To enter Vietnam, anyone travelling on a Canadian passport must hold a visa. The handiest solution is the Vietnam e-visa, issued either as a single-entry or a multiple-entry permit and valid for as long as 90 days. You file the application online, pay 25 or 50 USD, and a decision usually reaches you within three working days. For a complete overview of Vietnam’s visa rules, see our Vietnam Visa Requirements guide.
Written from the perspective of a Canadian passport holder, this guide walks through the whole procedure: the documents required, the evisa.gov.vn portal where you apply, how long processing takes, and what to do if a problem crops up. We are an independent travel information site and have no ties to any government office. Because we neither submit applications nor collect fees on your behalf, verify everything on the official portal before you set off.
Is a visa required for Canadian citizens traveling to Vietnam?
Yes. Canada does not appear on Vietnam’s visa exemption list, which means the 45-day visa-free stay open to British, German, French, Japanese, South Korean and Swiss citizens is not extended to Canadian passports.
Under Government Resolution No. 127/NQ-CP, Vietnam has been issuing e-visas to nationals of every country and territory since 15 August 2023. There is no need to call at an embassy or mail documents anywhere.
Travelling as a tourist, you can receive as much as 90 days on an e-visa, whether you enter once or several times. Unsure whether a visa applies to you? Our Who Needs a Visa for Vietnam page sets out the exemptions.
Vietnam Visa Requirements for Canadian Passports
Three things are needed: a passport that stays valid well beyond your trip, two digital images, and the fee.
- Passport validity: as the e-visa portal’s FAQs explain, your passport must remain valid for at least 30 days longer than the e-visa itself. The same passport has to be used both for entering and for leaving Vietnam.
- Portrait photo: recently taken, 4 x 6 cm, saved as JPG or JPEG below 2 MB. Look straight at the camera, wear formal clothing, use a white background, and remove any hat or glasses.
- Passport data page image: a single legible photo, with every corner fully visible.
- Your name: enter your full name in capital letters, matching precisely how it is written on the ICAO line of your passport.
- Trip history and violations: you must disclose journeys made during the past year along with any earlier violations. Omitting something may result in your application being refused.
- Not required: an onward ticket, proof of funds and travel insurance are not named as entry conditions on the e-visa portal. For Vietnam, WHO records no yellow fever vaccination requirement.
After the finer details of the passport rules? Consult Passport Validity for Vietnam.
E-Visa Cost and Processing Time
How much you pay hinges on the entry type you select, single or multiple. Either choice allows a stay of up to 90 days in Vietnam.
| Visa type | Fee | Entries | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vietnam e-visa | 25 USD | Single | Typically 3 working days; up to 15 if verification is needed. |
| Vietnam e-visa | 50 USD | Multiple | Typically 3 working days; up to 15 if verification is needed. |
Weekends and public holidays are not counted as working days, and a payment can need as long as 2 hours to appear in the system. Even when a visa is not granted, the fee is not returned, so review your details before paying. Applications may be submitted up to 1 year before entry. Further information sits on our Vietnam E-Visa Cost and Processing Time page.
How to Apply for a Vietnam Visa for Canadian Citizens
The entire procedure is completed online and in English. Keep your passport and photo at hand.
Open the application portal
Open evisa.gov.vn or thithucdientu.gov.vn and begin a fresh application.
Complete the form
Complete the form truthfully and with care, marking every answer that fits your situation.
Upload your photos
Add your portrait photo together with the image of your passport data page.
Pay the fee
Settle the fee using the VietCombank payment gateway.
Wait for processing
Wait while it is processed: roughly 3 working days, or as many as 15 when the Police Department carries out verification.
Print and present your e-visa
Once approved, print the e-visa, store a copy on your phone, and present it to immigration officers when you land.
Entry and exit are permitted only at border gates approved by the government, which number 15 airports, 27 land crossings and 39 seaports. Arriving by air usually means Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat, Da Nang, Cam Ranh or Phu Quoc.
Before you land, the Immigration Department also suggests filling in the pre-arrival form at prearrival.immigration.gov.vn. A complete step-by-step walkthrough is available in our Vietnam E-Visa Application Guide.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Rushing the form: information that is missing or invalid leads to further requests or a refusal, and the processing timer starts over the moment you send corrections.
- Double applications: paying a second time for the same application brings no refund. Should both be approved, each one is valid, yet you have paid twice.
- Wrong border gate: an e-visa is accepted only at approved gates, so choose the one your flight actually uses.
For more advice on steering clear of errors and scams, read our guide to avoiding Vietnam e-visa scams and common mistakes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I get a Vietnam visa for Canadian citizens on arrival?
Since Canada does not appear on Vietnam’s visa exemption list, a visa has to be arranged before departure. For Canadians the e-visa is the route to take: file the application online at evisa.gov.vn, as e-visas are granted to foreigners who are outside the country at the time, and hand the approved e-visa to immigration officers once you arrive.
With an e-visa, what is the maximum length of stay in Vietnam for Canadians?
According to the e-visa portal, the maximum is 90 days. Choose multiple entry if you intend to leave Vietnam and come back.
If my application for an e-visa is rejected, what occurs?
No refund of the fee is given. Resolution No. 30/2016/QH14 makes the visa fee non-refundable in every circumstance, because it pays for the processing rather than for the result. Should your details have been incomplete, correct them and apply a second time, with another payment.
Is it possible to enter Vietnam through one border gate and leave through another?
Yes. A foreigner travelling on an e-visa is not obliged to leave through the gate used for entry. Each of the two gates, however, must still appear on the government’s approved list.
At what point in time ought I to submit my application for a Vietnam e-visa?
Apply once your plans are settled, and as early as 1 year before entry. Processing normally needs 3 working days, or as many as 15 when police verification is required, so sending the application a month ahead leaves a comfortable margin.
At the border, must I provide evidence of onward travel or sufficient funds?
These are not listed as entry conditions on the e-visa portal. At the border, however, immigration officers still require you to show a valid e-visa.
If I overstay my Vietnam visa as a Canadian citizen, what happens?
Until a fine is paid, Vietnamese authorities may prevent you from departing, and serious cases can end in deportation and a future entry ban. Look at the exit date recorded in your passport and leave before it passes.
Are any vaccinations required to enter Vietnam when coming from Canada?
At entry no vaccination certificate is demanded, and WHO’s country list records no yellow fever requirement for Vietnam.
Sources and verification
- Vietnam National e-Visa Portal notices – fee amounts, validity, processing times and refund rules (verified 2026-10-13)
- Viet Nam Immigration Department – e-Visa application page – requirements for photos and documents (verified 2026-10-13)
- Vietnam National e-Visa Portal – FAQs – passport validity, the name format, border gates and deadlines (verified 2026-10-13)
- Government of Viet Nam e-newspaper – Resolution 127/NQ-CP, which opened e-visas to every nationality (verified 2026-10-13)
- Consular Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam – the list of visa exemptions (verified 2026-10-13)
- WHO vaccination requirements country list – entry rules for yellow fever (verified 2026-10-13)
- UK FCDO – Vietnam entry requirements – passport condition, the same-passport rule and customs limits (verified 2026-10-13)
