Vietnam Health Declaration from July 1, 2026

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Under Decree No. 165/2026/ND-CP, effective July 1, 2026, Vietnam has established a mandatory health monitoring framework for all travelers crossing Vietnamese borders. Whether you are arriving, departing, or transiting, this new health declaration applies to you — and it is separate from the Digital Arrival Card.

What Is the Vietnam Health Declaration?

The Vietnam health declaration is a permanent standing public health requirement established under the Law on Disease Prevention and Control. Rather than being activated only during pandemics, it creates a continuous framework that the Ministry of Health can scale up or down based on disease context.

Under Decree 165/2026/ND-CP, all persons crossing Vietnamese borders — by air, land, or sea — are required to disclose health status information. The specific data fields and screening intensity can be adjusted by the Ministry of Health depending on prevailing public health conditions.

Who Needs to Complete It?

The health declaration requirement covers everyone crossing any Vietnamese border checkpoint. There are no exemptions based on:

• Nationality or passport type
• Visa status (including visa-exempt travelers)
• Purpose of travel (tourism, business, transit, residency)
• Port of entry (airports, land border crossings, seaports)

This includes travelers entering Vietnam, travelers departing Vietnam, and transit passengers passing through. Vietnamese citizens are equally subject to this requirement when crossing borders.

When Must It Be Submitted?

The health declaration must be submitted within 7 days before your scheduled entry, exit, or transit. This is a separate and distinct window from the Digital Arrival Card:

• Digital Arrival Card: within 72 hours before arrival (at SGN and PQC only)
• Health Declaration: within 7 days before any border crossing (all ports, all directions)

If you are arriving at SGN or PQC on or after July 1, 2026, plan to complete both forms. The health declaration can be submitted first (up to 7 days out), followed by the Digital Arrival Card (within the 72-hour window).

How to Submit the Health Declaration

Two submission methods are available under Decree 165/2026/ND-CP:

1. Electronic online portal — As of June 2026, the specific portal has not been officially announced. It may be integrated into the existing immigration platform at prearrival.immigration.gov.vn or launched on a new dedicated domain. Monitor official Ministry of Health channels for the announcement.
2. Paper form (Appendix V of Decree 165) — A printed paper declaration conforming to Appendix V of Decree 165/2026/ND-CP is accepted at all border checkpoints. These forms are available from airlines and at border gates.

Until the online platform is officially launched, travelers should be prepared to use the paper form. Check official Vietnamese government sources closer to your travel date.

What Happens at the Border?

Health quarantine officers are stationed at all Vietnamese border gates and will review your declaration upon arrival or departure. The standard process includes:

• Review of your completed health declaration form
• Visual observation for signs of illness
• Temperature screening

If quarantine officers identify signs of potential illness or discrepancies in your declaration, a more detailed screening process is initiated. This secondary screening may include a health interview, review of epidemiological history, and — if relevant to active Ministry of Health directives — verification of vaccination records.

The detailed screening process is capped at a maximum of 2 hours under Decree 165/2026/ND-CP. After screening, travelers are either cleared to proceed or directed to appropriate health authorities.

Is This the Same as the Digital Arrival Card?

No. These are two completely separate requirements managed by different government ministries.

If you are arriving at SGN or PQC on or after July 1, 2026, you will need both: the Digital Arrival Card for immigration and the Health Declaration for public health authorities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Disclaimer: This article is an independent expert guide. vietnamprearrival.com is not affiliated with the Government of Vietnam or the Vietnam Immigration Department.