Vietnam Pre-Arrival Information (PAI): How to File It and Get Your Entry QR Code

If you are flying into Vietnam on a non-Vietnamese passport, you must complete an online Pre-Arrival Information (PAI) declaration before you reach the immigration counter. It is a government system, separate from your visa, that lets border officers process your entry data in advance so you spend less time in line.

TL;DR: Vietnam's Immigration Department (Ministry of Public Security) runs the official PAI portal at prearrival.immigration.gov.vn. Travelers using non-Vietnamese passports and entering Vietnam by air must submit personal, visa, and travel details no earlier than three days before arrival, and the system issues a QR code to show at immigration. The system began as a pilot at Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Son Nhat Airport (SGN) on April 15, 2026; a June 17 U.S. Embassy notice reports that the mandatory declaration has since expanded to all airports in Vietnam. PAI does not grant a visa or guarantee entry. Use only the official .gov.vn site and ignore third parties charging a "filing fee".

Direct answer: what the Vietnam PAI declaration is

What PAI is (and what it is not)

The PAI System is an online utility that lets foreign air travelers provide travel information before entering Vietnam. Once you submit the declaration, the local immigration authority can carry out entry checks in advance, which cuts waiting time at the counter, especially during peak hours.

PAI is a declaration of travel information, not a visa service. The system does not receive or process visa applications, and a completed PAI does not by itself authorize entry. You still need the correct visa or visa-free eligibility, and immigration officers make the final entry decision.

Do not confuse the original pilot with the current nationwide airport rule. The Ministry of Public Security described the SGN pilot as optional in its May 13, 2026 article. A later U.S. Embassy notice dated June 17 says the mandatory declaration was expanded to international arrivals at all airports in Vietnam. Check the official portal and current airline instructions before travel in case implementation details change.

How to complete the PAI declaration

1. Open the official portal: https://prearrival.immigration.gov.vn (or scan the QR code provided by the Immigration Department).
2. Select your language. The portal supports Vietnamese, English, Chinese, French, and others.
3. Choose "Create and submit declaration" and enter the CAPTCHA verification code.
4. Fill in your personal information, visa information, and travel details (flight, dates, accommodation) exactly as they appear on your documents.
5. Submit. The system generates a QR code for your entry. Save it on your phone or print it, and show it to immigration officers at the border gate.

Common mistakes that cause a failed declaration

During the SGN pilot, a share of declarations failed because of input errors, particularly mismatches between the flight number entered by the traveler and the Passenger Name Record (PNR) flight data. To improve the chance of a successful declaration:

• Enter your name and passport number exactly as printed on your passport (match the machine-readable zone), not a nickname or reordered name.
• Copy the flight number and PNR directly from your airline confirmation.
• Complete the form within the 3-day window before entry, not earlier.

Only the official government portal is correct. The official PAI declaration is filed at prearrival.immigration.gov.vn. Avoid third-party sites that copy the form and charge a "filing" or "processing" fee for a government declaration. Confirm the domain before entering any passport details.

If you travel often or manage several travelers, repeatedly typing the same details into the visa and PAI forms can introduce errors. eVisaFlow Southeast Asia can fill saved passport, trip, stay, and contact details on Vietnam eVisa and Pre-Arrival Information official websites with one click, while keeping the same traveler profiles useful for other covered Southeast Asia destinations and forms.

References

• Pre-Arrival Information portal (Vietnam Immigration Department)
• Immigration Department launches Pre-arrival Information System (Ministry of Public Security)
• U.S. Embassy Vietnam: notice on pre-arrival declaration for international visitors
• U.S. Department of State: Vietnam entry requirements