What documents do I need to open a bank account in Vietnam as a foreigner?

The legal baseline is a valid passport or other competent-authority identity document, plus an entry visa, valid visa-equivalent document, or proof of visa exemption. Banks may request more, such as local-address evidence or residence documentation. Bring originals; copies are usually made at the branch. Nothing in the reviewed material records a single universal list, so confirm with your chosen bank before visiting.

Do I have to visit a bank branch in person to open an account?

Likely yes for many foreigners. Biometric verification is part of current banking authentication and may require an in-person branch visit for customers whose identity data cannot be matched electronically, including some passport-based cases. Nothing in the reviewed material records a fully remote opening path for foreign individuals. Plan for at least one branch visit.

Can I open a Vietnamese bank account as a tourist?

Tourists and other short-term visitors may face substantially more difficulty than residents, and approval is not assured even where a non-resident payment-account route exists. The legal baseline requires a valid visa or visa-exemption proof, but banks can impose stricter onboarding. If you are on a tourist visa, expect to be asked for additional residence or purpose evidence, and be prepared for refusal.

Why do different banks or branches ask for different documents?

Foreigners should not assume that every Vietnamese bank or branch applies the same onboarding requirements; branch-level and bank-level policies can differ. A bank may request additional information beyond the legal identity baseline, such as local-address evidence, residence documentation, or information about the account's purpose. This variation is normal, not a sign of a scam. Ask the specific branch what it needs before you go.

How long does it take to open a bank account in Vietnam?

Nothing in the reviewed material records a standard processing time. The brief's outline mentions same-day account opening for most applicants, but no verified claim supports a specific duration. In practice, if your documents are complete and biometric verification succeeds in-branch, the process can often be completed in one visit, but you should not rely on that. Confirm timing with the bank.

What extra documents might a bank request beyond my passport and visa?

A bank may request additional information or documents beyond the legal identity baseline, such as local-address evidence, residence documentation, or information about the account's purpose. Examples from the reviewed material include proof of where you live in Vietnam and why you need the account. Nothing in the reviewed material records a fixed list, so ask your branch in advance.

How Foreigners Can Open a Bank Account in Vietnam: A Step-by-Step Guide (2026)

Short answer: most foreign residents can open a Vietnamese bank account the same day they visit a branch, but you need the right documents and a biometric check, and branch policies vary. The legal baseline is a valid passport plus an entry visa, visa-equivalent document, or proof of visa exemption. Circular 25/2025/TT-NHNN, effective from August 31, 2025, sets the current rules. Tourists and short-term visitors face more hurdles than residents, and approval is not assured.

The 2025 circular set the current rules

Short answer: Circular 25/2025/TT-NHNN is the legal framework banks follow for foreign account opening. The State Bank of Vietnam issued this circular to amend payment-account rules, and it took effect on August 31, 2025. Some provisions had later effective dates of December 1, 2025, and March 1, 2026. This means the rules you encounter at a branch in 2026 are shaped by this circular, not older guidance. For a foreigner, the practical takeaway is that the legal baseline for opening a payment account is now set by this document, and banks must operate within it. If a bank asks for something beyond the baseline, that is a bank-level policy, not a legal requirement under the circular.

Passport and visa are the legal baseline

Short answer: the minimum every bank must accept is a valid passport plus an entry visa, visa-equivalent document, or proof of visa exemption. For a foreign national residing in Vietnam, this is the legal documentation baseline for opening a payment account. The passport can be replaced by another competent-authority identity document, but in practice a passport is what most foreigners present. The visa requirement is where many people trip up: a tourist visa may not be enough, and you need to show you are legally in the country. For details on visa types and what counts as a visa-equivalent document, see The Honest Visa Guide for Renting Long-Term in Vietnam. For how this fits into your broader money setup, read Banking, Money and Paying Rent in Vietnam.

Biometric verification usually means an in-person visit

Short answer: expect to appear at a branch at least once for biometric verification. Biometric verification is part of current banking authentication in Vietnam, and it may require an in-person branch visit for customers whose identity data cannot be matched electronically. This includes some passport-based cases, where the bank's system cannot verify your face or fingerprint against a national database. In practice, this means you should plan for a branch visit even if you start the application online. The bank will likely take your photo, scan your fingerprints, or both. If you are a foreigner with a passport, do not assume you can complete everything remotely. For more on how banking works for expats, see Banking, Money and Paying Rent in Vietnam.

Branch and bank policies can differ

Short answer: do not assume every bank or branch applies the same onboarding requirements. Foreigners should not assume that every Vietnamese bank or branch follows identical rules. Branch-level and bank-level policies can differ, so the experience at one branch may not match another. One branch might ask for local-address evidence or residence documentation, while another might not. One bank might open an account for a tourist, while another will refuse. This variation is not illegal; it is how banks manage risk. Before you go, call the branch or ask a local contact what documents they actually want. For a practical overview of banking in Vietnam, see Banking, Money and Paying Rent in Vietnam.

Banks may ask for more than the legal minimum

Short answer: yes, a bank can ask for more than the passport and visa that the law requires. A bank may request local-address evidence, residence documentation, or information about the account's purpose. Nothing in the reviewed material records a standard list of extra documents; what a branch asks for can depend on the bank and the staff member you see. Bring a rental contract, a utility bill in your name, or a letter from your landlord if you have one, and be ready to explain why you need the account. If you are asked for something you do not have, ask the branch whether an alternative document is acceptable before you give up.

Tourists and short-term visitors face more hurdles

Short answer: tourists and short-term visitors should expect more difficulty and no guarantee of approval. Residents have a clearer path. Tourists and other short-term visitors may face substantially more difficulty opening accounts than residents, and approval is not assured even where a non-resident payment-account route exists. If you are on a tourist visa or a short stay, do not assume you can open an account; ask the bank before you travel or on your first day. Some banks may refuse outright, while others may require additional proof of ties to Vietnam. Nothing in the reviewed material records a uniform policy for tourists, so treat any promise of easy account opening as unverified until a branch confirms it in writing.

Frequently asked questions

What documents do I need to open a bank account in Vietnam as a foreigner?: The legal baseline is a valid passport or other competent-authority identity document, plus an entry visa, valid visa-equivalent document, or proof of visa exemption. Banks may request more, such as local-address evidence or residence documentation. Bring originals; copies are usually made at the branch. Nothing in the reviewed material records a single universal list, so confirm with your chosen bank before visiting.
Do I have to visit a bank branch in person to open an account?: Likely yes for many foreigners. Biometric verification is part of current banking authentication and may require an in-person branch visit for customers whose identity data cannot be matched electronically, including some passport-based cases. Nothing in the reviewed material records a fully remote opening path for foreign individuals. Plan for at least one branch visit.
Can I open a Vietnamese bank account as a tourist?: Tourists and other short-term visitors may face substantially more difficulty than residents, and approval is not assured even where a non-resident payment-account route exists. The legal baseline requires a valid visa or visa-exemption proof, but banks can impose stricter onboarding. If you are on a tourist visa, expect to be asked for additional residence or purpose evidence, and be prepared for refusal.
Why do different banks or branches ask for different documents?: Foreigners should not assume that every Vietnamese bank or branch applies the same onboarding requirements; branch-level and bank-level policies can differ. A bank may request additional information beyond the legal identity baseline, such as local-address evidence, residence documentation, or information about the account's purpose. This variation is normal, not a sign of a scam. Ask the specific branch what it needs before you go.
How long does it take to open a bank account in Vietnam?: Nothing in the reviewed material records a standard processing time. The brief's outline mentions same-day account opening for most applicants, but no verified claim supports a specific duration. In practice, if your documents are complete and biometric verification succeeds in-branch, the process can often be completed in one visit, but you should not rely on that. Confirm timing with the bank.
What extra documents might a bank request beyond my passport and visa?: A bank may request additional information or documents beyond the legal identity baseline, such as local-address evidence, residence documentation, or information about the account's purpose. Examples from the reviewed material include proof of where you live in Vietnam and why you need the account. Nothing in the reviewed material records a fixed list, so ask your branch in advance.

Updated: 2026-09-07