After walking countless friends and family members through the Vietnam e-visa process, I’ve compiled a mental list of the mistakes that come up most often. Avoiding these common pitfalls can mean the difference between smooth approval and frustrating delays.

Typos are the silent killers of visa applications. Your name must match your passport exactly – including middle names, spelling, and order. Passport numbers are another danger zone; mixing up letters and numbers (O and 0, I and 1) happens more than you’d think. Copy these directly rather than typing from memory.

Photo problems are equally common. Using an old photo, a selfie, or a picture with a non-white background will likely result in rejection. Similarly, uploading a passport scan that’s too dark, blurry, or cropped incorrectly creates unnecessary delays. Take your time with these uploads.

For a complete pre-submission checklist that catches these errors before you apply, check out vietnamvisahelp.com and save yourself the headache.