Yes, for now, Timorese citizens with ordinary passports still need a visa for Vietnam. The simplest choice is the Vietnam visa for Timorese 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.
This may change soon. On 9 June 2026, Vietnam and Timor-Leste signed an agreement on visa-free travel for ordinary passport holders, and Timor-Leste’s government sent it to Parliament for ratification in September 2026. Until both sides announce the date it takes effect, use the e-visa. This page covers the steps, payment, flights, timing, costs and who to contact.
Vietnam visa for Timorese citizens: quick facts (November 2026)
- Ordinary passport: visa needed until the June 2026 visa-free agreement takes effect.
- Diplomatic and official passports: already visa-free under an earlier agreement.
- Best option now: e-visa, up to 90 days, US$25 or US$50.
- Processing: about 3 working days, longer around Tet.
- Time difference: Vietnam is 2 hours behind Dili.
- Embassies: Vietnam has an embassy in Dili.
How many Timorese visitors go to Vietnam
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security counted 318 arrivals from Timor-Leste in 2019. The figure fell to 23 in 2020 and 24 in 2021, then rose to 147 in 2022, nearly half the pre-pandemic level. January 2023 brought another 15 visitors.
Vietnam visa for Timorese citizens: your options
| Passport or option | Entry rule | Maximum stay | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timorese ordinary passport, single-entry e-visa | E-visa | Up to 90 days | US$25 |
| Timorese ordinary passport, multiple-entry e-visa | E-visa | Up to 90 days | US$50 |
| Timorese diplomatic or official passport | Visa-free | Under the agreement | Free |
| Portuguese passport | E-visa | Up to 90 days | US$25 / US$50 |
Many Timorese also hold Portuguese citizenship, but Portugal is not on the Vietnam visa exemption list, so a Portuguese passport needs an e-visa too. Joining ASEAN in October 2025 did not by itself bring visa-free entry to Vietnam; that depends on the bilateral agreement. Anyone can visit Phu Quoc island visa-free for up to 30 days.
How to apply for a Vietnam visa as a Timorese citizen
- Check your passport. It must be valid for at least six months after arrival, with blank pages. The electoral card and ID card are not accepted.
- Enter your name exactly as your passport splits it. Long Portuguese-style names often run across several given names and surnames; copy them from the two lines of letters at the bottom of your 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 your entry gate from the list of e-visa ports of entry, matching the airport where you land.
Cost of the Vietnam visa for Timorese citizens
The government fee is US$25 for single entry and US$50 for multiple entry, the same for every nationality. Timor-Leste uses the US dollar, so there is no currency conversion, but the card must accept international online payments. If your local card does not, a relative or employer abroad can pay for you. 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.
When to apply: holidays, Tet and the time difference
Vietnam is 2 hours behind Timor-Leste all year. The 3 working days are counted on Hanoi time, so a form sent at 10 am on a Friday in Dili arrives at 8 am in Hanoi, and processing can start the same day. Read more in our Vietnam visa processing time guide.
- Christmas and school holidays: December and January are busy. Apply at least 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. Apply in January for a February trip.
- Flights: there are no direct flights. Most travelers fly from Dili through Bali, Singapore or Darwin, then on to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. Check the transit rules where you change planes.
Embassies covering both countries
Vietnam in Timor-Leste. The Embassy of Vietnam in Dili handles paper visas and special cases. It is also the best place to ask when the visa-free agreement will take effect. You do not need it for an e-visa.
Timor-Leste for Vietnam. In an emergency, such as a lost passport, contact Timor-Leste’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, which will tell you which Timorese mission covers Vietnam.
Worked examples
- Telemor engineer from Dili on a 1-month training course in Hanoi: a single-entry e-visa, with the host company’s details on the form.
- Student from Baucau attending a 2-week ASEAN youth event in Ho Chi Minh City: a single-entry e-visa (US$25), unless the visa-free agreement is in force by then.
- Government official from Dili on an official passport: visa-free under the existing agreement for diplomatic and official passports.
FAQ: Vietnam visa for Timorese citizens
Do Timorese citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes, on an ordinary passport, until the visa-free agreement signed in June 2026 takes effect. Diplomatic and official passports are already exempt.
Is there a Vietnamese embassy in Timor-Leste?
Yes, in Dili. For most trips, though, you can apply for the e-visa online without visiting it.
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.
Checking a different passport? Our Vietnam visa requirements by nationality list covers all 196 passports from A to Z.
Sources: Vietnam Government Resolutions 44/NQ-CP, 229/NQ-CP, 127/NQ-CP and 389/NQ-CP; Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs Notice 265/BNG-LPQT (2025); VietNamNet (June 2026); Tatoli (September 2026); Vietnam Ministry of Public Security arrival figures. Last reviewed: 10 November 2026. We are an independent visa service, not a government website.
