You can only learn how to edit mistakes on Vietnam visa application forms for free if the Vietnam Immigration Department returns your file marked “Amendment Required”. Once an eVisa is granted, the file is locked and you must submit a new, paid application.
This is an independent guide, not a government website. We don’t charge fees or submit applications on your behalf. You’ll find the government portal at evisa.gov.vn/instruction, and it’s worth confirming your details there before you travel.
Can You Edit a Vietnam Visa Application After Submission?
No, not while it’s “In Processing”. The system locks your form once you’ve lodged it, and the form cannot be edited by the applicant. Only an immigration officer can reopen it, by returning your file with an “Amendment Required” status, which lets you fix the flagged fields without paying again.
Here’s the status map and what each one means for you:
In Processing
The file is locked; you wait.
Amendment Required
The form is unlocked; you edit and resubmit for free.
Granted
The eVisa can’t be changed; a new application is the only fix.
Results aren’t emailed to applicants at all, so don’t wait for a notification. Instead, check your status yourself regularly using your Registration Code, email address and date of birth. And remember: the government visa fee is non-refundable, whatever happens.
Errors That Invalidate Your eVisa at Check-in
Airlines deny boarding when your eVisa doesn’t match your passport. Even a minor mismatch between the eVisa and your passport can be enough to be refused boarding or entry.
| Visa field | Typical error | Consequence | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Missing middle name, inverted order | Denied boarding | Match the MRZ lines |
| Passport number | Zero typed as letter “O” | Denied boarding | Re-apply with exact number |
| Date of birth | Day and month swapped | Identity mismatch | Re-apply with DD/MM/YYYY |
| Passport expiry | Wrong format or old passport data | Refused entry | Re-apply with current passport |
| Nationality | Nationality or passport-issuing country doesn’t match the passport | Identity mismatch | Re-apply with correct category |
Why Airline Check-in Rejects a Mismatched eVisa
At check-in the airline compares your passport with the eVisa data, and a mismatch means you won’t be issued a boarding pass. If the passport and the eVisa don’t match, you won’t be allowed on the flight.
Fixing Name Errors: MRZ Rules for British Passports
Enter your full surname, middle name and given name in uppercase letters, exactly as they appear in the two machine-readable lines at the bottom of your passport’s photo page, not as it’s printed above. That’s the ICAO format the Vietnamese portal expects.
The form doesn’t accept special characters, so write your name as it is rendered in the machine-readable lines, where punctuation is not used.
Include every middle name printed in the MRZ, in the same order. A missing middle name is one of the most common errors on eVisa applications. Also check you haven’t swapped the Surname and Given Name fields, as immigration systems read them in a fixed order.
Step-by-Step: Fixing an Application Under Review
If your file comes back as “Amendment Required”, you can fix it yourself in the portal:
Open the lookup tool
Go to evisa.gov.vn.
Retrieve your file
Use your Registration Code, email and date of birth (DD/MM/YYYY).
Read the reviewer’s instructions
Check the Comments box.
Edit the flagged fields
Such as name, passport details, dates or entry port.
Re-upload documents
Compliant photos and your passport bio page if requested.
Resubmit
The review clock resets to 3 – 5 working days.
There’s no extra fee for this round. One thing to watch: your temporary address needs the full hotel name and street address. Generic entries like “Hotel in Hanoi” are a common trigger for amendment requests.
Seeing the error “You are currently staying in Vietnam”? That means your last exit stamp hasn’t synced with the central database. Photograph the passport page showing your Vietnamese exit stamp and send it to the Immigration Department to confirm that you have already left the country.
Correcting Uploaded Photos and Passport Bio-Page Scans
Your portrait photo must be 4×6 cm on a plain white background, front-facing, with a neutral expression, in formal attire, and with no glasses or hat. It needs to be taken within the last six months and saved as a JPG, JPEG or PNG file under 2 MB.
For the bio page, capture all four corners with the full two-line MRZ visible at the bottom. Avoid flash glare over the text or photo, and keep the resolution high. Cropped MRZ lines are a frequent cause of repeated rejections.
What If Your Approved eVisa Is Already Wrong?
An approved eVisa can’t be amended: as noted above, the only fix is a new, paid application with the correct details.
Your eVisa validity starts on the arrival date you declared, and it can’t be backdated. You cannot enter Vietnam before that date; arriving later is fine as long as you leave before the expiry date.
Once the eVisa is issued, changing your arrival airport needs no amendment: the document doesn’t state an entry checkpoint, so you can enter through any approved international border gate. At the application stage, though, selecting a gate that doesn’t handle eVisas can trigger an amendment request.
Stuck at check-in with a defective eVisa? Vietnam applies visa exemptions to some nationalities, but the conditions change, so check the current visa-exemption rules for your nationality on the government portal before relying on an exemption instead of the flawed eVisa.
Common Mistakes and Requirements to Check
Before you resubmit anything, run through this list. Most repeat rejections come from avoidable oversights:
- Date format – the portal uses DD/MM/YYYY; typing month-first shifts your validity start date.
- Passport validity – your eVisa validity must end at least 30 days before your passport expires; six months’ remaining passport validity is the usual safe margin.
- Your location – you must be outside Vietnam when you apply; applications filed from inside the country are refused.
- Children – the accompanying-child field applies only to children under 14 who are endorsed in your passport; a child with their own passport needs a separate eVisa.
- Timing – you can file up to 1 year ahead, so don’t leave it to the last week.
- Wrong portal – the government system runs only at evisa.gov.vn and thithucdientu.gov.vn; third-party sites charge a service fee on top of the government fee.
- Flights within 48 hours – the government portal offers no guaranteed same-day route, so rescheduling the flight is usually the realistic option.
Fees are never refunded, even for rejected or duplicate applications, so check every field before you pay.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I correct a misspelled name on my approved Vietnam eVisa?
No. Once the eVisa is granted, the file is locked. If your name doesn’t match the MRZ lines on your passport, you must submit a new application with the correct spelling and pay the fee again.
Can I edit my Vietnam eVisa application while it is still processing?
No. A file marked “In Processing” is locked, and the applicant cannot edit it once it has been lodged. You wait until immigration either approves it or returns it as “Amendment Required”, which opens the fields for free editing.
How do I edit mistakes on Vietnam visa application forms returned as “Amendment Required”?
Retrieve your file on evisa.gov.vn with your Registration Code, email and date of birth. Read the reviewer’s comment, fix the flagged fields or re-upload documents, then resubmit. There’s no new fee, and processing takes another 3 – 5 working days.
Will I be denied boarding in the UK if my middle name is missing from my eVisa?
Yes, it can happen. Airlines compare your eVisa with your passport at check-in, and if middle names appear in the machine-readable lines but not on your eVisa, the mismatch can lead to refused boarding.
What should I do if I entered the wrong passport number on my Vietnam eVisa?
A passport number mismatch invalidates the eVisa, and airlines will refuse check-in. If it’s already approved, submit a new application straight away with the exact number from your bio page.
Can visa-free entry help if my eVisa has mistakes?
Vietnam applies visa exemptions to some nationalities, but the conditions change, so check the current rules for your nationality on the government portal before relying on an exemption instead of a flawed eVisa.
Do I need a new eVisa if my arrival airport changes?
No. Current eVisas don’t print a specific entry checkpoint, so you can arrive through any approved international border gate, including all 15 international airports, even if you declared a different one.
Can I get a refund for an incorrect Vietnam eVisa application?
No. Government fees are non-refundable in all cases, including typos, rejections and duplicate submissions. That’s why it’s worth checking every field against your passport before you pay.
Sources and Further Reading
- evisa.gov.vn/instruction – the government portal’s guidance on application fields, photo and bio-page requirements, and validity rules.
- evisa.gov.vn/faq – answers from the Vietnam National Electronic Visa system on common application questions.
Rules can change, so confirm your details on the government portal before you travel.
