This guide covers UK visa requirements for Vietnamese citizens in 2026 — fees, grant rates, processing times, and how to apply. Vietnam is a visa-national country, so its citizens need a visa for every UK trip; there is no ETA option. The 6-month visitor visa costs $191, paid in US Dollars. The visitor route carries a solid 84% grant rate, while Vietnam's student route is outstanding at 99%.
UK Visas from Vietnam
UK Visa from Vietnam 2026: Requirements, Fees & Success Rate
UK Visa Requirements for Vietnamese Citizens 2026
Yes. Vietnam is on the UK's visa-national list, so its citizens must obtain a visa before travelling, for any purpose — there is no ETA option. The 6-month Standard Visitor visa costs $191, paid in US Dollars. The visitor grant rate is 84%, so a well-documented application matters, while study succeeds at 99% and family at 90%.
Vietnam is a growing UK visa market, with just over 24,000 applications in the year ending June 2026, and study — at a 99% grant rate — is the main driver of the relationship. Vietnamese applicants do best when documentation is thorough and consistent: financial evidence and ties to Vietnam carry the most weight on the visitor route, while sponsored routes turn on the CAS or Certificate of Sponsorship.
The core requirements apply across all visa types:
- Valid Vietnamese passport: with at least 6 months beyond the intended stay.
- Completed online application: via gov.uk with the fee paid in US Dollars.
- Bank statements: the last 6 months, showing steady income rather than sudden deposits.
- Employment evidence: a letter confirming role, salary, and approved leave.
- Accommodation details: bookings or a UK host's invitation letter.
- Ties to Vietnam: property, business, or family showing return intent.
- Travel history: any previous visas demonstrating compliance strengthen the case.
Our supporting documents checklist covers each route in detail, and the Home Office's own guide to supporting documents sets out what caseworkers expect to see.
UK Visa Fees from Vietnam 2026
UK visa fees from Vietnam are charged in US Dollars and paid during the online application, under the 8 April 2026 schedule. Work, study, and family visas also carry the Immigration Health Surcharge, paid separately in pounds sterling at £1,035 per year, or £776 for students — Health and Care Workers are exempt.
UK visa fees from Vietnam in US dollars (2026)
| Visa Type | Fee (USD) | Grant Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 6-month Visitor | $191 | 84% |
| 2-year Visitor | $718 | 84% |
| 5-year Visitor | $1,281 | 84% |
| 10-year Visitor | $1,600 | 84% |
| Student | $791 | 99% |
| Skilled Worker (≤3 years) | $1,162 | 85% |
| Skilled Worker (over 3 years) | $2,295 | 85% |
| Health and Care Worker | $459 | 85% |
| Global Talent (with approval) | $291 | — |
| Spouse / Partner | $2,927 | 90% |
| Priority service | $709 | — |
Source: Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 April 2026 schedule; grant rates year ending June 2026.
Which Long-Term Visitor Visa Makes Sense?
The long-term options only pay off with regular travel. Against the $191 single fee, the 2-year visa at $718 breaks even at around four trips, and the 5-year at $1,281 at around seven. For families visiting relatives in the UK every year, the saving in repeated paperwork often matters as much as the fee itself — every application means fresh forms, fresh statements, and a fresh biometrics appointment in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City.
UK Tourist Visa from Vietnam 2026
The UK visit visa costs $191, allows stays of up to 180 days per visit, and covers tourism, family visits, business, and short courses. Frequent travellers can take the long-term options at $718 for 2 years, $1,281 for 5, and $1,600 for 10 — each visit still capped at 180 days.
At 84%, the visitor grant rate is solid rather than automatic, so documentation decides the marginal case: steady income, employment, and clear reasons to return. Those visiting relatives should review what a UK sponsor must provide, and anyone refused can consult our guides to refusal reasons and reapplying after a refusal.
UK Student Visa from Vietnam 2026
Study is Vietnam's flagship route. The UK Student visa costs $791 plus the health surcharge at £776 per year, and needs a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from a licensed sponsor, the English language requirement, and maintenance funds of £1,529 per month for London or £1,171 elsewhere.
After Graduation: The Graduate Route
Completing the course unlocks the Graduate Route — two years of post-study work without sponsorship, a major reason Vietnamese students choose Britain. Many then switch into the Skilled Worker route once an employer offers sponsorship, converting a study visa into a long-term career path.
Vietnam's standout figure is its study route — a 99% grant rate, reflecting fast-rising numbers of Vietnamese students at UK universities. The visitor route is solid at 84%, broadly in line with regional neighbours such as the Philippines, so visitor applicants should evidence finances and ties carefully. Our grant rate analysis sets these in context.
UK Work Visa from Vietnam 2026
The Skilled Worker visa costs $1,162 for up to three years, or $2,295 for longer, and needs a Certificate of Sponsorship from a licensed employer, a graduate-level job, and a salary of at least £41,700 or the going rate in the Home Office eligible occupations list. Work volumes from Vietnam are modest but growing, with an 85% grant rate. Healthcare professionals use the Health and Care Worker route at $459, which is exempt from the health surcharge.
UK Spouse & Family Visa from Vietnam 2026
The UK Spouse visa costs $2,927 and lets Vietnamese nationals join a British or settled partner under Appendix FM, leading to indefinite leave to remain after five years. The sponsor must earn at least £29,000 a year and the couple must prove a genuine relationship. The initial visa runs 33 months; Vietnam's family grant rate is 90%, with settlement cases taking up to 12 weeks to decide.
UK Visa Success Rate for Vietnam 2026
Vietnam's grant rates are strong across the board, led by the near-automatic study route. The 84% visitor rate still leaves around one in seven refused, which is why documentation carries the weight it does on that route.
UK visa grant rates for Vietnam (year ending June 2026)
| Visa Category | Applications | Grant Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Visitor | 20,916 | 84% |
| Study | 2,595 | 99% |
| Family | 535 | 90% |
| Work | 320 | 85% |
Source: Home Office Immigration System Statistics, year ending June 2026.
How to Apply for a UK Visa from Vietnam
Vietnamese citizens apply online at gov.uk, pay in US Dollars, and give biometrics at a visa application centre in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. The process is the same one used across the wider region, including Indonesia, Thailand, and China.
- Complete the online application on gov.uk and select Vietnam.
- Pay the visa fee in US Dollars during the application.
- Book your appointment at the centre in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City.
- Attend and give biometrics — fingerprints and a photograph.
- Submit supporting documents at the centre or online.
- Access your eVisa through your UKVI account once approved.
Standard decisions take around 3 weeks, with settlement and family cases up to 12 weeks; the priority visa service can shorten non-settlement decisions where offered. Our guide to processing times after biometrics explains the timelines once you have attended your appointment.
Sources: fees from the Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 April 2026 schedule, as charged in US Dollars at visa-fees.homeoffice.gov.uk; grant rates and application volumes from the Home Office Immigration System Statistics, year ending June 2026. Figures verified 29 August 2026 against the 8 April 2026 fee schedule.
Frequently Asked
Questions about UK Visas from Vietnam
Yes. Vietnam is on the UK's visa-national list, so Vietnamese passport holders must obtain a visa before travelling, whatever the purpose — there is no ETA option. The most common choice for short visits is the Standard Visitor visa, costing $191 for six months. The visitor grant rate is 84%, so strong financial evidence and clear ties to Vietnam are important, while study applications succeed at 99%.
UK visa fees from Vietnam in 2026 are: 6-month Visitor $191, 2-year Visitor $718, Student $791, Skilled Worker $1,162 for up to 3 years, and Spouse $2,927. Fees are paid in US Dollars during the online application. Work, study, and family visas also require the Immigration Health Surcharge, paid separately in pounds at £1,035 per year, or £776 for students.
In the year ending June 2026, the Vietnamese visitor visa grant rate was 84% — of 20,638 decisions, 17,437 were granted. Other routes performed strongly: study 99% on 2,595 applications, family 90%, and work 85%. The high study figure reflects Vietnam's fast-growing education link with the UK, while the solid visitor rate means tourist applicants should still document finances and ties carefully.
Vietnamese applicants apply online at gov.uk, pay the fee in US Dollars, and then book a biometrics appointment at a visa application centre in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. At the appointment you give fingerprints and a photograph and submit supporting documents. Once a decision is made, successful applicants access a digital eVisa through their UKVI account rather than receiving a passport sticker.
Yes, and study is Vietnam's strongest route. The Student visa costs $791, has a 99% grant rate, and needs a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies from a licensed UK institution, proof of English, and maintenance funds. Vietnamese student numbers at UK universities have risen sharply. Graduates can stay on through the Graduate Route for two years of post-study work after completing their course.
Yes, with a sponsored work visa. The Skilled Worker route costs $1,162 for up to three years and needs a graduate-level job with a licensed UK employer paying at least £41,700 or the going rate for the occupation. Healthcare professionals use the Health and Care Worker visa at $459, exempt from the health surcharge. Vietnamese work applications are modest in number with an 85% grant rate. A visitor visa never permits work.
On a visitor visa, up to 180 days per visit — the cap is the same whether the visa is valid for 6 months or 10 years; longer validity means more trips, not longer stays. On sponsored routes the stay matches the visa: a Student visa covers the course length, and a Spouse visa runs 33 months initially, leading to settlement after five years of residence in the UK.
If you visit the UK regularly — family, business, or study fairs — yes. The 2-year visa costs $718 against $191 per single application, breaking even at around four trips, while the 5-year visa at $1,281 breaks even at around seven. Each visit stays capped at 180 days, and the visa also spares you repeating the full application and biometrics process in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City every time you travel.
Standard processing from Vietnam is around 3 weeks for visitor, student, and work visas, and up to 12 weeks for settlement and family visas. The priority service returns a decision in about 5 working days for non-settlement visas where offered, and super priority the next working day. These timelines run from your biometrics appointment in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, not from the online submission.
Visa du lịch 6 tháng có phí $191, visa du học $791, visa lao động Skilled Worker (đến 3 năm) $1,162 và visa vợ/chồng $2,927. Toàn bộ lệ phí thanh toán bằng đô la Mỹ khi nộp hồ sơ trực tuyến. Visa lao động, du học và gia đình còn phải đóng thêm phụ phí y tế (IHS) bằng bảng Anh.
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