Last reviewed: May 2026
TL;DR- Embassy of Vietnam is at 12-14 Victoria Road, London, W8 5RD
- Consular phone line is +44 (0)20 7937 1912
- 90-day e-Visa with single or multiple entry, business and student visas are handled
- e-Visa applications are made online at evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn
- e-Visa decisions are usually issued within three working days
Address and Contact Details
The Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in London is at 12-14 Victoria Road, London, W8 5RD. The consular section handles passport services, civil registration and document attestation for Vietnamese citizens in the United Kingdom.
The main consular phone line is +44 (0)20 7937 1912. The official site is vnembassy-london.mofa.gov.vn. Most visa applications for Vietnam are now handled through the national e-Visa portal at evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn, operated by the Vietnam Immigration Department.
Public hours are typically restricted to weekday mornings, with collections in a separate window. The embassy closes on UK bank holidays and Vietnamese national holidays including Reunification Day on 30 April and Tet (Lunar New Year).
Visa Services Available
Vietnam expanded its e-Visa system in 2023 and 2024 to cover all nationalities and offer longer validity. Visa categories used by UK-based travellers include:
- e-Visa (90-day Single Entry): the standard online travel authorisation for tourism and short business stays, valid for one entry within 90 days.
- e-Visa (90-day Multiple Entry): the multi-entry variant of the e-Visa for travellers needing repeated visits within the validity period.
- Tourist Visa (DL): available where the e-Visa is not appropriate or longer term tourism is needed.
- Business Visa (DN1/DN2): for those working with Vietnamese partners or representing foreign companies in Vietnam.
- Student Visa (DH): tied to admission at a recognised Vietnamese educational institution.
- Work Permit and Temporary Residence Card support: coordinated through the embassy and Vietnamese authorities for longer stays.
British citizens use e-Visa for almost all short visits to Vietnam. The embassy in London handles cases that need consular involvement beyond the online process.
How to Book an Appointment
e-Visa applications are submitted entirely online at evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn. There is no in-person appointment for the e-Visa itself. The portal accepts passport details, travel dates, accommodation information and a photo upload, then issues a decision by email after payment.
For consular services that need an in-person visit, including passport renewal for Vietnamese citizens, document attestation and certain longer stay categories, the embassy's consular section accepts appointments by email and through its booking pages.
Print the e-Visa approval before travel and carry it with the passport. Vietnamese immigration officers can ask for the printed authorisation at the port of entry.
Documents and Requirements
For e-Visa applications, the required inputs include:
- A passport valid for at least six months beyond the planned departure from Vietnam with two blank pages.
- A clear scan of the passport bio page uploaded to the portal.
- A recent colour photograph against a white background.
- Travel dates and confirmed return or onward flight bookings.
- Accommodation details for the visit, either hotel booking or host address.
For longer stay and consular categories, additional documents include:
- A completed visa application form.
- For business visas, an invitation letter from the Vietnamese host with approval from the local immigration office.
- For student visas, the letter of admission and proof of paid tuition.
- For work permit cases, the approved work permit issued by the Vietnamese Department of Labour.
- For Temporary Residence Card support, supporting documents from the sponsoring Vietnamese organisation.
Documents not in Vietnamese or English should be translated and certified where required by the consular section.
Processing Times and Fees
e-Visa decisions are usually issued within three working days, often faster during quieter periods. Tourist, business and student visa categories handled through the embassy typically take five to ten working days. Cases tied to Vietnamese approval letters issued in-country can be processed within a few days once the approval letter is received.
Fees for e-Visa are paid online in US dollars when the application is submitted. Single entry and multiple entry options carry different tariffs. Business, student and other categories at the embassy carry separate consular fees published on the official site. Payment at the embassy is typically by card or cash.
Verify the current e-Visa fee at evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn before applying, as tariffs are reviewed periodically by Vietnamese authorities.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long can I stay in Vietnam on the e-Visa?
The Vietnam e-Visa allows stays of up to 90 days from the date of entry, in either single or multiple entry form. Travellers exceeding 90 days need to apply for a different visa category or arrange a temporary residence card through a Vietnamese sponsor.
Is the 45-day visa exemption for UK citizens still available?
Vietnam has at various times offered visa-free entry for short stays to British citizens. The exact length has changed, so check the current visa exemption position on the Vietnam Immigration portal before booking. e-Visa remains available even when visa exemption applies.
What is a Vietnam Approval Letter?
An approval letter is a document issued by Vietnam Immigration to a Vietnamese sponsor, used to obtain a visa stamp on arrival or a visa from a Vietnamese embassy abroad. It has been largely replaced for tourists by the e-Visa, but is still used for some business and longer stay cases.
Can I extend my e-Visa inside Vietnam?
e-Visa extensions inside Vietnam are limited and typically require a sponsor's involvement. Many travellers either leave and re-enter on a fresh e-Visa or transition to another visa category via a Vietnamese sponsor.
Does the embassy in London still issue paper visa stickers?
Vietnamese embassies have moved largely to electronic processing. Certain categories such as some business and work visas may still involve a sticker placed in the passport at the embassy. The relevant category page on the embassy site confirms whether physical collection is required.
How We Verified This
Information in this article was cross-checked against the Vietnam Embassy London site, the Vietnam Immigration Department's e-Visa portal at evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn, GOV.UK travel advice for Vietnam, and recent National Assembly and government publications on visa exemption and e-Visa expansion.
Sources
- Embassy of Vietnam London: vnembassy-london.mofa.gov.vn
- Vietnam e-Visa portal: evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn
- GOV.UK Vietnam travel advice: gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/vietnam
