Vietnam never ceases to captivate millions of foreign visitors worldwide. Many nationalities are required to have a valid visa before entering Vietnam, and Canadian citizens are not an exception. So if you are from Canada and want to obtain a Vietnam visa, this article is for you.
Why do Canadians need a visa to enter Vietnam?
Vietnam has signed bilateral or unilateral visa exemption agreements with 88 countries. However, based on the Law on entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam, Canadian citizens are not permitted to enter Vietnam under visa exemption.
How to apply for a Vietnam visa in Canada?
Officially, there are 4 ways to apply for a Vietnam visa beforehand:
- In-person at the Embassy’s office
- By regular mail
- By email
- Online
You are obligated to prepare the required documents according to one of the 4 ways you choose to apply for a Vietnam visa.
In-person at the Embassy
You need to directly submit your Vietnam visa application to the Vietnam Embassy’s office at 55 Mackay Street, Ottawa, Ontario, K1M2B2 in three steps:
Step 1: Prepare the required documents as follow:
- Your passport with at least 06 months validity upon arrival in Vietnam, and at least 1 blank page left.
- A visa application form. Also, you may fill out the online application form.
- A color photo of yourself professionally taken recently.
Step 2: Make payments for the visa fee. You must pay in $US cash, $US bank draft payable to “The embassy of Vietnam” or fill in the credit card charge form.
Step 3: Get your Vietnam visa at the embassy after 5-7 working days.
Notes:
- You may request friends, relatives, or representatives to apply on your behalf (no Authority of Attorney required).
- The visa will be stamped on your passport. Here’s a sample of the visa you would receive:
By regular mail
You can apply for a Vietnam visa through regular mail in four steps:
Step 1: Prepare the following documents:
- Your passport with at least 06 months validity upon arrival in Vietnam, and at least 1 blank page left.
- A visa application form. Also, you may fill out the online application form.
- A color photo of yourself professionally taken recently.
Step 2: Deliver your visa application documents to the Vietnam Embassy through post offices. You need to provide the recipient’s full name, a mailing address detailed with postal code, and a telephone/cellphone number in your application.
Step3: Make payments for the visa fee. You must pay in $US cash, $US bank draft payable to “The embassy of Vietnam” or fill in the credit card charge form.
Step 4: Once your application is approved, the actual visa will be sent to you by mail. FedEx and Canada Post are the 2 official services delivering your visa.
By email
For your convenience, applying through email is a great option. Just follow these steps:
Step 1: Prepare the following required documents:
- A scanned copy of your passport with at least 06 months validity upon arrival in Vietnam; at least 1 blank page left.
- A visa application form. Also, you may fill out the online application form.
- A digital or scanned color photo of yourself professionally taken recently.
- A credit card charge form. Note that you will be automatically charged with a 3% credit card transaction fee of the total amount of the visa cost.
- Your mailing address in Canada with postal code and unit number (if any).
Step 2: Email your visa application to visa@vietnamembassy.ca with the recipient’s full name, a mailing address detailed with postal code, and a telephone/cellphone number in your application email.
Step 3: The visa will be sent to you by mail once your application is approved and proceeded.
Notes:
- A reference number will be given to you by a confirmation email when the application is received and processed by the embassy. The reference number helps you check your visa status online. Consider contacting the Embassy’s office if the confirmation email doesn’t arrive within 3 working days after sending your visa application.
- Multiple applicants applying to the embassy together in the same email can receive the visas in the same package.
Online
Applying for a Vietnam visa online is the most convenient and time-saving way in four simple steps.
Step 1: Fill the Vietnam visa online application form and upload a scanned copy of your passport and a visa photo.
Step 2: Make online payment for the visa fee.
Step 3: Have your visa delivered by FedEx and Canada Post after 5-7 working days.
Notes: Don’t forget to check out information about Vietnam visa renewal and extension in case you wish to extend the validity of your current Vietnam visa.
What are the fees of applying for a Vietnam visa in Canada?
The tourist visa fee for Canadian is listed as follow:
- 1-month single-entry visa: $19
- 1-month multiple-entry visa: $24
- 3-month single-entry visa: $45
- 3-month multiple-entry visa: $55
For detailed information on the fees for other types of visa, visit our Vietnam visa fee page.
Apart from the visa application cost, an additional 3% transaction fee of the total amount will be charged to you automatically when making credit card payments.
Once authorized, you will receive your actual visa by mail with a shipping fee charged as follow:
- Canada Post: The shipping fee is $25 per package with delivery time within 2-5 working days.
- FedEx: The shipping fee $35 per package, and your visa is shipped on the next business day.
Additional shipping cost is charged in remote areas for both services.
Notes: FedEx service is recommended for urgent documents delivery due to Canada Post occasional delay in delivery.
How can a Canadian citizen obtain a Vietnam visa while living in a country/region with no Vietnamese embassies?
If you happen to live in a country/region that doesn’t have any Vietnam Embassies, the possible choices are applying for a Vietnam Visa On Arrival or E-visa. Applying for the e-visa is not included in the Vietnam Embassy in Canada’s responsibility. It is in the authority of the Vietnam Immigration Department in Vietnam. So neither you have been familiar with the e-visa procedure nor have a representative who also has the experience to help you with the application process, it can cost you time and money to obtain the visa.
Visa2Asia hasn’t had the e-visa service, but we have experience in getting many of our clients to obtain the Vietnam visa upon arrival. A team with a deep understanding of Vietnam Law, culture, and customs can help you to get the approval letter for the visa on arrival. It won’t take you much time and money. Call us or apply instantly!
Applying for a Vietnam visa on arrival
Vietnam Visa on arrival (VOA) is a special method allowing you to get a qualified visa at the arrival airport upon entry into Vietnam. VVOA is a much more convenient and time-saving way to obtain a visa than regular processes since most steps are carried out at the airport of entry.
Click here for more details about applying for a Vietnam visa on arrival.
COVID-19 updates
To battle the complicated COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Vietnam has taken all necessary measures including:
- Cancelation of visa issuing and visa exemption to all foreign citizens from March 18, 2020 until further notices.
- Temporary halt in all foreigners entering Vietnam from March 22, 2020 until further notices.
Meanwhile, new COVID-19 cases have been reported in a few regions in the North of Vietnam since the beginning of 2021. Therefore, the Vietnam Government has put those virus-affected regions under strict control to prevent the spreading of the virus within the country.
Once the pandemic is under control, Vietnam will reopen and welcome visitors around the world again. We will keep you posted. In the meantime, check out Visa2Asia for more information on Vietnam visa services.
