The short answer
- Any nationality can stay on Phu Quoc for up to 30 days without a visa.
- You must arrive directly from abroad, by air or sea. Transiting through another Vietnamese international airport counts, as long as you stay in the transit area.
- It covers Phu Quoc only. To visit the mainland you need a visa.
- It can't be extended. To stay longer you must leave Vietnam and re-enter on a visa.
How to qualify
You receive the exemption stamp on arrival. There's nothing to apply for and nothing to pay. You'll generally need:
- A passport with plenty of validity left (at least six months is the safe rule)
- Proof that you're leaving within 30 days, such as an onward flight or ferry ticket
- To arrive at one of Phu Quoc's international entry points, such as Phu Quoc International Airport
What it doesn't cover
| Situation | Does the exemption apply? |
|---|---|
| Flying from abroad straight to Phu Quoc | Yes |
| Flying from abroad via Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi, staying airside | Yes |
| Flying from abroad, clearing immigration in Ho Chi Minh City, then flying to Phu Quoc | No, you've entered the mainland |
| Crossing a land border (e.g. Ha Tien) then taking the ferry to Phu Quoc | No, a land entry is a mainland entry |
| Already in Vietnam, flying to Phu Quoc to reset your days | No, a domestic flight isn't an entry |
| Travelling on from Phu Quoc to the mainland | No, you need a visa |
If you want to stay longer than 30 days
Because the exemption can't be extended, the usual route is a visa run: leave Vietnam, then re-enter on a Vietnam e-visa, which allows up to 90 days anywhere in the country. From Phu Quoc, the closest border is Ha Tien–Prek Chak with Cambodia.
Remember that re-entering at Ha Tien counts as a mainland entry, so the island exemption won't apply a second time. You'll need the e-visa, with Ha Tien named as your entry port.
If your country has its own exemption
Some nationalities, including the UK and several European countries, can also enter Vietnam visa-free for 45 days. That exemption covers the whole country, not only Phu Quoc. Whichever you entered on, the same rule applies when it ends: leave and come back on a visa, before your days run out.
Don't overstay
Staying even one day past your permitted date is an overstay. Vietnam raised its overstay fines under Decree 282/2025, and overstays of 16 days or more can lead to deportation. Plan your visa run a few days before your exemption ends.