The district of Phu Quoc is classified as a Special Economic Zone and visitors to the 28 island archipelago are eligible for a 30 days visa exemption if they only plan to visiting Phu Quoc and no other destination in Vietnam. Phu Quoc remains the only destination in Vietnam where a visa exemption is available for all of nationalities
Phu Quoc Visa Eligibility Criteria:
In order for you to be eligible for the 30-day Phu Quoc visa exemption, you must meet the following requirements:
- Your passport must not be expiring within the next six months once your arrive on Phu Quoc. If your passport is set to expired, renew it first before travelling to Phu Quoc.
- You must have a round trip air ticket to and from Phu Quoc / Vietnam. The onward destination can be any country except Vietnam
- Your stay on Phu Quoc island or Vietnam must be for less than 30 days.
- You have not been previously extradited from Vietnam.
- Must not be on INTERPOL’s wanted person list.
Policy & Procedures
The “Phu Quoc” specic Visa is valid for up to 30 days.
Those who have the Phu Quoc Visa cannot enter mainland Vietnam.
The Phu Quoc Visa is free and there is no application needed as you will receive a stamp in your passport upon arrival.
Available for those who enter Phu Quoc via a fight or cruise ship, but not by land.
As of December 24, 2015 you do not need to fly directly to Phu Quoc in order to be eligible for a 30 day visa exemption. You can transit through one of Vietnam’s international airports en-route to Phu Quoc provided that Phu Quoc is your end destination and that you have a ticket leaving the island to an international destination within 30 days.
If you arrive in Vietnam on a specific Visa (e.g. tourist, business, etc), you cannot apply for a different type of Visa while you are in the country. You must exit the country in order to be considered for a different type of Visa.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I need a Vietnam Visa to visit Phu Quoc Island?
A: If you are planning on visiting Phu Quoc directly, either by boat (ferry or cruise ship) or airplane, from a country other than Vietnam then you DO NOT need a Vietnam Visa. You must provide proof (return airplane ticket, cruise ship departure date, ect) that you will be leaving Phu Quoc in 30 days in order to be granted a “Visa Exemption Stamp”.
You do not need a Vietnam Visa and will be granted a Phu Quoc 30 day visa exemption if:
You fly from an international country to Phu Quoc via the Phu Quoc International Airport. This applies to direct, indirect and layover flights, where your final destination along the route is Phu Quoc.
You take a ferry from Kep or Kampot to Phu Quoc Island directly by sea and skip the Vietnam-Cambodia border crossing. This option is only available for joining a group tour.
You arrive by cruise ship from an international country and dock on Phu Quoc’s international seaport.
You are part of an organized tour group that will visit Phu Quoc. Your tour operator/agency has already arranged a visa exemption for you.
You need a Vietnam Visa if:
You are traveling independently, with stop overs in other parts of Vietnam, and want to visit Phu Quoc. In this case, which normally applies to travelers coming from Cambodia, Thailand, or Laos, you will be required to cross into Vietnam via a border crossing and the immigration officers will not allow you to enter Vietnam without a valid Vietnam Visa. You simply cannot say “I am visiting Phu Quoc Island and there is a 30 day exemption rule in effect”. Since you will be entering another part of Vietnam, which is not designated as a “special economic zone”, you will need a proper Vietnam Visa or E-Visa.
Q: I already have my Visa for Vietnam, do I need an additional Visa for Phu Quoc?
A: No you do not, UNLESS your Vietnam Visa is about to expire. If your Visa is about to expire, you may experience difficulty at the port.
Q: Can I leave Phu Quoc Island even if I don’t have a Vietnam Visa?
A: Yes, technically (and unlawfully) you can leave the island by ferry and go to Ha Tien or Rach Gia City located on the mailand however most hotel will require that uo have a valid Visa in order for you to stay with them. By law all hotels need to register their foreign guests/customers with the police. Failure to do so may result in the hotel being heavily fined and/or losing their business license. It is in the hotels best interest to only accept guests who have a valid Vietnam visa.
Q: I have a Phu Quoc Visa Exemption, landed on Phu Quoc and want to visit other parts of Vietnam, what are my options?
A:
You cannot apply for an E-visa/ on arrival visa, since that visa option is available for those who are outside of Vietnam.
You can visit the Department of Immigration in Duong Dong, Phu Quoc and ask for assistance.
You can also speak with a tour agent who can arrange this. Normally they will send your passport to Ho Chi Minh city for the stamping and the process will take few days. Tour agents are found all along Tran Hung Dao street in the Long Beach Village and Long Beach area.
Q: I am in Vietnam and have a 15 day Vietnam Visa Exemption. Can I visit Phu Quoc and get an additional 30 day
A: No you cannot since you are already in Vietnam. If your Vietnam Visa Exemption is approaching 15 days and you want to extend your visit, you need to visit a tour agency or visa office to extend your visa. You cannot simply enter Phu Quoc and get the additional 30 days as the 30 day exemption is applicable for those outside of Vietnam
Source: Phuquocislandsguide