Vietnam Pre-Arrival Information Guide 2026: How the New Airport QR System Works
Vietnam is piloting an online Pre-arrival Information system at Tan Son Nhat Airport. Foreign travelers can submit their details before flying and receive a QR code for immigration.
Flying into Ho Chi Minh City in 2026? Vietnam has introduced a new digital system that may make your airport arrival easier.
The Pre-arrival Information system, commonly shortened to PAI, allows foreign passengers to submit essential travel and passport information online before entering Vietnam. After a successful submission, the system generates a QR code that travelers can save on their phone or print before flying.
The system is currently being piloted at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City. It is optional rather than mandatory, and it does not replace a visa, visa exemption or any other legal entry requirement.
This guide explains who can use the system, when to complete the form, what information to prepare and how to avoid mistakes that could prevent a successful submission.
Vietnam’s Pre-Arrival System at a Glance
| Question | Current Information |
|---|---|
| Official name | Pre-arrival Information system |
| Abbreviation | PAI |
| Pilot airport | Tan Son Nhat International Airport |
| Location | Ho Chi Minh City |
| Who can use it? | Foreign passengers arriving by air |
| When can it be completed? | Within three days before entry |
| Is it mandatory? | No, it is currently optional |
| Does it replace a visa? | No |
| What do travelers receive? | A QR code after successful submission |
| Official fee | No fee is stated for the government declaration |
| Nationwide availability | Not yet; expansion is planned |
What Is Vietnam’s Pre-Arrival Information System?
The Pre-arrival Information system is an online immigration service operated by Vietnam’s Immigration Department.
It allows foreign air passengers to provide certain personal and travel details before arriving in Vietnam. Immigration authorities can then receive the information in advance instead of collecting all of it after the traveler reaches the airport.
The system is intended to:
- Reduce time spent completing arrival procedures
- Minimize unnecessary paperwork
- Improve passenger processing during busy periods
- Support digital immigration services
- Make airport arrivals more efficient
After completing the online declaration successfully, travelers receive a QR code to use during the arrival process.
The service is especially relevant for visitors arriving at Tan Son Nhat Airport, one of Vietnam’s busiest international gateways.
Is the Pre-Arrival Form Mandatory?
No.
During the current pilot phase, the Pre-arrival Information form is optional for foreign passengers arriving at Tan Son Nhat International Airport.
You should not confuse it with mandatory immigration requirements such as:
- Holding a valid passport
- Having the correct visa or visa-exemption status
- Entering through an approved border checkpoint
- Respecting the permitted length of stay
- Following customs and health requirements
Travelers who do not complete the PAI form can still follow the standard immigration process, provided they meet Vietnam’s normal entry requirements.
Because the pilot may later expand or change, travelers should check the official Immigration Department website shortly before departure.
Where Is the System Available?
The pilot began at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, the principal international airport serving Ho Chi Minh City.
At the time of publication, travelers should not assume that the same QR process is fully available at every Vietnamese airport.
Other major international gateways include:
- Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi
- Da Nang International Airport
- Cam Ranh International Airport
- Phu Quoc International Airport
- Cat Bi International Airport in Hai Phong
Vietnamese authorities have indicated that the system may later be expanded to other international airports and potentially adapted for travelers entering through land-border checkpoints.
Until an official nationwide announcement is published, complete the form primarily when your international flight lands at Tan Son Nhat Airport.
Who Can Complete the Form?
The official system is designed for foreign nationals traveling to Vietnam by air.
It may be useful for:
- Tourists
- Business travelers
- Visitors seeing friends or relatives
- Travelers entering under an e-visa
- Visa-exempt visitors
- Passengers arriving on international flights
- Travelers with a tight onward schedule
The form does not determine whether you are legally eligible to enter Vietnam.
You must separately confirm your visa requirements based on your nationality, travel purpose and intended length of stay.
When Should You Submit the Form?
Travelers can provide their information within three days before entering Vietnam.
For example:
| Arrival Date | Suggested Submission Window |
|---|---|
| July 20 | July 17–20 |
| August 5 | August 2–5 |
| September 18 | September 15–18 |
| December 30 | December 27–30 |
A practical time to complete it is one or two days before departure, when your flight and accommodation details are unlikely to change.
Do not complete the form too early.
You should also avoid waiting until you land because:
- Airport Wi-Fi can be unreliable
- Your phone battery may be low
- You may not have your booking details easily available
- Typing errors are more likely when you are tired
- Immigration queues may already be forming
Complete it calmly before leaving for the airport and save the QR code offline.
What Information Should You Prepare?
Have the following ready before starting:
- Passport
- Full legal name
- Date of birth
- Nationality
- Passport number
- Passport expiry date
- Flight number
- Arrival date
- Airport of arrival
- Passenger Name Record when requested
- First accommodation in Vietnam
- Vietnamese address
- Contact details
- Purpose of travel
- Visa or entry information when requested
Use the same passport that you will present at the airport.
Your name, passport number, date of birth and nationality should match the passport exactly.
Which Flight Number Should You Enter?
Enter the flight that physically lands in Vietnam.
For example, suppose your itinerary is:
Paris → Singapore → Ho Chi Minh City
You should enter the Singapore-to-Ho Chi Minh City flight, not the Paris-to-Singapore flight.
Similarly:
London → Bangkok → Ho Chi Minh City
Use the Bangkok-to-Ho Chi Minh City flight number.
Codeshare flights can be confusing because your ticket may display both a marketing airline and an operating airline.
Check your boarding pass or final booking confirmation for the flight number associated with the aircraft arriving in Vietnam.
Incorrect flight information has been one of the reasons some pilot submissions were unsuccessful.
What Is a Passenger Name Record?
A Passenger Name Record, commonly called a PNR, is the booking reference connected to your airline reservation.
It is usually a short combination of letters and numbers, such as:
AB12CD