Desk
Visas and entry forms
Entry rules depend on your passport. Japan: check the visa-exemption list, then fill Visit Japan Web. Vietnam: check the exemption list, else apply for the e-visa on evisa.gov.vn only. Singapore: submit the free SG Arrival Card within 3 days before you land.
More
Your passport, your destination
Pick the passport you will travel on and where you land. The rule shown is a desk summary of the official lists — confirm on the linked official page before booking.
Answer both questions to see the rule.
Short tourist stays only. Rules change without notice; every stay length marked 'check' must be confirmed on the official site.
Who this applies to
- Japan — visa-exempt passports (most of Europe, UK, US, Canada, Australia, NZ, South Korea, Singapore and others)
- Short tourist stays without a visa, commonly up to 90 days; some passports get 15 or 30 days. Check the MOFA list for yours.
- Vietnam — exemption-list passports (e.g. UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Nordics, Japan, South Korea; list changes — check)
- No visa for stays up to 45 days. Longer, or a second entry soon after: e-visa.
- Vietnam — everyone else (e.g. US, Canada, Australia, India — check)
- E-visa before you fly: up to 90 days, single or multiple entry.
- ASEAN passports
- Visa-free in Vietnam (14–30 days depending on country) and in Singapore; check the exact length for yours.
- Singapore — all arriving travellers clearing immigration
- Most Western passports are visa-free for 30 or 90 days; everyone submits the SG Arrival Card, free, within 3 days before arrival.
Before you fly
0/7 done
Vietnam e-visa in 7 steps
- 1
Open the official portal
Type evisa.gov.vn yourself; do not click search ads. The page ends in .gov.vn.
evisa.gov.vn ↗ - 2
Prepare two images
A passport-style photo (plain light background, no glasses, face straight) and a sharp scan of the passport data page with the two code lines at the bottom readable.
- 3
Fill the form exactly as the passport
Surname and given names in the same order, passport number, date of birth and nationality. One wrong letter voids the visa at the border.
- 4
Pick entry date, type and port
Start date on or before your arrival day; single or multiple entry; the airport or land border you will use (check whether your port is fixed on the visa).
- 5
Pay the government fee on the portal
Card payment on the same site. Save the registration code shown after payment.
- 6
Check status after 3 working days
Use the registration code, email and date of birth on the portal's search page.
- 7
Download and check the approved PDF
Verify name, number, dates and entry type; print one copy and keep one offline on the phone.
Where each step happens
| Step | Where | When |
|---|---|---|
| Japan: check visa exemption for your passport | Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan | Before booking |
| Register immigration and customs details | Visit Japan Web | Days before the flight |
| Carry onward/return ticket and lodging address | Your booking confirmations | On arrival |
| Vietnam: check visa exemption for your passport | Vietnam immigration / your embassy | Before booking |
| Vietnam: apply for the e-visa if needed | Official portal evisa.gov.vn only | At least a week before |
| Vietnam: save the approved e-visa PDF | Your email / phone | Before the flight |
| Singapore: check visa requirement for your passport | ICA (Immigration & Checkpoints Authority) | Before booking |
| Singapore: submit the SG Arrival Card (free) | ICA website or MyICA app | Within 3 days before arrival |
Fees
| Item | Cost | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Visit Japan Web | Free | |
| Vietnam e-visa, single entry | US$25 government fee (2026 estimate — check) | |
| Vietnam e-visa, multiple entry | US$50 government fee (2026 estimate — check) | |
| SG Arrival Card | Free on the ICA site or app; any site asking for payment is not official |
Processing times
| What | Typical | Plan for | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visit Japan Web | Instant QR codes | Do it 2+ days before | tip |
| Vietnam e-visa | 3 working days | 7+ days; longer around Tết | check |
| SG Arrival Card | Instant email confirmation | Within the 3 days before arrival only | rule |
| Thailand Digital Arrival Card | Instant | Within the 3 days before arrival | check |
| Japan tourist visa (embassy) | About 5 working days | 2 weeks with document collection | check |
Why Vietnam e-visas get refused or fail at the border
Reason 1
Name or number does not match the passport
Fix: Copy from the data page, not from a booking; check middle names and the order of names.Reason 2
Photo rejected
Fix: Plain light background, no glasses or hat, face fills most of the frame; no selfies with shadows.Reason 3
Unreadable passport scan
Fix: Flat, full page, no glare; the two code lines at the bottom must be visible.Reason 4
Entry date after your arrival
Fix: The visa's start date must be on or before the day you land.Reason 5
Passport valid less than 6 months
Fix: Renew first; airlines may refuse boarding too.Reason 6
Applied on a lookalike site
Fix: Those sites resubmit your data late or wrongly; apply again on evisa.gov.vn and dispute the card charge.
Scams and lookalikes
Lookalike Vietnam e-visa sites
Tell: Names like 'vietnam-visa-online', a .com/.org domain, fees of US$60–150 for a single entry, 'urgent processing' upsells.
Do: Apply only on evisa.gov.vn. The government fee is paid on that site.
Vietnam 'visa on arrival approval letter' sellers
Tell: Agencies sell a letter for pick-up at the airport counter.
Do: Skip it; the e-visa replaces it and avoids the airport queue.
Paid SG Arrival Card 'services'
Tell: Search ads charging a fee to 'process' the card.
Do: The card is free on ica.gov.sg or the MyICA app.
Paid Visit Japan Web helpers
Tell: Any site other than vjw.digital.go.jp asking for card details.
Do: Visit Japan Web is free; close the tab.
When it breaks: QR code will not load at immigration
Step 1
Screenshot the QR codes before you fly.
Step 2
If the form was not completed, paper forms are available in the arrivals hall.
Step 3
Vietnam: show the e-visa PDF offline; airport Wi-Fi works before immigration at the major airports.
Step 4
Singapore: if you forgot the SG Arrival Card, submit it on the MyICA app before the counter; it takes a few minutes.
Questions
Do I need a visa for Japan as a tourist?
Not for most Western, Korean and several Asian passports for stays commonly up to 90 days. India, China, the Philippines and Vietnam need one. Check your line on the MOFA exemption list.
Is Visit Japan Web mandatory?
No, but it replaces the paper immigration and customs forms and speeds up the lines. It is free.
How much is the Vietnam e-visa?
US$25 single entry or US$50 multiple entry as the government fee on evisa.gov.vn (2026 estimate — check). Anything higher is an agency.
Can I get a visa on arrival in Vietnam?
The e-visa has replaced it for tourists; do not buy 'approval letters' from agencies.
When do I submit the SG Arrival Card?
Within the 3 days before you arrive, on the ICA website or MyICA app. It is free.
How long must my passport be valid?
Six months beyond arrival is the safe rule for all four countries and is required by Vietnam and Singapore; airlines check it at check-in.
Official sources
- officialMOFA — visa exemptions
- officialVisit Japan Web
- officialVietnam e-visa (official portal)
- officialICA — SG Arrival Card
- officialICA — visa requirements for Singapore
Review log
Desk review September 2026 — entry rules change often; check the official links before booking.
- 2026-09Added the passport × destination finder, Thailand TDAC, processing times and e-visa refusal reasons.
- 2026-09Desk review of Japan, Vietnam and Singapore rules against the official links.