Vietnam has long required international visitors to complete an arrival declaration card at the airport — a paper form filled in by hand before reaching the immigration counter. That process is changing. The Vietnam Immigration Department has developed a digital Pre-Arrival Information (PAI) system that lets travelers submit their entry details online before they board, and it is now being expanded across the country following a successful pilot.
If you are planning a trip to Vietnam, here is what the system does, what happened during the trial, and what it means for your entry preparation.
What is the Pre-Arrival Information system?
The PAI system is a digital platform where international travelers can submit the information normally collected at the border — travel details, passport data, accommodation, and related declarations — before arriving in Vietnam. Instead of completing a paper form at the airport, you fill in the required information online using any internet-connected device within three days of your scheduled arrival.
The purpose is straightforward: when immigration authorities already hold your data before you land, the queue at the checkpoint moves faster. Your record is pre-processed, the officer can verify rather than transcribe, and the overall flow through the arrivals hall is smoother.
This system is separate from the e-visa. The PAI is about entry declarations, not visa authorization. You still need a valid visa or entry permission before you travel — the PAI does not replace that requirement or act as a substitute.
Where the pilot ran and what it showed
The Immigration Department launched the PAI pilot at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City on April 15, 2026. Over the following fifteen days, the results were broadly positive.
Approximately 161,596 passengers accessed the platform during the trial period. Of those, around 119,854 completed their declarations — a completion rate of just over 74% among those who started. When measured against all foreign passengers arriving during that window, participation reached roughly 70%, which officials described as strong for a voluntary pilot.
One recurring issue during the pilot was incorrect flight code entry. Some travelers submitted declarations with the wrong flight number, which caused mismatches in the system. The department has flagged this as an area for improvement before broader rollout.
What the nationwide expansion looks like
Based on the pilot results, the Immigration Department is moving ahead with deployment at additional international airports. The department has also indicated that it will evaluate bringing the system to land border crossings, though implementation there will depend on operational readiness at each crossing.
No firm date has been confirmed for every airport, but the trajectory is clear: the digital declaration process is becoming the standard, not the exception.
How it affects your pre-travel checklist
For most travelers, the practical impact is modest but worth noting. Once the PAI system is active at your arrival airport, completing your declaration online before departure will speed up the immigration process on arrival. Think of it as the check-in equivalent for border processing — you are doing paperwork you would otherwise do on arrival, just in advance and from home.
A few things to keep in mind when the system is available to you:
- Use your exact flight number. The pilot showed that incorrect flight codes were the main source of failed submissions. Check your ticket rather than typing from memory.
- Submit within the three-day window. The system accepts declarations up to three days before your arrival date. Earlier is better if you want time to correct any errors.
- Confirm your entry document first. The PAI handles the declaration, but you must still have a valid visa or visa exemption before you travel. A completed PAI does not compensate for a missing or incorrect entry document.
- Cross-check your passport details. The same name, passport number, and date of birth on your visa should match what you enter in the PAI form. Inconsistencies between the two can create friction at the counter.
What it does not change about visa preparation
The PAI system is an arrival process improvement. It does not change the underlying visa requirements, the e-visa processing window, or the rules about which nationalities require a visa. If your e-visa is still pending close to your departure date, if your approved e-visa has a field error, or if your stay is approaching its expiry limit, those issues remain separate from the declaration system and need to be addressed through the correct visa channel.
If you are dealing with a tight timeline, a document problem, or an entry question that cannot wait, the PAI system will not resolve it — but an emergency Vietnam visa review can help you identify the correct next step before your travel date.
The broader direction
Vietnam has been steadily digitizing its immigration infrastructure over the past several years. The shift to e-visas for a wide range of nationalities, the expansion of e-visa validity to 90 days with multiple entries, and now the rollout of pre-arrival declarations all point in the same direction: entry processes are moving online, documentation is expected in advance, and travelers who prepare early have a measurably smoother experience.
As the PAI system reaches more airports and eventually land crossings, it will become a routine part of the Vietnam travel checklist — similar to online check-in or advance passenger information systems in other countries. Getting familiar with what it asks for before it becomes mandatory at your entry point is the practical move.
If you have questions about Vietnam entry requirements, e-visa status, or how a pending document might affect your travel, reach out through our contact page or submit an urgent visa review request.