Vietnam E-Visa for Canadian Passport Holders: Step-by-Step Guide
How to apply for a Vietnam e-visa as a Canadian citizen, what documents you need, and what to expect from approval to arrival.
Getting your Vietnam e-visa as a Canadian is straightforward, but there are a few quirks worth knowing upfront.
Canadian passport holders can apply online at evisa.gov.vn, the official Vietnamese government portal. The process takes 1–3 business days. You don't need to visit an embassy or consulate. The whole thing costs 25 USD and requires only a scanned passport and digital photo.
Step-by-step: How to apply
1. Gather your documents
You'll need:
- A valid Canadian passport (must have at least 6 months validity remaining from your arrival date in Vietnam).
- A digital passport photo, 4×6 cm (about 1.6×2.4 inches). JPG or PNG format, under 2 MB. The photo requirements are strict: white or light background, facing forward, no sunglasses, no hat.
- An email address you check regularly (approval will be sent there).
2. Visit evisa.gov.vn
Go to the official portal. You'll see the homepage in English. Click "Apply for e-visa" or navigate to the application form. Don't use third-party visa agencies unless you specifically want someone else to handle it — the official site is free of middlemen fees.
3. Fill in the form
The form asks for:
- Full name (as it appears in your passport).
- Date of birth.
- Passport number and issue/expiry dates.
- Nationality (select Canada).
- Intended arrival date in Vietnam.
- Port of entry (Hanoi, Saigon, Da Nang, etc. — most common for Canadians are Hanoi Noi Bai or Saigon Tan Son Nhat).
- Duration: 90-day single-entry or 30-day single-entry are the most common. Single-entry means you leave Vietnam and re-enter, your visa is no longer valid. If you're island-hopping or doing a one-shot trip, 30-day is usually enough.
- Purpose: tourism (most Canadians select this).
- Contact details and a temporary Vietnamese phone number or hotel email (you'll provide this when you arrive).
Upload your scanned passport bio page and your passport photo. Double-check the file sizes and format.
4. Pay the fee
The official fee is 25 USD. The site accepts Visa, Mastercard, and some other cards. Processing a payment from Canada is usually instant. Your application is registered once payment clears.
5. Wait for approval
Official processing is 1–3 business days. In practice, most approvals come within 24 hours. Check your email (and spam folder) for a confirmation. The e-visa is sent as a PDF.
6. Print your e-visa
Once approved, download the PDF and print it on regular A4 white paper. You must show this printed copy (or a digital copy on your phone) at immigration on arrival. It's a single page with your photo, passport number, and approval stamp.
Canadian-specific notes
Processing from within Canada
If you're applying from Canada, there are no delays or complications. Your Canadian passport is well-recognized. Processing times are the same as for applications from anywhere else.
If you're already in Southeast Asia
Canadians can apply from Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia. Processing time and fees stay the same. Some people cross land borders without an e-visa, then get one at a Vietnamese immigration office, but evisa.gov.vn is more reliable and cheaper.
Multiple entries
If you're planning to leave Vietnam and return (e.g., a quick trip to Cambodia mid-trip), the 90-day visa will not allow re-entry on the same visa. You'll need either a 90-day multiple-entry visa (requires a travel agency or consulate; more expensive and slower) or you apply for a separate e-visa for your re-entry. Many Canadians do the latter — it's 25 USD again but guarantees no hassle at the border.
Photo by Kenneth Surillo on Pexels
What if you're rejected?
Rejections are rare. Common reasons:
- Passport expiry within 6 months of arrival. Fix: renew your passport with Service Canada before you apply.
- Wrong photo format or quality. Reapply with a fresh, clear photo on a plain white background.
- Passport number mismatch. Make sure you've copied your passport number exactly as it appears.
- Application error (typo in name, wrong arrival date). Reapply. There's no fee to resubmit.
- Visa status issue (rare for Canadians). If your background triggers a check, it can take longer, but Vietnam rarely denies Canadian tourist visas.
If rejected, you'll get an email explaining the reason. Correct it and reapply immediately. You're not charged again.
Arrival in Vietnam: what to bring
- Printed e-visa (or phone screenshot, but print is safer).
- Your Canadian passport (obviously).
- Return ticket confirmation (not always asked, but carry it).
- Proof of accommodation (hotel booking, Airbnb confirmation).
When you land at immigration, hand over your passport and e-visa. The officer will scan it, stamp your passport, and you're done. Total time: 5–10 minutes.
Photo by Ekaterina Belinskaya on Pexels
First-time tips for Canadians arriving in Vietnam
Have your e-visa email saved before arrival. If your printed copy gets lost, you can show the PDF on your phone, but it's easier if you've screenshotted it or saved the confirmation email.
Your Canadian passport is strong. Visually, officers know Canadian passports instantly. You're unlikely to face any extra scrutiny.
Bring some USD or have a card. Taxis and some street vendors don't accept cards, but ATMs are everywhere in Hanoi and Saigon. Vietnamese dong (VND) is the local currency; 1 USD ≈ 24,000 VND (rates shift daily).
Get a local SIM card. Viettel, Vinaphone, and MobiFone all offer prepaid tourist plans. Buy one at the airport for around 50,000–100,000 VND (roughly 2–4 USD). Unlimited data is cheap; calls and texts cost extra but are pay-as-you-go.
Download offline maps. Google Maps works in Vietnam, but download the area offline in case you lose signal on smaller streets. Many apps and some websites are geo-blocked, so a VPN is helpful (though technically it's a grey area legally; locals and travelers use them anyway).
Check your vaccination status. Vietnam doesn't require proof of vaccination or negative tests, but travel insurance that covers COVID is still a good idea.
Practical notes
Apply for your e-visa at least a week before departure — gives you time to fix any problems. The 25 USD fee is paid once; there are no hidden costs on evisa.gov.vn. Bring a printed copy and your passport. You're good to land.
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