Part of Ava Travel's Vietnam visa guide. Last updated 9 November 2026 by the Ava Travel team in Hanoi.
The short answer, from Ava Travel in Hanoi: there is no appeal for a refused Vietnam e-visa and no waiting period. Find the reason, fix it, and submit a new application on evisa.gov.vn with a new US$25 fee: the first fee is not refunded. Most refusals come from the photo, the passport scan, or details that do not match the passport.
Why Vietnam e-visas are refused
| Reason | What it looks like | How to fix it |
|---|---|---|
| Photo | Glasses, shadows, a coloured or patterned background, a cropped or old photo | Take a new photo; see the photo rules below |
| Passport scan | Glare, cut corners, the two machine-readable lines at the bottom missing | Scan or photograph the whole data page flat, in daylight |
| Name | Middle name missing, names in the wrong order, a name from another document | Copy the name exactly as printed in the passport |
| Passport | Less than 6 months left, a damaged passport, or a new passport after you applied | Apply with the passport you will travel with |
| Dates and ports | Entry date after your real arrival, an airport you are not landing at | Use your real flight dates and every port you will use |
| Details that do not match | Different date of birth, gender or nationality from the passport | Check every field against the passport before paying |
If the photo or the passport scan was the problem
These are the two fixes that need nothing from the government: retake the picture, rescan the page, and apply again the same day. The full rules, with how to take an accepted photo on a phone, are on Vietnam e-visa photo requirements.
What to do after a refusal, step by step
- 1. Read the reason on evisa.gov.vn with your registration code. It is often short; compare it with the table above.
- 2. Fix the cause: new photo, new passport scan, corrected name or dates.
- 3. Submit a new application and pay the fee again. You do not have to wait.
- 4. If your flight is less than a week away, use a 4 to 8 hour Express or 2 working day service for the new application; see how long a Vietnam e-visa takes.
- 5. Refused twice for no clear reason? Apply for a visa at a Vietnamese embassy instead.
How Ava Travel avoids refusals
When you book the Ava Travel e-visa service (from US$55), you upload your passport page and photo before you pay. We check both against the rules on this page and ask for a new photo if needed, then fill in the form with your real ports and dates. If an application is refused anyway, we tell you the reason and what to fix.
Frequently asked questions
My Vietnam e-visa was rejected. What should I do?
Check the reason on evisa.gov.vn, fix it, and submit a new application with a new US$25 fee. There is no appeal and no waiting period. If you fly within a week, use a 1 or 2 working day service for the new application.
Can I reapply for a Vietnam e-visa after a rejection?
Yes, straight away, with a new application and a new fee once you have fixed the reason.
Is the e-visa fee refunded if my application is refused?
No. The US$25 or US$50 government fee is not refunded when an e-visa is refused.
Why was my Vietnam e-visa rejected?
Most often because of the photo, an unclear passport scan, or a name, date or port that does not match the passport or the trip. The refusal note on evisa.gov.vn usually points to one of these.
Ava Travel's Vietnam visa and arrival guides
Guides
- Vietnam visa rules by passport: who needs a visa, the official site, cruises, Cambodia and Laos side trips
- How much a Vietnam e-visa costs: the US$25 government fee next to what agencies charge
- How long a Vietnam e-visa takes: working days, holidays and urgent options
- E-visa rejected: what to do next (this page): the usual reasons and how to reapply
- Vietnam e-visa photo rules: size, background, glasses, a phone photo at home
- Can you extend a Vietnam visa?: why an e-visa cannot be extended and what works instead
- E-visa still processing: how long is normal: when to wait and when to act
- Still processing and you fly tomorrow: what you can still do, in order
- E-visas at weekends and on holidays: the latest safe time before a weekend flight
- Is an urgent visa service legit?: 5 checks before you pay anyone
- Immigration wait at Hanoi Noi Bai: how long from landing to the exit
- Whether Noi Bai fast track is worth it: when to pay for it and when to skip it
Services you can book
- Vietnam e-visa service: from US$55 with the government fee, book online
- E-visa result in 1 or 2 hours, already applied: US$200 or US$165, money back if it is not issued in time
- Urgent help with an e-visa still processing: 4 hours (US$90) or 8 to 12 hours (US$70)
- Arrival package: e-visa, fast track and car: 10% off when you book them together
- Hanoi Noi Bai fast track: arrival and departure, book online
- Noi Bai connecting flight assistance: international to domestic and back
- Ho Chi Minh City Tan Son Nhat fast track: Terminal 2 arrivals and departures
- Da Nang airport fast track: for Da Nang and Hoi An trips
