Important Update: New Pre-Arrival Declaration Requirement at Tan Son Nhat International Airport from 15 April 2026

This update appears to be part of a broader effort to make immigration processing faster, smoother, and more efficient for international arrivals at one of Vietnam’s busiest airports. Rather than waiting until after landing to complete extra paperwork, eligible travelers are encouraged to submit their information in advance through the official online system.

Who Needs to Complete the Pre-Arrival Declaration?

Based on the public notices currently circulating for Tan Son Nhat Airport, the new requirement applies to:

• Foreign passport holders
• Overseas Vietnamese entering Vietnam with a visa

At the same time, the requirement is stated not to apply to:

• Vietnamese citizens
• Transit passengers who are not entering Vietnam through immigration control

For travel companies, corporate travel coordinators, and families receiving overseas visitors, this distinction is important. Not every traveler on the same itinerary will necessarily need to complete the declaration, so it is worth checking passport type and entry status carefully before departure.

What Exactly Has Changed from 15 April 2026?

From 15 April 2026, passengers in the applicable categories are expected to complete a personal information declaration before arrival, then save or retain the QR code generated after submission, and finally present that QR code to the immigration authority at Tan Son Nhat International Airport during entry procedures.

In practical terms, this means the arrival process now includes an additional digital pre-arrival step for eligible travelers. The declaration is not described in the public guidance as optional; it is presented as a required part of the immigration process for the affected passenger groups at TSN.

Official Portal and How to Complete the Declaration

The official pre-arrival portal is:

https://prearrival.immigration.gov.vn/

Search results for the portal identify it as the Pre-Arrival Information Submission for Visitors system and indicate functions such as Create & Submit Pre-arrival Information, Lookup & Update Declaration, and Lookup E-Pass Information. Public TSN guidance further states that passengers may either complete the declaration online in advance or access the declaration platform by scanning a QR code provided at the airport.

Recommended process for travelers

1. Visit the official portal before your flight.
2. Complete the required personal information form.
3. Save the confirmation or QR code on your phone.
4. Keep it ready for presentation upon arrival at immigration in Tan Son Nhat Airport.

Public guidance also notes that QR codes may be available in the immigration area at TSN for travelers who did not complete the process beforehand. However, completing the declaration before departure is consistently recommended because it may help reduce delays after landing.

What Information Should Travelers Prepare in Advance?

While the official portal’s parsed public text is limited, step-by-step public guidance currently indicates that travelers may be asked for standard entry details such as:

• full name
• passport number
• nationality
• flight number
• hotel or address in Vietnam

As a practical matter, passengers should also make sure their passport, visa status where applicable, and onward arrival details are readily accessible before starting the declaration. Having this information prepared in advance can make the process much faster and reduce mistakes close to departure time.

Why This New Requirement Matters

The stated purpose of the new declaration process is to support faster handling of arriving passengers, improve the efficiency of immigration control, and reduce congestion during peak arrival periods at Tan Son Nhat International Airport. Public guidance repeatedly frames the measure as a way to make arrival procedures smoother and more convenient for eligible travelers.

For travelers, the advantage is straightforward: instead of trying to understand and complete the process after a long flight, they can arrive with the required digital confirmation already prepared. For travel advisors and tour operators, it is now increasingly important to remind eligible clients about this step before departure to avoid confusion at the airport.

Is This the Same as a Vietnam Visa or E-Visa?

Based on the currently available public information, this appears to be a separate pre-arrival arrival-processing requirement, not a replacement for Vietnam’s visa or e-visa system. The official Immigration portal separately lists e-visa services on dedicated domains, while the new pre-arrival process is hosted on its own dedicated portal. That strongly suggests travelers should treat the declaration as an additional arrival step, not as a substitute for any visa they may still need.

In other words, if a traveler already needs a visa to enter Vietnam, they should still ensure that their visa documentation is valid. The pre-arrival declaration should be understood as a separate requirement connected to immigration clearance at Tan Son Nhat Airport.

Best Practice: Complete It Before Boarding

For website readers and clients, the most useful recommendation is simple: complete the declaration before boarding your flight to Vietnam. This is the approach most consistently recommended in public guidance because it allows travelers to arrive with their QR code ready, minimizes last-minute stress, and may help shorten time spent at immigration after landing.

A few practical tips:

• save a screenshot of the QR code on your phone
• keep your passport and visa details easy to access
• double-check your hotel address or first-night accommodation
• complete the form before leaving for the airport whenever possible

Frequently Asked Questions

1. When does the new requirement take effect?

Public guidance states that the new pre-arrival declaration requirement at Tan Son Nhat International Airport takes effect from 15 April 2026.

2. Who must complete the declaration?

The requirement applies to foreign nationals and overseas Vietnamese entering Vietnam with a visa, according to the public notices currently available.

3. Do Vietnamese passport holders need to do this?

The public guidance says no. Vietnamese citizens are listed as outside the applicable group.

4. Do transit passengers need to complete it?

The current public notices state that transit passengers are not required to complete this declaration.

5. How can travelers complete the declaration?

Travelers can use the official portal at prearrival.immigration.gov.vn or, according to the public TSN notices, scan a QR code made available for the process.

6. What should travelers do after submitting the form?

They should save the QR code and be prepared to present it to immigration authorities at Tan Son Nhat Airport upon arrival.

Final Recommendation

For any traveler entering Vietnam through Tan Son Nhat International Airport, the safest approach is to check eligibility early and complete the declaration before departure if required. This small step may help make arrival faster, smoother, and less stressful—especially for first-time visitors, business travelers, families, and guests arriving after long international flights.