Vietnam arrival card (PAI): is it required, where to fill it in, and what else to declare
Vietnam's "arrival card" is the online PAI form at prearrival.immigration.gov.vn. As of November 2026 it's optional and runs at 5 airports, including Cam Ranh and Phu Quoc. Fill it in up to 3 days before arrival and get a QR code.
Vietnam's "arrival card" is the online PAI form (Pre-Arrival Information; in Vietnamese «Hệ thống cung cấp thông tin trước chuyến đi»), filled in on the official site prearrival.immigration.gov.vn. As of November 2026 it's optional: Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security explicitly calls it non-mandatory. You fill it in up to 3 days before arrival, get a QR code and show it at passport control, which speeds things up. PAI runs at five airports: Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City), Noi Bai (Hanoi), Da Nang, Cam Ranh (Nha Trang) and Phu Quoc. There is no paper arrival card for foreigners in Vietnam.
| What | Required? | Where and when |
|---|---|---|
| PAI form ("arrival card") | optional, but speeds up immigration | prearrival.immigration.gov.vn, up to 3 days before arrival |
| Visa | depends on nationality; e-visa up to 90 days | evisa.gov.vn |
| Health declaration | not required since 1 July 2026 | only during an epidemic |
| Customs declaration | only for cash over USD 5,000 (or VND 15 million) | at airport customs |
Is the Vietnam arrival card mandatory?
No, as of November 2026 the PAI form is optional. At launch the Ministry of Public Security said it is "optional rather than mandatory", and in November 2026 the Vietnamese press reported a proposal to make it compulsory by law — with no date yet. An immigration officer may ask you to fill it in on the spot, so it's simpler to do it in advance.
Where do you fill in the Vietnam arrival card?
Fill in the PAI form only on the official site prearrival.immigration.gov.vn — free, from a phone or computer, no earlier than 3 days before arrival. You enter your passport details, flight number and the address where you'll stay. After submitting you get a QR code — save it and show it at passport control. Fake sites charge money for an "arrival card": PAI is free. The most common mistake is the flight number — check it against your ticket.
Which airports use PAI?
PAI runs at five Vietnamese airports: Tan Son Nhat in Ho Chi Minh City (since 15 April 2026), Noi Bai in Hanoi, Da Nang, Cam Ranh near Nha Trang, and Phu Quoc. By the end of September 2026 more than 4 million foreigners had filled it in — about two thirds of arrivals at these airports. Some newspapers reported the form as mandatory for foreigners at Phu Quoc from 1 June 2026 — if you're flying there, definitely fill it in. More in getting to Phu Quoc and Cam Ranh airport to Nha Trang.
Do you need a health declaration for Vietnam?
No: since 1 July 2026 no health declaration is required to enter Vietnam. Decree 165/2026/NĐ-CP introduced one, but on 1 July 2026 the Ministry of Health announced it does not apply to all arrivals and is switched on only during an epidemic by the minister's decision. The tokhaiyte.vn site is not used for tourists.
What do you need to declare at Vietnamese customs?
At Vietnamese customs you declare cash over USD 5,000 (or the equivalent in another currency) or over VND 15 million. Carrying such amounts is allowed — failing to declare them is fined under Decree 169/2026/NĐ-CP. If you carry less, use the green channel. How to pay and exchange money afterwards is in money in Vietnam; visas — Vietnam visa.
How many cigarettes and how much alcohol you can bring, and why vapes and IQOS should stay at home: cigarettes, vapes and IQOS in Vietnam.
FAQ
Do you need an arrival card for Vietnam in 2026? As of November 2026, no — the PAI form is optional. But it speeds up passport control, so it's worth filling in.
Where do you fill in the Vietnam arrival card? Only at prearrival.immigration.gov.vn, free, up to 3 days before arrival.
How much does the Vietnam arrival card cost? It's free. Sites that charge money are not official.
Which airports use the PAI form? Tan Son Nhat, Noi Bai, Da Nang, Cam Ranh and Phu Quoc.
Do you need a health declaration for Vietnam? No, not since 1 July 2026.
How much cash can you bring into Vietnam without declaring? Up to USD 5,000 or VND 15 million. More is allowed but must be declared.