How to open a bank account in Vietnam as a foreigner on an e-visa: the checklist
On a 90 day e-visa you can usually open a card-free Timo account in person. Vietcombank and Techcombank still want about 12 months of validity. The checklist.
Published . Updated . 6 min read.
As a foreigner you can open a bank account in Vietnam in person with an original passport, a valid visa and a Vietnamese SIM in your own name. On a 90 day e-visa, expect a basic account without a card. Timo by BVBank publishes that tier openly. The big banks, Vietcombank, Techcombank and BIDV, usually apply an internal threshold of about 12 months of visa or residence card validity. This checklist gives you the rules as they stood in September 2026, the order to do things in, and the folder to bring so you only visit once.
Can you open a bank account in Vietnam on an e-visa?
Yes, but usually only a spending account without a card. Timo by BVBank opens accounts for foreigners aged 15 or over with a valid visa or residence card, with no requirement for 12 months of remaining validity. What you get depends on the validity of your document:
| Visa or residence card validity | What Timo by BVBank offers |
|---|---|
| Under 90 days | Spend Account only, no card |
| 180 to 364 days | Spend Account and term deposit |
| 365 days or more | Spend Account, term deposit and debit or credit card (card needs at least 360 days of validity) |
A 90 day e-visa, the standard route for most passports since 15 August 2023, therefore gets you an account and the app, but not a card. Our Visa Check tool shows you which entry route your passport qualifies for.
What changed with Circular 45/2025 in January 2026?
The legal 12 month barrier for cards is gone, but most banks have not dropped their own policies. Under Circular 45/2025/TT-NHNN of the State Bank of Vietnam, in force since 5 January 2026, foreigners no longer need a residency period of 12 months (360 days) or more to apply for a card. The circular caps the card's use at your remaining legal residency period instead.
Two things follow for you. First, a bank may now issue a card on a short visa, but it does not have to, and Timo's published tiers still reserve cards for documents valid 360 days or more. Second, where a bank does issue a card, it stops working when your legal stay ends, so every new visa means a new round with the bank. Do not build your payment setup on that card alone.
Does Vietcombank or Techcombank accept foreigners on a tourist visa?
Usually not for a full account with a card. In 2026, Vietcombank, BIDV and Techcombank generally ask for a temporary residence card or a visa valid 12 months or more before they open a full service account with card and online banking. Techcombank serves foreigners with a work permit or temporary residence card. These are internal policies, not law, so an individual branch may decide differently.
The order we would follow is simple: open Timo first on an e-visa, then approach the big banks once you hold a temporary residence card.
Can you open the account online?
No. If you open an account with a passport, you must attend in person. Circular 45/2025 requires card issuers to meet the customer face to face and match their biometric data with their identity document, and Timo does not support online opening through the app for foreign customers. As of 20 August 2026, in person biometric capture at a branch is one of the core requirements.
Biometrics also follow you into daily use. Under Decision 2345/QD-NHNN, in force since 1 July 2024, a transfer of VND 10 million or more, or online transfers above VND 20 million in total in a day, need face authentication in the banking app. Since 1 January 2025, under Circulars 17/2024 and 18/2024, accounts without verified biometrics lose online transactions.
Why do you need a Vietnamese SIM first?
Because banks send one time passcodes to a Vietnamese number, and a SIM registered in your own name is a standard requirement, at Timo included. International numbers are excluded. Get the SIM before you visit any branch.
The SIM has its own biometric rule. Circular 08/2026/TT-BKHCN, in force since 15 April 2026, requires facial verification for every new subscription. If the operator detects a change of handset, it suspends outbound calls and SMS until you verify your face again, and you have 30 days to do it. If your bank codes stop arriving after a phone upgrade, this is the likely reason. In 2026, a monthly plan with data costs around VND 100,000 to 300,000.
Which documents should you bring to the branch?
Bring the union of what banks ask for, so one visit is enough:
- Your original passport, not a copy, plus a photocopy of the data page.
- Your visa or e-visa approval, printed, with the entry stamp page. Timo asks for the original valid visa or residence card.
- Proof of your address in Vietnam, such as your lease.
- The confirmation of your temporary residence declaration. Your landlord or hotel files it on the Ministry of Public Security system at tbltkbtt.bocongan.gov.vn (operational since 21 May 2026), immediately when you check in online or within 12 hours on paper. Ask for a screenshot.
- A Vietnamese SIM, active and registered in your name.
- An employment contract, only if you want the account to receive a Vietnamese salary.
Some banks set their own validity floor for every document: HSBC Vietnam wants at least 60 days of validity left on each one. Check the dates on your whole folder before you queue.
What does a local account save you?
Mainly ATM fees and payment friction. As of 5 September 2026, a foreign card withdrawal costs around VND 50,000 to 66,000 at Vietcombank with a limit of about VND 2 to 3 million, and VND 50,000 to 60,000 at BIDV. Eximbank is often free or cheapest, at about VND 0 to 22,000. In August 2026, VPBank had the highest limit at VND 10 million. Local VietQR payments also need a Vietnamese account or a supported wallet.
How do you send money out of Vietnam?
With paperwork and a fee. Banks report international electronic transfers of USD 1,000 or more to the State Bank under Circular 27/2025/TT-NHNN, in force since 1 November 2025. As of 23 April 2026, Vietcombank's overseas transfer fee is 0.2 percent of the amount, minimum USD 5 and maximum USD 300 per transaction. Bringing money in is the easier direction. Check the rate side with our currency check tool.
The checklist in one table
| Step | What to do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Get the temporary residence declaration confirmation from your landlord | Proof of address for the bank |
| 2 | Buy a SIM in your name and complete face verification | Bank passcodes only go to a Vietnamese number |
| 3 | Prepare the folder above | One visit instead of three |
| 4 | Open Timo in person on your e-visa | Published policy, no 12 month rule for the account |
| 5 | Approach Vietcombank, Techcombank or BIDV with a residence card | Their internal policies usually want 12 months |
| 6 | Expect any card to end with your legal stay | Circular 45/2025 caps card use at your residency period |
If you are still choosing a base, our destination comparison sets Vietnam next to Thailand and Portugal.
Updated on 26 September 2026. Rules and prices change: confirm with the official source linked above before you act.
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreigner open a bank account in Vietnam on a tourist visa?
Yes, at some banks. Timo by BVBank accepts any valid visa at the time of registration, with no 12 month validity rule, but a visa valid under 90 days only gets a Spend Account without a card. Vietcombank, Techcombank and BIDV usually want a visa or residence card valid about 12 months for a full account. You must open in person with your original passport.
Can I get a debit card in Vietnam on a 90 day e-visa?
Rarely. Circular 45/2025, in force since 5 January 2026, removed the legal 12 month residency requirement for cards and caps card use at your remaining legal stay. Banks still apply their own rules: Timo reserves cards for residence documents valid at least 360 days, and the big banks usually want 12 months. Plan to use a foreign card alongside a local account.
Can I open a Vietnamese bank account online from abroad?
No, not with a foreign passport. Circular 45/2025 requires a face to face meeting and biometric matching against your identity document, and Timo does not support online opening for foreign customers. You also need a Vietnamese SIM registered in your name, which itself needs face verification since 15 April 2026. Plan the branch visit after you arrive.
What documents does a foreigner need to open a bank account in Vietnam?
An original passport, a valid visa or residence card, proof of a Vietnamese address and a Vietnamese SIM in your name, plus in person biometric capture. Bring your lease and the landlord's temporary residence declaration confirmation as address proof. An employment contract helps if you will receive a Vietnamese salary. Some banks, such as HSBC Vietnam, want each document valid at least 60 days.
Sources
12 checked sources
- Vietnam Law and Legal Forum, Vietnam adopts mandatory biometric authentication for new bank cards (Circular 45/2025/TT-NHNN), accessed .
- Timo by BVBank, International customers: how to open a Timo by BVBank account, accessed .
- VietNamNet, Face authentication mandated for transfers above VND10mil (Decision 2345/QD-NHNN), accessed .
- VietNamNet, Unverified bank accounts face transaction restrictions starting January 2025 (Circulars 17/2024 and 18/2024), accessed .
- VietnamPlus, Biometric verification required for mobile device changes from April 15 (Circular 08/2026/TT-BKHCN), accessed .
- Asia Long Stay, Vietnam banking for foreigners (bank thresholds, Circular 27/2025), accessed .
- Statrys, Best banks for foreigners living in Vietnam in 2026 (updated 23 April 2026), accessed .
- ExpatDen, How to open a bank account in Vietnam as a foreigner (updated 20 August 2026), accessed .
- Nhi Gia, Guide to online temporary residence declaration for foreigners in Vietnam, accessed .
- Day Trips Vietnam, Vietnam ATM fees 2026 (updated 5 September 2026), accessed .
- Vietnam With Me, Best ATMs in Vietnam (7 August 2026), accessed .
- VietAdvisor, Ho Chi Minh City costs 2026 (monthly SIM budget), accessed .
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