Vietnam visa for Canadian citizens

Short answer: Canadian citizens need a visa for Vietnam. Canadian is not on Vietnam's visa-exemption list. The simplest option is the eVisa: it is issued online, valid for up to 90 days, single or multiple entry, and accepted at all of Vietnam's international airports and most land and sea border gates. The government fee is $25 for single entry and $50 for multiple entry.

What you need

• A Canadian passport valid for at least 6 months after your entry date, with blank pages.
• A clear photo of the passport bio page.
• A recent portrait photo on a plain light background, with no glasses.
• Your planned entry date, entry point (airport or border gate) and an address in Vietnam. A hotel is fine.

Single or multiple entry?

If you fly into Vietnam and out again at the end of the trip, single entry is enough. If you plan a side trip to Cambodia, Laos or Thailand and then come back into Vietnam, get multiple entry. On a single-entry eVisa, the day you leave Vietnam is the day the visa ends, even if days are left on it.

Points Canadians should know

• Time difference: Vietnam is 11–12 hours ahead of Toronto and Montreal and 14–15 hours ahead of Vancouver. An application sent in the Canadian evening is only picked up on Vietnam's next working day.
• Cost in CAD: the government fee is charged in US dollars ($25 or $50). Your card converts it, and some banks add a foreign-transaction fee.
• Vietnamese-Canadians: if you or your spouse are of Vietnamese origin, you may qualify for a visa exemption certificate, valid up to 5 years with long stays per entry. It is applied for through a Vietnamese embassy or consulate, not the eVisa portal. See the exemption certificate guide.
• Middle names: include every given name exactly as in the passport.

Doing it yourself vs. using a service

You can apply on the official portal, evisa.gov.vn, and pay only the government fee. With time to spare and a simple case, that is a sensible choice. People use a service like ours when time is short, or when they don't want to risk losing the non-refundable government fee to a typo:

• We check your passport data, photo and dates before you pay.
• Urgent processing goes down to about 1.5 hours. The portal has no rush option.
• You can reach a person on WhatsApp if something goes wrong.

Economy processing with us is $48 for single entry and $68 for multiple entry, government fee included. See the full price table.

Before you land

• Print your eVisa, or keep the PDF offline on your phone. Check that the name, passport number and dates match your passport exactly.
• Enter through the airport or border gate you named, or another gate listed as accepting eVisas.
• Arriving at Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City)? Complete the online pre-arrival declaration first. Our arrival card guide explains how.

Quick answers

Can Canadian citizens get visa-free entry to Vietnam?

Not for the mainland. The only exception is Phu Quoc island: you can stay up to 30 days without a visa if you fly directly into Phu Quoc from abroad, stay on the island and leave directly from there. If you travel on to the mainland, even for a day, you need a visa.

How long does the eVisa take?

The official timeline is about 3 working days, and it can take longer in busy periods. With our service: Economy is 4 to 6 working days, and urgent tiers go down to about 1.5 hours. See how long a Vietnam eVisa takes.

How far ahead should Canadians apply?

At least one to two weeks on the official portal. With less time, use an urgent option.

Can I extend the eVisa inside Vietnam?

Extensions are limited and not guaranteed. The safer plan is to request enough days for the whole trip at the start. More in can I extend my Vietnam eVisa.

This guide is general information. Vietnam visa rules and processing times change — always check the current requirements. evisavietnamexpress.com is a private visa assistance service, not the official government portal.