Phu Quoc officially began piloting its Pre-Arrival Information (PAI) system on June 1, requiring all international passengers entering through the island's international airport to submit information before arrival.
Phu Quoc International Airport during the peak season for international travellers (Photo: Phu Quoc International Airport).
The programme, implemented by the Immigration Control Office at Phu Quoc International Airport, follows a directive from the Immigration Department and represents a key step in the development of a smart airport ahead of APEC 2027.
The PAI system is an online platform that allows travellers to provide passport details, flight information and accommodation data within three days before departure.
Upon completion, passengers receive a QR code that can be used for rapid verification at immigration checkpoints. Authorities say the system enables immigration officials to collect and analyse traveller data in advance, helping reduce processing times and minimise congestion at border control areas.
Phu Quoc International Airport has already completed the installation of automated immigration gates. In the future, when Terminal 2 becomes operational, the airport plans to integrate a Total Airport Management (TAM) model and touchless biometric technologies as part of a broader transition toward a fully paperless airport ecosystem.
For domestic passengers, Level 2 electronic identification accounts on the VNeID platform can be used throughout the travel process, from security screening to boarding.
Before its introduction in Phu Quoc, the PAI system was successfully piloted at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City in mid-April 2026. More than 160,000 declarations were submitted during the first 15 days of operation.
The new requirement is expected to improve passenger processing efficiency while strengthening border management and supporting preparations for major international events scheduled to take place in Vietnam in the coming years.
