Vietnam entry requirements for Canadian passport holders (2026): visa and passport validity
Visa (Government of Canada): Read the official visa text below
Passport validity (Government of Canada): Valid at least 6 months beyond the date you expect to leave Vietnam. Official text
Official source: Government of Canada – Vietnam travel advice and advisories (travel.gc.ca), section “Entry and exit requirements” · page last updated 13 October 2026 · checked on 17 October 2026 · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada.
Whether Canadians need a visa for Vietnam and how long a Canadian passport must be valid, as published by the Government of Canada, quoted word for word with the date of the official page.
Other passports: British passport · Australian passport
Driving in Vietnam, do you need an international driving permit? Canadian licence · UK licence · Australian licence
Do Canadians need a visa for Vietnam?
We quote the official text word for word and do not summarise it. The official text also mentions an electronic travel authorization, e-visa, arrival card, online form or registration, tourist card or fee: read it in full.
Official text, “Visas”:
Tourist visa: required
Business visa: required
Student visa: required
Work visa: required
Visa verification
Make sure your application details match your passport exactly—this includes your full name, date of birth, and the order in which they appear.
Once your visa is issued, check it carefully to confirm that everything is accurate and exactly matches your passport information before you travel.
Errors or missing information can result in:
- additional fees
- denied boarding
- refused entry upon arrival
Digital Arrival Card
If you plan to enter Vietnam at Tan Son Nhat Airport (SGN) in Ho Chi Minh City, the Vietnamese government encourages you to complete a Digital Pre-arrival Form online within 3 days of your arrival.
Completing a digital arrival form is not a mandatory requirement for entry. However, this could change and could expand to other airports in Vietnam on short notice.
Pre-arrival information submission for visitors – Immigration Department of Vietnam
E-visa authorization
If you have a valid Canadian passport, you may be eligible to apply online for an e-visa. This can be a single-entry or multiple-entry electronic tourist visa, valid for a maximum of 90 days. It allows you to enter Vietnam via the port of entry indicated in the visa approval notice only. Some restrictions apply.
For visits longer than 90 days, you must get a visa from the nearest Vietnamese embassy before departure.
Apply for an e-visa – Immigration Department of Vietnam
Visa exemptions
Canadian spouses or children of Vietnamese citizens may be eligible for a visa exemption certificate.
Contact the Embassy of Vietnam in Canada for more information on this process.
Visa extension
You must have a visa to enter Vietnam.
If required, you can request a visa extension at:
- the Vietnam Immigration Department in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City
- certain local travel agencies and tour companies
Vietnamese visas in expired Canadian passports are not valid. The visa needs to be transferred to the new passport.
Overstaying your Vietnamese visa or having the wrong type of visa is a serious matter. You may be delayed from onward travel until a fine is paid.
Check the visa validity and conditions carefully.
Also in the official “Entry and exit requirements” section:
Registration
You must report your presence to local authorities upon arrival.
Commercial accommodations will generally file the declaration on your behalf. If you're staying in a non-commercial accommodation, you must do so with the nearest police station.
Make sure you request the return of your passport once it has been registered by hotel staff.
The hotel staff may ask to see your passport at check-in. They may make copies of it. They may also insist on holding your passport until you leave. There is no legal reason for this.
- Never leave your passport or any other ID document with anyone
- Ask for your documents to be returned to you as soon as check-in is complete
Exit bans
Vietnamese authorities may place an exit ban on certain individuals to prevent them from leaving the country.
An exit ban can relate to investigations into:
- an individual, their family or an employer
- criminal and civil matters, such as business disputes or motor vehicle accidents
- employment without a valid work permit
- unpaid financial debts
It is difficult to obtain information on bans from Vietnamese authorities. An exit ban can be requested by people involved in any of these circumstances. You may not be aware that authorities have placed an exit ban on you until you try to leave the country. Your passport may be seized until the case is fully investigated and settled.
If you're unable to leave the country because of an exit ban, consult a lawyer and contact the closest office of the Government of Canada.
More from the official “Entry and exit requirements” section (other requirements)
Travel restrictions
Travel near military facilities is restricted:
- in some parts of the central highlands
- in some border area
If you wish to visit a village, commune or ward that is close to the border, you must obtain permission from the provincial police department.
Contact the relevant local authority to confirm these requirements.
Health screening
Upon entry, you may be subject to a body temperature check.
Official source: Government of Canada – Vietnam travel advice and advisories (travel.gc.ca), section “Visas” · page last updated 13 October 2026 · checked on 17 October 2026 · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada.
How long must my Canadian passport be valid for Vietnam?
In short: Valid at least 6 months beyond the date you expect to leave Vietnam.
Our one-line summary of the official sentence below, which matches a wording we recognise. Your airline may apply stricter rules.
Official text, “Regular Canadian passport”:
Your passport must be valid at least 6 months beyond the date you expect to leave Vietnam.
Official source: Government of Canada – Vietnam travel advice and advisories (travel.gc.ca), section “Regular Canadian passport” · page last updated 13 October 2026 · checked on 17 October 2026 · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada.
For Canadian passport holders. These rules are published by the Government of Canada (Global Affairs Canada) for Canadian citizens travelling on a regular Canadian passport. Before You Fly is an independent site: it is not a Government of Canada site and is not endorsed by the Government of Canada. The airline and the border officials of the destination decide whether you can travel or enter: this site is information, not legal advice. British passport? See the UK (FCDO) rules.
Read the full official travel advice for Vietnam (safety, health, local laws) before you travel.
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