single entry, US$50 multiple entry.
- Processing: about 3 working days, longer around Tet.
- Passport: valid at least 6 months after arrival, with blank pages.
- Direct flights: VietJet, Colombo to Ho Chi Minh City, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, about 5 hours.
- Embassies: Vietnam in Colombo, Sri Lanka at 55B Tran Phu, Hanoi.
How many Sri Lankan visitors go to Vietnam
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security counted 14,920 arrivals from Sri Lanka in 2019. The number then fell to 396 in 2021, when Vietnam’s borders were closed, and recovered to 3,935 in 2022. In January 2023 alone, 1,110 Sri Lankans arrived. With direct flights now running, the numbers are likely to rise further.
Vietnam visa for Sri Lankan citizens: your options
| Option | Length | Government fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-visa on your Sri Lankan passport | Up to 90 days | US$25 / US$50 | Holidays, family visits and business meetings |
| British passport (dual citizens) | Up to 45 days | Free | Short trips by Sri Lankan-British dual citizens |
| Work visa (LD) with work permit | Linked to the permit | Arranged by the employer | Taking a job in Vietnam |
| Visa on arrival (approval letter) | As stated on the letter | US$25 / US$50 cash + letter fee | Some urgent air arrivals |
| Phu Quoc exemption | Up to 30 days | Free | Phu Quoc island only |
Direct flights from Colombo: what changes
Until August 2026, every trip needed a connection, usually in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur or Bangkok. Now VietJet flies nonstop between Bandaranaike International Airport and Tan Son Nhat in Ho Chi Minh City in about 5 hours, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. As a result:
- Choose Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City) as your entry gate on the e-visa form if you take the direct flight.
- Fill in the Digital Arrival Card within 72 hours before landing, because it is required at Tan Son Nhat.
- Still check transit rules if you connect elsewhere, for example to reach Hanoi or Da Nang first.
Dual citizens and work visas
Sri Lanka allows dual citizenship, and the second passport can change the answer. For example, if you also hold a British passport, you can enter Vietnam visa-free for up to 45 days on it. By contrast, an Australian, Canadian or American passport does not help, because those countries also need an e-visa.
If you are moving to Vietnam for a job, an e-visa is not enough. Instead, your employer applies for a work permit, and you then get an LD work visa or a temporary residence card. You can use the e-visa for business meetings, interviews and short visits.
How to apply for a Vietnam visa as a Sri Lankan citizen
- Check your passport. It must be valid for at least six months after arrival, with blank pages.
- Copy your name exactly as printed. Sri Lankan names are often long, with family names, given names and sometimes initials. Enter the surname and other names in the same split and order as your passport. Do not expand initials and do not add names that are not printed.
- If your passport shows only one name, put it in the field your passport uses and follow the two lines of letters at the bottom of the data page.
- 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: time difference and holidays
Vietnam is 1 hour 30 minutes ahead of Sri Lanka all year. The 3 working days are counted on Hanoi time. So if you apply at 4 pm on a Friday in Colombo, it is already 5:30 pm in Hanoi, after office hours, and processing starts on Monday. Read more in our Vietnam visa processing time guide.
- Sinhala and Tamil New Year (mid-April), Vesak (May) and December: busy travel periods. Also, the direct flight runs only three days a week, so seats sell out. Apply 2 weeks before you fly.
- Tet: Vietnam’s Lunar New Year starts on 6 February 2027. Processing slows or pauses around it; in 2026 the pause ran from 14 to 22 February.
How much does a Vietnam visa for Sri Lankan citizens cost
The government fee is US$25 for single entry and US$50 for multiple entry, the same for every nationality. Because it is charged in US dollars, some Sri Lankan cards have limits on foreign-currency online payments, so check with your bank first. 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 Colombo. It handles paper visas, work-related visas and consular matters. However, you do not need to visit it for an e-visa.
Embassy of Sri Lanka in Hanoi, 55B Tran Phu, Ba Dinh, Hanoi, open Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Sri Lanka also has an honorary consul in Ho Chi Minh City, in the Thao Dien area, which is useful if you arrive on the direct flight and need help in the south.
Worked examples
- Family from Colombo, 10 days in Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta: four single-entry e-visas (US$25 each), entry at Tan Son Nhat on the direct flight.
- Buyer from Kandy, two business trips in 2 months: one multiple-entry e-visa (US$50) covering both visits within 90 days.
- Sri Lankan-British dual citizen, 3-week holiday: no visa needed on the British passport, because the trip is under 45 days.
- Engineer starting a job in Hanoi: a work permit and LD visa arranged by the employer, not an e-visa.
FAQ: Vietnam visa for Sri Lankan citizens
Do Sri Lankan citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes. Sri Lanka is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list, so you need an e-visa or another visa.
Are there direct flights from Sri Lanka to Vietnam?
Yes. Since 18 August 2026, VietJet flies Colombo to Ho Chi Minh City three times a week.
Can I work in Vietnam on an e-visa?
No. For a job you need a work permit and a work visa or residence card, arranged with your employer.
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; Embassy of Sri Lanka in Hanoi; News 1st and Daily FT (August 2026). Last reviewed: 9 November 2026. We are an independent visa service, not a government website.
