A fast track Vietnam eVisa costs $52 – $300 (£41 – £236) in total: the $25/$50 government fee plus an agency rush charge that starts at $35 for a three-day push and reaches $235 – $250 for one- to two-hour handling. Express turnaround runs from two working days down to as little as one to two working hours. UK tourists staying up to 45 days can enter visa-free and skip rush fees entirely.
This is an independent guide, not a government site, and we don’t take payments or file applications. Check your data and current terms on the official portal at evisa.gov.vn before paying anyone.
Two Different Fast Track Services
- Online eVisa expediting speeds up your digital approval before departure, so the airline lets you board. Agency surcharges for pushing a pending application run $35 – $235 on top of the government fee.
- Airport fast track buys a physical escort past the passport-control queue at Noi Bai (HAN), Da Nang (DAD), Tan Son Nhat (SGN), Cam Ranh (CXR) or Phu Quoc (PQC). Expect $25 – $38 per person, plus $10 for arrivals between 19:00 and 07:00 GMT+7.
- Priority lanes clear immigration in 5 – 10 minutes, versus 45 – 90 minutes in peak queues at Tan Son Nhat (worst 06:00 – 09:00 and 20:00 – 01:00 GMT+7) and 30 – 60 minutes at Noi Bai, where the 04:00 – 08:00 long-haul wave is busiest.
- VIP and CIP packages, which add baggage handling and, at the top tier, a private exit, range from $45 to $350.
- Don’t confuse the two: an airport escort doesn’t replace a valid visa, and airport escorts are offered only at the five international airports listed above.
Cost Breakdown: Government Fee vs Agency Surcharge
Your total falls into three parts: the statutory fee, the agency’s rush charge, and your UK bank’s card costs. The government fee is $25 single entry or $50 multiple entry, valid up to 90 days, non-refundable even if the visa is not granted, per evisa.gov.vn.
| Processing tier | Government fee | Agency surcharge | Estimated total (USD/GBP) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard 3 – 5 working days | $25 single / $50 multiple | $0 | $25 – $50 (£20 – £40) |
| Push pending application, 3 days | Already paid | $35 | $35 (£28) |
| Push pending application, 2 days | Already paid | $45 – $65 | $45 – $65 (£35 – £51) |
| Push pending application, 24 hours | Already paid | $65 – $75 | $65 – $75 (£51 – £59) |
| Push pending application, 4 – 8 hours | Already paid | $75 – $79 | $75 – $79 (£59 – £62) |
| Push pending application, 1 – 2 hours | Already paid | $135 – $235 | $135 – $235 (£106 – £185) |
| New emergency filing, single entry, 4 – 5 days | Included | $27 | $52 (£41) |
| New emergency filing, single entry, 1 day | Included | $67 | $92 (£72) |
| New emergency filing, single entry, 4 hours | Included | $77 | $102 (£80) |
| New emergency filing, multiple entry, 1 day | Included | $69 | $119 (£94) |
For context, some UK-facing agencies quote a single GBP price that bundles the government fee, their service fee and VAT, with a separate urgent-delivery surcharge.
Expediting a Pending Application
An agency can push your existing application to the front of the verification queue. You’ll hand over your registration code (e.g. E230319…), the linked email, your date of birth, a passport bio-page scan, a portrait photo, your entry port and flight number.
Real Cost in Pounds
Most agencies price in USD, so your UK card may add a non-sterling transaction fee and an exchange-rate spread – check your bank’s terms before comparing quotes.
Standard vs Express Processing Times
Standard processing takes three working days officially, though 3 – 5 is typical, stretching to seven in peak periods. The clock excludes your submission date, weekends and Vietnamese public holidays.
The Immigration Department (Ministry of Public Security) works Monday to Friday, 08:00 – 17:00 GMT+7 only; a request sent Friday evening waits until Monday morning.
| Service level | Standard time | Express guarantee | Typical rush fee | Refund policy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direct portal application | 3 – 5 working days | No guarantee | $0 | Not refunded if the visa is not granted |
| 3-day push | 3 – 5 working days | Within window | $35 | Depends on the provider – some refund the surcharge if they miss the window, others state no refunds |
| 48-hour push | 3 – 5 days | 2 business days | $45 – $65 | Depends on the provider – some refund the surcharge if they miss the window, others state no refunds |
| 24-hour push | 3 – 5 days | 1 business day | $65 – $75 | Depends on the provider – some refund the surcharge if they miss the window, others state no refunds |
| 4 – 8 hour rush | 3 – 5 days | Same day | $75 – $79 | Depends on the provider – some refund the surcharge if they miss the window, others state no refunds |
| 1 – 2 hour super urgent | 3 – 5 days | Hours | $135 – $235 | Custom terms, quote first |
Refunds have a sharp edge: time guarantees don’t cover delays caused by your own application – a blurred photo, a typo or missing data pushes the case back into the amendment loop. Only applications marked “In Processing” can be fast-tracked; “Amending” or “Waiting for payment” blocks expediting until fixed.
Is the Rush Fee Worth It?
The rule that saves most British travellers money: UK passport holders travelling as tourists are covered by Vietnam’s unilateral visa exemption, which grants a 45-day temporary residence certificate on entry, per evisa.gov.vn. It doesn’t cover stays longer than 45 days – for those you still need an eVisa.
- Scenario A, staying up to 45 days: pay nothing.
- Scenario B, departure under 12 hours and no eVisa: if rebooking your flight costs more than the rush fee, a super-rush filing at $125 – $250 all-in (or a $135 – $235 surcharge if your application is already pending) is the rational choice.
- Scenario C, departure in 48 hours with a non-refundable low-cost ticket: the $65 – $75 one-day push is your best balance of cost and risk.
- Last resort: an emergency Visa on Arrival approval letter can be issued in 1 – 4 working hours ($29 – $139 agency fee plus the $25/$50 stamping fee in cash at the airport). It applies to air arrivals only, is currently limited to travellers on a package with a local tour operator, and weekend handling is offered for Tan Son Nhat flights.
Remember: an issued eVisa cannot be amended. Wrong name, date of birth, nationality or passport number means a brand-new application and a second fee.
How to Expedite an eVisa from the UK
Check the basics
Your passport must be valid for 6 months beyond entry, with a clear, uncropped bio-page scan showing the full ICAO line, no glare.
Prepare a recent digital portrait photo
4 × 6 cm, white background, no glasses or hat.
Choose your route
Give an agency your registration code for a push, or have them file a fresh emergency application.
Submit early in the Vietnamese working day
Same-day cases are released around 12:00 or 18:00 GMT+7 (06:00 or 12:00 BST), and requests arriving late in the afternoon roll to the next working day.
Verify the agency before paying
Transparent pricing, no hidden subscriptions, and a clear statement that it’s a commercial service.
Arriving by land? The escort services described here are sold for airport arrivals only.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Paying for a weekend rush on Saturday evening. Nothing processes until Monday. Book before Friday afternoon, or use an emergency VOA letter at SGN instead.
- Ordering a push on an “Amending” application. The agency can’t accelerate it, and you may forfeit the surcharge. Fix the issue first, then pay.
- Assuming an issued eVisa can be corrected. A typo means a new application and a second $25/$50 fee, so check every field before submitting.
- Buying airport fast track instead of a visa. Without a valid eVisa or exemption you can be denied boarding.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How much does a fast track Vietnam eVisa cost on average?
Expect $52 – $300 (£41 – £236) total: the $25/$50 government fee plus a surcharge from $35 for a 3-day push up to $250 for 1 – 2 hour handling. New emergency filings bundle both fees, from $52 single entry.
Do British citizens need to pay for an emergency Vietnam eVisa on short holidays?
No, for tourist stays of up to 45 days under Vietnam’s unilateral visa exemption. It doesn’t cover longer stays – for those you still need an eVisa.
Can I get a Vietnam eVisa approved on a Saturday or Sunday?
Not through standard expediting, since the Immigration Department works Monday to Friday. An emergency VOA pre-approval letter for Tan Son Nhat flights is the exception.
What is the difference between an eVisa expedite fee and airport fast track?
The expedite fee gets your digital eVisa issued faster before departure. Airport fast track is a $25 – $38 meet-and-assist service that skips the passport-control queue after landing.
Can an application with the status “Amending” be expedited?
No. Agencies can only push applications marked “In Processing”. Fix the flagged issue, usually a blurred photo or mismatched ICAO line, and settle any unpaid government fee first.
Will I get a refund if the fast track service fails to deliver in time?
Some agencies refund the surcharge if they miss the guaranteed window, while others state that the expediting fee is non-refundable once booked, so read the terms before paying. The $25/$50 government fee is not refunded if the visa is not granted.
Is same-day Vietnam eVisa processing available for multiple-entry visas?
Yes, at a premium. Multiple-entry emergency filings cost $79 for 4 – 5 business days, rising to $129 for 4 business hours, with 1 – 2 hour super-rush by custom quote. The $50 government fee is included.
What time of day must I submit my application for same-day delivery?
There is no single published cut-off. Same-day approvals are released around 12:00 or 18:00 GMT+7, so submit in the morning Vietnamese time – 06:00 BST or earlier – and expect anything later to roll into the next working day.
Sources and Further Reading
- evisa.gov.vn, the official Vietnam eVisa portal: government fees, validity rules, the 45-day UK exemption, and application status tracking.
Rules and fees can change, so confirm everything on evisa.gov.vn before you travel.
